I'm expecting my first in just a few weeks and have been getting wayyyy too deep into the rabbit hole that is flame retardants on, well, everything. I know I can't protect my baby from every danger under the sun for her whole life, but I think the evidence on the shocking dangers to health (not just cancer risk but messing with hormones and brain development, especially at the very crucial earliest years phase of growing) is pretty damning. Even US is banning FRs before the UK, and these two countries have shown to use the highest amounts, leading them to show up in breast milk, umbilical cord blood etc. https://news.sky.com/story/exposure-fears-banned-toxic-chemicals-found-in-uk-mothers-breast-milk-11763960
I wondered if anyone had any good tips on reducing exposure for baby, and me, or any thoughts on the subject? I know there are some older threads on MN about it.
FWIW my own takeaways at the moment are:
- Buying non polyurethane foam mattresses; I've bought Little Green Sheep ones for the cot bed, crib, moses and I'm considered a carrycot one too..
- For the pram / car seat etc there is no escaping it and no consistent info on whether washing / airing is any help. My own conclusion is that because UV and heat could arguably make the release of chemicals worse that maybe trying to block UV with white (cotton/non padded) liners is one way to go?
- Similarly adopting a barrier method of not allowing skin to be in contact with the worst surfaces? So liners etc
- Air purifier indoors, particularly in the bedroom.