New publications
How do you keep your child safe from dangers in the house?
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

The health of small children can be at risk if the air in the house is polluted with various toxic chemicals. These substances can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks and even cancer in children.
The reason for this may be furniture items, carpets and even surfaces that have been painted for a long time. To protect the health of the youngest members of the family, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate sources that can cause great harm to health.
As research by experts shows, paradoxically, the most dangerous place in the house is often the nursery, which caring parents try to decorate as best as possible for the long-awaited child. They paint the walls, buy new furniture and lay soft carpets so that the baby will be cozy and comfortable when he is born. However, according to an experiment conducted by scientists, a week after the renovation and bringing in new furniture to the nursery, up to 300 different chemicals accumulate in the air, many of which can cause great harm to the child's health if inhaled for a long time.
Eliminating this threat is not easy, but there are several ways that will help, if not eliminate the problem, then at least reduce its threat.
- Buy used furniture
Surely many will not like this, but such a dangerous highly toxic allergen as formaldehyde is weathered from new furniture in about five years. And its effect when it gets on mucous membranes can cause pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis and other "little things", such as coughing, eye irritation and runny nose. Therefore, before you categorically disagree with this recommendation, think carefully about the consequences that can come from beautiful and new, but very dangerous furniture.
- Bed linen and mattress made of natural materials
It is better not to save on this and buy bedding made of high-quality cotton fabric. The same can be said about mattresses. Most modern, springless mattresses are made with the addition of various chemicals based on petroleum products, such as fire retardants - unstable compounds that evaporate and enter the human respiratory tract during sleep.
- Use natural dyes
When buying natural paint, we wonder whether it really differs from the usual one or is it another trick of the manufacturers? Natural paints are those that contain only natural components and no harmful substances or petroleum products. Each package of such paint comes with a full declaration of composition, which you can study personally.
- How to use household chemicals less often
Despite the fact that detergents and cleaning products help us keep our home clean, they are not called chemicals for nothing and only create the illusion of safety. Whenever possible, replace these products with natural products, such as soda, vinegar and laundry soap.