Keep mobile devices away from your baby's body
Although you can’t see it, electromagnetic radiation is all around your baby. Not everyone is aware that, for example, a cordless baby monitor emits radiation or that a cordless phone is effectively a mast in your own home acting as a transmitter.
Ever thought about the levels of radiation your baby is exposed to?
Whenever we, at Families, speak to parents about the level of EMR their children are exposed to, the response is more or less the same: “It is probably not very good for us, however there are masts everywhere and every household receives so many strong WiFi signals from other houses, there is nothing I can do about it.”
Whilst is very tempting to want to bury your head in the sand on the subject of EMR, there is lots you can do to at least become well- informed and take simple precautions to keep you and your family protected.
Creating a Safe Zone at home
It’s better to be safe than sorry: follow these easy and practical steps to minimise risks of over exposure:
- do not place your wireless router close to baby’s bedroom
- switch off wireless routers, especially at night when not required
- pregnant women should not carry their phones next to their bodies, (as recommended in mobile phone instruction booklets!)
- mobile phones should not come to rest anywhere close to the baby’s body, not in the pram, not in your pocket etc.
- choose low-radiation or analogue baby monitors. If you really must use one, place it as far to baby as possible.
Don’t be complacent
Did you know there are a massive number of studies and reports, expert opinions and statements which state there is a “strong suspicion of possible damage” from EMR? Check out the information campaign called The Babysafe Project, which is coordinated by The Grassroots Environmental Education and Environmental Health Trust. Based on independent, scientific research it links exposure to wireless radiation from mobile phones during pregnancy to neurological problems and behavioural disorders similar to ADHD/ADD in children.
Who do you believe?
Olle Johansson, Associate Professor of The Experimental Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience in Stockholm says: “Various so-called “official expert reports” have been presented. These conclude that there is no cause for concern. It makes me very worried. This would mean that all the thousands of papers published on very serious side-effects of electromagnetic radiation fields — in fully accredited scientific journals — must then all be wrong. Can this be true?”
Parliament has taken note
Both the European Parliament and the Council of Europe have listened to this. In 2011, the European Council, in its Resolution No. 1815: The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment, noted the following: “The precautionary principle should be applied when scientific evaluation does not allow the risk to be determined with sufficient certainty. Given the context of growing exposure of the population, in particular that of vulnerable groups such as young people and children, there could be extremely high human and economic costs if early warnings are neglected.” The resolution goes on to say: “…for children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to the wired Internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by school children on school premises.”
We, at Families, are very worried. If you are concerned about EMR and want to know more, email editor@familiesSW.co.ukIf there is sufficient interest, we will host a talk on the subject of EMR.
Inform yourselves