With so many baby products being recalled, it is important to understand what parents should look out for when buying baby products. A lot of people assume that organic means safe but it’s not always the case. I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Alan Greene, a leading pediatrician in the U.S. and an authority in children toxins, nutrition and organics.
Mommylicious : What ingredients should mothers look out for when purchasing baby or toddler products?
Dr. Greene : Dangerous plastics are number one thing you need to watch for specifically PVC is the most to look for. Studies show that 42% of toys are still made with PVC. Additionally BPA and phthalates are also key to watch for and avoid. To be safe check for recycling numbers on packages; the numbers should be 1, 2, 4, 5. Additionally, you want to watch for heavy metals like mercury and lead. These chemicals tend to be found in cheap jewelry, brightly colored paints and dyes.
Mommylicious : Which products are safe?
Dr. Greene : Choose materials that you know are safe such as glass. Additionally, choose a brand that only makes toxin free products such as BornFree. There entire line is BPA free as well as PVC free.
Mommylicious : What are the dangers of BPA and how can it cause health risks?
Dr. Greene : BPA can act like a hormone in the human body even at small levels. This can result in early puberty as well as increased risk of cancers. You will also see a change in behavior, girls will become masculine while boys become more feminine.
Mommylicious : Does organic really mean safe or is it misleading?
Dr. Greene : Depends on how the word is used. If its is used in reference to something that comes from the earth such as fruits, veggies and fibers than you are safe. If it is used on a food other than these categories it can be misleading as there is no real definition of organic.
Dr. Greene is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of California at San Francisco and is currently Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, an Attending Pediatrician at Packard Children Hospital, and a Senior Fellow at the University California San Francisco Center for the Health Professions. Dr. Greene is also the Past President of The Organic Center and on the Advisory Board of Healthy Child Healthy World. He is a founding partner of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment.
Dr. Greene is the author of Raising Baby Green (Wiley, 2007), From First Kicks to First Steps (McGraw-Hill, 2004), The Parent’s Complete Guide to Ear Infections (People’s Medical Society, 1997), and a co-author of The A.D.A.M. Illustrated Family Health Guide (A.D.A.M., Inc., 2004). His latest book Feeding Baby Green (Wiley, 2009) hit shelves this past winter. Dr. Greene has extensive National print and broadcast media experience.
