Friday, February 19, 2010

So - where to start? How about the bathtub...

BPA, phthalates, pesticides… Books, blogs, articles… Petitions, fundraisers, legislation… I get so overwhelmed by it all that sometimes I just turn off and move on to something else (exciting things like folding laundry or scrubbing floors/faces).

I have a constant to do list running in my head – find non-toxic paints, figure out the pending legislation on all chemical safety activity, get a lead detector kit for questionable items and old toys, organize a local event where other concerned parents can use XRF scanners to test items for safety… Sometimes it seems insurmountable.

So at least for today I’ll plunge in and start with an easy one. Bath tub safety. I need something to cover the faucet that will protect little heads from injury without adding chemicals to the water. I had one, but instead of phthalates, it added mold – it was impossible to clean. So, I asked one of my online favorite stores, The Soft Landing (www.thesoftlanding.com), for advice and within minutes I had an answer and placed an order. They recommended the Boon Flo (http://www.booninc.com/products/Flo/601) - I'll let you know how it works!

If you haven’t tried The Soft Landing yet, check them out. They evaluate products for exactly the issues that worry me, so I feel safe when I buy from them. They are a pleasure to interact with too – always a plus! I came across The Softer Landing when I was trying to figure out sippy cups on another fantastic site, SafeMama (www.safemama.com). Safe Mama keeps cheat sheets online – that takes the mystery out of the process. Shopping with kids is tricky enough as it is. I print and carry them when I am shopping for anything kid-related.

I didn’t exactly solve our nation’s chemical safety problems today, but one baby step (well, 2 preschooler steps) at a time.

1 comment:

  1. Hi, I just came across your blog and am really excited you are writing on this subject! This is something that keeps me up at night...having a million questions, having a hard time finding answers and doubting every decision to keep my family healthy and safe. I look forward to following you! BTW, I love the Boon Flo (in fact, I love a lot of their products!)

    ReplyDelete