Baby Care
Starting Out Right
From the time we start preparing a room for a new baby, we are making choices about the child's environment. Many people get ready for a new child by painting, papering, and carpeting a baby's room with conventional products. They don’t realize that by doing so they may be creating an environment high in toxic chemicals. Most of us take it for granted that babies should be soothed with petroleum jelly and mineral oil, washed and shampooed with chemical-based cleansers, fed from plastic bottles, swaddled in disposable diapers, surrounded by scented products and put to sleep in pajamas treated with fire-retardant chemicals. But although parents act out of love, they are often unaware that the choices they make may be harmful to their child. There are baby care products by the hundred. How can a parent identify healthy alternatives?
It is very important to try to limit a baby's exposure to harmful chemicals. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals than adults. Their immune systems and central nervous system are immature and still developing, which means their bodies are generally less capable of eliminating toxins. As well, children have roughly double the skin surface of adults per unit of body weight, so a child can absorb proportionally more chemicals. Babies and children breathe more air per body weight than adults do, which increases their exposure by inhalation. Decreasing a child's exposure to chemicals from day one, and even in the womb, could mean a lower risk of allergies and chemical sensitivities, and lower risk of cancers and other illnesses.
Anti-bacterials
Bedding
Bottles/nipples
Breast feeding
Bubble bath
Clothing
Cradle cap
Cribs – see furniture
Decorating
Diapers/Diaper rash
Diaper wipes - see wipes
Disinfectants - see anti-bacterials
Furniture
Lotion
Nipples - see bottles
Oil
Powder
Shampoo
Soap
Soothers
Teething
Toys
Wipes
Foundations for Health
Everyone knows the most important thing you can give a baby is love. Three other
important foundations for a healthy life are breastfeeding, good nutrition and a
healthy environment
Breastfeeding
All experts agree: breast-fed is best fed! Breast milk provides important
anti-bodies which bolster the immune system, at a stage when babies are not yet
able to make their own. Breast milk is easier for babies to digest, so they get
more nutrients from it than from cow’s milk or formula. Because it is easier to
digest, breast fed babies are less likely to have colic, gas and excessive
spitting up. While one in 10 babies are allergic to cow's milk, there is much
lower risk of allergy with breast milk. However, a baby may be allergic to
something in the mother's diet, which is in her breast milk. Breast milk is the
healthiest early food for a baby, even though few food sources, including breast
milk, are free of environmental contamination. Expectant mothers who know or
suspect that they have a high chemical load in their bodies should discuss
breast feeding with their doctor, since chemicals in a mother's body may be
found in breast milk.
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Tips
If you feel you must use a lotion, some less toxic alternatives are:
- Aloe vera gel – food grade (Lily of the Desert)
- Vitamin E oil – food grade
- Olive oil (organic is best)
- Lanolin cream (organic only). Note: lanolin is derived from sheep and is a common allergen.
Baby Food
Feeding your baby organic food is a good investment in your child's health.
Children eat more food relative to body mass than adults, and they eat foods
higher in pesticide residues—such as juices, fresh fruits and vegetables. A
recent University of Washington study found that pre-school children aged 2-4
years who ate organic fruits and vegetables had 6 times less pesticide residues
in their bodies than children who ate conventional produce.
Baby food is easy to make, and may even save you money. All you need is a
blender and some cooked vegetables, fruits and meats. A little goes a long way
with baby and you know exactly what is in the food you prepare. Babies do not
miss salt and sugar so there is no need to add these seasonings. Baby food can
be prepared and frozen in small quantities. You can freeze individual portions
in a muffin tin, pop them out and store in a bag until needed, or freeze in
small glass bottles. Organic produce is now readily available at most Atlantic
Superstores and Farmers' Markets. Free-range meats, from animals which have not
been fed antibiotics or growth hormones, are available at Farmers' Markets, some
health food stores, and directly from producers.
Whether you are buying baby food or making your own, make sure its stored in
glass jars. Plastic can leach hazardous chemicals like
phthalates into food.
Experts advise starting a baby on vegetables and then adding fruit to the diet.
By adding sweeter foods like fruit later, it is less likely that a baby will
reject vegetables in favour of the sweeter foods.
A Clean Environment
Provide your child with a less toxic environment. An environment which is
smoke
free, free of pesticides,
and free of fabric softeners,
air fresheners,
commercial disinfectants and anti-bacterial cleaners will decrease your child's exposure to many chemicals which have
been linked to human health problems. Choosing less toxic baby care products is
another important part of providing a healthy environment.
General tip: Avoid spray products, especially around small children. Sprays
create very fine airborne particles which can be more easily and deeply inhaled,
thus increasing exposure. Squirt don't spray is a good rule of thumb.
Less Toxic Baby Care Products
Anti-bacterial soaps and cleaners are not necessary, and are not a healthy
choice. Many advertisements play on parents’ fear of germs.
They imply that anti-bacterial, anti-microbial or disinfectant cleaners, sprays
and even toys are important for a healthy environment for a child. Nothing could
be farther from the truth. Many people choose anti-bacterial soaps and cleaners
because advertising implies that using them will help protect your family
against colds and flus.
But colds and flus are viruses, and anti-bacterials have no effect on them at
all.
Several reasons why experts recommend not using anti-bacterial products for home use are:
- In addition to being unnecessary, they expose us to harmful chemicals. The two most commonly used anti-bacterial chemicals in soaps are triclosan and chloroxylenol (or PCMX). Triclosan is a suspected immunotoxin, and a suspected skin or sense organ toxicant. It is classified as a high volume chemical: over a million pounds are used annually in the US. Triclosan is a derivative of the herbicide 2,4-D. It creates dioxin, a carcinogen, as a by-product. A Swedish study found high levels of this bactericide in human breast milk. Chloroxylenol is also a suspected immunotoxin and skin or sense organ toxicant, as well as a gastrointestinal or liver toxicant.
- Not all bacteria make people sick. Some are beneficial. Anti-bacterial soaps and cleaners kill both beneficial and harmful bacteria. By killing the beneficial ones, they actually leave us more vulnerable to the harmful ones we encounter. Children especially need exposure to some germs, to develop their immune systems.
- Scientists are concerned that the widespread use of anti-bacterials contributes to the development of resistant bacteria, bacteria that will only be killed by different or stronger doses of chemicals. So when we need to kill harmful bacteria, like strep, staph and e-coli, it will be more difficult.
- Anti-bacterial soaps may be more irritating and drying to skin.
The US Center for Disease Control says that anti-bacterial soaps are not
necessary. They recommend that the simplest and most effective thing people can
do to reduce the spread of infectious disease is to use effective handwashing,
especially after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating food. Proper
handwashing means rubbing hands under running water for 15 seconds.
Cleaning products with added anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and
disinfectant ingredients have similar risks to antibacterial soaps, and are equally
unnecessary for normal home use.
Harmful ingredients: foams, fire retardant chemicals, dyes, formaldehyde
finishes, plastic (polyester), cotton pesticides. Bedding washed with
conventional detergents, especially scented ones, and fabric softeners means a
child is constantly breathing and touching additional harmful chemicals.
The most common beddings are made of polyester/ cotton blends or all polyester.
Synthetic fabrics emit low levels of chemicals throughout their life. Bedding of
100% cotton, hemp, linen or wool is least toxic. However, most conventional
bedding, even of natural fibers, is subjected to several chemical treatments
before reaching the consumer. Avoid bedding which is advertised as wrinkle
resistant or no ironing required. Wrinkle-resistant fabrics are treated with
chemicals containing formaldehyde which is a carcinogen and a sensitizer. This
treatment is designed to last the life of the fabric and is impossible to wash
out completely. Wool blankets may be treated with mothproofing chemicals which
are also designed to last a lifetime.
Buying cotton flannel or unbleached cottons at a fabric store to make your own
baby bedding is easy, and fabric yardage is usually untreated.
Less Toxic Alternatives
Crib futons with unbleached cotton covers and no sizing or fire retardant can be
ordered at The Futon Store in Halifax. They are available with 100% cotton
stuffing or with cotton around a foam core.
- BabyHemp - organic cotton bedding. P'lovers in Halifax. www.babyhemp.com
- Under the Nile - organic cotton bedding. P'lovers in Halifax. www.underthenile.com
- Untreated 100% cotton, hemp or linen sheets. President's Choice "Maison" sheets
(250 thread count) have no chemical treatment and are made with vegetable dye.
Adult sizes can be cut down to make sheets or mattress covers for a crib.
100% cotton blankets - Wool blankets without mothproofing are available from McCauslin's Mill, PEI, and Lismore Sheep Farm Store, River John, N.S. Lismore Sheep Farm Store also makes comforters out of cotton fabric with wool batting. Note: many people are allergic to wool, even wool without mothproofing chemicals.
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You can order mattresses without flame retardants if you have a letter or prescription from your doctor. To decrease exposure to dust and dust mites in a mattress, you can wrap the mattress in barrier cloth. Untreated 100% cotton barrier cloth is good, but avoid barrier cloth made from synthetic materials, like polypropylene or vinyl. To decrease exposure to off-gassing from plastic, wrap a plastic mattress cover with several layers of washable cotton barrier cloth. Cotton sheets with high thread counts (250 or more) can function in the same way as barrier cloth. If you need to completely avoid plastics, and still need protect a baby's mattress from urine, aluminum foil paper (available at hardware stores) is an alternative. |
 Home-made AlternativesTo remove some finishes, excess dyes or conventional detergents and fabric softeners, several times, or soak overnight a tub of water with ONE of the following: 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar. 1/2 – 1 cup pickling salt. Do not soak in an enameled tub, as salt will cause tub to rust over time. 1/4 – l cup baking soda. If using baking soda, rewash several times to remove residue Note: Many chemical treatments are designed not to wash out. Scented detergents and fabric softeners never completely wash out, but the above washing methods will decrease chemical residues and smells. The chemicals in mothballs are almost impossible to remove and are highly toxic. |
For information on cribs, see furniture.
On-line sources of organic cotton bedding and mattressesLinks to hundreds of sites selling organic cotton and hemp baby clothing, bedding and toys
Harmful materials: latex rubber, plastic, nitrosamines
Nipples for bottles are usually made of latex rubber or silicone. Latex rubber
nipples can release nitrosamines, potent carcinogens, when babies suckle the
nipple. They also tend to break down faster than silicone nipples, which can
cause cracks where bacteria can hide.
A common plastic used in baby bottles is polycarbonate. In separate studies, the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Consumers Union and researchers at Nagasaki
University in Japan found that baby bottles made of polycarbonate plastic
release a hormone-disrupting chemical, bisphenol-A, into infant formula during
sterilization and heating on the stove-top. The Japanese scientists also found
that used bottles leached up to nearly twice as much as new bottles.
Other plastic bottles and plastic disposable bags for bottles may leach
phthalates, another hormone disrupting chemical.
Some plastic bottles have coloured designs on the inside of the bottle which can
come off during heating.
The best option is tempered glass bottles with silicone nipples. Both are widely
available in pharmacies and department stores. Glass bottles are easily cleaned
and sterilized, and can be handed down from baby to baby.
Best
Evenflo - glass bottles, silicone nipples
Gerber - silicone nipples
Playtex - silicone nipples
Of course, the absolute best packaging for milk is the human breast.
Pharmacies can easily order glass bottles if they do not have them in stock.
Nurtured Products for Parenting, Dartmouth, NS stocks glass baby bottles and
stainless steel sippy cups, www.nurtured.ca
Bubble baths are extremely irritating to skin and genital areas. Toys are a less toxic alternative for bath play. Or if you really must have bubbles, a small amount of less toxic dish detergent or shampoo can be used to make bubbles.
Harmful ingredients: fire retardant chemicals, dyes, formaldehyde finishes,
plastic (polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex), cotton pesticides. Washing baby
clothing with scented detergents and fabric softeners surrounds a child with
additional harmful chemicals.
Untreated cotton or other natural fibre clothing is the least toxic choice.
There are lots of sources for natural fiber clothing. It is not always easy to
find out if a product has received a chemical finish in the production process.
Organic fabrics and products marketed for the chemically sensitive are less
likely to have chemical finishes, or to have chemical fabric softeners used
during processing. Yard goods are less likely to have chemical treatments than
manufactured clothing.
Regulations concerning fire retardant and children’s sleepwear have changed. It
is no longer required that all sleepwear be treated with fire retardant. Clothes
and bedding treated with fire retardant must be labeled. However, companies are
not required to disclose what chemical is being used.
Cotton clothing can be used as sleepwear. If sleepwear is made of natural fibre
fabrics, close fitting patterns which allow less oxygen flow are recommended for
reduced flammability. For other flammability concerns, see
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/cps/publications/sleepwear/preface.htm.
Of the synthetic fabrics, polyester and nylon off-gas the least. Most fleeces
are made of polyester. Avoid those with chemical weather-resistant treatments.
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Home-made Alternatives To remove some finishes, excess dyes or conventional detergents and fabric softeners, wash several times, or soak overnight a tub of water with ONE of the following:
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Note: Many chemical treatments are designed not to wash out. Scented detergents
and fabric softeners never completely wash out, but the above washing methods
will decrease chemical residues and smells. The chemicals in mothballs are
almost impossible to remove and are highly toxic.
Links to hundreds of sites selling organic cotton and hemp baby clothing,
bedding and toys.
Massage scalp area with pure olive oil, leave on for one hour, then comb with a fine toothed comb.
Many people prepare for a new child by painting, papering, and carpeting the
baby's room with conventional products, never thinking that by doing so they may
create an environment high in harmful chemicals.
It's now easy to find less toxic paints. Look for ones with low VOC's, or with
the Ecologo or Envirodesic label. A good quality washable paint makes sense for
a child's room.
New carpeting can contain toxic chemicals. Carpets carrying the industry's
"green label" will contain fewer harmful ingredients. Carpets are traps for
dust, dirt, bacteria, moulds, food scraps and urine. Although people tend to
think a nice soft carpet will be best for a baby, an easily cleaned hard surface
floor, with area rugs which can be washed in less toxic detergents makes a
sensible choice for a baby's room.
These days, most wallpaper is made of vinyl, for easy cleaning. But vinyl
off-gases plastic compounds. It also tends to trap moisture, which encourages
hidden mould growth between the paper and wall, which can release mould spores
into the air.
Metal blinds with baked on paint are a less toxic choice than blinds made of PVC
plastic. Plastic blinds can give off chemicals, especially when exposed to the
heat of the sun or radiators. If using fabric curtains, untreated natural fibers
are the best option. When exposed to sunlight, all fabrics break down. When
synthetic or treated fabrics break down, they release harmful particulates. Even
when using safer products, a room which is being redecorated should be prepared
several months in advance and aired out well, so that by the time the baby
arrives the chemical load in the room is decreased.
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Harmful ingredients: dye, fragrance, plastic, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene,
dipentene
Disposable diapers consist of a plastic exterior, an inner super-absorbent layer
treated with chemicals, and a liner. One commonly used absorbent chemical,
sodium polyacrylate, can trigger allergic reactions. Disposable diapers may also
contain dyes and dioxin, a carcinogenic by-product of the chlorine bleaching
process.
A study conducted by Anderson Laboratories in 1999 and published in the Archives
of Environmental Health found that disposable diapers release volatile organic
chemicals (VOCs), including toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and dipentene. All of
these VOCs have been shown to have toxic health effects, such as cancer and
brain damage, with long-term or high level exposure.
The researchers also discovered that mice exposed to the chemicals released by
disposable diapers were more likely to experience irritated airways than mice
exposed to emissions from cloth diapers. These effects were increased during
repeat exposures. The authors suggested that disposable diapers may cause
"asthma-like" reactions and urged more study into a possible link between diaper
emissions and asthma.
Best
Absolutely Diapers - cotton diapers and accessories, Canadian mail order, http://www.hipbaby.com
Ecobaby Organics – organic cotton diapers. US mail order, www.ecobaby.com
Fall River Laundry, Fall River, Nova Scotia provides cotton diapers in a range
of baby and senior sizes.
My L’il Miracle – cotton diapers, diaper covers, accessories, Canadian
mail order www.mylilmiracle.com
Nurtured Products for Parenting, cotton diapers and accessories, Dartmouth, NS,
Canadian mail order, www.nurtured.ca
Parenting by Nature, Canadian mail order, cotton diapers and accessories, www.parentingbynature.com
P’lovers Environmental Store, Halifax, NS, several brands of cotton diapers
Royal Diaperer and Baby Accessories - cloth diapers and diaper covers. Bedford,
N.S., http://www.royaldiaperer.com
Good
Seventh Generation - Chlorine-free Diapers (disposable unbleached diapers)
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Home-made Alternatives
Purchase cotton flannel by the metre and make old-fashioned diapers by cutting into squares and hemming the edges. Old flannel sheets can also make good diapers. Patterns for diapers can be found at www.borntolove.com. |
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Diaper services - Fall River Laundry serves most of HRM and parts of Hants County.
For more information on cloth diapers click here.
Diaper wipes – see wipes
Disinfectants - see anti-bacterials
Harmful ingredients: composite wood products, formaldehyde, glue, paint, plastic
Choose solid wood furniture with a non-toxic finish. New dressers and cribs may
be made of particleboard, chipboard or pressboard, which are notorious sources
of formaldehyde and other chemicals. These compressed wood products are made
with small bits of wood mixed with glue and compressed into sheets or boards.
The glue can off-gas for years.
Metal furniture is an excellent less toxic option. Used furniture is also a good
choice because it will have less off-gassing, but be sure paint or varnish is
non-toxic and not peeling or chipping. Older painted furniture (before 1960)
probably has lead paint, which should not be anywhere that babies can chew it.
Make sure cribs meet up to date safety standards.
Harmful ingredients: PEG, TEA, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, parabens, lanolin
(unless organic), 1,4-dioxane, fragrance, coal tar colours, ammonia, propylene
glycol, mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfate.
Lotions are basically a mixture of water and oil, with an emulsifier added to
keep the product from separating. PEG is the most common emulsifier in hand
lotions. It can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a carcinogen. TEA is also used
and has been found to be a frequent sensitizer, and cause of contact dermatitis.
TEA, DMDM hydantoin and quaternium-15 can release carcinogenic formaldehyde.
Parabens, which are estrogen mimics, are commonly used as preservatives. Lanolin
is often found in lotions. An animal product it can be contaminated with
pesticides and it is a common allergen.
Best
Anointment - Diaper Ointment. P'lovers in Halifax. Nova Scotia company.
Aubrey Organics - Natural Baby and Kids Body Lotion
Autumn Harp - non-petroleum jelly
Avalon - Un-Petroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly
Burt’s Bees - Baby Bee Diaper Ointment
Druide Bum Protecting Balm
Druide Protective Oil (spray, not greasy)
Druide Soothing xxx and Face Lotion
Kiss My Face – non-petroleum jelly
Moonsnail Soapworks - Moonbaby Bum Cream. P’Lovers in Halifax. PEI mail order.
www.moonsnailsoapworks.com
Substance - Nappy Rash Ointment. P’Lovers in Halifax.
Weleda - Calendula Baby Lotion
Any lotion from the 'Best' category of the Personal Care Products -
Lotion,
Cream, Moisturizer
Good
Weleda - Calendula Baby Cream (contains lanolin)
Weleda - Diaper Care (contains lanolin)
Simply Unscented
Aveeno - Diaper Rash Cream; Daily Baby Lotion
Eucerine-Glycerin Water or Cream
Penaten - diaper cream
Vaseline - White Petroleum Jelly, look for the unscented product
Zincofax - look for the fragrance-free product
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Harmful ingredients: mineral oil, fragrance
There is no need to use petroleum products like mineral oil on a baby's skin.
There are less toxic products available, and home-made alternatives are safe and
inexpensive.
Best
Anointment - Baby Oil. P'lovers in Halifax. N.S. company.
Moonsnail Soapworks - Moonbaby Heating Oil. P’Lovers in Halifax.
www.moonsnailsoapworks.com
Substance - Herbal Hug Baby Oil. P'lovers in Halifax
Weleda - Calendula Baby Oil
Good
Little Forest - Baby Oil
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Home-made Alternatives Use a mild oil or combination of oils like safflower, grapeseed, coconut, wheat germ, sesame, apricot kernel, almond, jojoba or vitamin E. Organic is best. |
Harmful ingredients: talc, perfume, dye
Use any powder with caution. It can become airborne and irritate the respiratory
system. Talc is a naturally occurring mineral which is carcinogenic when
inhaled. Talcum powder is reported to cause coughing, vomiting, and even
pneumonia. Many pediatricians now tell parents to avoid using talc on babies as
it can cause respiratory distress, sometimes resulting in death.
Best
Anointment - P'lovers in Halifax.
Little Forest - Baby Powder
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Home-made Alternatives Use rice starch, cornstarch or arrowroot powder. |
Shampoos cause the most number of adverse reactions of all hair care products.
They frequently contain harsh detergents, chemical fragrances and numerous
irritating and carcinogenic compounds. Some of the most common are sodium lauryl
sulfate/sodium laureth sulfate, an irritant which can form carcinogenic
nitrosamines, DEA, TEA, and MEA which are hormone disruptors and can release
carcinogenic nitrosamines, quaternium-15, DMDM hydratoin which can release
carcinogenic nitrosamines, polyethylene glycol, an irritant, coal tar, a
carcinogen, propylene glycol, a neurotoxin which can cause dermatitis, liver and
kidney damage, and EDTA, an irritant.
“Tear free” shampoos are made with a pH (acidity level) the same as a baby’s
tears, which is why they don’t sting. But a neutral pH is less irritating to the
scalp and skin. The best option is to use a less toxic shampoo with a neutral
pH, and make sure to keep it out of eyes.
Best
Aubrey Organics - Natural Baby and Kids Shampoo
Druide Silky Shampoo
Any shampoo in the 'Best' category of the Personal Care Products -
Shampoo section will be mild enough
for baby.
Good
Tom's - Honeysuckle Baby Shampoo
Harmful ingredients: fragrance, dye, mineral oil, antibacterial chemicals,
ammonia, formaldehyde, glycols, phenol, BHA/BHT
Natural soap is easy to make and today there is a tremendous variety of good
soap available, much of it produced locally by small crafters. Natural soap is
made from either animal or vegetable fat, and an alkali such as lye. Most
conventional soaps contain perfumes, dyes, mineral oil and other petroleum-based
chemicals that can clog pores, irritate, and dry skin. Bubble baths contain
irritants which should not be used on babies.
Babies’ skin contains natural oils. Washing too frequently can remove these
oils, causing skin to be dry and irritated. Some dermatologists suggest bathing
a baby only once or twice a week, and cleaning dirty body parts like bums, faces
and hands as needed. Use plain warm water and a mild soap when needed.
Anti-bacterial soaps are not necessary for home use. Children do not have to
be protected from all bacteria, in fact, some bacterial are beneficial.
Scientists are concerned that antibacterial soaps kill beneficial bacteria and
also contribute to the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Not all
bacteria will be killed by an anti-bacterial soap. The surviving bacteria are
resistant to antibiotics and go on to produce a new generation of resistant
bacteria. This means that when its really important, disease creating bacteria
will be harder to kill. Antibacterial soaps can also be more drying and
irritating.
Triclosan, one of the most popular antibacterial agents, is a derivative of the
herbicide 2.4-D. It can create dioxin, a carcinogen, as a by-product. A Swedish
study found high levels of this bactericide in human breast milk.
Best
Aubrey Organics - Natural Baby and Kids Bath Soap
Dr. Bronner’s Aloe Vera Baby Mild
Druide Organic Soap – Hibiscus Shea Butter, Camomile Calendula, Mango Camomile
Druide Silky Cleansing Gel
Druide Calming Bath Potion
Moonsnail Soapworks - Moonbaby Healing Soap. P’Lovers in Halifax.
www.moonsnailsoapworks.com
Substance - Baby Body Foam. P’Lovers in Halifax
Weleda - Calendula Baby Soap
Simply Unscented
Aveeno- Creamy Baby Cleanser
Baby's Own
Special baby soaps are not necessary. Most soaps from the 'Best' category of
Personal Care Products – Soap will be mild enough for baby.
Soothers are usually made of latex rubber or silicone. Latex rubber soothers can release nitrosamines, potent carcinogens, when babies suck on them. They also tend to break down faster than silicone soothers, which can cause cracks where bacteria can hide. If you are going to use a soother, choose one made from silicone.
Rub gums with ice cubes, or freeze a moistened cotton face cloth for baby to chew on.
Harmful ingredients: Dyes, plastics, glues. Stuffed toys can provide a haven
for dust and dust mites.
Babies put everything into their mouths so be sure you provide less-toxic toys.
Some plastic toys can leach hormone disrupting chemicals. Quality wood and cloth
toys will not use toxic paints, glues, dyes or fabrics.
Internet or mail order sources of less toxic toys:
Ecobaby Organics - Canadian mail order. www.ecobaby.com
Nurtured Products for Parenting, Dartmouth, NS showroom, Canadian mail order.
www.nurtured.ca
naturalplay.com - U.S. mailorder. www.naturalplay.com
Parenting by Nature, Canadian mail order, http://www.parentingbynature.com
The Playstore - U.S. mailorder. www.playstoretoys.com
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Harmful ingredients: alcohol, perfume, chlorine, dioxin
Best
At home, simply use a cotton wash cloth and soap. For short trips away from
home, put cotton wash cloths moistened with water and a less toxic liquid soap
in a jar or plastic bag. Bring another container to store soiled cloths.
Keep a spray bottle of soapy water near your change table. Spray the dirty area
and wipe with a cloth (washable) or tissue.
Good
Seventh Generation - Baby Wipes (non-chlorine bleached, unscented, alcohol-free)
Simply Unscented
Huggies - Natural Care Baby Wipes, Supreme Care Baby Wipes. Look for the
unscented ones.
Life - Ultra Soft Cloths, unscented
Pampers - Natural Aloe Touch Wipes, unscented
Teddy’s- Unscented Baby Wipes (alcohol free)
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Home-made Alternatives Take a container with a tight fitting lid and fill it with cotton pads (the kind for removing make-up) or squares of old flannel or old diapers. Add a few squirts of vegetable oil and fill the container with warm water. Keep container closed until needed. Soiled cloth wipes can be washed with diapers. |