Parents Beware! Baby Teethers Rumored To Contain Hormone-Disruptors
Parents try their best to save their precious little babies from any kind of harm. Their food, cloths and bedding, everything is taken special care of. Everything is double checked to ensure hygiene and safety. Despite their best efforts there is a common mistake that one must be wary of.
Baby and toys often go hand in hand. So much so that its impossible to imagine them without each other. Unlike adults its natural for babies to mouth everything. Teethers are specially made for this purpose however a recent study suggests these seemingly harmless toys impose bigger health threats.
According to Reuters some of the teethers labelled BPA free or Non-Toxic may not be fully free of the harmful chemicals. Researchers are casting their doubt over the possible presence of hormone disruptors in these teethers.
Testing 59 teethers available online, the research reported in the Journal Environmental Science and Technology concluded that all of them contained Bisphenol-A (BPA). Its a widely used constituent in personal care products and plastic related goods.
Exposure of infants to such harmful chemicals so early on affects their overall life majorly. BPA is rumoured to impose health threats like Diabetes, Obesity and Neurological problems. Its also believed to interfere in baby's hormones and cause developmental and reproductive issues.
CBS News reports that BPA usage is banned or restricted by U.S. regulators in certain baby products like bottles and cups. Ironically one of the most used baby care product teether remains scot-free. Its a disturbing finding for parents, considering use of teether is almost unavoidable for teething babies.
Though the study does not reveal the manufacturers involved in this test, there is definitely a need of stricter regulation and law against all those involved. As a precautionary measure for teething babies their parents can use frozen carrot or bagels to chew on. Teethers made of wood can also be a good alternative.