Watch out that toaster might try to kill your family?

Question

I am asking this a a legitimate question, so before anyone gets all huffy, this isn't meant to be attacking anyone.

We all know about the woman here who keeps asking about Teflon coated shorts, but what I just noticed recently is that she is getting so worked up about only ONE article written TWO years ago. When I did a google search about the "issue" the only thing that really came up was yahoo answers. It appears she is really the only one worried about it.

So here is my question. How do you, as parents, decipher what is crap and what should be listened to? There are articles upon artilcles out there about various common things causing cancer and all sorts of horrible diseases etc. If you took all of these things to heart, you would certainly be living in a sealed off bubble by now. So how do you decide what to worry about and what to ignore? Certainly we all want the best for our children but where do you draw the line?

Answer 1

I think you should well know, that we don't draw the line anywhere. *Some* of us understand that the entire world is so toxic that children could possibly burst into flames or melt into a puddle if people even breathe on them.

*We* realised this in my day, so children were never dressed in teflon clothing, never had a holiday anywhere more than a mile from home, and were certainly *never* placed in a dangerous hot climate!

Answer 2

You've got to find balance, when you can. And, I think we all lose perspective sometimes, along the way. Those are the times when it's great to have support people in your life who respect and love you, who can tell you that you seem to be heading towards paralyzing obsession. Obsession that can steal the happiness from your life and from your relationships with the other people in your life.

As to deciphering what's a real threat for your life and what isn't - all you can do is rely on research, experience & your own personal common sense.

And, you also have to realize that there are some times when the benefits of a 'risky' undertaking may actually outweigh the odds of the potential risk. Some people are simply more daring than others, willing to take a few more chances in order to experience life more fully. Each person is going to have a different comfort level for that kind of thing.

This whole question is reminding me of that Sponge Bob episode - where Sponge Bob gets so obsessed with the dangers in the outside world that he ends up staying 'indoors' (and singing a melancholy song about it), with his 'friends' potato chip, used napkin and penny. (Yes, I do let my kids watch Sponge Bob - despite the fact that I know it will most certainly warp their minds :-p ) It took his facing and overcoming a *real* danger to make him realize that he should stop letting fear rule his life.

Answer 3

The nutjob your referring to has some serious issues. I as a parent do not listen to anything unless there is significate medical research (and not an independant study anyone can do those including your neighbor who is a trashman). I also chose to educate myself on many topics and not just *teflon shorts* (lol) I was/am the mother of a 14yr old angel who lost her battle on labor day of this yr and was in my daughters Dr's office often and asked questions. Questions I wanted answers to and he was more then willing to give me answers or find the answers and call me with what he found. Educate yourself and you dont have to worry.

By the way Ive never worried about my toaster, little concerned about my food processer though.. :-)

Answer 4

I agree its hard. I wasnt worry too much about the recent lead recalls, as I knew we didnt have diego and seseame street toys, until I saw the levels 180% over, some jewelry was almost pure lead.

But you can drive yourself crazy, same thing with over babyproofing. But then again, you have to wonderwhat all if some of this adhd, autism, cancers, etc, is contributed by our environment.

Its hard. We're just thankful to have good insurance, and try to eliminate the major risks.

Answer 5

I think that as parents we hopefully have some life experience and common sense to fall back on when in doubt. But wen you're really worried I think what you did was great and use the resources available to you like google or yahoo answers.
I think that wanting the best for our children is what keeps us motivate to keep learning.

Answer 6

I try not to be a worrier at all. I figure that worrying will kill me just as fast as all the products that are supposed to. If it's a story on something that been around forever, then I don't believe it until it's proved. I figure it hasn't killed me yet...

Answer 7

Well, I can't honestly say I've ever worried about my toaster....my blender on the other hand I'm keeping a very close eye on!

Answer 8

I would like to think it is common sense. If you hide your kids from everything and overreact about EVERTHING going on in this world-what kind of lif is that?

Answer 9

I agree with you, I just don't pay attention, she's hilarious cause it's so nonsense!

Answer 10

Dupont is a huge multi-billion pound/dollar enterprise and many articles have been removed from the internet for "legal" reasons.
Even if the clothing itself were harmless the manufacture of it *could* (allegedly) cause environmental problems.
Whether for my Grandchildren as individuals or for their/our future I would rather be safe than sorry especially when suitable alternative school clothing is available - even if you might have to spend two minutes of your precious time actually *ironing* it sometimes - horror of horrors!

http://www.health-report.co.uk/teflon_poisoning_denied.htm

Edit : From the above -

"In the 1980's, a DuPont study of female workers exposed to the substance
found that two out of seven women gave birth to babies with facial defects
similar to those observed in the offspring of rats that had been exposed to
PFOA in another study. In its complaint, the E.P.A. charged that DuPont had
also detected PFOA in the blood of at least one of the fetuses and in public
drinking water in communities near DuPont plants, but did not report that it
had done the tests."

Thank you for the thumbs downs by the way.

http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2896195.ece