Healthy and Green Living » Babies

Welcoming Baby Into a Healthy Environment

Terri Hall-Jackson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:00:28 +0000

With baby on the way, at some point that urge to nest and the fun of officially having permission to shamelessly shop and decorate the nursery kick in. There’s a ton of baby goodies on the market these days, and if you are like I was when caught up in the excitement of having my [...]

No Tears or Fears: Kid Hair Washing

Terri Hall-Jackson — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:16 +0000

It's hard to resist the promise some baby shampoos offer of "no more tears." I mean who wants their happy, splashing sweetheart to transform into a thrashing, screeching child when it comes time to wash their hair?

Detergent, known as surfactant, is the ingredient used in shampoos to do the dirty work, that is to get rid of the dirt in hair. In no-tears formulations, the nature of surfactants is modified to reduce eye and skin irritation. In my experience, some of these shampoos have eliminated tears, some others resulted in less tears. And, as is the case with most personal care products, these shampoos, whether they're marketed to kids or not, contain several hazardous ingredients that we all would be better off avoiding. Here are a few:

DMDM Hydantoin: A chemical known to be toxic to the immune system, with strong evidence of being a skin toxicant as well.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): This harsh, degreasing detergent commonly found in shampoos, soaps, and even toothpaste, is a skin and eye irritant.
Fragrance: Personal care products can be found in kid-enticing fragrances such as bubble gum and razzleberry. These synthetic fragrances are petrochemical loaded concoctions, which can wreak havoc with repeated exposure. (For great info on fragrance check out this article.
Ceteareth and PEG compounds: Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities.

Formaldehyde in the Furniture: Is Your Baby At Risk?

Terri Hall-Jackson — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:00:10 +0000

Environment California Research & Policy Center purchased 21 products intended for use in a baby�s nursery and hired a professional laboratory to test them for toxic chemicals. The results of the lab tests were released last week. Products tested included several brands of cribs and changing tables, wastebaskets, lamps, shelves made from composite wood, wall [...]

Baby’s Health: Just a Touch Away

Terri Hall-Jackson — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:00:38 +0000

Few things are as humbling and evoke the Mother Bear instinct as seeing our children get sick. While it's common to immediately run to the medicine cabinet or doctor's office to remedy what ails our kids, there are solutions that support our children's wellness and even heal common maladies right at our fingertips.

Diapers: The Process of Elimination

Eric Steinman — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:00:48 +0000

According to a Mother Jones article from May/June 2008, �A typical baby goes through 3,800 disposable diapers in her first 2.5 years.� Visualize this for a second. If a 34-count pack of Seventh Generation diapers (unused) registers as too bulky to pack in a sizable suitcase, try to get a handle on the landscape imprint [...]

Talcum Powder Caution

Melissa Breyer — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:00:30 +0000

Talcum powder, which contains the mineral talc, is potentially harmful to infants, and it should never be used as a powder during diaper changing. Inhaled talcum powder causes serious breathing complications. Talcum powder is toxic if swallowed. How well a baby recovers after exposure to talcum powder depends on how quickly the baby is treated [...]

Feeding Baby: Transitioning to Solids

Terri Hall-Jackson — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:00:54 +0000

With a full gourmet spectrum of options of baby foods on the market, how do you choose foods that are nutritious and safe?

First foods usually include a cereal, such as rice cereal, mixed with some water, breast milk or formula. This is usually followed by the introduction of single mashed or pureed fruits, such as bananas, apples or pears. When purchasing any baby food product, read labels in order to be sure that you are avoiding preservatives, artificial flavors and colors, unnecessary salt and sugar, and fillers. The organic baby food market is booming and it is easy to find a number of organic brands of baby cereal and jarred food available at most supermarkets.

Sleep Soundly: The Healthy Crib

Terri Hall-Jackson — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:00:15 +0000

Considering the huge amount of time babies spend sleeping, investing in a quality crib set-up is a smart choice. It will cost a pretty penny, but consider the hazards of the less expensive alternatives:

Cheaper cribs are made of laminated wood, pressed wood, plywood, chipboard, particle board and synthetic veneers, all of which release formaldehyde.
Federal law requires that fire-resistant and flame-retardant finishes be applied to crib mattresses. PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), the most common of these finishes, have been found to cause brain and thyroid problems in lab animals, and are known to steadily migrate to and build up in the fat tissue of humans. According the the Environmental Protection Agency, "There is growing evidence that PBDEs persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms, as well as toxicological testing that indicates these chemicals may cause liver toxicity, thyroid toxicity, and neuro-developmental toxicity."
Synthetic fabrics are made of petrochemicals, not natural fibers. Some contain formaldehyde. Most bedding made of these fabrics are treated with chemical dyes and finishes that often stay embedded, even after washing.

Storing Breast Milk

Terri Hall-Jackson — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:00:44 +0000

Moms choose to breastfeed because they believe this is the most nutritive, safe choice for their precious babes. Breast pumps make it possible to store this liquid gold, but some storage containers are better than others.

Containers made of polycarbonate or PVC (vinyl) plastics have been shown to leach toxins such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, chemicals associated with hormone disruption, prostate and breast cancer, and other damaging health effects. Those sealable plastic nursing bags designed for storing breast milk are made of polyethylene. Studies published in Early Human Development and Nutrition Review showed no chemical leaching into the milk, but did indicate that milk stored in these bags may lose some nutrients because they cling to the plastic.

Comforting Treatment for Kids’ Congestion

Terri Hall-Jackson — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:00:30 +0000

Massage and acupressure to the face and neck help to open the sinuses and the nasal passages and stimulate lymphatic drainage. Using these techniques can help your child breathe more easily.