Eco Pregnancy and Baby

Should you use green cleaners when you’re pregnant? We know it’s the chemicals in cleaners that really get the job done. But when you’re pregnant, it’s even more important to know what to avoid. The problem is cleaning products don’t have to be tested, there are no federal requirements, so consumers have no official warning [...]

While launching a remodeling project before your baby’s arrival may seem like a good idea, it requires a lot of different building materials–glues, paints and chemical solvents. “Suddenly your house turns into a construction site with contamination levels that can be problematic,” says Ted Schettler, M.D., M.P.H., science director of the Science and Environmental Health [...]

You may have heard of the controversy over the chemicals in some kitchen storage containers, plastic baby bottles and baby toys. Government regulators assure us these products are safe, even for pregnant women and infants. But concerned scientists and environmental groups disagree, citing years of disturbing results from research conducted on lab animals. We can’t [...]

We love our Teflon coated pans for their nonstick convenience. The problem is their coated with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) which in older pans can disintegrate into your food or gas off into the air around you. The manufacturers have created newer coated cookware made with more durable PTFE, but does that mean it’s safe — even [...]

When you’re pregnant or caring for a newborn, you need all the sleep you can get. Thinking about toxic chemicals in your bed linens won’t keep you up nights-if you go organic. To minimize toxins: “Sheets shouldn’t be permanent-press or made with nylon or synthetic materials,” say Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu, co-authors of The [...]

Does it matter which paint you use when you’re pregnant? The truth is you shouldn’t be painting at all. But even if you have someone else do the painting, the less toxic the product is, the better. “Oil-based paints pose a theoretical risk of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while the paint is drying,” [...]

You know you should stay away from toxic pesticides when you’re pregnant, but this is the time of year when house and garden pests are pestier than ever. Here’s how to manage them without harming yourself, your baby, or the environment.  NATURAL PESTICIDES IN THE HOUSE Properly caulk and seal doors, windows, sinks, and showers. [...]

Sometimes you just can’t avoid toxins — they’re everywhere, even in the air you breathe. But here are a few tips for limiting your exposure as much as possible. Increase ventilation whenever possible and consider investing in an air purifier. Keep windows and doors open to release pollutants when vacuuming, dusting, frying, painting or folding [...]

Ever wonder what’s in the air you breathe in your home? Can it affect your health or the baby growing inside you? “Indoor pollutants are often more hazardous than those outside,” says Ted Schettler, M.D., M.P.H., science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network and co-author of In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child [...]

Whether you’re giving your existing home office an environmental upgrade or setting up an office for the first time, you’re already saving energy by not driving to work. You may also avoid common workplace toxins, but even a home office can be hazardous. Here’s how to make steps in the right direction. {GREEN} Create a [...]