Oh, vinyl

Why do you haunt me? In other words, why does everything I buy smell like chemical death & have to be returned? Most recently: this cute, polkadot Kushies changing pad. Not that you would know from the online product descriptions (including the one on the Kushies website), or the packaging, that this is backed with vinyl. That little gem of information is contained only in tiny type on the pad's tag. Ah, well. Thank goodness for diaper.com's friendly return policy, eh?

In case you missed it, vinyl flooring has been linked to autism, phthalates (contained in PVC/vinyl) have been linked to reduced mental development and softened bones, and phthalate exposure is linked to male reproductive system problems, including feminization of baby boys, altered hormone levels in baby boys and men, reduced sperm concentration and motility, and increased sperm DNA damage in men.

So, needless to say, I've been trying to avoid vinyl/PVC in my home and workplace, as well as in the baby stuff we're buying. It ain't easy, but it's worth it.

Oh, and I finally found a waterproof but scary-chemical-free changing pad:

I heart the Internet & eco-conscious companies!