While I'm out on blogging maternity leave, today's post is by Sydney of ConsumerSafety.org. She is sharing tips on a very fitting topic for me right now: diaper bag safety!
Parents: We always want to do what’s best for our babies. After all, keeping these sweet bundles of joy safe, healthy, and happy is what we strive for as loving parents and caretakers. As a mom or dad, you’re probably aware of the grand selection of new products continuously claiming to be exactly what you need. In terms of safety, one would assume since an item was made for a delicate baby it must be harmless, right? Well, I hate to say it, but that’s far from the truth!
After doing much research, it
has been determined that some common baby care products contain nasty,
dangerous chemicals. Yikes. Don’t worry though- below is a list of ingredients
you can be sure to avoid:
Propylene Glycol (PEG and
PPG): Baby wipes (also found in your
windshield wiper fluid!)
Triclosan: pacifiers, anything “antibacterial”
Bisphenol-A (BPA): The liquid inside teething rings
Talc: Baby powder
Fragrance (generally made of coal and petroleum derived
synthetic chemicals): Disposable diapers, baby powder, baby wash and shampoo,
lotions
Formaldehyde: Baby shampoo
While some of these dangers
may seem self-explanatory such as Propylene Glycol, or PEG and PPG (cleaning
your baby's bum with the same thing you use for cleaning your car windshield!),
others still seem innocent and even helpful. Like Triclosan. Before
knowing what I know now, I would have naturally chosen an antibacterial product
over a non-antibacterial product. The tricky thing about Triclosan is it’s a
carcinogenic endocrine disruptor (that’s a mouthful) that also happens to be
harmful to the environment. Long story short, let your baby’s system create
natural resistance and immunity without the antibacterial products.
Another complex product: Talc.
Yes, that’s what’s in fresh-scented baby powder that’s used to treat diaper
rash. Unfortunately, studies have found talc to be associated with ovarian cancer and was
contaminated with asbestos years ago. Although the asbestos is no longer
present in the products sold today, even asbestos-free talc may not be
completely safe. To avoid any risk, use talc-free products that contain
arrowroot, earth clays, cornstarch, or rice powder, such as Baby Bee's Dusting Powder or Honest
Organic Baby Powder.
Now for the formaldehyde.
It’s a known human carcinogen- an agent directly involved in causing cancer. Interestingly enough, formaldehyde may not be listed as an ingredient
in your baby’s shampoo. So you think: “great, don’t have to worry!”. Well, not
quite. Formaldehyde is a sneaky chemical and some products may contain
formaldehyde “releasers”. Common ingredients likely to contaminate products
with formaldehyde include: Quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl urea,
Diazolidinyl urea. After some poking around, it looks like Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby-Mild Pure Castile Soap is a solid choice. Grab it on your next Target run.
You can see that your baby is far better off with minimal intervention from several mainstream baby products. If you see one of these ingredients on your baby’s product, you can easily make a switch. Usually, you can find a decent variety at either your local health food store or just by searching Google. Don’t forget that not all products marked “natural” or “organic” are in fact wholly natural or organic. And when in doubt, double check with your pediatrician. In fact, they probably have some fantastic recommendations!
Currently,
Kelsie
You can see that your baby is far better off with minimal intervention from several mainstream baby products. If you see one of these ingredients on your baby’s product, you can easily make a switch. Usually, you can find a decent variety at either your local health food store or just by searching Google. Don’t forget that not all products marked “natural” or “organic” are in fact wholly natural or organic. And when in doubt, double check with your pediatrician. In fact, they probably have some fantastic recommendations!
Sydney is passionate about keeping families safe. She researches and writes about important health topics for ConsumerSafety.org, where she focuses on women's and children's health, as well as food allergies. I'm thankful for her tips and words today!
Currently,
Kelsie
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