Nothing smells better than a brand new baby! Would you really want to then slather them in petrochemicals and other potentially toxic ingredients? Here is a list of ingredients to look out for in your baby products and our favourite natural brand that you and your family will love!
The Toxins
Fragrance: Termed “the new second-hand smoke”, fragrance is a common ingredient in many products. But what does it mean? The Environmental Working Group (who rates the toxicity of beauty products in their Skin Deep guide) provides an excellent explanation which in lay terms means when you see fragrance you should think chemical sh*t storm and back away slowly. Instead of fragrance, look for products with essential oils or plant extracts to provide a naturally sourced scent without added chemicals.
Propylene Glycol: Otherwise known as antifreeze, this ingredient helps to keep the product in a liquid form to dissolve other ingredients in. Glycerin is a much better solvent to look for in your products.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: This is a foaming agent which does extreme damage to the environment. This is why you’ll notice most natural products and some commercial ones saying that they are “SLS Free”, because it’s a problem and there are many other things that can be used to make things foamy – like glycerin again which is a natural soap base.
Mineral Oil: Mix this with fragrance and you have Baby Oil. But did you know that this oil is actually the end result of refining petroleum (aka gasoline for your car). Petrochemicals = chemicals on your baby’s skin, so best to avoid them. Instead, try a natural oil like olive oil or coconut oil.
Parabens: These chemical preservatives are hormone disruptors and act like estrogen in our bodies, blocking our natural estrogen and causing hormonal issues when used in large amounts.
A good rule of thumb is: if you can eat it, you can put it on your skin since what goes on your skin will be absorbed into your body.
The Good Guys
There are plenty of wonderful natural baby care products out there and we’ve tried most of them. Our favourite, hands down, is Carina Organics. Their bath and body care products are my personal go to for bath time and the lotion is so luxurious that I use it for myself too! They use all natural plant extracts, zero preservatives and even have an unscented line for any babies who are dealing with severe skin issues like eczema.
Carina Organics products are:
- Organic
- Synthetic Chemical Free
- Hypoallergenic
- Cruelty Free
- Vegan
- 100% Biodegradable
- Paraben Free
- Soy Free
- Gluten Free
- Dye Free
GIVEAWAY TIME
Since we love Carina Organics so much, they sent us a gift basket to give to you which includes a Baby Bubble Bath, Baby Shampoo and Bodywash and Baby Lotion! Check out our Instagram for the giveaway details and don’t forget to tag your friends for extra entries!
Durham Region Doulas 