Massive paranoia about flame retardants in baby gear and hubby is angry! HELP!!

[Anonymous]

HI All,
I am trying to buy baby gear like a pack and play, nursing pillow, baby swing, bouncy seat, etc. After doing research, I am discovering most of the items I bought are treated with Flame Retardants chemicals. Apparently legally many of them have to meet California’s flammability standard, Technical Bulletin 117 (TB 117). This adds flame retardants to the products which are said to be possible toxins?!? Also, some say vinyl in highchairs give off VOC's (volatile organic compounds) that are bad for the baby to breath in. Also, the pack and plays and other items have foam mattresses which apparently also off-gas chemicals.

I am driving myself INSANE trying to find healthy, natural baby products. I even call the companies and ask if their items are treated with flame retardants (fisher price) and they say NO, but when I buy the product, it says it is treated on the tag!! I am going NUTS over this.

There are very few products out there that are totally organic, but they are horrendously expensive - like $300 or $400 for a baby swing. And some of them might be treated anyway.

Can someone PLEASE help me before I go insane. My husband is furious at me and thinks I am being neurotic. We are fighting non-stop about what baby gear is safe, etc. He won't even speak to me!

[Anonymous]

You are right, BUT you need to pick your battles and buy used as much as possible.

1. Sleep gear needs to be organic, ESPECIALLY the mattress, which is going to be really expensive but worth it. Then pee pad, sheets, pyjamas, etc.

2. Food utensils and bottles need to be PBA free at minimum, or not made of plastic at all. Think Born Free bottles, real plates and spoons, not the baby kind. This is because other toxins are being found in plastic besides PBA.

3. Pick organic first toys and blankies, as your baby will mouth them to explore them. Pick organic clothes to wear next to the skin. Use non-chlorine diapers and wipes and non-toxic detergents and cleaners in your home. An alternative to organic are USED clothes from second-hand stores like Wiggle Room (Del Ray avenue, downtown Bethesda), because if they have been washed often enough, they contain less pesticides.

4. As for the rest, you can let it go as a compromise to your DH. The amount of time your baby will spend in the rest of the stuff is minimal compared to the time spent sleeping in his crib and less invasive than drinking his bottle or mouthing his lovey.

Searching online for all things non-toxic and organic will open up a whole world of (mostly expensive) stuff that you cannot find in stores. Also check eBay and Craigslist.

And the most important thing: for the same price, it is healthier and more eco-friendly to go non-toxic and downsize (a crib, a few toys), rather than accumulate tons of toxic stuff. For the same amount of money.

[Anonymous]

Thanks -- so I am NOT insane like my hubby says I am? Can you recommend diapers? I have Huggies Pure and Natural that have an organic cotton covering, but I don't know if they are chlorine free. I am using glass bottles - Dr. Browns.

My main concerns are the pack and play, highchair, bouncy seat. I know some babies will only sleep in their swings and bouncy seats and those all have flame retardants and foam.

There is no way I could afford all organic clothes, but I try to only use cotton and I have inherited mostly used clothes.

[Anonymous]

Try to buy things used; that way they have had a chance to out-gas. That doesn't help with the flame-retardants but at least it's something. I'm with you -- but there is no escaping it unfortunately. They'd rather our babies die of cancer than die in a fire.

[Anonymous]

Off gas items for as long as possible before use. I wouldn't go 100% organic/non-VOC/etc., because honestly there is no real escape from pollution in our world today. There just isn't. But things that are against baby's skin all the time, like diapers and onesies, and detergents you use to clean things with -- definitely go natural. The rest isn't a battle worth fighting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They'd rather our babies die of cancer than die in a fire.

I know! I mean who really needs a flame retardant stroller, car seat or nursing pillow?

[Anonymous]

Nobody said you weren't being completely neurotic. But, that's your prerogative as a Mom.

Try to keep DH's perspective in mind, please, as you go about creating this sanitized bubble. His thoughts and feelings matter too. He's not a bad person just because he's annoyed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Try to keep DH's perspective in mind, please, as you go about creating this sanitized bubble. His thoughts and feelings matter too. He's not a bad person just because he's annoyed.

that's exactly what my hubby said to me -- he told me with the way I was acting, we might as well put the baby in a bubble

[Anonymous]

Seriously, this is what you worry about? Sorry, but once you have the kid there are so many more important things to worry about.

I'm preggo with #3 and stressing about something stupid. It took a family member to remind me of the people in Japan having nothing right now to come back to Earth.

You can't protect your child from everything in the world- the world is a scary place. Pick your battles...you will have hundreds of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, this is what you worry about? Sorry, but once you have the kid there are so many more important things to worry about.

I'm preggo with #3 and stressing about something stupid. It took a family member to remind me of the people in Japan having nothing right now to come back to Earth.

You can't protect your child from everything in the world- the world is a scary place. Pick your battles...you will have hundreds of them.

this is my first baby, so maybe you can understand more why I am worried. I have never done this before.

[Anonymous]

OP anytime you use the phrase "massive paranoia" that should tell you that you have gone to far the other direction. Just do your best and don't sweat the rest.

[Anonymous]

My vote is for neurotic Sorry but you sound like you're going off the deep end. Just an FYI that fabrics are treated for Cal 117 all around you. I'm an interior designer that designs hotels, restaurants, commercial spaces etc... Each and every fabric is REQUIRED to be treated for Cal 117. Even if your baby's stuff isn't treated you cannot avoid it in public spaces. And Call 117 is one of multiple treatments required for public spaces. Please take a deeeep breath and relax! And as PP stated this isn't one of those things to go overboard on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My vote is for neurotic Sorry but you sound like you're going off the deep end. Just an FYI that fabrics are treated for Cal 117 all around you. I'm an interior designer that designs hotels, restaurants, commercial spaces etc... Each and every fabric is REQUIRED to be treated for Cal 117. Even if your baby's stuff isn't treated you cannot avoid it in public spaces. And Call 117 is one of multiple treatments required for public spaces. Please take a deeeep breath and relax! And as PP stated this isn't one of those things to go overboard on.

Um, this is supposed to be relaxing information?

[Anonymous]

I am the first poster.

After slaving away with organic cotton washable diapers for both my newborns, I have embraced all things Seventh Generation!
The cheapest diapers come with a subscription to Amazon Moms - you get your box of diapers and wipes every month (or how you choose) at a significant discount.

Let me reiterate that you are wise in identifying sources of toxic chemicals for your child. As a research biologist and wife of a doctor that works in cancer research, I am very concerned about the amount of indoor pollutants that surround us and their long term but deletorious impact on mental health, IQ, longevity and fertility. I think you need to step back and examine your whole lifestyle. For example, eating organic (at least for dairy/meat and the most sprayed fruits and veggies).

For the baby gear, I think they rank low on the list of non-toxic items, although I did buy the BabyBjorn Babysitter bouncy chair in its organic version (online at a discount). For the high chair, I recommend buying on ebay/craigslist the Stokke tripp trapp highchair, designed in Norway, non-toxic, ergonomic and built to grow with your child (really). Cannot speak to the PnP, since I have never owned one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the first poster.

After slaving away with organic cotton washable diapers for both my newborns, I have embraced all things Seventh Generation!
The cheapest diapers come with a subscription to Amazon Moms - you get your box of diapers and wipes every month (or how you choose) at a significant discount.

thanks for the diaper info! I will look at that Stokke high chair too.