Common Sources of EMFs in Your Children’s Room (Free Guide for Parents)
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“What if the safest place in your home for your child is the most harmful?”
In this guide, you will find common sources of EMFs in children’s rooms and nurseries.
I write not only what these sources are, but why some might be more harmful than others. I also share the actions you can take to reduce your children’s exposure to these man-made EMFs.
As a mother and building biologist, my aim is to remove and eliminate toxic sources completely to reduce the body burden on our children, especially during critical developmental phases.
These are changes you can make immediately. For a peace of mind and true health for your child and yourself.
To your space.
Common Sources of EMFs
You probably already know about wireless devices and that power line and cell antenna down the road.
But artificial electromagnetic fields are everywhere within your own home. These devices in the bedroom emit electromagnetic fields that could affect your child.
Your child’s optimal development depends on critical growth stages. Your child’s bedroom deserves the lowest possible EMF levels.
1.Wireless baby monitors
Baby monitors are marketed as a mama’s must-haves. These fancy gadgets let you check on your baby on your smartphone, from anywhere.
Some include features like night vision, alerts, temperature monitoring, and two-way talk. Baby monitors can be Wi-Fi, radio (no internet), audio, and app-based.
But they send audio, and sometimes video, from a transmitter near your baby to a receiver using radio signals (typically 2.4 GHz). Your baby or child is in these near radio frequency fields for 10-12 hours a day, while they are sleeping, if not longer.
Baby monitors promise “connectedness”, but you’re relying on wireless radiation to make the connection, adding to EMF pollution in your child’s room.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Hardwire your baby monitor instead.
2. Wireless security cameras
Like baby monitors, these emit RF fields around your children while they sleep.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Hardwire any security cameras.
3. Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi routers emit EMFs constantly, even if no one is using the internet.
Removing Wi-Fi in the bedroom is fundamental to creating calm and safe environment for a night’s sleep. Eliminating Wi-Fi during the day, too, is a great way to reduce your newborn’s EMF exposure.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Hardwire Wi-Fi. Remove the router from your bedroom.
4. Fans
The motors in the fans put out sizeable magnetic fields as well as electric fields.
Magnetic fields are how fans work. The electric current flows through the motor's coils, generating a magnetic field interacting with another magnetic field, creating a force that causes the motor's shaft to rotate. This pulls the rotor around via magnetic attraction.
Magnetic fields do drop off with increasing distance, so make sure to put as much distane as possible between the fan and where your child is sleeping.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Use a meter such as a Trifield that has both a gaussmeter (for magnetic fields) and an electric field meter.
5. Adjustable tables
Adjustable tables are powered by pretty strong electrical motors. They rely on a transformer in order to convert the power.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: If you must use an adjustable table, one workaround is to cut the power to the table when you are not using it.
6. Dimmer switches
You want to control the level of lighting in your child’s room, but dimmer switches emit 10 to 50 times more EMF than regular on/off switches due to their electronic components.
By design, dimmer switches interrupt electrical current by “chopping” the electrical waveform to lower light intensity.
Some turn the light bulb circuit on and off as many as 120 times a second. This puts out high-frequency voltage transients into your home wiring that radiate into the room as well as other rooms!
Dimmer switches have been measured to put out dirty electricity even when they turned “fully on”.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Replace dimmer switches with standard on/off switches to eliminate a direct source of EMF pollution in your home. Avoid smart switches.
7. Bedside Clocks
Often emit low-frequency EMFs. Many clocks produce measurable magnetic or electric field radiation, as well as circadian-disrupting blue light. These are up to 20 times above recommended “safe” levels at the bed.
Some even have Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth functions built in.
Battery-powered models put out far less EMFs than plug-in digital clocks. But 100% EMF-free alarm clocks use no electricity or batteries. Only mechanical wind-up clocks are EMF-free.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Choose analog alarm clocks or even mechanical wind-up clocks.
8. Electrical wiring
Currents along wiring emit low-frequency EMFs, even when devices are turned off. So long as you’re in a house, to the extent of the wiring, you are likely surrounded by such EMFs.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Use a meter such as a Trifield that has both a gaussmeter (for magnetic fields) and an electric field meter.
9. Smart toys
You can find RF chips in all sorts of things these days, including in toys. The idea is that you can these toys with phones and also communicate with other smart toys in the product line.
Children should not be playing with phones. You don’t want smart toys next to children, especially when they sleeping, as the toys may be accidentally turned on.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: The safest (and easiest) thing to do is to remove these toys. How do you know if you have a smart toy? Batteries are a giveaway, because RF chipped toys need them to operate.
10. Baby rockers
Like baby monitrs, these devices can come with smart features, multiple motions, and parent-friendly designs—anything to promise your child’s sweet sleep.
However, the rocking mechanism and elevated electric fields from the wiring create high levels of EMFs.
11. Cell phones
Wireless mobile devices emit high levels of EMF whether you are using them or having them plugged in and charging near baby areas.
12. Smart home devices
Do you have these? Smart appliances such as humidifiers, sound machines, night lights, voice assistants, smart thermostats, and connected baby products…
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Hardwire devices, if you must use them in the room.
13. Laptops
Work-from-home has become normal. You might keep your laptop in the bedroom.
I only use mine with I will only use it with an ethernet cable. But even with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turned off, I’ve measured other high EMFs.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Hardwire devices, if you must use them in the room.
14. Spring mattresses
Technically, spring mattresses are not emitting EMFs by themselves. However, they attract ambient magnetic fields and electric fields where you’re sleeping.
They’re especially a concern if you are very sensitive. Or if you are a child more vulnterable to the effects of EMF radiation. It is hard to quantify or have an exact number on how much radiation spring mattress can emit, due to the fluctuations in the environment. Suffice to say, given how much time we spend on a mattress, you want to take this into consideration.
15. Ethernet cables
Ethernet cables enable us to use the Internet without exposure to Wi-Fi. But even shielded cables can measure high in electric fields.
Eliminate artificial EMFs in your child’s bedroom: Keep them at least 1 or 2 feet away from your body.
More about EMFs
Congratulations on going through the list.
You can see how you do not need major renovations or expensive tools to reduce EMFs in your child’s bedroom.
By now you are becoming aware of the major types of EMFs. Here is an introduction to EMF radiation.
Measuring EMF Levels in Your Child’s Bedroom
If you want to go a step further, a Building Biologist will assess your whole space. The key areas include:
Crib measurements. Measure every area of the crib at mattress level. Pay attention to the head area where your baby’s head will lie. Take multiple readings throughout the day.
Changing area assessment. Measure EMF levels at your changing station, especially if it is near electrical outlets or wireless devices.
Feeding locations. Where do you sit and feed for hours? Check your primary feeding areas, whether it is a nursing chair or where you sit and breastfeed, prepare milk, and/or pump breastmilk.
Play area evaluation. Babies grow so fast, and they’re usually rolling and crawling by six months. I measure EMF levels to help you identity optimal areas for tummy time and play activities.
Do you want to know more? I expand on these in my ebook “The Building Biology Home: Guide to a Calm and Safe Bedroom”. You’ll learn:
Why building EMF-awareness habits is crucial for your children’s health
The science on EMFs, optimal development, and children’s critical growth stages
The daily routines to start now to protect against EMFs
Pro tips for maximum effectiveness, including EMF protection products
Frequently asked questions about EMFs and children
How-To-Guide: Use an EMF meter to measure electric fields, magnetic fields, and radiofrequency radiation in your nursery
This is your essential EMF protection guide for mothers and fathers seeking to create a safe and optimal space for their children. I’m a mother and I understand your concerns. You will not find fear-mongering or a sales pitch for gadgets.
Every tip is something you can understand and implement today. Every strategy effectively reduces exposure while helping you become a better parent during these precious early years.
