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5 Steps to a Less Toxic Child Print E-mail
Written by Angelle Batten, HHC, MEd   
Our children’s bodies are amazing. They are bombarded with toxins. Despite this they grow, they laugh, they run, they climb and learn. We know all the toxins our children are exposed to – in the food, in the air, in the water – are not good for them. These toxins are known and suspected carcinogens, hormone disruptors and neurotoxins-toxins. Our children’s bodies do their best, but why not reduce their load? Here are 5 steps to get you started.

Researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood…Of the 287 chemicals detected in umbilical cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. The dangers of pre- or post-natal exposure to this complex mixture of carcinogens, developmental toxins and neurotoxins have never been studied. www.ewg.org

1. Use regular soap and water for washing hands (and other parts!).
That’s right, skip the hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps!  Most sanitizers contain the hormone disrupting (this is a problem!), antibacterial/antifungal agent triclosan.  Antibacterials gels and soaps also contribute to creating the resistant strains of bacteria that we all want to avoid.  Other potentially harmful ingredients include:  isopropyl alcohol, parabens, propylene glycol, and synthetic fragrances (which may contain phthalates).

2. Use only non-toxic cleaners in your home.
There’s a good reason for the big DANGER warning on most household cleaners.  They’re put our children in danger – and not just if they are swallowed.  Many cleaners have ingredients that are suspected or known to cause cancer, disrupt hormones or cause neurological damage.  Just because you don’t see an immediate effect – like a burn or vomiting – that doesn’t mean your child is not affected by these cleaners.  These chemicals enter into the body and accumulate.

3. Give up your air fragrances and deodorizers.
Most air fresheners mask odors with their more pleasant fragrance, but they do nothing to eliminate the source of the odor. Aerosol air fresheners spew out tiny droplets of chemicals that are easily inhaled into the lungs. Phthalates, which in laboratory animal tests damage the reproductive system and interrupt normal development by mimicking the body's hormones, were found in more than a dozen common household air fresheners that the Natural Resources Defense Council tested.  You don’t have to have a stinky home though – use air fresheners made with essential oils and no toxic ingredients.  We have a great recipe for a homemade air freshener in our Activity Cupboard.

4. Use a greener, fragrance-free laundry detergent.
Many conventional laundry detergents are made from petroleum, phosphates and chemical fragrances.  Scented laundry detergents (and other products) contain multiple chemicals, including dangerous solvents, to achieve the fragrance. These chemicals pollute indoor air, and may irritate children and asthmatics.  They contain chemicals linked to cancer and reproductive problems.  You don’t want these against your child’s skin and under his or her nose all day and night.

5. Use snug fitting pjs without fire retardants.
In the first investigation of toxic fire retardants in parents and their children, Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that toddlers and preschoolers typically had 3 times as much of these hormone-disrupting chemicals in their blood as their mothers.  While our environment is loaded with these chemicals, some of which have been banned in Europe and are unregulated in the US, one easy step you can take is to make sure your child is not spending night after night exposed to these harmful chemicals. Snug fitting pajamas are a way to keep our children safe while they sleep, both from a potential fire and the nightly exposure to toxic chemicals.
 
Angelle Batten, MEd. is a Holistic Health & Parenting Coach and co-founder of nourishMD. She teaches parents how to feed their children REAL food and parent in a more connected way every day - so despite a crazy busy life they can raise healthier, happier children who make the world a better place.