Green Baby Care
The skin is our largest organ and some chemicals can pass through and enter the bloodstream where potential health hazards are limitless. Other chemicals can cause skin irritations, which in turn make it easier for chemicals to get through and into the blood stream. Children are particularly vulnerable because their skin is more porous and their ability to detoxify is limited.
Tips on Greening your baby care products:
1. Less is more. Babies don’t really get dirty, a very gentle soap and water is usually all that is needed and is the healthiest option.
2. Avoid powders. The tiny particles can become airborne and then inhaled, which can do damage to babies’ delicate respiratory systems.
3. If you wouldn’t eat it (or at least recognize and be able to pronounce the ingredients) don’t put it on your baby. Triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, and "methyl", "propyl", "butyl" and "ethyl" parabens aren’t just hard to pronounce they are harsh (and even toxic) additives routinely found in skincare products.
4. Fragrance is a big no-no. Fragrances are a concern in baby products where they routinely hide, often even in products labeled as “unscented.” Since scents become airborne, they are a danger for babies anywhere in the house. The large majority of fragrances (those not specifically stated as coming from 100% essential oils) are synthetic and created with a combination of chemicals that are not required to be listed in the ingredients. Most contain phthalates, which are suspected to cause cancer, disrupt hormones, and cause reproductive system birth defects.
