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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think there is no radiation damage to my toddler

74 replies

lovinbeingmum · 09/08/2014 15:33

Had a couple of friends over last night. The talk turned to warming food, milk etc for the kids. I said I use the microwave and three horrified faces turned around to look at me. Seems the microwave should be avoided for little ones. There's bound to be some harm. So, well.... What do you guys do?

FYI, the kids in question range from 1.5-5 years.

OP posts:
firesidechat · 09/08/2014 15:35

I think if there was a serious or even tiny risk to babies and children we would have heard by now. Are your friends conspiracy theorists?

ilovepowerhoop · 09/08/2014 15:36

what a load of crap. It wasnt advised to heat formula in the microwave due to hot spots that could scald, not due to radiation. I use the microwave for defrosting and reheating.

angelohsodelight · 09/08/2014 15:37

I think it's advised not to warm stuff in microwave in plastic containers, like baby bottles etc as the chemicals can leak into the item. But then again, sitting on sofas passes chemicals to you!!! It's a sad fact of life that it's impossible to steer away from chemicals.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 09/08/2014 15:38

I always warmed ds3's weetabix in the microwave when he was little, no harm and he's fine years later.

I'd be flummoxed without the microwave.

Tweasels · 09/08/2014 15:39

It's fine as long as the baby wears a tin foil hat.

Fluffyears · 09/08/2014 15:40

It's try about the 'hot spots' aw but how cute would babies look in tinfoil hats?

Fluffyears · 09/08/2014 15:41

*true not try

Secretblackandmidnighthag · 09/08/2014 15:44

But everything in the whole world is made from chemicals. And lots of things give off radiation. Including us

dawndonnaagain · 09/08/2014 15:44

I used the microwave when my now 30 year old was young. He is fine.

Lally112 · 09/08/2014 15:48

I don't use one either. Whether its radiation or whatever they don't keep the same nutritional value of food you heat in them and are prone to 'cold spots' where food is not cooked thoroughly.

Original poster
lovinbeingmum · 09/08/2014 15:50

tweasels I like that!

I thought it would be safe as well...or rather I didn't think anything about it till it came up last night.

Good...taking out the saucepan every time milk needed warming would be such a pain!

OP posts:
Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 09/08/2014 15:57

Me too, and the fetching shade of green they glow helps me find them in the dark. Eyethanqew.

AnnaLegovah · 09/08/2014 16:01

Tell them not to go out in the sun since that too is radiation.

specialsubject · 09/08/2014 16:28

oh dear oh dear.

but not to worry, it isn't too late for those who didn't listen at school:

www.senseaboutscience.org/data/files/resources/8/MSofRadiation.pdf

page 1 shows the electro-magnetic spectrum, and the difference between visible light, microwaves and ionising radiation.

Nalia · 09/08/2014 16:56

microwaving in plastics that have BPA can be harmful but most baby stuff is BPA free

RedToothBrush · 09/08/2014 16:57

Don't feed them bananas what ever you do!

Idontseeanyicegiants · 09/08/2014 17:01

I spent months with my PFB waiting for bottles to warm up painfully slowly in a jug of boiling water until I started work in a nursery and the microwave was in constant use for the small ones.
Felt like a tit when the penny dropped Grin
Hot spots are easily sorted if you swish the liquid round when you take it out and I thought the whole radiation scare stories went out with the arc!

Higheredserf · 09/08/2014 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nomama · 09/08/2014 17:29

Or any vintage Fiestaware vases!

BolshierAyraStark · 09/08/2014 17:45

I warm milk in the microwave-I do avoid warming things in plastics though.

deakymom · 09/08/2014 21:10

the bottles i used are designed to be put in the microwave its how they are sterilized! i used the microwave for my last two my dd (my first) was born in a heatwave and she prefered her milk from the fridge (this was back in the days of making up 6 bottles at a time and heat them as you need them advice) even in the winter room temp was the warmest she would tolerate she is 14 now and still hates warm milk!

CoteDAzur · 09/08/2014 21:20

That's very odd. What do you think will happen to the plastic?

Re radiation - Heat and light are "radiation", too, but obviously not harmful. Look up non-ionising radiation it's what microwave ovens give off and it's not harmful.

Topseyt · 09/08/2014 21:24

Well, I did so many things that are apparently not supposed to be done now when mine were babies/toddlers.

I made up 7 or 8 bottles each evening and stored them in the fridge for up to 24 hours (recommended back then, nearly 20 years ago now.

I also warmed bottles in the microwave. It minimised how long I had to endure a screaming, hungry baby for, especially for night feeds in the early weeks.

Hotspots were never a problem. I just gave each bottle a really good shake and swirl around after warming it.

I promise you that all my children are still very much alive, kicking, happy, healthy and totally unharmed. Grin

Your friends are talking total bollocks.

TheFirstOfHerName · 09/08/2014 21:28

I have used the microwave to defrost, warm and steam/cook various bits of food for my DCs since they were babies. They now all have special powers.

wingcommandergallic · 09/08/2014 21:38

I have a Mexican friend who always zapped her toddler's food in the microwave. She was convinced the food wasn't safe until it had been irradiated.