April 23rd, 2008

Green Kids Alert: Eco-friendly Child Care and Toxic Baby Bottles

Posted by Jessica Jensen

Eco-friendly Child Care

Our friends at Plenty Magazine have recently written about the excellent trend of eco-friendly day-care centers popping up around the country. It seems the Eco-Healthy Childcare Program that started in Oregon is now moving into California– and they play to go national over the next few years. Hurray to that!  They also have approved some daycare facilities in other states like Colorado and Michigan– click here to see all the sites.

What is eco-friendly child care, you may well ask? Childcare facilities can qualify as “Eco-Healthy” by completing a checklist that highlights 25 simple steps that ensure a safe place for children. Eco-Healthy childcares commit to reducing a child’s exposure to toxics and other environmental health hazards.  Facilities must meet a list of criteria addressing air quality issues and exposure to pesticides, lead, and other toxins. To read more on these standards, click here.

Learn about the Dangers of Some Baby Bottles

You may have heard in the news recently that there is quite a bit of concern out there that the plastics in baby bottles may be leeching a chemical that is linked to developmental defects, cancer and infertility. The chemical is called bisphenol A, or BPA, is used to make hard polycarbonate plastic, and can be found in many items, including hard plastic bottles and in a lining of tin or aluminum cans.

Please educate yourself on this topic and decide what is right for you. You can learn more about a recent report cited on CBS News here — the report is by the Work Group for Safe Markets. Or learn more on this topic from WebMD.