Welcome back to our newest contributor - Dr. Taylor Bean.
Dr. Taylor Bean is a Canadian Naturopathic Doctor and the owner of Taylor Made Wellness in Salmon Arm, BC. Read more about her at the bottom of this post.
For her second contibution, she explains Why Choosing Clean Cleaning Supplies Matters for Infants and Children - part 1.
Now, let's get into it.
Our homes are meant to be safe havens for our families — especially for infants and young children whose bodies are still developing. But everyday household cleaners often contain chemicals that can pose risks to children’s health. Understanding why clean cleaning supplies matter, which ingredients are most concerning, and how to choose safer alternatives can help protect your family from unnecessary chemical exposure.
The Vulnerability of Infants and Children
Infants and young children are more vulnerable to chemical exposures than adults for several reasons:
- Their bodies and organs (lungs, liver, kidneys) are still developing and less able to detoxify toxic substances.
- They breathe more air per body weight than adults, increasing inhalation exposure.
- Their breathing zones are closer to the floor, where residues may settle.
- They put hands and objects in their mouths, leading to ingestion of residues on surfaces.
Because of these factors, even low-level repeated exposures to chemicals from cleaning products may have an outsized impact on children’s health.
Common Harmful Ingredients and Why They Matter
There are eight common cleaning product ingredients that have evidence of harm especially for children and I am going to focus on four of them.
How These Chemicals Cause Harm
Respiratory Effects
Chemicals like quats, bleach, ammonia, and VOCs emit fumes that can irritate the lungs — triggering coughing, wheezing, and asthma symptoms in children whose airways are still developing.
Indoor Air Quality Impacts
Many cleaning products release VOCs into indoor air, contributing to poor air quality — a significant issue since children spend most of their time indoors.
For many families, these changes result in noticeably fewer coughing episodes, improved breathing during cleaning, and less persistent odors — all indicators of improved indoor environmental quality.
Why we choose clean
Our children deserve homes that nurture their health, not pose harm. Because infants and young children are uniquely sensitive to airborne and surface chemicals, everyday cleaning products containing concerning ingredients such as phthalates, quats to bleach should be a priority. By choosing safer alternatives, reading labels, using certified products, and incorporating gentle cleaning techniques, families can significantly reduce chemical exposure and create a healthier indoor environment. Clean cleaning isn’t just about fragrances and sparkle — it’s about safeguarding the health and development of the people we care about most.
References
- Landrigan, P.J., et al. Children’s health and the environment: A global perspective. Acta Paediatrica (2004).
- U.S. EPA (2018). Exposure Factors Handbook.
- Jones, A.P. Indoor air quality and health. Atmospheric Environment (1999).
- Bearer, C.F. Hand‑to‑mouth behavior and chemical exposure in children. Environmental Health Perspectives(1995).
- Rumchev, K., et al. Domestic use of chemical disinfectants and asthma prevalence. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2009).
- Swan, S.H. Environmental phthalate exposure in relation to reproductive outcomes. Journal of Reproductive Toxicology (2008).
- Basketter, D., et al. Allergic contact dermatitis and detergent irritants. Contact Dermatitis (2017).
- Wolkoff, P. Indoor air pollutants: VOCs and health effects. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health (2013).
- Bernstein, J.A., et al. Health effects of indoor air pollutants: Ventilation and cleaning. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2002).
- Mendell, M.J., et al. Indoor residential chemical emissions and asthma. Environmental Health Perspectives(2011).
- Grandjean, P. & Landrigan, P.J. Neurodevelopmental effects of environmental chemical exposures. Lancet(2006).
About Dr. Taylor Bean
Dr. Taylor Bean is a Naturopathic Doctor and owner of TaylorMade Wellness in Salmon Arm, BC. Becoming a mother is where her core value of achieving informed consent was born. While her profession taught her to be curious and treat each patient individually, it was her positive birthing experiences that changed her perspective on what a true doctor patient relationship means. Her career started in Singapore where she supported patients all over SE Asia and now has been supporting Canadians since 2016. Dr. Bean has been drawn to supporting women achieve an optimal pregnancy, labour preparation, paediatric wellness, complex pediatric conditions, and chronic infections such as Lyme and mold illness. She is currently the only BC healthcare provider that has their fellowship with the Medical Academy of Pediatrics and Special Needs, which provides functional training for complex pediatric cases. She is currently obtaining her fellowship with Psychiatry Redefined, which is functional training in psychiatry.
Find Dr. Bean on Instagram: @DrTaylorBean and @TaylorMadeWellnessClinic
Website: TaylorMadeWellness.com