March 24, 2018
https://oily.life/katscorneressentiallysimple
MOST OF US WOULD NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS THINK OF PUTTING TOXIC AND DETRIMENTAL CHEMICALS ON OUR PRECIOUS LITTLE ONES!
WELL THE REALITY IS YOU ARE!
Avoiding Toxic Ingredients In Baby Care Products.
Many parents are unknowingly bathing, powdering,wiping and moisturizing their babies with products containing an alarming mix of harmful, toxic, chemicals. Parabens, Talc, Sulphates, Propylene Glycol, DEA, are just some of the known toxic ingredients commonly used in baby bath, skin & hair care products and also in baby wipes and nappy change creams.
Thankfully avoiding toxic ingredients in baby care products is a lot easier these days are there are now many safer alternatives out there and in this article I will help shed some light on how it is that toxic ingredients end up in baby care products and more importantly, show you how we can protect our babies by knowing what to avoid and what baby skin care products are safe to use.
Why Toxic Chemicals Are Allowed In Baby Skin Care Products
So how is it that governments allow these questionable products to still line shelves of the baby care section of our supermarkets?
When testing ingredients for harmful effects, the accumulative and also the combined effects, (how one ingredient may react negatively with another ingredient)are often unable to be tested and measured in humans and this is somehow being overlooked, or swept under the carpet and products get released.
The Dangers Of Accumulative Exposure To Toxic Ingredients In Baby Products
Baby product manufacturers are allowed to use certain amounts of concerning ingredients in their products. These amounts are deemed by the authorities to be at low enough levels not to cause harm. But this is the amount allowed in each individual product; e.g. each nappy cream, baby shampoo etc, what happens when you go through a jar of nappy cream every couple of weeks?
What happens is that your baby is being exposed to accumulative amounts of certain toxic ingredients. When you think of the number of baby wipes that will be used on the average baby over a 2-year period and the dangerous chemicals that your standard supermarket brand wipes contain, it is just frightening.
Due to their tiny body size babies and especially newborns are much more susceptible to the harmful effects of toxins than we are. A baby’s skin is also much thinner and permeable and their internal organs are still developing. Therefore accumulative exposure of toxic ingredients poses a real risk to their health and development.
Quaternium -15 is a formaldehyde releasing chemical that is a known carcinogen and it is found in the biggest worldwide baby skin and bath care manufacturer. It is such a dangerous chemical that some countries have managed to ban this company using this ingredient, but in other countries, like here in Australia it is still allowed – see Baby’s Tub Is Still Toxic by Safe Cosmetics .
Misleading Natural Labeling of Baby Care Products
Labeling on baby personal care products can be disconcertingly misleading. Many of the mainstream, popular brands cunningly market their products under less than honest slogans. They entice parents to buy their products with enticing words such as, soothing and calming. They give the impression that their product and pure and safe with slogans such as, “contains pure organic ingredients and essential oils’.
A great example of this is when these manufacturers add a minuscule amount of pure essential lavender oil to their baby bath and skin care products. This is to entice parents to purchase the products to calm and relax their babies, in the hope that they will sleep better. *Note-essential lavender oil acts as a relaxant.
This reels parents in, but few take the time to read the rest of the extensive ingredients listed in tiny print on the packaging. If they did, they would often find an overwhelming list of potentially toxic ingredients and only a tiny percentage of organic, or natural ingredients. Yet these companies are by law, are allowed to advertise and promote their products using words like ‘organic’ and ‘natural’.
Talcum Powder Health Hazards
Did you know that your everyday Talcum Powder, can contain asbestos like particles that are hazardous to our health and have been linked to ovarian cancer. It makes one wonder why some of the big brands still opt to have both talc and cornstarch options in their range? Is it to cover themselves legally, so they can say that the consumer had a choice and chose the talc, so therefore they, the consumer, are responsible for the outcome? ( See in sources below)
Respiratory Conditions in Infants and Children
Many case reports of infants and preschool children experiencing adverse effects from talcum powder exist. Poison control center reports show incidents involving inhalation during a child’s diaper or clothing changing. When babies or children inhale the tiny particles in baby powder, it can produce a drying effect on their mucous membranes and affect breathing ability. If enough powder is inhaled in one moment or over time, it can lead to serious lung damage.( #1)
A case report published in the BMJ describes a 12-week-old baby who accidentally inhaled and ingested baby powder accidentally after some spilled on his face during a diaper change. He immediately coughed and choked on the powder, then vomited and refused to eat. Four hours later he was admitted to the hospital with severe respiratory difficulties. Thirty minutes after hospital admission, his condition deteriorated and he went into respiratory arrest. After his airway was secured, he vomited a white talc-like substance. (#2)
Want a few visuals? These pictures are from the “Think Dirty” app. I highly recommend you download it to your phone and really investigate your products! The apps. ranking is from 0 to 10, 0 being the lowest or safest to 10 being the worst! Don’t be fooled by a product labeled Organic ! It’s not always entirely true and that is a scary fact! Especially when touted on the label as using essential oil (usually lavender), which you really have no idea if its even pure or more chemicals!
NOW HERE IS SOME GREAT NEWS! YOU CAN EASILY MAKE YOUR OWN AMAZING NON TOXIC BABY POWDER! This is just one recipe but there are dozens using natural clays!
This is super easy to make! Andrea Butte has been around for a long time. She is a passionate about Non Toxic living as Young Living is! If you truly want a real Lavender or German Chamomile essential oil I can only recommend using Young Living Essential Oils! Why? because I know the are the highest quality you can get, following there strict Seed to Seal promise and don’t you want to give your little one the best that you can give them?
Kathryn Yateman http://katscorneressentiallysimple.com
Other sources:
https://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/talcum-powder-myth/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6697622
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3024482
