Mamahood

I cannot help but think:

- Do my baby’s toys contain PVC (a potentially hazardous chemical)?

- Do his bottles (which we rarely use–I breastfeed so we only give my son bottles of pumped breastmilk when I’m away) contain BPA (another nasty chemical)?

- Have his clothes been dyed with harsh chemicals?

- Did kids in sweatshops make his clothes?

- How was the cotton grown? Would I be proud of my son’s clothing been manufactured in such a way?

Worries, I know.

But I’m a mom and I want to protect my son from… everything, it seems. I don’t know how companies can be so greedy as to put questionable chemicals (or chemicals in general, even) in baby toys sold to the masses. How can they allow BPA to be in bottles, at the risk of leaching into baby’s milk? How can these corporations enslave children in other countries to make clothes for kids in America that are sold triple the price than what they’re worth?

And formula companies… don’t even get me started. If Hell does exist, I truly believe all formula manufacturers have a nice seat reserved down there.( More on those scum-of-the-Earths later.)

If anyone’s innocent in this world, it’s children–babies especially. And yet, they aren’t free from being sold crappy stuff that may cause cancer and destroy the earth that sustains them.

I hear how people say, “Oh we grew up with this stuff and we were fine.” Sure about that? Plus, why would you want to settle? And why are you willing to destroy the environment (something that will definitely take its toll down the road…)?

From now on I’m only buying wooden toys, a BPA-free bottle (all Medela bottles and pumps are BPA-free) and mostly used baby clothes. Maybe I’ll get crafty, buy some undyed organic clothes and make ‘em pretty myself. Hey, whatever it takes. Now’s the time to fight back.