Wednesday 19 September 2012

Please don't dose your baby with formaldehyde


The other day I was talking to someone on Twitter.  She was looking for wooden bunk beds and I said, ‘Hey, try and get ‘em secondhand.’  Not just because of cost (though heaven only knows that’s a big consideration) but because you won’t be running the risk of your child breathing in nasty toxic chemicals. 

It reminded me of when I was writing my little book Spirit of the Nursery.  It struck me that  parents always want the best, the freshest, the newest, for their babies and yet, sadly, newest and brightest and sparkliest often isn’t best for babies.  It’s ironic that many parents, acting purely out of beautiful best intentions, may unwittingly be providing a toxic nightmare for their baby. 

I hate to be alarmist but I figure in this case ignorance really isn't bliss.  Reports state we’re exposed to up to 300 volatile organic (carbon-based) compounds within the home. It’s thought that thousands of cancer deaths annually are brought about by indoor air pollutants – the hoard of chemicals that quietly seep into our homes.  And the greatest threat comes from new materials – from paint, soft furnishings, carpets, furniture, wallpaper – exactly what you’re probably planning for that gorgeous new nursery, huh?

Sadly, it’s a real concern as babies are even more vulnerable than adults to toxins. They’re smaller and have faster respiratory and metabolic rates, so they inhale pollutants far more easily and swiftly, and the build-up in their bodies is more concentrated.

So, what do you do?  Keep it all as natural as possible really.  Look out for paints which are water-, milk-, plant- and mineral-based.  Sure, they aren’t as mark-resistant as your average vinyl matt but who cares when they offer peace of mind.  Choose natural thinners, such as linseed oil and pine resin turpentine.  Recycled wood floors (carefully sanded) are lovely – lino and cork are also non-toxic.  Natural floor coverings (sisal, coir, seagrass etc) look great but are harsh on the knees and are a pure horror to clean (ever tried picking playdough out of seagrass? I don’t recommend it).

Don’t be sniffy about buying secondhand furniture.  Sand it down, clean it up and it’ll be good as new (and have more character).  Please, above all, avoid MDF.  I dunno if you know but they use formaldehyde in the manufacture of pressed wood products and it is released from the products over time – a process known as outgassing. How long?  Nobody’s quite sure but five years, possibly even ten, maybe even more.  What effects can it have? Watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, difficulty breathing. It may even be a trigger for asthma. And it’s not just used in MDF – formaldehyde outgases from many new products – carpet, carpet adhesives, and some fabrics. L

Funny thing, while I was writing this, a press release pinged in from VUPbaby.  They hadn’t crossed my radar as, well, my own baby is coming up fourteen now.  J  But I like their ethos.  They were concerned about the amount of toxins and chemicals, not just in nursery stuff but in children’s toys and general products.  They’re celebrating their third birthday this month and are offering lots of their best-selling products at a pound a shot.  Check ‘em out. www.vupbaby.co.uk

You might also be interested to know that Spirit of the Nursery is now available as an ebook for Kindle.  It’s not an interior design book but more a musing on how to provide your baby with the best possible environment for his or her early years. It includes a lot more safety tips but also more esoteric information on providing a safe space – physically, emotionally and spiritually – for babydom.  Obviously it doesn’t have pictures but I’m making up for the lack with a Pinterest board with all kinds of ideas and inspirations.  Hope you like it. J

8 comments:

the veg artist said...

I don't have children, but my home is still as MDF/plastics/chemical free as I can make it. I use a stock of glass containers for food instead of cling-film, have never used spray polishes and fancy cleaners. Water usually works just fine, and it all adds up.

Exmoorjane said...

Really wise, VA... let's not even go into what leaches into water and food from plastic bottles huh? I covered this more in The Detox Plan - it's pretty scary once you start looking at what kind of stuff we use on a daily basis and you're absolutely right - it does all add up. :(

Karon said...

You are so right about the MDF, carpets and chemicals. People often wonder why they get headaches etc in their own homes and offices when the culprits are literally all around them and they're adding to it all the time. Throw in those dreadful 'air fresheners' and you have a great toxic soup to breath in, yuck!

Expat mum said...

Jeezy creezy. I never knew that about MDF - and here I was thinking I was being all green by using something that used recycled wood. Must go off and research. Thanks.

Exmoorjane said...

@Karon - Yup, exactly. Grim innit? :(

@EPM - Heck, never thought about MDF that way...but yes, it does sound 'green', doesn't it? So much stuff has formaldehyde (and other nasties) - pretty much anything that is easy to clean (carpets, curtains, bedding etc) will be stuffed with chemicals.

AdamDS said...

A friend of mine developed ME after toxic shock caused by formaldehyde in laminate flooring she had put around her entire house. That stuff is awful.

Exmoorjane said...

@Adam...that's awful but it doesn't surprise me. People really don't have a clue about how bad this stuff is...

Jay said...

Interesting. And me being my usual cynical self, here I was thinking that it was only second-hand smoke and that magical substance du jour, third-hand smoke, that were responsible for all deaths and harms that come to people and babies inside their homes. I just don't know what to believe any more. If everything is responsible for killing all of us, I suppose we ought not worry about it and just get on with the living bit of life.