Children today face increasing obstacles to healthy development, including rising incidence of premature birth; male genital defects; learning, attention and emotional disturbances; early puberty; obesity; and low sperm quality.

A recent report, “Growing Up Toxic” by the Environment California Research and Policy Center, confirmed findings that chemical exposures are the primary cause for increased disabilities and disease. The only good news is that YOU can protect your child from many of these chemicals, armed with knowledge and the commitment to buy smart.

Headlines are screaming about bisphenol A (BPA), a noxious chemical used in many plastic containers including baby bottles, water bottles, sippy cups and other containers used for food and beverages. Much of the recent clamor occurred after publication of a recent study, Baby’s Toxic Bottle: Bisphenol A Leaching from Popular Brands of Baby Bottles.

The study, commissioned by Environmental Health groups in the U.S. and Canada, has resulted in calls for bans on BPA, an environmental estrogen, since it is known to leach out of the plastics and has been implicated in development and reproductive health risks.

Dr. David Carpenter, a professor of environmental health sciences at the State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, said that BPA taken into the body before birth or in early years of life can alter the ratio of sex hormones and affect development.

“It’s absolutely obscene to use a substance that can make little boys less masculine and opens the chance that little girls will go on to develop breast cancer,” he said at the teleconference.

The BPA studies call for a ban on the use of BPA following action by the State of California to ban the use of phthalates and other known cancer causing ingredients in products designed for children. Phthalates (pronounced thah-lates) are used to make plastic ’soft’ and is found in toys, teething rings, some bottles and other play things that children often handle or put into their mouths. The California legislation is leading other states to begin regulation on known carcinogens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, but the road to success is rocky and very long.

Early 2008, another study found elevated levels of phthalates found in the urine of babies who’d been recently shampooed, powdered or lotioned with commonly used, commercial baby products. These reports, along with a myriad of other recent studies, are contributing to real concern and outrage on the part of parents across the nation.

When the very products that are designed to encourage good parenting become a threat to good health, it creates worry and distress. It also points to the need for parents to become vigilant consumers who learn to read labels, follow new studies as they are published and begin to demand safe, clean products for their children.

One of the first and most controllable items that a parent can focus on are the skin and body care products they expose their child to each day. And, no, I’m not talking just about the baby care products. I am including all the items adults use to bathe or shower, brush their teeth, plus deodorant, lotion, makeup, nail polish and products that clean / freshen the home. READ the labels on your product containers and remember that the average American comes into contact with over 200 toxic chemicals just getting ready for work in the morning! If you put it on your own body and then pick up your child to quiet their sobs, it’s safe to assume your child is getting exposed to the same 200 chemicals that you just slathered over your own body.

So, how do you get started?

Just take one step at a time. READ labels and try to limit the number of toxins in each product. I’ve listed the most worrisome below – clip the list and take it with you when you are shopping. Remember that if a product has 5 or 6 ingredients that are on the list – or only 1 ingredient on the list, that should be reason enough to look for a safer product.

Red Flag Ingredients (toxic synthetic chemicals) to Avoid:

· Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)

· Benzoyl Peroxide

· DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (Triethanolamine) · Dioxin

· DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl)

· FD&C Color Pigments

· Fragrances

· Parabens

· PEG (Polyethylene glycol)

· Phthalates

· Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol

· Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

· Triclosan

· Sunscreen ingredients like benzophenone, avebenzone, methyoxycinnamates, paba, etc.

I recommend that you take the time to find the best natural, certified organic and/or wild crafted formulations. Look for certifications like: Certified ToxicFree® Product Seal, the EcoCert Seal or the USDA Certified Organic Seal.

These seals are indications that a third party has examined the formulations and judged them according to their safety standards. I believe that you have a ‘Right to Know’ that what is in products will not harm you or your baby! Feeling assured that the products you purchase are free from xeno-estrogens, carcinogens and other known toxic ingredients is important when you are buying for you and your baby.

A simple first step is to start reading the ingredients labels on your bath and body products and cosmetics. This will help you become more aware of what these products contain and how to recognize natural and organic ingredients. Products containing parabens – chemicals used by the cosmetic industry as preservatives – should be avoided. Look for ingredients with recognizable names – fruits, herbs, and other plants, for example.

A great resource for evaluating the hazards of chemicals in common beauty products is the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety database at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com from the Environmental Working Group. It is easy to use – just enter the brand name of a product and it will display the product along with a hazard score, as long as the product is in their database. The scores are assigned based on the toxicity of the chemicals found in the ingredients. This is a tool that can be used to evaluate the products you are currently using and find safer alternatives.

The next important step to switching to natural body products is to search for those with safe, natural, and organic ingredients to replace those currently in your beauty routine and make a habit of buying only those products. These items may be difficult to find in box stores, so try natural foods stores in your area or the organic section of supermarkets. There are also many products available online if you do a search for natural body products or organic products. Homemade natural body products are a great alternative as well. You can make your own or find home businesses that specialize in body products. Etsy is a great place to search for home businesses that make natural and organic beauty products. You do not have to replace every item in your beauty routine at the same time. Take baby steps, find alternative products you are happy with, and over time you will have a much healthier supply of bath and beauty products in your home.

• If you can’t pronounce or understand the ingredients, keep looking.
  If the manufacturer doesn’t bother to put it in (simple terms) it is likely something included to benefit their bottom line, not your baby’s bottom.

  In most cases, these mystery ingredients preserve the shelf life and make the product look and smell more appealing so you’ll want to buy it.

• Mineral oil/Petrolatum/paraffin are byproducts of crude oil, and they are cheap to use.
  Baby oil is 100% mineral oil. It holds in moisture, but prevents your body from releasing unwanted toxins. Mineral oil can also block the body’s absorption of essential vitamins and nutrients.
• Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl).
  These preservatives and antibacterials are used in shampoos, creams and baby lotions to extend product shelf life. They are petroleum-based and can cause dermatitis and other allergic reactions.

  Parabens are thought to alter estrogen levels and the Environmental Protection Agency issued a report expressing concern about parabens showing up in our sewage systems (from humans) and posing a risk to aquatic life.

• Talc powder.
  The Cancer Coalition states that talc is a toxic carcinogen that can cause ovarian and lung cancer with repeated exposure. It is also used in soaps, deodorants and in food processing.
• Phthalates
  These have been in the news lately. They are found in fragrances in shampoos, lotions and powders, but their true intention is to make plastic soft. They can leach out of plastics so why would anyone want them on their skin?

  According to TIME.com, studies have been done on phthalates in urine from babies’ diapers. They are toxic, carcinogenic and have been linked to infertility.

  Note that companies are not required to list the ingredients of fragrances, so the product could have them and they not show up on the label.

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Ammonium Lauryl Suflfate are foaming agents found in many shampoos and hair conditioners.
  They can be disguised in labels as “comes from coconut” You can find these in other garage floor cleaners and engine de-greasers. They have been linked to eye injury as well as cell membrane and immune system damage.
• Isopropyl alcohol SD 40.
  It is not only drying, but it strips the skin of natural acids, making the skin more vulnerable to bacteria, molds and viruses. SD 40 comes from propylene and may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin.
• Glycol is used as a humectant.
  It comes in several forms and is carcinogenic and mutagenic.
• FD&C Color Pigments are synthetic colors made from coal tar.
  They contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins in the skin. Animal studies have shown them to be carcinogenic (causes cancer).
• Here are some more ingredients to avoid.
  Aerosol propellants
  Aluminum by-products
  Benzoates
  Diethanolamine (DEA, TEA)
  DMDM hydantoin or MDM (a form of formaldehyde)
  Flouride
  Nitrates, nitrosamins and sulfur compounds
  Quaternium 15 (also a form of formaldehyde)
  Toluene
  Triclosan
  1, 4-Dioxane (a known carcinogen)

In closing, I will tell you that you can find information justifying the use of each of these chemical ingredients in baby skin care products.

However, why take the chance when there are more natural organic skin care products available for you and your baby?

# 1: Learn To Read Product Labels
Be aware of the Rule of Thirds:

The top third of the ingredients label generally lists the ingredients that comprise around 90-98% of the product. Most of this is usually water. Read on to find out why this matters!The middle third generally represents approximately 5-8% of the product. The bottom third represents around 1-3%.

# 2: ‘Natural’ skin care is not always natural.

There are two definitions of the world natural. The dictionary definition: “Existing in or, formed by, nature”. The cosmetic industry definition: “Any ingredient derived from a natural substance”. Manufacturers commonly use the world ‘natural’ on labels to deceive consumers. For example, “Cocamide-DEA derived from coconut oil”. Cocamide-DEA may well be from coconut oil, but a synthetic chemical called diethanolamine is used in the extraction process. It is known to cause cancer. An ingredient is not really natural if it has been processed in this way.

# 3: Organic doesn’t mean what you think.
An organic certification on a product label is the only way to guarantee the integrity of a product. The definition of certified organic is as follows: “An independent third party guarantee of an organic claim”. Always look for a logo that guarantees the product’s integrity. Certified organic products must contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients excluding water and salt/minerals, with a small allowance for natural, non-organic ingredients that must comply with very stringent processing criteria. There are two definitions of organic: Organic chemistry is concerned with substances that contain carbon. Carbon is present in all living things. Legally, the cosmetics industry is allowed to label any product that contains carbon as ‘organic’. So if it contains petrol, it is organic. Methylparaben is derived from petrochemicals, which are derived from crude oil, which is derived from living matter. It is a widely used preservative in organic skin care products such as body creams, body wash and deodorants. So effectively methylparaben can legally be labelled as organic. Now, it is worth noting that a recent study reported traces of methylparaben in human breast cancer tumours.
The second definition of organic is, “The sustainable system of agriculture that uses natural substances & methods to create healthy nutrient rich and fertile soils”

# 4: How much water is in the product?
In personal communication with a leading industry expert, I was told what can actually be meant when companies put ‘73% Organic’ on their labels. Basically manufacturers can place a few organic teabags in a vat of water and let them infuse into the water. Because the water constitutes 70+ percent of the overall product, the manufacturer is allowed to claim that the product is 73% organic at the top of the label (remember # 1 in this article?). If you removed the water, the actual organic content of those fancy herbal infusions would probably be less than 0.05% of the total product.

# 5: Be aware of inconsistent labelling standards
In some countries, ingredients that are not allowed in certified organic foods ARE allowed in certified organic personal care and cosmetic products. This represents a lack of continuity or consistency in labelling standards. How can food and cosmetics products have the same certified organic logo when ingredients that are allowed personal care and cosmetics are not allowed in food? Remember that if it’s on your skin, you’re drinking it!

# 6: Miracle ingredients don’t exist
Vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, active copper and other ingredients may be touted as miracle ingredients. The fact is that there is no miracle ingredient for the skin or hair, just as there is no magic pill for curing illness and disease. The quality of the skin is a function of feeding the body and skin high quality nutrients over time and keeping the toxin levels of the body as low as possible. When you use high quality, certified organic products, ALL the ingredients are active. They are ALL beneficial and they all feed the skin.

# 7: If it harms lab animals it will harm you!

If you read books by Dr Sherry Rogers, M.D, you will discover that in order to give a rat cancer or Parkinson’s Disease, it is injected with some of the very same chemicals that you will find in your cleverly labelled organic skin care, personal care and cosmetic products.

But a deeper look shines the light on this sneaky use of wording!

“At this time, we do not know what the potential long-term effects might be, but there is a large body of animal studies to suggest developmental and reproductive toxicity (from phthalates) and a few human studies with changes in health outcomes as well,” Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana (from the University of Washington) told Reuters Health.

Better safe than sorry is a good rule of thumb. Get into the habit of reading every label for ingredients. When in doubt simply move on. We’ll keep you posted on new research that develops regarding potentially harmful products.

One of the many things that mothers and fathers do consistently for their baby is tend to their skin. They want to have the most protective lotions and creams, and the best quality products. There are products for diaper rash, regular rashes, to help calm your baby, and keep his or her skin healthy and soft. Many mothers and fathers are turning to natural products to put on their baby. Recent studies include frightening results for parents and others alike. Many of our products that we use everyday are pumped full of chemicals, preservatives and toxins that are damaging to health. It has prompted people to turn to something different.

Shea Butter that is all natural and unrefined is one of the best things you can put on your baby’s sensitive skin. It has healing properties and is amazing for many things. Here are just a few things that it is good for.

Diaper Rash - Shea Butter is great for treating and preventing diaper rash. For irritated and red skin that’s caused by diaper rash, it can be smoothed on for relief and comfort. To prevent diaper rash, all a parent has to do is smooth it on just like they would their old diaper rash cream. It creates an effective layer that will keep wetness off of your baby’s skin, and prevent diaper rash.

Calming - Shea Butter which has had a great essential oil, like Lavender, is great for soothing your cranky baby. After a warm bath, it can be rubbed on your baby, and the Lavender will sooth him or her and promote a good night’s sleep. The Shea Butter will protect baby’s delicate skin while the calming Lavender does it’s work.

Lip Balm - Shea Butter can be rubbed right on baby’s lips to keep them from becoming cracked if he or she has chapped lips. Often times, this can result from teething and constant moisture around the mouth. It contains latex, which provides a natural barrier against moisture while it soothes dry, chapped lips.

Protection against Sun - Shea Butter contains Cinnamic acid, which naturally protects baby’s skin against the sun. While it’s not a replacement for sunscreen, applying Shea Butter can help protect your baby’s sensitive skin. This is great for normal inside days when you wouldn’t apply sunscreen. UV rays can still reach your baby in the shade, on an overcast day, and even indoors with the windows open.

Baths - You can add Shea Butter to a warm bath to soothe your baby’s skin. Just heat the Shea Butter a bit until it’s melted and add it to the running water. Make sure that there are no ‘hot spots’ before you place your baby in the bath water. This is great for helping maintain your baby’s soft and healthy skin.

There are many things you can do with Shea Butter to help your baby’s sensitive skin. You can do some great things for his or her skin, and your own peace of mind. You know that you are not placing anything harmful on your baby, and that is a valuable thing to know.

PABA: This is not widely used anymore, but just in case. Many people are very sensitive to this ingredient and can end up with red, itchy skin.

Benzophenone (benzophenone-3), homosalate, and octy-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate): These chemicals are bad news because they have shown estrogenic activity in lab tests. Oxybenzone is aderivative of benzophenone and it is linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. According to the CDC 97% of Americans are contaminated with this widely-used sunscreen ingredient.

Parabens (butyl-, ethyl-, methyl-, and propyl-): Parabens are common in sunscreens so avoiding them may prove difficult. They are preservatives that have estrogenic qualities. They have produced abnormal hormonal effects following on laboratory rodents, particularly male, resulting in decreased testosterone levels and other abnormalities. They have also been found to accumulate in the breast tissue of women with breast cancer.

Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 (Avobenzone): While on the surface of the skin these chemicals appear to prevent UV damage but when absorbed into the skin they can actually damage DNA. There is evidence that the sun’s light may cause these chemicals to become reactive and cause free-radical damage when they’re absorbed. I find it alarming that pediatricians often recommend these very ingredients.

In general if you want to know which sunscreens are usually loaded with the bad stuff….oh just the easy to find ones like Coppertone, Banana Boat, Avon, Nivea, Neutrogena, The Body Shop, etc. Also even some of the ones that appear to be more natural like Kiss My Face or Aveeno have some pretty dirty sunscreens.