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Apr
16
FAQ: Why Is TruKid Sunny Days Sunscreen Missing From This Years Cheat Sheet?
Filed Under Chemicals, FAQ, Product Safety, Skin Care | 5 Comments
- Some products like the Hair & Body Wash contain a couple PEG’s.
- First, this lotion contains FOUR parabens. Hormone mimicking preservatives. Do I need to go on? No, but I will. Have been reformulated to eliminate parabens. BUT, it does contain Phenoxyethanol (see below)which we’re learning isn’t the best preservative either.
- A nice portion of the list is made up of petrochemicals… some of which can be a source of 1,4 dioxane and formaldehyde contamination. Namely Triethanolamine which can also be contaminated with nitrosamines, an endocrine disrupting possible carcinogen.
- We’ve looked at the lists on a few other products including their kids sunscreen which uses several chemical sunscreens including Octyl Methoxycinnamate, 2-Ethylhexyl Salicylate (Octyl Salicylate), and Oxybenzone.
- Take Baby Steps: Small changes are the easiest way to start. If you have to break it up into starting with bottles, then do it that way and then move onto changing something else. Babies and children are adaptable, but you’ll meet less resistance if you change one thing at a time, which in the long run, will help your sanity.
- Help us, help you: Start with our BPA Free Cheat Sheet (cheat sheet for pacifiers and teethers here). These are the items that we know are BPA Free. If you don’t see your particular brand on here, don’t freak out. Instead, help us out. We started this site to make this resource for you and your family. We love that this site has become what it has, but it’s because of you that it’s so great. If there’s a particular product on here that you don’t see on any of our cheat sheets, we encourage you to call the manufacturer. If you’re able to find out information, let us know. We’ll post the information with a big hearty thank you. At the end of the day, we’re parents just like you, who are trying to compile this information to help you out. But we have families too. Have something you want to write about? We’re always looking for contributors. Contact us.
- Utilize our resources: We’ve taken the time to put together as much information as we can, and we add to it daily. By randomly commenting and asking if your product is bad because it’s not listed, is spinning everyone’s wheels. We completely understand that all of this is overwhelming, which is why we’re trying to make this one source for all of your needs. However, you’re still going to have to do some digging. Please take the time to peruse the sidebar. There are also other great cheat sheets by some of our friends as well. Z Recommends has a really great and extensive guide. Did you know they also have text alerts, as well as a printable pocket guide to take with you when you’re out shopping for BPA free baby goods? They really have thought of everything. On top of that, it’s no secret how much we love The Soft Landing. ALL of The Soft Landing’s products are free of Bisphenol-A, PVC and Phthalates, and if you order from the safe landing, you can save 10% off your order. Just enter the code SAFEMAMA2. Could it be any easier than that?
- Look ahead, not behind: When I first read about Bisphenol-A and phthalates last year, my son was 7 months old. The thought of the damage I could have potentially done had made me sick. It’s true, when you have a child, all you want is what’s best for them, and when you think you’re doing what’s best for them, only to find out, it’s all wrong, it’s easy to beat yourself up, but from one Mama to another, I’m telling you: don’t. What matters is that you’re here now, and you’re taking the baby steps to change all of that. We have no way of knowing, so instead of making yourself crazy, just keep on doing what you’re doing and know that you ARE making a difference.
We’ve been getting this question a lot since I released this years Safer Sunscreen Cheat Sheet so I wanted to clarify my decision to exclude it in this years list. I want to preface this by saying one statement. I do not know everything. See? I’m just like you. But I spend a lot of time trying to learn more and more about the topics I cover here at SafeMama. I care deeply about the safety of products and food. But this is also a learning process for me too. Since I published the first cheat sheet I learned a lot about ingredients, chemical processing, possible contamination from that processing, and about green washing. So when I decided to redo all our cheat sheets for 2010 I wanted to carry this new knowledge through.
One of those ingredients is phenoxyethanol. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used by many “natural” brands as an alternative to parabens. So to the novice ingredients reader, they glance at the back and they don’t see the telltale parabens and think they have something much safer. In some ways they probably do.
In comparison to parabens, trace amounts of phenoxyethanol in a product isn’t too much of a concern. MY concern however, is that say you use anywhere from 10 – 20 products a day and they all contain phenoxyethanol. It starts to add up. All skin care items with the ingredient “water” in them require some kind of preservation method to prevent the growth of bacteria. Phenoxyethanol is one of the preservatives that gets used in lieu of parabens. Phenoxyethanol is also used as a stabilizer in perfumes. The ingredient is processed with chemicals that are known carcinogens so there is some concern with contamination. It is also an irritant to the skin, eyes and lungs as well as restricted from use in cosmetics in Japan and the European Union.
Much to my dismay, TruKid’s Sunny Days Sunscreen contains phenoxyethanol. Does that mean I hate TruKid? No, of course not. I’ve raved about them in the past and still think this and all their products are much better alternatives to most mainstream kids products. TruKids brand is free of parabens, phthalates, dioxanes, SLS and is rated well in Skin Deep. But I’ve come to learn that just because Skin Deep rates it well, doesn’t mean I do. I can’t help but want the best for all of us. Perhaps TruKid will reformulate some day and they’ll be back in my good graces. But until then, I’ll stick with their Sunny Days Sun Stick which has a better ingredients list.
May
13
We get this question often. I think mainly due to the fact that the EWG has it rated in their Top 10 recommended brands. It’s true, Blue Lizard doesn’t use oxybenzone like many other brands but the sunscreen ingredient isn’t what has kept it off our Safer Sunscreen Cheat Sheet the last 2 years. Below is the list of ingredients from the Blue Lizard “Chemical Free” Baby Sunscreen*:
Active ingredients: zinc oxide (10.0%), titanium dioxide (5.0%)
Inactive ingredients: purified water, ethylhexyl palmitate, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, ethylhexyl stearate, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, hexyl laurate, propylene glycol, cetyl dimethicone, trimethylated silica/dimethicone, octododecyl neopentanoate, VP/hexadecene copolymer, methyl glucose dioleate, PEG-7 hydrogenated castor oil, sorbitol oleate, hydrogenated castor oil, beeswax, stearic acid, cetyl dimethicone, methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, disodium EDTA, diazolidinyl urea, tocopheryl acetate
What baffles me is that on this particular bottle of sunscreen it says “chemical free” right on the label. Now, it’s true I am no scientist but just looking at that list of ingredients, I can pretty much guess that’s not really the case. Unless in a parallel universe propylene glycol, PEG/PPG-10, methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben’s are natural. So for those of you who are looking for a chemical free option there are sunscreens worth checking out that offer the same SPF protection.
This is a perfect example for those of you out there emailing us confused about all the crazy ingredients we worry about now. This sunscreen is rated a 2 in the Skin Deep Database despite its chemical formula packed with parabens. So while yes, Skin Deep is a great resource / starting point, it just validates that doing a little homework and getting yourself more familiar with label reading can go a long way.
*This is the ingredients formulation I could find. The Blue Lizards website conveniently has broken links where they disclose their ingredients. If someone has a bottle or knows where a more recent formulation list can be found let me know and I’ll edit this post to reflect the changes.
May
5
FAQ: Why Aren’t Arbonne Baby Products on Your List?
Filed Under FAQ, Skin Care, Toy Safety | Comments Off
I can’t tell you how many times we’ve gotten this question:
I love the Arbonne ABC Baby care line and wondered why their products are not listed on your site as they are pure, have no animal by-products etc., ?
Edit: Since the publication of this article I have been sent an updated list of product formulas. I’ll update that below. I’m going to tell you why. Because according to the ingredient information I’ve seen there is not a lot that is “pure, safe and beneficial” about them from what I can tell. To start, Arbonne doesn’t disclose the ingredients in their baby products on their website – so judging a product based on just some marketing text isn’t what we recommend when buying skin care for your little one. With some digging I found an ingredients list for the Arbonne baby Care ABC Lotion from the GoodGuide. An Arbonne Rep sent me the ingredients lists in several products. Let’s take a look at the Arbonne Baby Care ABC Lotion:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Cetyl Lactate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Stearate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Polysorbate 61, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract, Plantago Major Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Saflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolized Lecithin, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Oleic Acid, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract, Citrus Reticulata, (Tangerine) Leaf Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Jasminum Oficinale (Jasmine) Oil, Limonene, Geraniol
And the Arbonne ABC Baby Hair & Body Wash:
Water/Aqua/Eau,Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract, Plantago Major Leaf Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phospholipids, Panthenol, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia, (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Leaf Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Jasminum Oficinale (Jasmine) Oil, Limonene, Geraniol
…several animal studies clearly demonstrate toxicity of phenoxyethanol, which causes damaging effects on the brain and the nervous system, even at moderate concentrations. As a cosmetic ingredient, phenoxyethanol is restricted in Japan and the European Union. Even the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) data sheets show “chromosomal changes and genetic mutation effects in testing as well as testicular atrophy and reproductive damage in mice.”
Needless to say, we are still not comfortable recommending Arbonne’s products. Perhaps they have reformulated to remove parabens in recent months (They have taken out parabens), we’re not sure since they don’t disclose their ingredients until you’ve already bought the product. The removal of 4 parabens from their formulas is a nice step – but it’s just a few too many chemical ingredients for our comfort level.
Jun
17
Dear SafeMama…..
Filed Under Dear SafeMama | Comments Off
No Doubt we get a lot of questions here at SafeMama. And while we try to answer all of them, it’s nearly impossible. Especially when a lot of them are duplicate questions. So we’ve decided to start a weekly column, in order to reach as many people as we can. This is where you come in. We need you to send in your questions. We’ll choose two to three questions each week and answer them. So start submitting. Simply go to the contact form and choose “Dear SafeMama” in the drop down box. Be sure to double check our FAQ to make sure that your question isn’t already answered in there.
Thanks for making SafeMama a great resource.
May
23
FAQ: Are Bottle Sterilizers and Warmers Safe?
Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Dear SafeMama, FAQ | Comments Off
We’ve been asked a bazillion times whether bottle sterilizers and bottle warmers are safe, and the questions surrounding them are usually layered. Do they contain BPA? If so can using them on my BPA Free bottles do any harm?
Not many, but some bottle sterilizers and warmers do contain polycarbonate plastic. Our friends at Z Recommends recently published an article about bottle sterilizers and added them to their extensive BPA Report. Please read their post about bottle sterilization and for a short list of BPA Free sterilizers. Note that many sterilizers come packaged with polycarbonate bottles.
Bottle warmers fall into the same category and while they are handy (I’ve heard) we don’t recommend them on the Heat and Plastic don’t mix level. But since moms want to know what everything is made of these days, Safe Mama Resident Researcher Jamie (We love her!) got on it and came up with a short list of popular Bottle Warmers and their materials:
Munchkin Deluxe Auto Bottle Warmer: Polypropylene (#5) and other materials but does not contain polycarbonate (Note: These were recently recalled due to fire hazard)
The First Years Night and Day Bottle Warmer by Learning Curve: Polypropylene (#5) except buttons are polycarbonate
Phillips Avent Express Bottle & Baby Food Warmer: Polypropylene (#5)
Phillips Avent iQ Electric Bottle & Baby Food Warmer: Polypropylene (#5)
Things to keep in mind, as a general rule, us SafeMama’s don’t recommend using bottle sterilizers or bottle warmers in general. Heat and plastic are not our favorite combination and while they are conveniences, a little soap and water, or heating a fresh bottle in a glass container will do the trick without cooking your bottles.
Again, these are just recommendations and you, as parents, can judge whether you want to use these products.
May
7
FAQ: What’s In My Toddler’s Toothbrush?
Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Dear SafeMama, FAQ, Skin Care | 4 Comments
As the mother of a 2 year old who does occasionally chew on his toothbrush, I wondered of its safety. Apparently, I’m not alone in this and I’ve gotten a dozen emails from parents asking this very question. Do toothbrushes have Bisphenol-A in them? Are they safe?
SafeMama Jaime, our resident researcher, took on the challenge of finding out what some those little toothbrushes are made of. In the interest of efficiency she contacted a couple of the most popular child toothbrush carriers Oral-B and Learning Curve. Here are the results:
Oral-B carries a bevy of children’s toothbrushes, and we were pleased to find that ALL children’s toothbrushes are made with polypropylene (#5) plastic. The heads and bristles are made with Dupont Nylon Tynex, thermaplastic elastomer, brass staple wires, pigments, and some have the heat transfers.
Learning Curve reported in:
American Red Cross Toddler Toothbrush 2 Pack: Polypropylene #5 (outer) TPA Krayton (inner) and have nylon bristles
Infant to Toddler Oral Care Kit: Polypropylene #5 with nylon bristles;
Infant Finger Brush: Silicone
Alicia from The Soft Landing has already determined that the Sassy Teach Me Toothbrush Set and the Raz-A-Dazzle Silicone Toothbrush is Non-Toxic/BPA Free as well.
This is just a few popular ones, that thankfully are BPA free.
Updated May 7, 2008:
Gerber Grins & Giggles: Polycarbonate plastic toothbrush head and Nylon bristles. We therefore have to assume this toothbrush is not BPA Free.
Updated June 27, 2008:
Baby Buddy: Baby’s 1st Toothbrush is made of 100% Food Grade Silicone and does not have BPA, Lead, Pthalate or PVC. Available on OneStepAhead.com.
We have feelers out on a few other brands so we’ll re-post as we get that information.
Apr
18
SafeMama Tips to Avoid Panic and Confusion
Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Dear SafeMama, FAQ | 5 Comments
We know that right now, after reading all of these recent articles about toxic plastic, and parabens, and lead paint on toys, that you’re freaking out. You probably want to pick up your house and shake the entire contents of it out into a dumpster and paint the walls with hemp paint and buy organic furniture that you can sit on and whittle wooden toys for your children to play with.
No? That was just me? Ok, then.
All of this is overwhelming, and no one understands that more than we do. We’ve been where you are, and this is why we’re here. But instead of causing mayhem and undo stress to yourself, here are a few tips to help you make an easier transition to eliminating some of these hazards in your home:
If you take these few steps, we hope that you’ll find this site easier to use. If you’re still confused and you still have questions, please contact us. We’ll do our best to help you out.
Feb
26
Gerber Baby Food and Number 7 Plastics
Filed Under Bisphenol-A, FAQ | 18 Comments
When I started all this research business last fall I remember sitting in my mother in-laws house watching my sister in-law feed my little 6 month old niece. What should have been a peaceful act of watching my adorable niece eat Gerber pears suddenly turned to an internal question seminar when I glanced at the bottom of the Gerber plastic container. There was that #7 recycling symbol that I had been reading so much about lately. With all this BPA information fresh in my mind I immediately started to think about all the times I fed my son Gerber baby food from those handy 2 pack containers.
Later I was asked to participate on a phone call with EWG’s Sonya Lunder (read about that here) about their latest report on Bisphenol-A in baby formula. Since they were so knowledgeable on the subject I took the opportunity to ask has about baby food containers, specifically Gerber. She said she had talked with Gerber about that very thing.
The #7 recycling symbol, from what I’ve read many times over, is a “catch all” number. When a plastic is labelled with this number it typically means there are more than one type of plastic used. Sometimes there is BPA in it. Sometimes there isn’t. Researchers suggest avoiding #7 since there is no way to know if there is BPA in it or not unless you speak directly to the company.
In the case of Gerber, the plastic used for the baby food containers is made with a combination of #1 and #2 plastics. (see correction below) This being a combination of plastic lands the completed product in the #7 territory. In this case, there is no Bisphenol-A in the Gerber plastic baby food containers. Sonya Lunder confirmed that for me when we spoke, as well as a reader who wrote to me recently to say that she called Gerber directly. They assured her that both the baby food packs and their breastmilk storage bags (both labelled #7) are in fact BPA Free. (Thanks Kelly!)
It’s still safe to say that avoiding #7 (along with #3 and #6) plastics is a good rule of thumb since we don’t always know what materials are in #7 plastics. But if you have a product you use frequently and want to check it out, call the company and ask.
Correction Update: May 4, 2008 – After getting some conflicting information regarding the plastic used in these container’s I wanted to clarify what I’ve learned. Gerber baby food plastic containers are made with #1 (Polyethylene or PET) and #6 (Polystyrene or PS) layered plastic, according to Gerber reps. Not the #1 and #2 combination I was told initially, They told us that the inner layer is Polyethylene and the outer layer is the Polystyrene. Gerber assured us that no food comes in contact with Polystyrene in the packaging and they said they are 100% BPA Free containers. This information has been confirmed by a number of us here at Safe Mama. We called and harassed Gerber numerous time to ensure that the information we were given was the same each time we called. If you have any reservations about their packaging, we encourage you to call them yourself. They have a very good hot line that is open 24/7 on their website.
Feb
12
FAQ: Teethers made of EVA Safe
Filed Under Dear SafeMama, FAQ, PVC Free | Comments Off
Dear Safe Mama,
I have teethers made out of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)… are they safe? I thought vinyl was a bad plastic?
I’ve gotten this question and admittedly, I didn’t know how to answer it. I asked the Non-Toxic Super Hero: Alicia from The Soft Landing. She of course, had the answers we seek!
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is widely accepted as safe for use in teethers. EVA is a type of plastic that does not require a plasticizer and is bisphenol-a free, so it is considered to be non-toxic.
So what is this plasticizer stuff? PVC’s soft texture is imparted by “plasticizing” chemicals. DEHP, a member of the phthalate family of chemicals, is the most widely used plasticizer in teethers. The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CEHJ) recommends EVA as a safer PVC-free plastic alternative. CEHJ describes the effects of phthalates in their article PVC: The Poison Plastic.
Short answer: Yes, it’s safe and BPA, phthalate and PVC free. Thanks Alicia!
Feb
9
FAQ: BPA and Phthalate Free Bottle Nipples
Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Dear SafeMama, FAQ | 2 Comments
Dear SafeMama,
I’ve switched to BPA free bottles but now I am wondering about the bottle nipples. Are they safe? Is there BPA in Silicone?
I’ve gotten this question quite a few times so I thought I would address it since it seems to be a concern for parents who are taking BPA into consideration when buying for their little ones. Bottle nipples tend to come in two materials. One is Silicone. Silicone is the popular choice for parents these days and with good reason. Silicone is soft and easy to sterilize and importantly is non-porous. not to mention it does not contain Bisphenol-A, Phthalates or PVC so it is a safe choice for your baby. When buying silicone nipples, opt for products that use “medical grade” silicone when possible to ensure the silicone was made with the highest standards.
Other bottle nipples are made with Latex. Infants sometimes take to latex versions easier and there are also pacifiers made with it. Latex is also BPA free but there have been some research showing that over time, latex can leach carcinogens called nitrosamines. The FDA regulates levels allowed in latex bottle nipples but some levels are permissible so medical grade silicone is the better alternative. It has also been suggested that exposure to latex early in life can trigger a latex allergy.
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