Read What to Expect the Toddler Years Online
Authors: Heidi Murkoff
What to Expect the Toddler Years (224 page)
Anything else in your home that would be dangerous if mouthed or swallowed by your child. See list of poisons, page 637. For precautions to take to keep your toddler’s food and water safe, see
Chapter Eighteen
.
The air in the average home looks harmless enough, and chances are it smells harmless enough, too. Yet in some homes, there are substances in the air that can’t be seen, can’t be smelled, but can be harmful. To make sure the air you and your toddler breathe at home is safe, be alert to the following sources of indoor air pollution:
Tobacco smoke.
This is the major contributor to indoor air pollution in this country; about 1 in 3 children is exposed to tobacco smoke at home. The risks are many. Tobacco smoke, even secondhand, weakens the airways, making them more vulnerable to germs, poisons, and
pollutants, and reduces blood levels of vitamin C (an anti-oxidant important for immunity, which it is believed may protect against such serious health problems as cancer, heart disease, and cataracts). Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke on a regular basis are more susceptible to asthma, tonsillitis, respiratory infections, ear infections, and to bacterial and viral infections severe enough to land them in the hospital. On average, one study found, they are more likely than other children to be in fair or poor health. They also, as a group, score lower on tests of reasoning ability and vocabulary. Children of smokers appear, too, to have an increased risk down the road of developing lung cancer or cancer of the cervix, brain, thyroid, or breast. In addition to these risks, smoking in front of a young child sets a poor example; children who see someone they love smoke are more likely to become smokers themselves, with all the serious risk for a shortened life span that the habit involves. So it’s not surprising that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges parents not to permit smoking at home or in the presence of their children.
Carbon monoxide.
This colorless, odorless, tasteless, but treacherous gas (it can cause lung ailments, impair vision and brain function, and is fatal in high doses) that results from the burning of fuel can enter your home from many sources. So take steps to keep it out: Be sure that wood stoves and kerosene heaters (if you must use one) are properly vented (ask the fire department to check). Keep your heating system in good working order. Speed up combustion in slow-burning wood stoves by keeping the damper open. Do not permit charcoal fires or propane heaters indoors. Be sure that gas stoves and other gas appliances are properly vented (install an exhaust fan to the outdoors to draw out fumes) and adjusted (if the flame isn’t blue, have the adjustment checked). If you’re purchasing a new gas range, opt for an electric ignition to reduce the amount of combustion gases released; and
never
use a gas stove for heating your home, or part of it. Never leave fireplace fires to smolder (douse them with water), and clean chimneys and flues regularly. Never leave a car idling, even briefly, in a garage that is attached to your home (open the garage door before starting the car), and cool off an overheated car before closing the garage door. If your home has a combination of risks for carbon monoxide pollution (an attached garage, a wood stove, and an old heating system, for example, or you use your fireplace a lot), consider having the indoor air checked periodically for carbon monoxide emissions or installing a carbon monoxide detector, which would warn you of increasing levels before they became dangerous.
Benzopyrenes.
A long list of respiratory problems (from eyes, nose, and throat irritation, to asthma and bronchitis, to emphysema and cancer) can be attributed to the presence of the tar-like organic particles that result from the incomplete combustion of tobacco or wood. To prevent your toddler being exposed, allow no tobacco smoking in your home, be sure the flue that vents smoke from a wood fire doesn’t leak, vent combustion appliances (such as dryers) to the outdoors, change air filters on appliances as needed, and increase ventilation (tight weather-stripping keeps heat in more efficiently, but also traps potentially dangerous fumes).
Particulate matter.
A wide variety of particles, invisible to the naked eye, can pollute indoor air and present a hazard to children. They come from such sources as household dust, tobacco smoke, wood smoke, unvented gas appliances, kerosene heaters, and asbestos insulation and construction materials (which have been linked to a wide variety of illnesses,
including some cancers and heart disease). The same precautions discussed above (banning smoking, keeping filters clean, ensuring proper venting and adequate ventilation) can minimize the threat from particulate matter. A reliable air filter unit can remove many particulates and is especially valuable if some-one in the family has allergies. If you find asbestos in your home, get professional advice on whether it should be removed or encased, and deal with it before particles become airborne.
INDOOR PEST CONTROL: SORRY FOR PESTS, STILL SAFE FOR TODDLERS
Ants. Roaches. Mice. Termites. Unwelcome pests infiltrate homes in virtually every part of the country—at least occasionally. And whether the pests where you live are simply annoying or downright dangerous, you’ll likely want to keep them out of your home or get rid of them once they enter. But how do you do this without using substances hazardous to your toddler? Try:
Blocking tactics.
Install window and door screens (don’t leave unscreened windows and doors open) and screen or otherwise close off entry points for insects and vermin. Don’t count on screens, however, to keep your toddler
in
; see page 623.
Natural measures.
Check the bookstore or library for a guide that suggests a variety of methods for “natural” pest control, or check the shelves of your local health-food store or supermarket for nontoxic pesticides. But keep in mind that though these products are usually good for the environment, they are not always safe for children. A mix of cayenne pepper and water, for example, may seem relatively harmless, but it could injure a child who tried to eat it or rubbed it in his or her eyes. Ultrasound pest fighters, incidentally, are not effective.
Sticky insect or rodent traps.
Not reliant on killer chemicals, these snare crawling insects in enclosed boxes (roach traps) or containers (ant traps), flies on old-fashioned fly paper (with no added insecticide), and mice on sticky rectangles. Because human skin can stick to their surfaces (the separation can often be awkward or even painful) these traps must still be kept out of the reach of children or put out after they are in bed at night and taken up before they are up and around in the morning. From a purely humane standpoint, these traps have the disadvantage of prolonging the death of their victims.
Baited traps.
These traps do contain a poison, but it gives off no chemical fumes and is enclosed in the trap, making it more difficult for a toddler to reach. Still, place the traps out of reach of your child.
Box traps.
The tenderhearted can catch rodents in box traps and then release them in fields or woods far from residential areas, though this isn’t always easy. Because the trapped rodents can bite, the traps should be kept out of the reach of children or put out and carefully monitored when children are not around.
Safe use of chemical pesticides.
Virtually all chemical pesticides—including the much-touted boric acid—are highly toxic, not just to pests but to people as well. If you opt to use them,
do not
spread them (or store them) where young children can get to them or on food-preparation surfaces. Always use the least toxic substance available for the job. If you use a spray, keep the children out of the house while spraying and for the rest of the day, at least. Better still, have the spraying done while you’re on vacation or otherwise away from home for a time. When you return, open all the windows for a few hours to air out your home.
To find information on safer pest control, contact: Beyond Pesticides, (202) 543-5450, beyondpesticides.org; National Pesticide Information Center, (800) 858-7378, npic.orst.edu; or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), epa.gov, where you can also find the contact information for an EPA office near you.
PUTTING WORRY IN PERSPECTIVE
From the moment the pregnancy test comes back positive, worry is an inevitable part of parenting. You worry when they don’t sleep through the night—and when they
do
sleep through the night. You worry when they haven’t taken their first step yet, and once they have, you worry about what they’re going to step into. You worry about them making friends, then you worry about the friends they make.
All parents worry. And a certain amount of worry is healthy—it keeps us on our toes, watchful, thoughtful, careful, and (also inevitably) in close contact with the pediatrician. But too much or the wrong kind of worry—worry that becomes excessive or obsessive—can keep both parents and children from fully enjoying the wonder years of childhood.
It makes sense to worry enough so that you do a good job of keeping your toddler safe—but not so much that you keep your toddler from being a toddler. Enough so that you only frequent playgrounds where safe construction ensures safe fun, and enough so that you keep an eye on your toddler’s activities at the play-ground—but not so much that you make all playground equipment off-limits. Enough so that you take sensible precautions in crowded stores and crowded streets—but not so much that you never let your toddler out of the house. Enough so that you carefully screen babysitters and other care-givers before you leave your toddler alone with them—but not so much that you never trust your child with anyone but yourself.
Children pick up on parental anxiety; when it’s exaggerated, it can slow the development of skills and compromise their confidence by making them as apprehensive as their parents. Growing requires taking calculated chances, and children whose parents have made them afraid of taking any chances can’t move forward.
So don’t stop worrying entirely, but try to keep your worry in check and in perspective. Use it to keep your toddler safe, not stifled; to keep your child secure in your love, not suffocated by it.
Miscellaneous fumes.
Fumes from some cleaning fluids, from aerosol sprays, and from turpentine and other painting-related materials can be toxic. So, always use the least toxic you can find (such as water-based paints, beeswax floor waxes, paint thinners made from plant oils). In fact, you should avoid paint thinners—or any other product—containing methylene chloride. Use the product in question in a very well-ventilated area and never use it when infants or children are nearby. When possible, use pump sprays rather than aerosols. Store all household products safely out of reach of curious little hands, preferably in an outdoor storage area.
Formaldehyde.
With so many products in our modern world containing formaldehyde (from the resins in particle-board furniture to the sizing in decorator fabrics and the adhesives in carpeting), it isn’t surprising that this gas—which is linked to respiratory problems, rashes, nausea, and other symptoms in humans—is everywhere. The levels of formaldehyde gas released are highest when an item is new, but the gas can continue to be released in decreasing quantities for months or longer. To minimize the potential damage, look for products that are formaldehyde-free (or well-sealed, to prevent its escape) when building or furnishing your home. There are various strategies for dealing with items you already have, but the simplest and nicest is strategically placing house plants throughout your home (be sure they are safe plants; see page 658). Fifteen or twenty plants can apparently absorb the formaldehyde gas in an average-size house. If you suspect high levels in your home, log on to
3m.com
for information about their formaldehyde testing device.
POISON CONTROL
Every year, some 1.2 million children in the U.S. accidentally ingest a hazardous substance. This is not surprising. Children, particularly very young ones, often explore and test their environment orally. Virtually anything they pick up will go right to the mouth, no matter how inappropriate, foul-tasting—or toxic. They don’t stop to consider whether a substance or object is safe or edible. Nor do their unsophisticated taste buds or sense of smell warn them, as ours do, that a substance is dangerous because it tastes or smells vile.
To protect your toddler from the perils of poisoning, follow these rules without fail:
Lock all potentially poisonous substances out of reach and out of sight of your toddler; even crawlers can climb up on low chairs, stools, or cushions to get to things left on tables or counters.
Follow all safety rules for administering or taking medicines (see page 594), including not referring to medicine as “candy” and not taking medicine in front of your child.
Be alert for repeat poisonings; a child who has ingested a poison once is statistically likely to make the same mistake again within the year.
Avoid buying brightly colored or engagingly packaged household cleansers, laundry detergents, and other inedibles. If necessary, remove or cover illustrations that might attract your child (but be sure instructions and warnings remain visible). Never transfer toxic substances to other containers (especially not to familiar food containers). Also avoid purchasing potentially toxic substances with appealing fragrances (such as mint, lemon, apricot, almond, or floral).
Purchase products that have childproof packaging, when possible—but don’t rely on it to keep your toddler from getting them open; store them safely away.
Make a habit of closing all containers tightly and returning hazardous substances to safe storage immediately after each use; don’t put a spray can of furniture polish or a box of dishwasher detergent down “just for a minute” while you answer the phone or the door.
Store food and nonfood items separately, and never put nonedibles in empty food containers (bleach in an apple-juice bottle, for example, or lubricating oil in a jelly jar). Children learn very early where their food comes from, and will assume that what they see is what they’ll get without pondering why the “juice” isn’t golden or the “jelly” isn’t purple.
Never leave alcoholic beverages within your toddler’s reach. An amount that merely relaxes you could make your toddler deathly ill. Keep all wine and liquor bottles in a locked cabinet or bar; if you keep beer in the refrigerator, store it on the highest, farthest shelf. Keep a close watch on your toddler at parties where half-finished drinks might be left around, and never offer “just a sip” of your drink for fun. Empty all glasses containing alcohol before retiring for the night; an early riser might just go around sampling leftovers.
When discarding potentially poisonous substances, empty them down the toilet—unless they can harm the septic system or pipes, in which case follow label directions for disposal. Rinse the containers before discarding (unless the label instructs otherwise) and put them out in a
tightly covered
trash can or recycling bin immediately. Never toss them in a wastebasket or an open kitchen garbage can. If you have a hazardous waste disposal program in your community, necessitating storing poisons until a particular day, make absolutely certain these materials are tightly sealed and in no way accessible to your toddler or other children.
Be aware of lead hazards. Make sure your toddler isn’t around peeling paint or renovation dust and avoid buying cosmetics, food containers, and tableware that have lead. The CDC (cdc.gov) lists toys that have been recalled because of lead.
Always choose the less-hazardous household product over the one with a long list of warnings and precautions. Among those products generally considered “less” hazardous: nonchlorine bleaches, vinegar, Bon Ami, borax, baking (or washing) soda, lemon oil, beeswax, olive oil (for furniture), nonchemical flypaper, Elmer’s glue, mineral oil (for lubrication), compressed-air drain openers.