BABY SAFETY
an end to our misery! Kleynimals is the only
stainless steel teether of its kind, made to fill the
need for that naturally cool surface and unique
metal-on-metal clinking sound. Our babies
found them irresistible at first sight!
B AT T E R I E S
There are increasing cases of toddlers swallowing batteries, especially the small lithium cell
batteries found in remote controls.7
A study published in Pediatrics focusing on the
small lithium cell batteries (button batteries)
found in remote control devices suggested that
ingested button batteries can cause severe tissue
damage and have fatal consequences within just
two hours.8 The CDC has found that more than
40,000 children under the age of 13 (72 percent
were 4 years old or younger) went to the ER for
battery-related injuries between 1997 and 2010;
14 of those children died.9
Be sure to keep all loose batteries in a locked
drawer or cabinet that is well out of reach. The
AAP recommends you secure battery compartments on a ll electronic items with tape.
B A BY G E A R M A D E F R O M
VINYL
Vinyl, otherwise known as polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), is widely regarded as the single most
toxic of all plastics10 and is commonly found in
baby bibs,11 teethers, bath toys, bath seats/gear,
baby mattresses, pet toys, handbags12 and 99%
of all inflatable items (including many portable
cribs).13
PVC is known to contain high levels of phthalates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
organotins, lead, cadmium and other metals.
12
And to make matters worse, heat and humidity
(like that found in little teething mouths!) can
increase the release of these chemicals from the
plastic.14
Avoiding PVC is tough because it’s absolutely
everywhere. But don’t worry! We’ve done
some in-depth research to help you locate safer
teethers, bath toys and bath seats.
REMOTE CONTROLS,
P H O N E S A N D TA B L E T S
We’re all guilty of giving in and letting our babies play with electronics. In fact, 58% of parents surveyed by Energizer and Safe Kids said
their children like adult electronic devices more
than their little-kid toys.15
We’ve already talked about the dangers of batteries in remotes, but you should also be aware
of a more insidious problem: brominated flame
retardants.16
Brominated flame retardants, also known as
PBDEs, are found primarily in the plastic casing
(but also circuit boards) and are most widely
used in North America. They are very similar
to PCBs, which have been linked to immune
suppression, altered sexual development, cancer, delayed brain development, lower IQ, and
behavioral problems like hyperactivity in humans. As with PCBs, exposure to PBDEs may
be particularly harmful during a critical window of brain development during pregnancy
and early childhood. In the 26 years since the
ban, numerous studies have documented permanent, neurological impairment to children
from low level PCB exposure.17
It’s important to teach your little ones that these
items are off limits from the start. If you’re desperate