Having children can make you a nervous wreck. You’re now responsible for this little human, to keep them happy and healthy. The happy part is pretty easy. Well, unless you’re child is like my youngest daughter, then it makes things a little more of challenge. However, for the most part, you play with them and give them attention and they are content. Keeping them healthy seems like it is a pretty easy job, but looking at labels anymore can make any heart race. So many preservatives, artificial who knows what and chemicals galore. Their little bodies and their super thin skin can be easily irritated by the smallest things. That’s why as parents we need to conscious of what we buy and use. To top it off, most of these chemicals are cancer causing. I know, I personally never want my child to ever have to go through something like that.
One thing to remember, just because the store sells it, doesn’t mean it’s safe. One large company years ago……*cough Johnson and Johnson *cough, finally removed formaldehyde from their ingredients and lately were sued for causing ovarian cancer with their talc (baby powder). It’s crazy to me. Just because they label products “soft” and “gentle”, could be anything but that. Or even better, using the words “natural”, when really only 1 ingredient is. Just be aware and read your labels. If you can’t pronounce it, google it or look the product up yourself on the Environmental Working Group page.
Luckily, there are so many great companies that offer alternatives to many of the products we buy for our children. Yes, they might cost a little more, but it’s worth it.
I’ve been researching a lot of these companies and thinking about all the categories needing to cover. Anything and everything that touches their skin.. Eating is a whole other post.. but this is what I came up with. Please look at the ingredients list closely as most links just get you to a main page of products. If you question a product, run it through the EWG. Overall I hope this helps raise awareness to safer products to use for your children.
Bambo Nature- Chlorine and perfume free, no brighteners, eco friendly and biodegradeable. However some ingredients depending on your beliefs can be questionable.
Babyganics– No alcohol, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial dyes or fragrances. However do contain sodium benzonate which can be questionable depending on your research.
Jackson Reece– no parabens, alcohol, phthalates, DMDM hydantoin, sodium benzoate or phenoxyethanol
My list grows everyday as I’m a mom that wants to use what’s best. If I find something I don’t like, I stop using it and move on. I haven’t personally tried every single one of these brands. Like I mentioned, this was mainly researching these brands and seeing what I thought was best. Use your best judgement.
Do you have any comments about the brands I have listed? How would you rate them on your own scale? Share in the comments below!
So, as a mom I can say, baby wipes are my best friend. With every dirty face and sticky finger, I keep a stack of baby wipes near me at all times. However, the chemicals and fragrances that are in them, I have always HATED using them on my children. My poor babies would scream if I wiped them when they had a diaper rash and it took me forever to realize that the wipe was in fact making the rash worse. Nothing like rubbing chemicals on an open wound..
There are a ton of ingredients that are hidden in baby wipes. One being formaldehyde… You may not see it on the label… but it’s there. Formaldehyde releasers are lurking.. Look for these common ones..
Diazolidinyl Urea
DMDM Hydantoin
Imidazolidinyl urea
Quaternium-15
Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin
Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bronopol)
Polyoxymethylene Urea
5-Bromo-5-Nitro-1,3 Dioxane
Methenamine
Glyoxal
Benzylhemiformal
How about those lovely carcinogens?? Yup..they are in there. Some to look for are Ethylene Oxide and 1,4-Dioxane.. Cancer Causing… If you can’t find those on the label. Look for these instead.
Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Potassium Laureth Phosphate
Polysorbate 20
PEG-75 Lanolin
Ceteareth-20
Ya no thank you….Solution= Make Non-Toxic baby wipes!!
Thankfully, I represent a non-toxic company (Pure Haven Essentials) that offers a full line of products that makes this recipe so easy. If you do have your own favorite non-toxic, organic brand that you prefer to use.. then you can use that too 🙂
The way to make these baby wipes can not get any easier. It’s minimal ingredients and will take less than a couple minutes.
Things you will need:
1 roll of paper towels
A sharp knife
2 cups distilled water
A container to store wipes
1 Tbsp Non Toxic Hand Sanitizer
2 Tbsp Non Toxic Baby Wash or Shampoo
2 Tbsp Melted Organic Coconut Oil or Olive Oil
A few drops of essential oil (lavender is what I use)
Step 1. Cut Paper Towel Roll In Half with Knife
Step 2. Remove Cardboard from rolls
Step 3. Mix oil, shampoo, sanitizer and essential oil in water
Step 4. Soak both rolls of paper towels in mixture
Wipes are DONE! Easy Peasy! Store in an airtight container.
Another huge benefit to making your own baby wipes is….. SAVING YOU MONEY!! You may not think that it’ll save you a lot, but on average almost $400 is spent yearly on packaged baby wipes. Making your own baby wipes, even ones that are non-toxic will only cost you around $167 a year!
Do you make you own wipes? What are you favorite wipe recipes?
