Safer choices for children and babies

Why children are more vulnerable

Children face higher chemical exposure relative to body weight than adults. They breathe, eat and drink more per kilogram. Their organ systems, including the brain, liver and endocrine system, are still developing and not yet able to detoxify efficiently. They spend more time on floors where dust concentrates toxins. They engage in more hand-to-mouth behaviour. And they have a longer future horizon, meaning more time for effects to accumulate.

This means that a chemical exposure that may be tolerable for an adult can have a disproportionate effect on a developing child, particularly during critical windows of neurological and hormonal development. The precautionary principle applies here more than anywhere else.

Car seats and flame retardants

Most car seats contain brominated or organophosphate flame retardants in their foam. These chemicals are added to meet flammability standards. PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether) levels in older car seat foam can be significantly elevated. Organophosphate flame retardants, which replaced PBDEs after restrictions, are also linked to neurodevelopmental harm.

What to look for:

• CertiPUR-US foam certification (limits specific flame retardants in the foam)
• Brands that publicly disclose their flame retardant approach
• Greenguard Gold certification for low chemical emissions

Recommended brands: Nuna (has published a flame retardant policy) and Clek (uses Greenguard Gold certified materials).

Toys

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) soft plastic toys contain phthalates as plasticisers. The EU has banned DEHP and other specific phthalates in toys above 0.1% concentration, but many imports still exceed this limit. Soft plastic bath toys can harbour mould internally due to water ingestion through small holes.

Safer materials: natural rubber, organic cotton, solid wood with water-based paint, and food-grade silicone.

Sippy cups and bottles

Polycarbonate plastics contain BPA (bisphenol A), a well-documented oestrogen mimic. The shift to "BPA-free" hard plastics has not resolved the issue: bisphenol analogues including BPS and BPF appear to have similar hormonal activity and are used as direct replacements.

Best options: stainless steel with no plastic lining, or glass with a protective silicone sleeve.

Mattresses and bedding

Conventional foam crib and toddler mattresses typically contain flame retardant chemicals in the foam or cover fabric. Children spend 12 to 14 hours a day on their mattress, making it one of the highest-priority items to address.

What to look for:

• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification for organic materials throughout
• Greenguard Gold certification for low chemical emissions
• Wool as a natural flame barrier in place of chemical treatments

Floor time and carpets

Synthetic carpet acts as a reservoir for dust-bound toxins: pesticide residues tracked in from outside, flame retardant particles shed from furniture foam, and VOCs off-gassed from the carpet itself. Children spend significantly more time at floor level than adults and are more directly exposed to this dust through crawling, playing and hand-to-mouth contact.

Practical options: area rugs over hard floors rather than wall-to-wall carpet, natural fibre rugs (wool, jute, sisal), and regular HEPA vacuuming to reduce dust accumulation.