Babies - Why Are They Vulnerable?

As a single dad I make it one of my greatest priorities to be well informed about what is best for my son and take his upbringing very seriously. I may not be able to be there for him during the day, but I can at least help his minder to bring him up in the best environment.

You do not have to be a scientist or a well informed individual to believe that the early years of a baby are crucial to their development. Babies are fragile little human beings and the world they are exposed to profoundly affect them as they grow.

But what is it about babies in their first few years that make them more vulnerable to harmful chemicals then older children and adults? Why can chemicals in the early years have such a negative impact on people for many years to come? And what does all this have to do with living organically?

Exposure

To help us answer our questions, it helps to cover how chemicals from the outside world can enter our bodies and why babies are more exposed.

• Via the Mouth (Food & Water) – Per measure of body weight, babies and infants eat up to 4 times more food then adults do. Consequently, they are ingesting up to 4 times more toxins and chemicals then adults for every measure of weight.
• Air – In our first few years, the air we breathe in is double the amount of air (per measure of weight) that we will breathe in as adults. Babies and young children are therefore far more exposed to chemicals and toxins in the air.
• Skin – Babies skin is more permeable then adult skin allowing chemicals to penetrate much easily.

Behaviour

In addition to the physiological factors that increase the susceptibility of toxins to a baby are behavioural patterns that increase their exposure

• Hand to mouth – Babies spend a great deal of their time by placing things in their mouths. They are not picky either and as long as it can go inside their mouths, they will put it there. Not surprisingly, this behaviour will result in a greater exposure to chemicals and toxins.
• Ground play - Babies and children spend much of their time on the ground. There are many toxins and chemicals they can come into contact with while they are on the ground both in and outside the house.

Early Development

• Physiologically undeveloped - Baby’s and young children’s bodily systems are generally underdeveloped compared to those of adults and as a result their ability to process toxins and chemicals may be weak. The excretion of toxins for example may be lacking and with a much larger ingestion of food, fluid and air per weight measurement than adults, the effect of toxins has a much greater ability to inflict harm.
• Rapid development and growth – Growth and development occurs most in the first few years of life and as a result, any toxins which interfere with systems which are still being established in the human body can greatly impede development and destroy cells such as those of the brain and nervous system.

The Lack of Evidence Argument

A danger in not taking toxin exposure to babies and children seriously is the potential for those diseases or conditions that can develop as a result of exposure that occurred many years before. We are already aware of certain toxins that take decades to inflict their damage. If children are exposed early to toxins and chemicals, they have many years ahead of them for such toxins to slowly work at attacking their bodies.

It is often extremely difficult to pin point the specific source or culprit of a disease, with recognition that a chemical having the potential to cause disease at best. But do we need indisputable evidence before we decide that chemical exposure to babies and children is a serious enough issue to address?

I think that “the potential” of these products to harm my child throughout his life is plenty enough reason to take some notice. Why take the risk? Surely limiting the exposure of chemicals in my son’s environment can’t do any harm.

Babies & the Role of Organic Living

So now that I know I want to eliminate toxins and chemicals from my son’s life, where do I start? Well that seems quite clear to me, the pursuit of removing chemicals from food and other products has always fallen under the umbrella of organic living. I have a clue about organic living for adults.

But embarking on the idea of an organic lifestyle for babies and infants is a whole new world of considerations, from the chemicals used inside the home, to what we use in the gardens to deter snails. Babies are far more vulnerable then our adult selves and they need our protection.