Why buy ethical baby products

Did you know?

• Some baby bottles contain chemicals known to disrupt the hormone system (1)
• Pregnant women exposed to higher levels of the chemical bisphenol A, found in hard plastics and canned food, gave birth to baby boys with lower thyroid hormones. (2)
• Phthalates, polystyrene foam and bisphenol A, contained in common plasrics, may have a harmful effect on children’s development.
• The combined effect of products containing additives has not yet been studied.
• Chemicals in commercial baby food have a greater impact on the still embryonic tissue of a growing child than on the tissue of an adult who has stopped growing. (3)
• Because the nervous system, respiratory system and reproductive organs of babies are not fully mature, it is harder for them to get rid of toxins. (3)
• Children take up health-damaging substances from food more easily than adults do. (3)
• 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. (4)
• Studies have shown that children who chew on PVC toys absorb dangerous chemicals into their bodies
• 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.
• Avoid spray products, especially around small children. Sprays create very fine airborne particles which can be more easily and deeply inhaled, thus increasing exposure.
• Antibacterial products are not necessary and are even unhealthy. They contain harmful chemicals and do not provide a safer environment for children. And using them contributes to the formation of resistant bacteria, which will need even stronger doses of chemicals.
• By looking for simpler products with less ingredients, you're reducing your child's overall exposure to chemicals.

Decorating 

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.

Clothing

Harmful ingredients: fire retardant chemicals, dyes, formaldehyde finishes, plastic (polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex), cotton pesticides.

Toys

Harmful ingredients: Dyes, plastics, glues.
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.

Bottles and Nipples

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. The best option is tempered glass bottles with silicone nipples.

Bubble Bath

Bubble baths are extremely irritating to skin and genital areas. Toys are a less toxic alternative for bath play.

Clothing

Harmful ingredients: fire retardant chemicals, dyes, formaldehyde finishes, plastic (polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex), cotton pesticides.

Diapers

Harmful ingredients: dye, fragrance, plastic, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, dipentene
Studies have shown 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.

Lotions

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.

Powder

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.

Soap

Harmful ingredients: fragrance, dye, mineral oil, antibacterial chemicals, ammonia, formaldehyde, glycols, phenol, BHA/BHT

References

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/bpa-and-thyroid-hormones (2)
http://www.amiiko.com/ (1)
http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Quality-Safety/Study-examines-effect-of-chemicals-in-baby-foods (3)
http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?fetch=babycare (4)
http://children.webmd.com/environmental-exposure-head2toe/infant-skin
http://www.eco-novice.com/2012/03/avoiding-toxins-in-baby-products.html