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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   3261 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for July 9, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

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Co-sleeping isn't recommended in the US but I live in Japan and it's not particularly dispreferred here, and we co-slept with our first boy. Our bed was very big and I am an extremely light sleeper--I was especially then. We had light coverings and never any problems. We did have a crib for him, however, on many nights, and wrapped him up tight. You want to avoid him rolling over and getting all caught up in the pillows and quilts and whatever. That isn't good. The "too dependent" thing I really don't get and have never heard of, but I understand the idea of suffocation, especially if the parent is a heavy sleeper. I woke at the slightest peep in those days.

My advice is mostly for the mom: Sleep when the baby sleeps if at all possible. And for dad: Get shit done that mom is too tired to do. I was a dishwasher, cook, cleaner, carrier-around of crying baby, coo-er of sweet nothings, singer, feeder, diaper-changer, baby-bather, formula-giver. About the only thing I didn't do was breastfeed. Even then I felt like my wife did most of the figurative hard-lifting as I was at work most of the day. Also re: baby bathing: When the child is young you have no choice but to hold him/ her in whatever the bath. As they grow, the temptation might be to leave them for a second if you have something you need to do-- a door needs closing, phone answering, etc. Do not do it. Do not leave the child alone. I had a close call once when I walked out of the room for literally ten seconds and when I came back my youngest son was submerged in water. Not good. He hadn't been under more than a second, but it was enough to make me feel like I had dodged a very, very bad thing.

Finally, limit or avoid wifey's exposure to phthalates, which has been called "The Everywhere Chemical."

The following from Public Health and Preventative Medicine Boulton & Wallace, 2022:

Phthalates have well-documented antiandrogenic properties; they can not only mimic or inhibit hormones but can also alter target tissue response to hormonal signaling. ...

While epidemiologic studies of the health effects of phthalate exposure have been mixed, with associations varying by phthalate metabolite, in general, phthalates been associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Experimental evidence suggests that maternal-fetal transfer of phthalates occurs during gestation, and phthalate monoester metabolites have been detected in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, and meconium.Exposure to phthalates during fetal development or early childhood may be particularly detrimental.

Increased maternal exposure to phthalates during gestation has been associated with alterations in birth outcomes (infant size and gestational duration), as well as alterations in anogenital distance and digit ratio (ratio of second digit to fourth digit), both of which are markers of fetal testosterone production. Additionally, many studies have found adverse impacts of prenatal phthalate exposure on neurodevelopmental outcomes. Prospective epidemiologic studies have reported decreased cognition and increased behavioral problems [including anxiety, depression, autistic-like behaviors, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, aggressiveness, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder-like behaviors] in children born to mothers with higher urinary concentrations of select phthalate metabolites during pregnancy. However, the direction and magnitude of these associations, as well as the implicated phthalates, have been inconsistent across studies. Many studies have reported sex-specific effects, indicating that the neurodevelopmental consequences of early-life phthalate exposure tend to be more detrimental in males.

Finally, limit or avoid wifey's exposure to phthalates, which has been called "The Everywhere Chemical."

If you're going to give advice like that, maybe add a few hints on how to avoid something called "The Everywhere Chemical"...

Fair call. From the link I posted:

Read Labels to avoid phthalates.

The most common products using phthalate compounds are:

PVC Products

Phthalates are frequently added to PVC (vinyl) products to soften and make more flexible.

If a plastic product is flexible, it probably contains phthalates unless the label specifically says it does not.

Personal Care Products

Phthalates are often added to personal care products, such as nail polish, perfumes, deodorants, hair gels, shampoos, soaps, hair sprays, and body lotions, to help lubricate other substances in the formula and to carry fragrances. Phthalates must be listed among the ingredients on product labels, unless they are added as a part of the “fragrance.” Under current law, they can then simply be labeled “fragrance,” even though they may make up 20% or more of the product.

Many companies have voluntarily removed phthalates from their products. A company will usually label its product “phthalate-free.” If unsure, call the company. If you can’t get information from the manufacturer, look for alternatives.

How can I recognize plastic toys and containers containing phthalates?

All plastics are not the same. One easy way to recognize plastic toys, clothing, bottles, food and beverage storage containers, and/or food wrap that may contain phthalate compounds is to look for the number 3 inside the universal recycling symbol usually molded into the plastic on the bottom of the product.Avoid products with the number 3 within the arrows and the letters “V” or “PVC” below the arrows.

The article has diagrams and goes on a bit more but I am on mobile and pasting from that PDF already was tedious to reformat.

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