Have you ever given your child or a loved one a Christmas gift only to find out it only made your loved one's asthma and allergies worse?
If so or if you just don't want to tell your child they cannot have a stuffed animal again, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's (AAFA) asthma and allergy certification program may be just what you need.
All stuffed toys that are certified asthma and allergy friendly have gone through a significant testing process to ensure these toys will not worsen asthma and allergies with not only first, but also repeated use.
In addition to testing to make sure these stuffed toys do not worsen your asthma, the AAFA tests the plush toys dyes to make sure they are not irritating. Additionally, the AAFA tests to see how allergens like dust mites accumulate in these toys and how successful routine laundering gets rid of the allergens.
A certified asthma and allergy friendly toy may make your home a little healthier this holiday season.
Years ago my then 2 1/2 year old recieved a Cabbage Patch Doll and opened the box to an overwhelming odour of baby powder. She backed away from the box in terror saying, “Stinky baby! Stinky baby! Gonna kick up my asthma!”
To this day she refers to those dolls as “stinky babies”.
Earlier this month, Allergic Living magazine prepared a gift list for individuals with asthma and/or severe allergies.
http://www.allergicliving.com/giftguide/
That’s a great point about the dyes. Here are some other gift ideas…
http://theasthmaadvocate.com/?p=219