Everywhere – inside houses, inside buildings (like in grocery stores, in drugstores, in doctors’ clinics, and in hospitals ),  in moving vehicles ( like  cars and buses), and even in elevators we see  people of various ages and sex using their cell phones for talking and messaging.  Even a nanny (called yaya in Tagalog) while carrying or holding an infant or a young child in her arms is using a cell phone to talk to someone or to send a text message.  One time while in a building I was observing a nanny talking over her cell phone with someone while carrying a 3-month old baby for fifteen (15) straight minutes without interruption. We also see everyday young children below the age of fourteen (14) years talking or sending text messages.

One may ask: - is there any health risk for a nanny to use a cell phone while carrying a baby in her arms? Is there also any health risk for young children to be using  cell phones?  While there are conflicting reports and studies on these matters, it is disturbing to note that there are increasing reports and studies showing that the radiation emitted from cell phones is a health hazard especially for babies and young children.

This being so, parents should take time and have the patience to explain to the nannies of their babies and young children that they should avoid using their cell phones while holding them in their arms.  Simply because the radiation emitting from cell phones easily reach the infant or child in their other arm and can penetrate the infant’s skull.  We should explain to the nannies of our children that the children’s nervous systems are still developing and they have thinner scalps and skulls than adults. Yes, cell phone radiation penetrates the skulls and brains of children more than adults.  Therefore the risk that the radiation might cause tumors or otherwise affect a developing brain is definitely higher in babies and young children than in adults.

We must always remember that so long as the cell phone is turned on, the cell phone gives off radiation even if the cell phone is not being used.  However, the radiation emitted is stronger and more frequent when the nanny is talking or messaging with somebody while carrying/holding the child in her arms.

For the protection of our children, we should discourage them from using cell phones.  Otherwise we should limit the use of cell phones by our children only cases of emergency.

Finally, no matter how busy we parents are, we should take time to explain to our children, helpers and nannies, as well as our other  relatives and friends  the  health risks associated with the  excessive use of cell phones. We cannot just wait for the so-called “scientific proof” before we take precautionary and safety measures in the use of our cell phones.

Have a joyful day!