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Organic Shampoo, Lotion, and Soap For Your Baby by Cooper Watson
(Green Baby Clean: Living Free of Phthalates and Parabens)
The first time we washed our son in a basin he became very upset, though
his cries pierced our young parental ears, it was still a wonderful experience to go through
because it was a way of being able to nurture him; a way of bonding with him. We had all of his bathing supplies laid out for the occasion. They included a bottle of scented liquid body soap,
baby shampoo, baby powder, baby lotion, and a little yellow baby towel. Many
of the products we cleaned him with worked just fine and they were
products put on the market for babies so we believed that they
were completely safe as well.
Unfortunately, there is one important thing that we did not know about
the products we use to clean our baby. A lot of
these products contain Phthalates (pronounced th-al-ates) and Parabens
(pronounced par-ah-bens); the former is a synthetic chemical used to make plastics flexible and stabalize
fragrances in many consumer products (i.e. cosmetics) and the latter is a chemical preservative used in skin
care products (i.e.shampoos,shaving and cleansing gels, lotions, topical pharmaceuticals and
lubricants).
Phthalates have been shown to cause birth defects in animals. In an article published in
the February 2008 edition of the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the authors
stated that "young infants are more vulnerable to the potential adverse effects of phthalates given
their...metabolic capabilities, and developing endocrine and reproductive systems.
Parabens have been found to mimic the hormone estrogen and might contribute to the development of breast cancers. In
an article published in the July 2002 edition of the Archives of Toxicology it was stated that when newborn
male mammals are exposed to butyl paraben (an anti-fungal preservative in cosmetics), it “adversely affects the
secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system.”
There are many health concerns associated with phthalates and
parabens. There is no reason to risk exposing your baby to these chemicals when there are alternative
products on the market. It is
important that we find organic products that not only meet our babies cleaning
needs but are safe for them as well.
When choosing your organic products make sure that you read the labels
very carefully. Just because a product states that it is natural does not mean it is necessarily phthalate and
paraben free. Here are some ways to determine whether a product contains these chemicals:
1) The first and most obvious is to look for products that say phthalate
free (please note that not many products are labeled this way).
2) Identify phthalates in products by their abbreviations or chemical names
such as DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate)DEP (diethyl phthalate), and BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate).
3) Identify parabens in labels by the terms methyl paraben, propyl paraben,
butyl paraben and ethyl paraben.
4) If it says "fragrance" then it might have phthalamates. If is says "unscented" or
"fragrance-free" there is still a possibility that the product is made using synthetic chemicals
so as to cover the odor.
5) Contact companies to inquire about the ingredients in the products you
are interested in.
6) Find out if companies have ingredient lists for their products that are
either accessible on their websites or can be sent to you if requested.
Organic Soap, Body Wash, & Shampoo
Our little ones have very sensitive skin. You should look for soaps, body washes, and shampoos that not
only clean their delicate bodies but is also non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and
free from any that are potentially harmful chemicals. Also, the products should not have any artificial
preservatives, fragrances, dyes, or sulfates.
Organic Lotions & Powders
There are organic lotions that not only sooth and moisturize your baby's
skin but are free of harsh synthetic chemicals. Organic
lotions can
consist of organic aloe, coconut, chamomille, rooibos (which has
anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties) as well as a host of
other natural ingredients. When
choosing organic powders you can look for those that are enriched with soothing
arrowroot powder to combat moisture and are free of talc. The lotions and powders should not have any artificial preservatives,
fragrances, dyes, or sulfates.
Organic Washcloths and Towels
Look for organic washcloths and towels that are made from organic cotton
that is pesticide free and uses low impact dyes (dyes that do not contain toxic chemicals or
mordants-chemical agents that fixes dyes to fabrics). The
organic cotton used in these products should be grown in a sustainable, eco-friendly manner. If you are
looking for products that also have anti-bacterial and deodorizing properties, then give bamboo washcloths and towels a try.
There is nothing better than knowing that you are doing your best to
raise a healthy baby. An organic clean is a safe clean. Make
sure
the products you purchase are certified organic and be a part of the
eco-friendly community. Your baby and earth will be better for it.
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