Sippie Cups, Pacifiers and other Plastics
Plastic items are made from petroleum or petroleum by products with additional chemicals added to color them, make them flexible and even smell good. Those chemicals cling to the surface and needs to be thoroughly cleaned before it goes into the mouth of a baby or child. Pre-soak a pacifier, sippy cup, bottle, teething ring, spoons or anything else a baby or child will put in their mouth by soaking it in hot water for 30 minutes. Bring water and 1/3 cup food grade distilled white vinegar to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat source, add the cup, pacifier etc to the water and let it soak 30 minutes. The vinegar and hot help remove the chemicals from the surface of the item. Be certain your vinegar states food grade on the bottle. Otherwise it might be made from petroleum.
Environment California issued warnings about plastic baby bottles, pacifiers, sippy cups and teething rings. Their labs tests showed that mice raised in plastic cages had high levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in their systems and exhibited genetic abnormalities. BPA is linked to genetic abnormalities in both men and women as well as prostate and breast cancer and other health issues. BPA has been found in bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, beds, high chairs and many play toys.
LEAD: Even more shocking is the amount of lead that has been found in products made in China. China has stricter laws regulating the use of lead than the United States but their laws are poorly enforced if at all. Rarely are Chinese products tested for lead or any other toxins when they enter American ports. Lead is known to cause impaired language, cognitive functions and learning disabilities as well as reduce fine motor skills. In children because they are much smaller lead poisoning can lead to nausea, seizures or diarrhea, among others. Buy American!
Always hand wash plastic items especially baby and children’s dishes, sippy cups, pacifiers, teething rings etc with hot water and organic liquid dish soap. Never put plastic containers in the microwave or dishwasher. The high heat will transfer the petrochemicals from the bottle, bowl, cup etc into food and drink and into your child. Wash them by hand.
Bookmark www.SafeMama.com to check for product safety and search for safe baby and children’s products.
