Raising a Green Baby

Written by: Nancy Hamm cncs

With each of us is the need for safety and security. When a new baby arrives in the home we want that little one's life to be protected and free from anything that will potentially harm them. Please do not be fooled by thinking that a name brand manufacturer will not use harmful chemicals in their baby products. You need to do your own research to be safe.

Lawsuit Filed Regarding Baby Products -  March 24, 2009

Manufacturers questioned about ingredients used.
”Some of the nation's largest child-product companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Proctor and Gamble and Kimberly Clark, are the target of a nationwide class-action lawsuit by parents after a study revealed that many of the companies' products contain questionable chemicals. The suit, filed March 19 in U.S. District Court in Chicago, will represent parents or other consumers who purchased any of an extensive list of products, if the court certifies the action, according to law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro.The findings were part of a study conducted by nonprofit, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which tested commonly used baby products and found amounts of carcinogens such as formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. According to the report, manufacturers say the levels of the potentially cancer-causing toxins are so small that they do not pose a risk to the public, and are within government guidelines. The defendants include Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Gerber Products Company, The Proctor and Gamble Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Expanscience Laboratories Inc. doing business as Mustela, and Limited Brands Inc”.

We have grown up in a society that wants everything done now and done fast. We run to the store for a loaf of bread, no longer realizing the goodness of home made bread. We pop something in the microwave without realizing the damage the waves do to the food source we are putting in it. We put things on our skin and in our mouths that are potentially very dangerous to our health and we do it for convenience sake. We do it without thinking. We do not wonder why the incidence of cancer is up so drastically, we do not think about why ADHD has risen so dramatically in the last 10 years. We do not associate any of these things with chemicals we put on our skin and in your systems. Charlotte Vohtz, founder of Green People, a mail order company manufacturing chemical-free toiletries, suggests that the danger occurs when these chemicals are mixed in products. She says "The problem is the synergy - that is the key issue. Some are inhaled, some are in food, some are absorbed by the skin. We are being bombarded by chemicals and babies are the most vulnerable to their effects."

So then the question arises, why is a chemical used in engine degreaser also in baby wash, baby wipes, baby shampoo, and more? The answer is because it is a Humectant, a substance that helps retain moisture content and thus prevents things from drying out. The use of Propylene Glycol (Anti Freeze) makes the skin feel moist and soft. You also find it in some vitamins, foods and toothpaste. Propylene Glycol is absorbed through the skin, as is ANYTHING, you put on your skin. Your skin is your largest organ and no matter what you put on it, it is absorbed into your system, as a medication would be. This chemical alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin, increasing the amounts of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream. It has been linked with skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Industrially, it is also found in antifreeze.

What about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)? Have you thought about how it affects your newborn. Research has shown that SLS and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulphate) may cause potentially carcinogenic nitrates and dioxins to form in the bottles of shampoos and cleansers by reacting with commonly used ingredients found in many products. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood system from just one shampooing. They can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions. industrial uses of SLS include engine degreasers and car wash soaps.

Did you know that SLS is rapidly taken up and accumulated in the eye tissue and retained for up to 5 days. It denatures proteins of the eye tissues impairing development permanently and it extends the healing time of the cornea surface to 10 days (2 days being normal).  And finally, tissues of young eyes may be more susceptible to alternation by SLS. This is taken from a lab study by K. Green Ph.D.,D.Sc.

SLS is found in almost all toothpastes, shampoos and bubble baths and is absorbed through the skin. A baby's eyes develop the most in the first few years.

Take a look at your toothpaste. Did you ever wonder why it says "Keep out of the reach of children...if swallowed contact a POISON CONTROL CENTER IMMEDIATELY."

Did you know that there are natural ways to eliminate many ailments in a baby’s life without using chemicals or prescriptions? We have items common to our kitchen shelves that we can use to treat thrush and colic, diaper rash and cradle cap? We have herbal preparations and homeopathic remedies that are not only 100% safe but also very effective without leaving any side effects.

There are good ways to make anti fungal baby wipes without using alcohol or chemicals that are actually good for the baby’s skin.

For instance, did you know that an effective treatment for thrush was baking soda or yogurt?

The world is awash with natural ways to care for a baby. There are more and more parents who are interested in using the most gentle products on their children and it starts with us teaching them it is possible and ultimately so simple. The following are some healthy ways to care for your baby.

TREATMENTS FOR THRUSH

White patches on the inside of the mouth are a sure sign of thrush.

1. Swab baby's mouth after every feeding with a mixture of one teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water. Be sure not to re-dip your finger or swab into the solution after applying to your baby's mouth.

2. Swab baby's mouth with plain yogurt after every feeding. The acidophilus in the yogurt kills yeast bacteria.

3. Always wash your hands every time you touch your breasts or baby's mouth, and be sure not to infect your "remedies" with the yeast bacteria.

4. Give baby frequent shallow baths with a cup or two of apple cider vinegar added to neutralize the yeast bacteria.

5. Calendula cream or yogurt can be applied to baby's bottom at every diaper change.

6. Over-the-counter Lotrimin works well on yeast rashes. (I do not recommend this as it is chemical)

7. Add a couple drops of essential oil of lavender to the bath.

8. Gentian Violet is also reported by many women as an effective yeast treatment. Be careful if you do decide to try it, it stains! Gentian violet has also been known to cause allergic reactions so use it with caution the first time.

9. Yeast infections need to be treated aggressively and consistently in order to get rid of them effectively. If you are positive that yeast is not the cause of your baby's rash, it may be possible that the baby has an allergy to a food that is passing through Mom's breast milk. Start by eliminating dairy products from her diet to see if there is an improvement. Other foods may cause an allergic reaction in the baby as well, but reactions are rare in a breastfed baby unless you eat a large quantity of one particular food.

10. Breast milk has wonderful properties, do not hesitate to apply it to a baby’s bottom when you see a rash appearing.

11. For storage of the wipes, use a zipper baggie for travel or a small plastic storage container with a lid for home. OR recycle a commercial baby wipes container for the homemade wipes!

12. If Mom prefers you can also used disposable wash clothes and then you can keep a dish of water by the changing table.

Colicky Baby

A couple of home remedies have been found to work well in Colicky babies.

1. Lactobacillus bifidus: This is a acidophilus like culture specially for babies. It is available in liquid form from your local health food store. Give baby 1/8 teaspoon with feeding 3 times a day when the baby tends to be colicky.

2. Chamomile and fennel tea can be very effective. Make a mildly strong cup of tea and put 1 teaspoon of that tea in baby’s bottle.

3. Colic Ease http://www.colicease.com. This one is herbal.

4. Colic Calm http://www.coliccalm.com This one is homeopathic.

5. Gripe Water- each gripe water manufacturer has its own gripe water formula.

6. Anise to aid digestion.

7. Angelica to soothe upset stomach

8. Caraway to relieve flatulence and indigestion.

9. Cardamom to relieve flatulence and indigestion.

10. Catnip to support digestion and relieve upset stomach

11. Chamomile to settle the stomach

12. Cinnamon bark to aid digestion and relieve flatulence and vomiting

13. Dill to dispel flatulence, stimulate appetite and settle stomach.

14. Fennel for stomach upset, hiccups, gas

15. Ginger to ease nausea and other digestive problems.

The above list of herbs can each be made into a tea. You would than use one teaspoon per 4 ounces of milk. If you are breastfeeding, you could drink the tea or take the herbs in pill or tincture form and it will transfer to the breast milk.

Homemade Baby Wipes

1. For storage of the wipes, use a zipper baggie for travel or a small plastic storage container with a lid for home. OR recycle a commercial baby wipes container for the homemade wipes!

Homemade wipes can be made with distilled water – Lavender and Tea Tree Oil.

2. If Mom prefers you can also used disposable wash clothes and then you can keep a dish of water by the changing table.

In conclusion, please use extraordinary discretion when putting things on your baby skin or in their mouth. Unless it is a completely natural product, you could be putting your child at risk. Do your research. You may be shocked at the dangers lurking in baby products.