11 Baby and Infant Products And Their Common Toxins

Some products come with the territory when you’re expecting a new baby, others are entirely optional but have hidden toxins that you need to be aware of. The list of toxins to avoid is ever-growing and the marketplace a mind field of potential hidden toxicities. Marketing does not always help as it may obscure more than offer helpful information.

Ultimately, this leaves the responsibility to you, mums and dads, to know the ingredients and materials behind your products — what's good for you and baby and what is not.

To cut to the chase, here is a list of the MOST COMMON baby products that you may not know are frequently full of toxins. For all of these products, you can choose better alternatives that are actually safe and support your baby’s biological development.

baby monitors

It would be difficult to actually study the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from baby monitors on babies (not to mention the ethics of such a study), but we can infer a lot from the thousands of studies that look at how wireless radiation from cell phones affects children. Moreover, baby monitors tend to be used close to the baby (at least within the same room) and during sleep, which is a critical period of rest and growth for the baby.

If you need a baby monitor, check out this low-EMF baby monitors guide.

Infant car seats

Is your infant car seat treated with flame retardants? Many common baby products such as baby bedding, pillows, mats, and even car seat may be treated with toxic flame retardants, depending on the country of production (that governs regulations). The only way around this is to choose one NOT treated with chemicals and to seek 100% natural materials in your baby bedding.

Plastic baby bottles

Made out of plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, plastic feeding containers contain plasticisers that disrupt hormones. These are the big four (in)famous Phthalates, Bisphenol A (BPA), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polystyrene

Even after BPA was banned (only for some products, by the way — check out this article for more details) in 2012, its “BPA-free” alternatives (BPS, BPE, BPF, etc.) are just as toxic and harmful. Even low doses of endocrine disruptors can still have an effect.

In order to totally avoid BPA and its alternatives, it’s best to choose products that are not made of plastic, such as stainless steel, hospital-grade silicone, and glass.

Luckily, nowadays many sturdy glass alternatives are available. I used the glass Natural Start baby bottles from Tommee Tippee, and it was such a breeze to clean and scrub glass vs soft plastic too.

Fragrances

Things can get a bit messy especially during the postpartum to early years, and we might rely on our powerful sense of smell for a soothing reminder of calmer things. However, you want to strictly avoid artificial fragrances! Fragrances can contain synthetic chemicals that are derived from harmful sources like coal and petroleum, which can cause skin, respiratory, and even neurological issues. They also contain pthalates are harmful as they are linked to developmental disorders, respiratory issues, and fertility issues

Hand sanitisers

Triclosan is an antimicrobial ingredient often found in hand sanitizers and antibacterial soap) and it has been linked to such a significant impact on the thyroid and reproductive hormones that it’s banned in several countries.

Sunscreen lotion

These common skincare products often contain parabens and phthalates that are harmful, endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Talcum powder

While talcum powder itself, as a smoothing agent, is generally safe; it is made from talc, a mineral made up mainly of the elements magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. However, it has the potential to be contaminated with asbestos, which is a known carcinogen and instigator of lung disease.

Baby Shampoo

There are more formulations for baby that any parent can keep track of. Look beyond ““gentle” and “pure” to find out the ingredients. One common ingredient, Formaldehyde some baby shampoos, and body washes. Many preservatives actually release formaldehyde (they’re called formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs)). are used in many personal care products. (Yes, the same found in particleboards that causes lung issues.)

Short-term exposure to formaldehyde may cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat and skin irritation. Formaldehyde and the formaldehyde-releasing preservative, quaternium-15, are significant sensitizers and causal agents of contact dermatitis in children. Even trace amounts are a concern as it is enough to sensitive the body.

Wood-composite furniture

While new “ultra low-emitting” formaldehyde (ULEF) and no-added formaldehyde (NAF) resins were developed, it is a concern especially if youhave just finished a renovation and/or bought new furniture. Formaldehyde is normally present at low levels (less than 0.03 parts per million) in both indoor and outdoor air. It can be many times that usual amount within homes due to the choice of materials and pool ventilation.

new furniture

Likewise, a lot of the materials we use to coat furniture contain solvents, and also other materials to seal them in, that can be harmful. One example can be formaldehyde, this is a chemical that’s used in furniture polishes and stains. Off-gassing can last long after your furniture loses its new shine.

It’s not a good idea for the postpartum phase if you’re going to be ensconced with baby in a small space, breathing in these fumes.

References & resources

1. Weatherly LM, Gosse JA. Triclosan exposure, transformation, and human health effects. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2017;20(8):447‐469. doi:10.1080/10937404.2017.1399306

Tox-Free Home: How to Make Natural Laundry Detergent

Laundry is an essential and never ending chore. Supermarket shelves are lined with colourful brands that promise to banish stains and clean away soil and dirt, but toxic chemicals and fragrances are common.

If you are looking to eliminate a common source of toxins (and frustration), mixing your own laundry detergent with just a few basic products can make a huge impact on your body burden.

Why make your own laundry detergent?

Making from scratch ensures your detergent is free of any harmful toxins or chemicals usually found in store-bought detergent.

You can control the amount of fragrance you add and there are no dyes that can often irritate sensitive skin.

Homemade laundry detergent can be used safely in both standard and high-efficiency washing machines because of its low-sudsing formula.

What Can I Use To Make My Own Laundry Detergent?

You only need four ingredients, which can be found on the laundry aisle in many grocery stores.

(These instructions are for making powdered laundry detergent.)

• Washing soda (sodium carbonate), A naturally occurring mineral, it is an natural cleaner and water softener, and is very effective at deep cleaning clothes and removing grease and tough stains. It is used in many commercial laundry detergents to treat hard water and remove stubborn stains.

• Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is a natural softener.

It is used to neutralize odor-causing acids and is a stain remover. It also helps soften the water to help the detergent work more effectively.

In fact, baking soda is one of the top two best products (along with distilled white vinegar) for making your laundry brighter and reduce dependence on harsh chemicals.

Optional: Bar soap – a natural, toxic-free bar soap is the only type that should be used for this recipe. Lavender Pure Castile Soap is an excellent option, as is Homestead Laundry Bar Soap.

• Optional: Borax is an excellent laundry aid and booster. It is gentle, cleans, deodorizes, helps remove stains, and boosts the cleaning ability of mild detergents.

• Optional: Sea salt, to soften the clothes.

• Optional: Epsom salt. This will clean and fresh your clothes.

• Optional: Essential Oils

  If you want your clothes to have a scent, you can add 20 to 25 drops of your favorite essential oil.

Explore essential oils that are excellent at deodorizing and are antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial. They add a great all-natural scent without the worry of harsh toxic chemicals.

How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

For a basic detergent, use equal parts washing soda and baking soda. Add a third of that of salt and Epsom salt.

For example: I usually mix 1.5 cups each of washing soda and baking soda. Then I add 0.5 cups each of salt and Epsom salt.

Pour the ingredients into a medium-sized container and mix them well.

You can store it in a glass jar.

Here is another recipe that includes borax and soap. Step-by-step instructions for making homemade laundry detergent:

Grate the Bar Soap – Grate the soap bar using a cheese grater. Add the grated soap to an airtight container.

Mix the Ingredients – Add washing soda, baking soda, and borax in a container. If using essential oils, add 2-30 drops.

Shake – Place the lid on the container and shake the ingredients to mix thoroughly.

Store – Store the homemade laundry soap in an airtight container.

Tip – If you have a food processor, add the grated bar soap, washing soda, baking soda, and borax and grind into a fine powder. Add the mixture to an airtight container.

How to Use Homemade Laundry Detergent

Use 2-3 level tablespoons of homemade laundry soap per load of laundry. Use one tablespoon if you have a high-efficiency washing machine.

Start by using the recommended amount of detergent based on this recipe.

Observe the cleanliness and freshness of your laundry after each wash. Hereon, it is only a matter of troubleshooting to assess your true needs for your very own bundle(s) of laundry!

FAQ / Common laundry issues

If your clothes are not getting clean enough, you can increase the detergent slightly and see if it makes a difference.

If you notice residue or a soapy buildup on your clothes, you may be using too much detergent, and you can decrease the amount accordingly.

By making small adjustments, you’ll be able to find the perfect amount of laundry powder that suits your water quality and washing machine capacity.

Commercial detergents contain anti-caking ingredients to keep ingredients from hardening or clumping. Make small batches to prevent clumping and keep it in an airtight container!

Otherwise, the detergent becomes hard or develops clumps due to moisture. Discard it. It will not dissolve well in the washer and can leave soap residue on your clothes.

Especially if you choose to add soap flakes... Add the detergent directly to the washer drum before loading the dirty laundry. Do not use it in an automatic dispenser because the soap flakes may cause clumping that clogs the dispenser.

For heavy odor problems like underarm perspiration stains or environmental odors like cigarette smoke, use baking soda and water as a pre-soak.

If your clothes feels stiff, more baking soda helps to regulate the pH level in the washer's rinse water by keeping it from being too acidic or alkaline. Try 1/2 cup of baking soda to each rinse cycle as a balance to suspend detergent or mineral deposits in the water and keep them from redepositing on clothes, which can make clothing feel stiff.