Should mothers trust green baby products

Although for the most part, being green means higher product safety, this may not necessarily always be the case. Take reusable baby bottles and feeding utensils, for instance. While plastic baby bottles, no-spill cups, and kid-sized water bottles may prevent loads of waste heading for the bin, they may contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical linked to cancer, early onset of puberty, hyperactivity, and more. Usually found in polycarbonate (#7) plastics, this chemical is now being widely phased out, but thankfully there are many better options glass, stainless steel, and BPA-free plastics.

Some feeding utensils like knives, forks, spoons, plates, and bowls may also put your child at risk. Those made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), soft plastics that can contain phthalates and other toxins, and melamine, brightly-coloured, hard plastics that contain formaldehyde, should both be avoided for their potential health risks. To evade these poisons, Mom’s can choose bamboo, glass, and growingly popular BPA-, PVC-, and formaldehyde-free plastic options.

But what of the food weâ??re serving in these various dishes? Is it safe? If you’re serving up conventional baby formula or pre-made food, it may not be. That’s because nonorganic foods likely contain a cocktail of pesticides that can be harmful to your babyâ??s health. Little bodies are at a higher risk because they consume more food by weight than adults, thus concentrating these chemicals in their systems. The safe bet (which is also the eco-friendlier bet): look for the ECOCERT label on your baby’s food choices.

Of course, we should also consider the other end of the digestive system. Are green nappies necessarily safer for baby? Traditional disposable diapers can contain a bevy of toxins, including bleach, glues, dyes, gels (for absorbency), fragrances, and more:

• Dioxins, produced when paper and cotton products are bleached, can cause skin disease, liver damage and cancer.
• Fragrances can contribute to headaches, rashes, and dizziness as well as asthma.
• Gels employed to absorb liquids (such as sodium polyacrylate) can cause allergic reactions and skin irritations.
• Some nappies (namely Proctor and Gamble’s Pampers Baby Dry diapers) even contain tributyl tin (TBT) which has a hormone-imitating effect that can impair hormonal and immune systems.

While some eco-friendly disposable diapers still use the absorbent gels, most do not contain dioxins, fragrances, or TBT, making them much safer for your little one and the planet.

And then there’s the issue of waste. Disposable nappies, because they contain plastic, may increase scrotal temperature in male babies, which could hamper normal development. For these and other reasons, some recommend using cloth nappies for better baby health. And of course, that means less bin-build-up, too!

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