Nov

30

TruKid Launches Skin Care Line for Kids

Filed Under Skin Care | Comments Off

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    With all the awful things I come across regarding harmful chemicals, parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde found in the very products we use every single day… it’s nice to find a skin care line that isn’t completely loaded with them.In fact it’s a relief. Even better, a skin care line for kids. TruKid™ was developed by a busy working mother of five, Jennifer Adams Bunkers, who saw a huge gap in products available for our children’s skin. Her line includes everything from face wash, soap, body and foot lotions, sunscreen and lip balms all created with natural, non-toxic and free of potentially harmful ingredients like Parabens. With ingredients like aloe, almond oil and beeswax on their list, you can’t go wrong. The best part? It’s not ridiculously overpriced. You can purchase these products on their website, where you can also find more information about the “Toxic bad Guys” which is a great list and explanation. She also provides a printable “cheat sheet” to use while you’re out shopping. Their website is cute too. I’ll be trying out their sunscreen and a few other items to see how they hold up. An snippet from a recent press release:

    The Company [TruKid] made a pledge with the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, whose goal is to protect consumers and workers by requiring the health & beauty industries to phase out chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other health issues, and replace them with safer alternatives.

    Its nice to know there are companies out there who care.

    Nov

    29

    Bisphenol free leftovers

    Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Phthalates Info | Comments Off

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      Every single plastic object in my house, I now eye with suspicion and look for the secret skull and crossbone symbol tattooed onto it somewhere. Chances are, if I’m holding a plastic object in my hand, I’m running to my old friend Google, to see if it’s going to give me a raging case of the tumors.

      So, what do you do when your toddler is now a full fledged child and you’re packing his or her lunch? I bet you’re wondering if those ziploc bags are safe from those little leachy bisphenol chemicals. Me too.

      I found a great site with some alternatives, as well as a link to a great cheat sheat with recycling codes, for just about every kind of plastic you can think of. The link to this cheat sheet will be available in the sidebar. The sheet itself is a little dated, but it’s still helpful and the “plastics to avoid” is still accurate. However, if you’re really concerned, you should call the company in question and ask.

      Nov

      29

      Asbestos Found in Several Childrens Toys

      Filed Under Product Safety | 1 Comment

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        It’s stuff like this that make me as a parent feel totally out of control. I originally found a link to The Consumerist where they list out a bevy of toys and other household items like duct tape that contain asbestos. I try not to make this site feel “alarmist” or to unnecessarily worry parents over issues such as this. But it’s hard not to bring these types of things to people;s attention because we could all be exposing ourselves or our families to hazardous materials without ever knowing it.

        The product that brings the most concern is the CSI Fingerprint kit which allows kids to “dust” for prints. What chaps me is the statement made by the company:

        “The kit has been tested and has met all safety standards requirements as set by toy safety agencies and legislation, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission,” a spokeswoman said, but added, “The agencies don’t require asbestos testing and therefore we have never been apprised of any unacceptable levels of asbestos.

        “We respect anyone’s right to test our products and should their or our future tests reveal anything unacceptable, we’ll of course take swift action to remove contaminated products from the market.”

        So basically, “we’re not required to test our toys for a potentially dangerous material so if you find out on your own that it’s dangerous, THEN we’ll do something but… we’re not obligated.” Nice. thanks for looking out for us.

        Source: Seattle PI

        Nov

        28

        MomLogic Born Free Bottle Giveaway

        Filed Under Giveaways Coupons | Comments Off

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          Just a heads up… The good folks over at Mom Logic are giving away 200 9 oz. Born Free bottles. All you have to do is fill out their giveaway form to enter. Born Free makes great BPA free bottles and are fast becoming the chosen favorite. My two year old use their drinking cup and we’ll be switching to their bottles when/if we have another baby. I don’t see a cut off date on there yet so go on over and enter!

          Nov

          27

          Boon Products free from BPA, PVC and Phthalates

          Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Product Safety | 2 Comments

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            I received an email yesterday from a mom looking for information about safe teethers and utensils. So far we’ve only come across one teether that’s not even on sale yet and I have yet to find better information on what teethers and utensils already on the market are BPA and Phthalates free. However, we’re still looking and hopefully we can add that info here soon. In the meantime, I made a call to Boon, Inc, the makers of the Boon Fluid Sippy, which is on the approved BPA free list. I spoke with them briefly to ask about what of their other products are BPA free. She (I can’t recall her name… my toddler was hanging on my leg and then my husband picked up in the middle of the call) assured me that all but 2 of their products were BPA free. The Squirt Spoon and the Catch Bowl are both made with polycarbonate plastic, and for this reason is not considered BPA free.

            Update: All Boon feeding products are BPA, PVC and Phthalate free now.

            Boon makes some great products, although I have yet to try any of them. I ordered the Fluid Sippy to try it out and haven’t yet received it. I will say that I have high hopes for it since it looks cool and was way more affordable that some of the other safer sippies on the market.

            I’ll keep digging for information on teethers and safe alternatives to those and eating utensils. Update: Since the posting of this article we have compiled a list of safer teethers, pacifiers and other items into shopping cheat sheets.  See the left hand column of this site for links to our BPA Free Teether Sheet and our BPA Free Bottles and Sippy Cups Sheets.

            Nov

            26

            Alternatives To Teething Rings

            Filed Under Articles, Bisphenol-A, Toy Safety | 1 Comment

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              Someone asked Kathy about alternatives to teething rings. Unfortunately, I only came up with one real alternative: The Comfort + Joy Teether, which isn’t available yet, and there’s no date on their website stating when it will be for available to the public, but in light of all of all of the media attention being given to bisphenol and phthalates, I’m hoping it will be soon.

              That said, I did find a good blog type post regarding bisphenol in teething rings:

              The following manufacturers have stopped or will stop using phthalate in teething toys by early 2000: Sassy, Hasbro, Tyco Preschool, Shelcore Toys, The First Years, Safety 1st, Playskool, Chicco, Little Tikes, Disney, Fisher-Price, Mattel and EvenFlo.

              This isn’t something that I’ve fully researched, so take this for what it’s worth.

              Nov

              23

              More about Bisphenol in canned foods.

              Filed Under Articles, Bisphenol-A | 1 Comment

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                I found a really great article from the environmental working group, as a follow up to Kathy’s last post, regarding Bisphenol-A in canned foods.

                EWG’s tests found:

                • Of all foods tested, chicken soup, infant formula, and ravioli had BPA levels of highest concern. Just one to three servings of foods with these concentrations could expose a woman or child to BPA at levels that caused serious adverse effects in animal tests.
                • For 1 in 10 cans of all food tested, and 1 in 3 cans of infant formula, a single serving contained enough BPA to expose a woman or infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government’s traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals. The government typically mandates a 1,000- to 3,000-fold margin of safety between human exposures and levels found to harm lab animals, but these servings contained levels of BPA less than 5 times lower than doses that harmed lab animals

                This is a pretty extensive study.  Way more than I can even begin to break down.  Check it out, and see for yourself.

                Nov

                22

                BPA Free Bottle and Sippy Cup Cheat Sheet

                Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Phthalates Info, Product Safety, PVC Free | 65 Comments

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                  This is a list of BPA Free (also PVC and Phthalate Free) bottles, BPA Free sippy cups and food/milk storage items that we’ve made into a quick reference for those looking for a short list to have on hand when shopping for items for yourself or someone elses kids. If a product you are using is NOT on this list, you should investigate that product with the manufacturer to determine whether or not it contains BPA. Please note: If a product is not on this list it means either it contains BPA or we aren’t aware of it’s BPA status. We are more than happy to add BPA Free products to this list as we find them (or you find them), shoot us an email and we’ll add it in. Thanks!

                  IMPORTANT: Please do not copy/paste this material on other websites without prior written consent. This page is constantly being updated so republishing it could mean you are distributing inaccurate information.  Copying and/or republishing this list or any written material from this website is also a violation of our Terms and Conditions.

                  Updated: March 31, 2010

                  BPA Free Bottle Products

                  • Adiri Natural Nursers
                  • Avent: “Via” Feeding System, Tempo Liners, Avent PES Bottles ***see note
                  • BornFree: All bottles and cups BPA free *see note
                  • Babisil Silbottles
                  • Coddletime Glass Bottles
                  • Dr Brown’s: Glass Bottles, Dr. Browns Polypropylene Bottles (all vent system pieces BPA Free – made with polypropylene – and fit all models)
                  • EvenFlo: Classic™ Glass Bottles, Classic™ Light Tint Polypropylene bottles, Classic™ Clear Polypropylene Bottles, Purely Comfi™ Bottles
                  • First Year’s BreastFlow and Soothie Starter Sets (marked BPA Free)
                  • Green to Grow Bottles **see note
                  • Gerber: Gerber Clear View, Fashion Tints (“Plastic Pastels”), Gerber GentleFlow
                  • Innobaby Nursin’ Silicone Bottles, Natural Nurser, Training Bottles, Spoon Feeders
                  • Lansinoh® Bottles (all)
                  • Safety Plus PES Bottles
                  • Sassy: MAM bottles (UltiVent), Baby Food Nurser Kit
                  • Siliskin Glass Bottles
                  • ThinkBaby Bottles
                  • Momo Glass Bottles
                  • Medela: All bottles
                  • Milk Bank Bottles and Vacuum Storage Systems
                  • Munchkin: Dora the Explorer Classic Bottles, Mighty Grip Glass Bottles
                  • Nuby: Standard Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, Standard Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, 3-Stage Wide Neck Easy Grip Feeding System with Non-Drip Nipple, Natural Touch SoftFlex InfaFeeder (silicone) (keep up to date on Nuby products here)
                  • NUK: Nuk Orthodontic Bottles
                  • Nuture Pure Glass bottles
                  • OrganicKidz Stainless Steel Bottles
                  • Parent’s Choice Bottles (available at Walmart) – box is marked BPA Free
                  • Playtex: Original Nurser, Playtex Drop in liners, Ventaire Advanced Bottles (marked BPA Free)
                  • Wee·go Glass Bottles
                  • ZoLi Wideneck Bottles

                  BPA Free Sippy Cups / Water Bottles

                  • Avent: Magic Cups, Magic Cup Sportster, Super Sport Cups
                  • BornFree Sippy/drinking cups, Stainless Steel water bottles
                  • Camelbak Kids Water Bottles
                  • Crocodile Creek Stainless Steel Water Bottles
                  • Dr. Brown’s BPA Free Training Cup
                  • Playtex: Coolster Tumbler, Insulator, Sipster, Create My Own, Quick Straw, Insulator Sport, Sip and Discover, First Sipster
                  • Gerber: Sip & Smile Spill-proof Cup, Easy Grip Insulated Soft Straw Cup, Insulated Cool Cup, Gerber® Fun Grips® Cup, Gerber® Fun Grips® Color Change Cup, Grins & Giggles Spill-proof Cup, Gerber® Sip & Smile™ Cup
                  • Evenflo: Fun Sip Insulated Spill-proof Cup, Fun Sip Insulated Straw Cup, Evenflo Zoo Friend Sippy Cups
                  • Klean Kanteen: All bottles
                  • Kinderville Silicone Cups
                  • Thermos Foogo Sippy Cups, FUNtainer Straw Bottles, BPA Free Tritan Sippy
                  • Tilty Sippy Cups
                  • Kid Basix The Safe Sippy
                  • Boon Sippy
                  • GrowPure Multi-Stage Feeder and Sippy Cup
                  • Green Sprouts Trainer Bottles, Sippy Cups (regular and non-spill)
                  • iPlay Aqua Bottle
                  • ThinkBaby Training Cup, ThinkSport Stainless Bottle (cute!)
                  • Munchkin: Cupsicle, Cupsicle Straw Cup, Big Kid Sippy Cup, Mighty Grip Flip Straw Cup, Mighty Grip Trainer Cup, licensed character Sports Bottles, Re-usable Straw Cups, Re-usable Spill-proof Cups
                  • Nuby: No-Spill Sports Sipper, Insulated Soft Silicone Spout Cup, Soft Spout Easy Grip Cup, Gripper Cup with Soft Silicone Spout, 2-Handle Cup, Tinted Mega Sipper, 7oz Tumblers, Magic Cups Insulated Hologram Cup (straw and spout), Insulated Sipper Cups (with and without handles)
                  • NUK: Nuk Learner Cup (Silicone & Latex), EZ Cup, Active Cup, Graduates Fun Grips Soft Starter Cup, Graduates Fun Grips Cup, Graduates Sip & Smile Soft Spout Cup, Graduates Sip & Smile Cup, Graduates Sip & Smile Insulated Cup, Graduates Cool Twisties Straw Cup
                  • The First Years: Take & Toss, Spill-proof Cup, Insulated Cup, Licensed character sippy cups, Insulated Spill-proof Cup, 2 Handled Cups. Mealmates 10oz Soft Spout Cups
                  • Nalgene Tritan 12oz Grip-n-Gulp Bottle
                  • ZoLi Straw Sippy Cups

                  BPA Free Milk/Liquid/Powder Storage

                  • Avent Via 8-oz. Nurser Kit
                  • Avent Snack Cup / Formula Dispenser
                  • Avent PES Breastmilk Storage sets
                  • Mother’s Milkmate Storage bottles
                  • Medela Milk Storage bottles and breastpump accessories
                  • Playtex One-Step Breast Milk Storage Kit
                  • Lansinoh® Breastmilk Storage Bags
                  • Lansinoh® Breastmilk Storage Bottles
                  • Gerber Breastmilk Storage Bags
                  • Dr. Brown’s Breastmilk Storage Bags
                  • The First Years Easy Pour Breastmilk Storage bags
                  • Bailey Milk Storage Bags (Nurture lll pump tubing BPA Free as well)
                  • Bailey Storage Bottles (as well as all parts of their “double collection kit”)
                  • Sensible Lines Milk Trays
                  • Snappies Containers (they also have food storage as well!)
                  • Milk Bank Vacuum Storage Systems
                  • MilkMate Storage Systems
                  • NUK Store n Go Breaskmilk Storage Bottles, Seal n Go Storage Bags
                  • ZoLi on-the-go Travel Formula & Snack Dispenser

                  BPA Free Baby Food / Food Storage

                  • So Easy Fresh Baby Food Kit
                  • Baby Cubes baby food storage system
                  • Boon Snack Ball
                  • Thermos Foodtainer
                  • Innobaby Packin’ Smart Stack n’ Seal, Keepin’ Fresh (others may contain BPA)
                  • BornFree Thermal Food Jar
                  • Munchkin: Snack Catcher, Baby Food Grinder, Fresh Food Feeder, Powdered Formula Dispensers
                  • The Snack Trap
                  • BeaBa BabyCook
                  • ZoLi on-the-go Travel Formula & Snack Dispenser

                  See our new Safer Dishware Cheat Sheet for more options as well as our BPA Free Baby Food & Storage Cheat Sheet!

                  BPA Free Breast Pumps

                  • Ameda Breast Pumps and Accessories
                  • Avent Isis, Avent Isis iQ (Uno, Duo)
                  • Medela Breast Pumps
                  • NUK Gentle Flow Manual Breast Pump

                  *If you are currently using Dr. Browns polycarbonate bottles and would like to switch, the Dr. brown’s venting system (the internal pieces) are BPA Free and are made of polypropylene plastic. Also, they FIT and work with BornFree bottles which could be a little bit of a money saver. We were also told by another SafeMama reader that the Avent nipples also fit with Born Free bottles as well as Gerber Gentle Flows.

                  ** SafeMama reader Melissa wrote in to let me know that Dr Browns bottle nipples fit with Green to Grow bottles. As we know once a baby is comfy with something it’s sometimes a pain to change so it’s good to know we don’t have to change everything if we don’t have to. Alicia of The Soft Landing did a more exhaustive report on what nipples fit what bottles. Read about it on her blog here.

                  *** Please refer to Phillips Avent’s material Chart for information. Get it here. (PDF)

                  IMPORTANT: Please do not copy/paste this material on other websites without prior written consent. Copying and/or republishing this list or any written material from this website is a violation of our Terms and Conditions.

                  What is Bisphenol A?
                  Bisphenol A is a hormone-mimicking chemical used in polycarbonate plastics (PC or identified as #7 recycling code) and resins commonly used for items such as shatterproof baby bottles. Bisphenol has estrogenic properties which, in animal tests has shown to cause a bevy of health problems such as an increase in prostate and breast cancer, uro-genital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men, early onset of puberty in girls, metabolic disorders including insulin-resistant (Type 2) diabetes and obesity and neurobehavioral problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Research is showing that when plastic containers, mostly those used to hold liquids and foods, are leeching Bisphenol into the foods and liquids they are holding. Heating food and liquids with these plastics is shown to increase the leeching of this contaminate.

                  Many companies use this chemical in their packaging including cans, soda cans, and plastic food containers. There is a risk of absorbing this chemical through the use of containing foods and liquids but can also leech into our water systems through landfills.

                  Many leading experts and the FDA argue that the use of Bisphenol-a is safe to the human public but independent research HAS proven otherwise.

                  Excerpt from Wikipedia:

                  “Bisphenol A has been known to leach from the plastic lining of canned foods and, to a lesser degree, polycarbonate plastics that are cleaned with harsh detergents or used to contain acidic or high-temperature liquids.[16] Infants fed with liquid infant formula have among the highest exposures of anyone eating canned foods. Infants fed canned formula with polycarbonate bottles can consume quantities of Bisphenol A up to 13 µg/kg/day.”

                  Links and Resources:

                  Nov

                  22

                  Velvet Boppy Pillow Slipcovers Recalled

                  Filed Under Product Recalls | 1 Comment

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                    Boppy Slipcover RecallI have already decided that I do not want or need to post every time a recall comes about. The feeds pull in from the left side and parents can subscribe or read them there. Posting about them would be overkill. But I wanted to draw attention to the Boppy Slipcover recall because many of my mom friends with babies have this and I have seen the velvet slipcover quite a few times. Read the recall info here and check the Boppy website for more details. The covers have been recalled for choking hazards and risk of lead exposure.

                    Nov

                    21

                    Safe Sippy Review

                    Filed Under Product Reviews, Product Safety | 7 Comments

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                      The Safe SippyLast week, I posted some information on alternative stainless steel sippy cups. One in particular sparked my interest, The Safe Sippy. After searching feverishly for a site that had it, I finally found one and ordered a couple. They arrived yesterday.

                      I’m really disappointed in this cup. I was really excited to get it, but it falls short of the mark. For one, it says 6+ months and I don’t think at nearly 9 months, my son is ready for this. It’s got the rubber stopper in it, much like the playtex insulator, and he has a hard time with those as well. He’s pretty good with using sippys, but even I have to suck really hard to get the liquid out of it. The lid however is a completely different story. In my opinion the lid on a sippy shouldn’t leak, at all. Kids aren’t neat. They don’t put their cup down on the counter upright, like a normal person. No, they toss it around like a rag doll, and leave it exactly where it lands. The grooves on this cup aren’t deep enough to tighten the lid properly. And because of that, my carpet is still damp from yesterday’s trial run. And if I take the handle off, as the website says I can, and try and use it without the handles, it’s like Niagara falls.

                      In theory, this cup is a really great idea, and the design is sleek and clean looking. They just need to work on the leaking issue a little more, and maybe make it a little easier to get liquid out of it.

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