From eco-friendly toys to organic bedding, it is easier than ever to reduce toxin exposure in a child's everyday life. We must work together to create a postive change in our environment, as well as establish chemical regulations and bans, to ensure that future generations grow up healthy and happy.

ABOVE: Appealing to kids of any age, CuteSip bottles are safe, healthy and stylish. cutesip.com. The bedroom of Laura's oldest daughter was designed by Jillian Pritchard Cooke of DES-SYN (des-syn.com) and became a template for the interior certification set forth by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes. ecomanor.com. TOP: Aminals, a new line of organic cotton plush dolls, use only low impact and natural vegetable dyes and contain no synthetic poisons. aminaldoll.com.

Over the past six months I have had the privilege of partnering with the Emory University Department of Pediatrics to present the Enlightenment Lunch Series in Atlanta to raise awareness about the environmental health issues facing children today and the chronic illnesses that we’ve seen as a result.

Having tackled topics such as the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act with Environmental Working Group (EWG) President Ken Cook and the National Children’s Study with Mount Sinai’s Children’s Environmental Health Center Director Dr. Phil Landrigan, I have become extremely passionate about protecting our children from chemical body burdens. After seeing so many mothers and community leaders come together in support of cleaner air, chemical regulations and continued children’s health research, I know I am not alone.

In 1976 the Toxic Control Substances Act (TCSA) was made law and 64,000 chemicals were grandfathered in as approved chemicals by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since then, there has been no reform on TCSA and we’ve seen our chemical list grow to 82,000 chemicals that are legal to be used in the products we use daily. Surprisingly, since 1976 only 1,500 chemicals have been tested on adults, not children, and only five have been banned.

According to EWG, newborn babies on average are born pre-polluted with as many as 300 industrial chemicals in their little bodies. The vulnerability to environmental elements that babies face within the womb continues on when they’re born, warns EWG President Ken Cook.

“Unlike adults, infants and children are rapidly growing and during this critical period when the brain, nervous system and other organs are developing, coming in contact with industrial chemicals, even at low levels, can have severe, life-long impacts to their health,” Ken said.

Currently challenging the EPA’s lack of testing is the Kid Safe Chemicals Act (ewg.org), which would ensure all chemicals used in children’s products are tested, establishing a safety standard nationwide and ultimately eliminating the cocktail of toxins we’re immersing our kids in.
Until this safety standard is in effect, it is our responsibility as trusted adults to work to reduce and eliminate unnecessary toxins to which we expose our young loved ones.

While it doestake an extra effort to make this happen, an overwhelming number of resources, organizations and experts are available to help guide us on this journey.

A logical first place to begin eliminating chemicals is the nursery, since studies show a newborn baby will sleep on average 16-18 hours per day. Naomi Mann, owner of Mann-Made Designs (mann-made.com), an Atlanta interior design firm specializing in eco-friendly design, advises this to all her clients and has successfully transformed a number of baby nurseries into chemical-free havens, ridding them of chemical off-gassing as a result of formaldehydes and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).

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