A recent recall of a popular children’s teether has sparked fresh concerns among Newcastle parents about microplastics and the safety of everyday products.
The ANKO Chick Silicone Teether, sold through Kmart and Target, was withdrawn from the shelves after fears small silicone parts could detach and pose a choking hazard to youngsters.
Newcastle mother-of-two Emma Simcox, owner of The Conscious Exchange, said parents should be “hugely concerned” about microplastics in children’s products.
“Children are developing… and they put everything in their mouth,” she explained.
“When you’re having a product that they’re putting directly in their mouth, I think the risk absorption goes up.”
Ms Simcox said growing research around microplastics had changed the way many families approached household items, particularly products exposed to heat.
“There’s lots of research coming out that we should be reducing our exposure to microplastics, especially when it comes to things that are heated up, put in the dishwasher or things children are chewing on,” she added.
“How much it expels even more microplastics when doing so, I think it’s a massive concern.”
The recall has also reignited debate around affordability and safety, particularly for young families navigating rising living costs.
“I think the issue is that Kmart is so accessible to young families, so they really should be prioritising how it can be accessible but also safe,” Ms Simcox said.
“When you have a market tailored towards young parents who don’t have a lot of disposable income and are just looking for products that work for their families, I think it’s very predatory to have products that aren’t safe for our children.”
She said while recalls could damage trust in affordable household brands, many parents still relied on lower-cost products out of necessity.
“Parents shouldn’t have to choose between what they can afford and what feels safe for their children,” she stated.
Ms Simcox also called for stricter safety checks before children’s products reached store shelves.
“Places like Kmart are producing and releasing so many new products so quickly, and while I understand things can sometimes be rushed through, we can’t be messing around with the safety of our kids,” she said.
“If products are being marketed towards babies and young children, there needs to be proper safety checks and more care taken before they hit shelves.”
The Newcastle mum said her own household had made significant changes to reduce exposure to plastics.
“We don’t have any plastic whatsoever in our house,” she said.
“We use glass, stainless steel and ceramics.
“I never put plastic in the dishwasher or microwave because it’s really just not good.”
She encouraged parents to consider alternatives such as natural rubber teethers and second-hand natural options where possible.
“At the end of the day, it’s still plastic,” she said.
“Maybe it doesn’t have BPA in it, but it still has lots of other things that we just don’t know the long-term effects of.”
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