This could be putting them at risk of health problems.
Children can absorb harmful toxins from sofas and vinyl floors, according to a new study.
The research, conducted by Duke University, has shown that flame-retardant chemicals found in some sofas and vinyl flooring can be unknowingly absorbed into young children's bodies.
According to
Baby Centre, 203 children were monitored over the course of three years with samples being taken from their family homes and their blood, skin, and urine.
These toxins, known as semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), are often used in different kinds of furnitures such as mattresses, chairs, sofas, and building materials.
The results found that children who lived in homes with flame-retardant chemicals in their sofas had six times more Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in their system than those that didn't.
Studies on the effects of PBDEs are generally restricted to animals so we don't know exactly what harm they do to humans, but they are most commonly linked to brain development, weight, and even cancer.
However, all of the children involved in the study were living in North Carolina in the States, so it is possible that their levels of exposure were higher because of their location.
It's difficult to know what kind of chemicals are present in what furniture, but there are a few things you can do to minimise your child's exposure to them.
Ventilation is key, as is ensuring that you rid dust from your home as regularly as possible.
It's the simple things, really.
