Harmful Chemicals in Babycare Products - PLEASE READ!!

Thanks for the support guys.

Curly- I'm sorry to hear your little boy had a reaction to natural products. Firstly, can I just say that although they are free of the harshest chemicals, only few ingredients in the Gaia and Aroma Baby are actually certified organic (organic means nothing unless it is certified by a recognised certifying organisation such as NASSA or the ACO) and there are still some synthetic chemicals used in these brands. 100% certified organic brands are Miessence and Natures Child. There are other lesser known ones out there too.
It is also important to note that a child may be allergic to a particular natural ingredient (ie- herb or essential oil) and this would explain the skin reaction. Thankfully this is rare but it does occur. My husband has an allergy to almonds- and cannot use sweet almond oil on his skin - so we just buy organic products which do not contain this ingredient. (Although I use it alot!!)
It is also important to note that the external reaction on the skin is not the most important thing to consider when assessing the safety of a product. The skin is an organ, and highly porous- therefore what we put on it is absorbs into our blood steam. Whilst a child may not react externally to a product with synthetic chemicals, it is the long-term toxin accumulation of these chemicals in the cells of the body which is the greatest cause for concern amoungst scientists and toxicologists.
Conventional barrier balms also contain ingredients such as mineral oil- which is highly toxic. Mineral oil actually 'traps' moisture in the skin- giving the user the impression that their skin is softer and more hydrated, however it also works by blocking the pores of the skin from breathing- thus preventing the body from being able to excrete toxins via sweat. It is essential that a newborn infants skin is left free to 'breathe' and excrete toxins that it may be exposed to.
I do not intend to offend anyone with their choices (I too used to use loads of chemical stuff once), but it is my honest (and not so humble opinion) that it is better an infant use no product at all than these conventional chemical brands.The long term health risks and the increasing body of research indicates that it is just not worth it.
Besides, what did they use before all these chemicals and products were invented? Babies were just given a scrub down in the lake, surely?

SaraJane- I also was given some J&J's for my baby shower even though my Mum wrote on the invite that I only use natural or organic products!! Honestly, the brainwashing power these companies have is enormous....
I was not content to give the products to anyone, nor was I content to tip it down the sink, so it went straight in the bin!!!

Hi Ladies,

I have just started getting interested in this stuff, and was researching on the net.

I thought that I would bump this thread so more people can read about what we are doing to our children. It is quite alarming! Really, there needs to be warnings put on these products.

There is a new book out called "Slow Death By Rubber Duck" by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie. I am heading out to buy it today! Am very much looking forward to reading it and ridding my home of these harmful chemicals!:clap:

Im very aware of this too, I try to ensure that most if not all of my childs products are to a high degree "natural".
I am really struggling about thinking of returning to work, see, I used to work in a pharmacy...the last pharmacy I worked(Big National Brand) for I actually got into trouble for encouraging new mothers to breastfeed and not shoving formula down their throats (anything to meet their sales targets!) also for telling them about the lovely shop across the road that sold cloth nappies and organic natural skin care, I did a presentation in my pharmacy course about the evils of J&J and other brands that contain all these nasties, sadly they pay these pharmacies big dollars to have these products and push them too.

Baby wipes is another big thing for me, I try to use cloth when I can but its not always convenient, I buy an organic, natural bamboo based wipes now, Jacob no longer screams when I wipe his bum. amazing really, it disgusts me how many companies add anti freeze to their products.

Another supporter here! Hope to see you soon on Oprah! :D

I haven't got a bub just yet, but I'm already researching products/brands etc. And yes, when you read some of the ingedients you go :wtf: ?!? Why would I want to put that on my baby's skin?
So what products would you recommend? I personally like the fact that you can buy Gaia products in most supermarkets, but I don't really like the smell of lavender and tbh the smell of some Gaia products is just so overpowering it makes my nose hurt :shakehead: (bit sensitive to smells here!:redface:) Is there another option that is not too exxy and not soo strong smelling? It's just pure evil that J&J make their products smell so good. I would never use them, but oh the smell....

Anyway, good on you for putting it out there! :clap:

I must of missed this this thread, or I would have posted! You have my full support as well : )

I am still trying to find brands that suit us.. and honestly it is so frustrating to have to sort through all of the green washing crap on products!!! So many products claims to be natural / organic but once you read the back you find out its all marketing!!

I cant stand the smell of Miessence products! and some of their products still irritate my skin, but am yet to work out what natural ingredient it is...!

Will have to try Natures Child, thanks for that

and another supporter! I am very interested in getting the mentioned books, we are in the transition of going chemical free here, i use soap nuts for the laundry and wash my windows and floors with vinegar and warm water.
I do need a lot of recipes for homemade cleaners/household products if someone could point me in the right direction to a possible link on BB.
DD2 is now in disposibles only because our laundry sink is currently unusable but up until then has been in cloth, both my babies hardly ever had baby wipes we always use facewashers.

I am verrrry slowly being convinced. I have taken some steps - my boys have both been in cloth nappies (but do wear disposable overnight, I have not found a cloth nappy that could hold overnight for either of them), I do not use any bath products on them at all just plain water, I have recently started using MooGoo products for moisturisers etc. We do use disposable wipes though - I realllllly like them! :redface: They are just so handy to clean up mess etc. I guess I could try to switch. I brought cloth wipes for DS1 but it just never took, always seemed so awkward wetting it etc etc. Maybe I just never got the set up right.

You know what would be very handy? If some of you could list actual brands and products that you use and where you can purchase them. I would be very interested in a shampoo for my children for example.

I have only just looking into products, I started using "Natural Instinct" baby products, which you can get from the chemist. Unfortunatly it contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which has low levels of a known carcinogen. :doh:

My DS has excema, so the doctor said just to bath him in water, his skin is too sensitive for any products. My mum said she used to use grape seed oil to bath my brother (he also had excema). I still have to try that.

I am going to have to keep on looking it seems... Will let you know what I find!