The Food and Drug Administration is encouraging families to limit their children’s exposure to a chemical found in thousands of household products.

CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace reports that, for years, concerned mothers, environmental groups and some scientists have been warning that Bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, is unsafe, and can lead to cancers, diabetes and other diseases.

“You may have heard that McNeil Consumer Healthcare (the makers of TYLENOL®) is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Children’s and Infants’ TYLENOL® liquid products that were manufactured between April, 2008 and June, 2008. All products manufactured met internal specifications. However, the company is implementing this recall because during this period, an unused portion of one inactive ingredient did not meet all quality standards. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, it was decided to recall all Children’s and Infants’ TYLENOL® liquid products listed below, which were made during this time.”

Recalled Products – Full List

1. Buy Extra Sheets

During their first year newborn babies can create many messes and it is always prudent to be prepared to deal with them as they happen.  One of the best ways to be prepared is to have anywhere from 1 to 4 extra sheets ready to go when messes occur, and they well.

2. Make Sure Everything Fits

Although most baby bedding is made to a standardized crib size it is still a good idea to go ahead and make sure that everything fits before the baby is born, this will give you time to make any changes if necessary.  You really want to aim for a snug fit from the crib bedding to the mattress for the most safety conscience setting.  Once you have a good snug fit then go ahead and wash all the bedding both for hygiene and also that washing will help make the materials soft for your child’s comfort.  Remember that baby’s skin is much more sensitive then ours.

3. Planning for the Future

Here are some thoughts on budgeting.  There are many purchases that you can really skimp on when baby planning and others that it is wise to invest a little more.  Baby bedding falls into the later category.  Most standard sized baby bedding will seamlessly transfer from cribs to toddler beds, this means you really can get much more use out of it then just the infant stage.

The CSC commissioned an independent laboratory to analyze the contents of 48 products marketing for use by babies for the two cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.  The real concern is not neccessarily that one product may contain small amounts of these dangerous chemicals but that many of them would and the small amounts would add up and potentially lead to illness.  Both of these chemicals are known carcinogens and are associated with a number of health problems.  Many countries have laws restricting the use of these chemicals in care products, the United States is not one of those countries.  Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are not intenionally added to products.  Formaldahyde is a by-product of many commonly used preservatives.  1,4-dioxane is a by-product of chemical processing and can be removed from the product but manufacturers are not required to do so under current law.  Common ingredients likely to be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane include PEG-100 stearate, sodium laureth sulfate, polyethylene and ceteareth-20.

source: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

•    Lay baby on his or her back on a firm mattress that fits tightly into a crib that meets current safety standards.

•    Take out any excess comforters, stuffed toys, and pillows.

•    Look into using sleep clothing as an alternative to blankets.

•    If using a blanket be sure to tuck it in under around the crib mattress and reaching up only as high as the infant’s chest.

•    Room temperature should be comfortable for an adult in light clothing.

•    Make sure child’s head remains uncovered during sleep.

Although the cause of SIDS is still a topic of debate, some experts maintain that off-gassing by chemicals used in baby bedding is the culprit.  One way to sidestep this possible problem is to avoid potentially toxic chemicals in your baby’s crib and bedding.  It is advised when budgeting for your child’s sleep setup that you consider organic bedding options.  It is also a good idea to occasionally check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for any recalls.  Knowledge is the most effective tool in ensuring that the choices you make regarding your baby’s crib and bedding are the right choices to preserve your baby’s safe and happy development.