Your Guide to Safe Baby Products: Protection from Harmful Ingredients

When I was pregnant, my main concern was to find safe baby products for the little one as her safety was the most important thing. I researched a lot and read lot of reviews and asked friends. All this was to ensure I buy the best products. Still I had to try a few of them to see what suits her the best, but there were some ingredients which were a complete no for me.

In today’s world, selecting safe baby products is one of the most challenging tasks for new parents. There are numerous baby products available in the market with a claim of being natural and safe for your baby. Now, this makes purchasing safe baby products even more complicated as to rely or trust on which product or which brand.

Harmful Ingredients present in baby products

When looking for safe baby products, you are confused with a huge variety available in the market. You need to follow a safe baby product guide which will help you in understanding safe baby products. This will help you to find out more information on any particular product or to build your knowledge base and know about the harmful ingredients in the products. The safe baby product guide will give a general understanding of what to consider while purchasing baby products.

Let us have a look at some of the major harmful ingredients in baby products which can have some dangerous effects on your baby.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

This harmful compound is mostly present in baby soaps, baby shampoos, baby body washes, bubble baths, etc. and is the main component that causes foam.  SLES will have a very harsh effect on the delicate skin of your baby. Overexposure of a baby’s body to SLES might damage the immune system of your baby.  This is a skin irritant for the sensitive skin of your baby.  You should avoid purchasing those products which contain SLES. Rather, you can prefer those baby products which contain gentle agents for foaming such as coco glucoside or decyl glucoside which are derived naturally from plants like olive, palm, corn, etc.

Phthalate and Parabens

Phthalates are those compounds that can disrupt the functioning of the endocrine system. It is responsible for causing reproductive problems and exposure to phthalates can cause asthma, allergies, etc.

Parabens such as butyl, ethyl, methyl, propyl, isobutyl, etc. are present in all baby products such as soaps, shampoos, moisturizers, body washes, etc. These are the neurotoxins and can be responsible for hormonal disturbances, disorders in the reproductive system, irritation in skin, etc.  Paraben-free baby products would be the best baby products for the skin.

Triclosan

Triclosan is an antimicrobial substance and it is used in baby products to reduce the growth of molds and bacteria. Any baby product which is labeled as antibacterial would contain Triclosan which is carcinogenic.  It acts as a disruptor for the endocrine system and is found in all antibacterial soaps, hand washes, etc. They can lead to certain food and environmental allergies in babies.

Talc and Fragrance

Talc is added to baby powder for fragrance and is a drying agent. However, talc is carcinogenic and is a lung irritant as well. It can also be responsible for causing allergies and irritation in the skin.

Fragrance is added into all the baby products for fragrance and sometimes to cover the odor of chemicals used in the product. This product can cause respiratory, neurological and skin problems in babies.

Mineral Oil

Mineral oil is a byproduct obtained from the processing of petroleum which can restrain the skin’s capacity of producing toxins. Usually, baby oils are made up of mineral oil and fragrance. This combination can be very harmful to your baby’s delicate skin. You can use oils obtained from other natural sources such as coconut oil, olive oil, etc. for your little one.

In addition to the above-mentioned ingredients, there are some other harmful ingredients in baby products such as BPA, Flame retardants, Propylene glycol, pesticides, heavy metals, etc. So, next time you are visiting the market to purchase safe baby products you should look for these harmful ingredients in the composition and reject those products immediately.

(You may like to read our post, Best Sensitive Wipes for Your Baby)

Finding Natural and Healthier Products for Your Baby

Despite the harmful chemicals to which we are exposed to, there are several natural products available in the market which can be considered as safe baby products.

Diapers of your Baby

Till you do not toilet train the baby, you can opt for cloth diapers that are made up of natural products and have no plastic content, no fragrances added and also do not pollute the environment. They are made up of organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, etc. and are easily compostable. However, if you are choosing disposable diapers for your baby it is advisable to select diapers that are free from dyes and fragrances. Also, they should be free from phthalates and volatile organic compounds. You should try and opt for washable wipes and a diaper cream which is perfume-free.

(You may like to read our post, Best Natural Diaper Rash Creams)

Bathing Products

For bathing purposes, you can use normal water rather than shampoos and body washes during the initial days. You can select those baby products i.e. baby creams, baby soaps, and powders which do not contain fragrances. These natural products will be the best baby products for the skin. For the laundry of your baby, it is advisable to select detergents that do not contain fragrances and are organic.

Food and Water

Once your baby has started the intake of solid foods, you have to be very careful while selecting the baby food. You should avoid baby food products that contain lead or pesticides. You should prefer purchasing organic fruits and vegetables and feed those to your baby. Choose “BPA free” baby food products for your baby. You can feed your baby in bamboo bowls and spoons. Avoid feeding your baby from any plastic dish or container.  Moreover, you can choose napkins and bibs made up of natural fabric for your little one.

Sleeping

Select mattresses and bedding for your baby which are made up of natural fibers like cotton and wool. You must avoid mattresses that contain polyurethane foam or PVC as covering.

Toys

Choose toys for your baby with utmost care. You should take care of not selecting soothers or teethers containing vinyl or PVC. Toys made up of natural products like wool, cotton, hemp, etc. can be chosen as they are safe baby products.  Even if you are purchasing plastic toys for your baby, you should select toys made up of polyethylene or polypropylene plastics.

(You may like to read our post, 8 Baby Toy Safety Tips)

Conclusion

Hence, with regular disturbing pieces of news about harmful chemicals and toxins all around; providing a healthy and safe environment to our kids might seem like a distant dream. However, some amount of care and effort can be extremely helpful in providing your baby with all types of safe baby products. When you are out for doing shopping of your little one, ensure that you check the composition and ingredients of every product. Be careful and avoid harmful chemicals and toxins. You should improve your knowledge base about safe baby products and select only good quality natural products for your baby.

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You may like to read:

Green Parent Guide: Chemicals to Avoid

https://www.madesafe.org/education/whats-in-that/baby-child-products/