Feb

11

Cheat Sheet: Natural Toothpaste & BPA Free Toothbrushes For Kids

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Bisphenol-A, PVC Free, Product Safety | 12 Comments

We get a lot of questions about toothpaste and fluoride and “my Dentist says my son needs fluoride drops”  here and I am still kind of wishy washy about fluoride.  Especially after having read the great articles on SAFBaby regarding Fluoride… it really makes you wonder whether it’s the best thing.  Whether you are anti or pro fluoride, you might also be concerned with the other ingredients in toothpaste such as: sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, artificial colors, and triclosan. Here’s a quickie Cheat Sheet based on the natural toothpastes for kids we have tried or know of that are free of the ingredients in question. I figured a new list of BPA Free toothbrushes was appropriate too.

Last updated: February 16, 2010

Natural Toothpastes

  • Weleda Tooth Gel (Fluoride Free) – Skin Deep Rating: 3
  • Kiss My Face Kids Toothpaste (Fluoride and Fluoride Free): Sweetened with Stevia – Skin Deep Rating: 3 (w/ Fluoride: 4)
  • Toms of Maine (Fluoride and Fluoride Free): NOTE: The only caveat with this one is that it  contains sodium lauryl sulfate so if that’s a problem for you skip it and try one of the other brands. – Skin Deep Rating: 3 (w/ Fluoride: 4)
  • Burt’s Bees Kids Toothpaste (Fluoride and Fluoride Free) – Skin Deep Rating: 1 (old formulation)
  • Green Beaver Natural Toothpaste (Fluoride Free) – Skin Deep Rating: 2
  • Jason Natural Cosmetics Orange Kids Only Toothpaste: (Fluoride and Fluoride Free)  Certified organic, wheat and gluten free – Skin Deep Rating: N/A
  • Natural Dentist (Fluoride and Fluoride Free) – Skin Deep: 4 – They only have a rating for the kids toothpaste with Fluoride

Make Your Own

Our friends at LuSa Organics (they make awesome soaps and body care… I live for their body scrubs) posted a great blog post and tutorial for making your own toothpaste.  Check it out:

LuSa Organics Homemade Toothpaste

  • 2 tsp Natural Liquid Soap (try unscented Dr. Bronner’s or similar)
  • 4 Tb Coconut Oil
  • 1 Tb Water
  • 2 Tb Xylitol (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp Stevia powder
  • 10-20 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
  • 5-10 drops Spearmint or Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Boil a small pan of water. Measure out 1 Tb and stir into it Xylitol (optional). Stir to dissolve. Melt coconut oil and add to water mixture. Measure in soap and stevia and blend (a stick blender works well if you have one. Otherwise use your regular blender or whisk by hand like mad).  Blend while the formula cools enough to stay combined. Add essential oils and transfer to a clean squeeze or pump bottle. Cool completely, shake well.

Read their full post here… make sure to also check out their skincare items…. Looooove!

BPA / PVC / Phthalate Free Toothbrushes

Here’s a quick list of the toothbrushes we know of that are BPA and PVC free from our previous search for safer toothbrushes, FAQ: What’s In My Toddlers Toothbrush, along with a couple new ones.

I *JUST* stumbled onto The Soft Landing’s safer toothbrush finds in their blog. (I should have known Alicia would be on top of this one!)  She says the following are all BPA/PVC/Phthalate Free too:

Feb

10

Baby Wearing: Baby Carrier Round-Up

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets! | 12 Comments

When we were preparing for the arrival of our son, three years ago, I never really got into the whole baby wearing thing.  It’s not that I didn’t want my baby close to me, I just didn’t realize that there were many options beyond the BabyBjorn-like carriers.  Being that he was my first, I didn’t mind carrying him around everywhere.

When we found our our second was on her way,  I had read more about baby wearing and knew if I was going to get anything done with two kids, I’d have to look into options for carrying her around hands free.    I have two reviews included in this write up.  Both are carriers that I purchased.  I’ll also list other types of carriers as well.

Baby wearing has tons of benefits, aside of letting you get things done, without having to put your fussy infant down.  It’s a great bonding tool for you and your baby as well.   Babies love the closeness of being snuggled up next to their mothers, especially newborns.   Babies who are worn, also tend to cry less, and in my experience, this may be true.  My son was horribly fussy for eight weeks.  Fussy, actually doesn’t begin to describe it.  He screamed every night for 3 hours.   Whether this is as a result of him not being worn, I’ll never really know, but my daughter, who I wore regularly, was more mellow.  That is of course, until you put her down, and even now, she’s still like that.  Hell hath no fury!   Baby wearing is also great for development.  Because they’re close t you, they’re more comfortable with absorbing their surroundings.  Of course, with attachment parenting, comes a longer streak of dependence on you.  However, studies show that they become independent at an earlier age.

Finding the right carrier is crucial to making baby wearing work for you.   If you have a carrier that hurts your back, or is uncomfortable to wear, it’ll just make you more stressed and less likely to use it.

Types of Carriers:

Wraps: When I first got a Moby Wrap, I was overwhelmed.  It’s a bit of a learning curve,  putting on, but once it’s on, it’s insanely comfortable.  My daughter LOVED this carrier as a newborn, because she could sleep against my chest in the frog position for hours, and it never caused me any pain.   The drawback to this carrier, is that the fabric can be a little heavy for hot summer days.  However, if you were so inclined and handy, you could probably make one yourself in a stretchy muslin fabric and use it in the summer.  I, sadly, can’t even sew a button back on my pants.   For quicker use, put it on before you get in the car.  That way, when you arrive at your destination, you have it all ready to go, and all you have to do, is slip the baby in.    I don’t use it much right now, only because my daughter is a hefty 24lbs at 8 months.  At her age, I’m not quite ready to wear her on my back yet, but she’s getting a bit too heavy to use the wrap to wear her in the front. The Moby Wrap isn’t the only type of wrap carrier.  This is just the one I have.

The Soft Structured Baby Carrier:  This is a type of soft structured carrier (another example would be the typical BabyBjorn).  I purchased the ERGO Baby Carrier prior to flying down to visit Kathy last October.   I knew with two kids, I wanted to streamline my travel process.  A light stroller for my son, and a carrier for the baby.  I knew it would be easier to carry her, and also less worry of people coming up with their germy hands and touching her.  It worked like a charm.  One of the other benefits of baby wearing.  People have to get in YOUR personal space to touch your baby, and are less likely to do so.   Bonus!   I have to say, this is probably the most comfortable carrier on the planet and super easy to put on (just two clips and you’re done).  Even at 24 pounds, my daughter is STILL super comfortable to wear.   My main beef with this, is that she can’t face out in front of me.  It’s either inward facing, or on the back.   So she gets a bit more impatient in it now than she used to, but it is still worth every penny.  It’s a lighter fabric and has plenty of ventilation, as well as a sun/rain cover for their head.   I recommend this carrier to everyone.

Mei Tai Carrier: A mei tai carrier is kind of a cross between a wrap and an Ergo.  It’s generally a square piece of fabric with straps at the corners to tie together.  The result is versatility, with different wearing positions, your carrier has a longer life.   Mei tais have been used by Asian culture for years.  There are tons of WAHM’s making Mei Tai’s and if you’re able to sew, you can make your own.

Ring Slings:  Ring slings are a great option for quick and easy adjustment.  These are more of a pouch type sling, with a ring that the fabric loops through for easy tightening.   You can wear your baby as an infant in a cradle position, or on your hip.   These are especially great for nursing in as well.   The only drawback with ring slings, is the rings themselves.  When choosing a ring sling, make sure the ring is well made and sturdy.   There have been cases where the rings break, which could cause your baby to fall.  SO be sure to choose one from a trusted company like:

Pouch Slings:  Slings or “Pouches” are pretty similar to ring slings, just without the ring part of the sling.  These are nice because they come in sizes for a more specific fit.   They can be worn similarly to ring slings as well, and because they’re one piece, are relatively easy to get on and get a baby in quickly.   I’m not personally a fan of them when a baby gets heavier.  It doesn’t distribute weight very well, and you end up with sore shoulders (this may be because I’m already top heavy to begin with, so your mileage may vary).  But it is nice because it’s not bulky, and fits in a diaper bag easily, making it perfect for quick on the go trips.

Structured Backpacks:  This is pretty self explanatory.  Backpack carriers, generally have a frame and are a bit bulkier.  They’re great for things like hiking or longer days where you might need more support and a child more comfort.   I know men tend to prefer these as they’re a bit more masculine looking.   Some of them are pretty swanky too.  With pockets for holding things as well as sun canopies for coverage from the elements.

There are so many options for baby wearing, that there’s something out there for everyone.  I’m a little remiss that I didn’t find a lot of these options with my son.  My daughter loves being worn, and for me, I find that it’s so much easier when trying to wrangle a toddler.  Not to mention, it’s been great for keeping her warm during the winter.   There are even carrier covers, so that you don’t have to bundle them up in a heavy coat and take them in and out of a sling.   I find that if I steal my husband’s jacket, I can zip it up over both of us, and this works perfectly, but it’s nice to know that the option is there.

Baby wearing tips:

It’s easy to get frustrated when learning how to wear your baby.   Follow some of these tips and you’ll be a pro in no time:

  • Practice practice practice.  Practice with stuffed animals before your baby is born.  Practice around the house when your baby is born.   The more you do it, the easier it becomes.
  • Read the instruction manual.  As with any baby gear, reading the manual is essential.  You not only want to get the most out of your baby wearing apparatus, but you want your baby to be safe.
  • Check on your baby often.  If you’re wearing your baby in a cradle hold, make sure their they have sufficient air flow.  Also make sure their heads are tilted back enough to allow easy breathing.
  • Invest in a good carrier.   You want something that is going to be comfortable to wear, otherwise, you’re going to end up ditching the idea, more often than not.   If your carrier is comfortable, you won’t notice that you’ve got a baby attached to the front of you.  Unless of course, they punch you in the nose, or grab your hair.
  • Invest in a few carriers.   Depending on your activities, you might want to have a few different types of carriers on hand.   Also, if both parents like baby wearing, you’re bound to have different tastes in carriers.  Your husband/partner may not like wearing something pink and floral. Worst case: If you hate them, they retain value if they’re in god condition so you can get some of your money back on eBay.

Baby wearing resources:

Got any other tips or advice?  A favorite carrier?  As usual, leave ‘em in the comments.

Feb

5

Cheat Sheet: BPA Free Baby Food, Baby Food Creation and Storage Tools

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Food Safety | 8 Comments

Having a 6 month old means I am in the midst of the baby food jungle.. starting to introduce cereals and purees, which he is really loving and doing so well on them. I’d love to say I carve time out of my day to make all my own baby food but realistically, we all don’t always have the time and need to rely on prepared baby foods.  I set out to find as many safely packaged baby food as I could and interestingly enough – most of the baby food packaged in BPA Free packaging was organic.  Yay! Many of these brands you can find at your local health food stores or Whole Foods.  Some you can find at the grocery store (Like Sprout Organics and Plum Organics). I’ve had some luck finding brands at Babies R Us as well. So here is a cheat sheet for those of you who need a little extra help finding something right for you.  I have not included baby food packaged in glass  jars due to the fact that jar lids have a BPA containing epoxy. To the makers of Earth’s Best – Get with it already!

Last Updated: February 10, 2010

Baby Food Packaged in BPA Free packaging

BPA Free Baby Food Preparation Tools

BPA Free Baby Food Storage Options & Ideas

Make Your Own Baby Food Resources

*Please note this is not a comprehensive list… if there is a brand or item you don’t see here please share it with us!

Jan

28

SafeMama Cheat Sheet: Dishwashing Detergents

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Suggestion Box, cleaning products | 16 Comments

Well hello there!  I know I’ve kind of slacked off on writing anything.   And like Kathy so kindly pointed out, we’ve been kind of going through a learning curve being new moms of two.  I’ll tell you, I don’t know how people have more than two children.  You all are saints! That said, I’m really trying to be like Stella and get my groove back.  I think I’m getting there.  I am passionate about helping people achieve a cleaner, healthier lifestyle.  And now that it’s the new year, I feel ready to tackle on the world (or maybe just a cupcake and a much needed nap).

With that said.  One of the things someone had requested, was a dish-washing detergent cheat sheet.   We get a lot of questions on dish-washing detergents, so I figured I’d put together a quick list of some of the green(er) detergents out there. Now, I have a confession.  I have not tried a single detergent out there that has worked on my dishes the way I’d like (ok, no, there is ONE, read on below).  Having kids means having food that is the equivalent of cement when it dries and even if I rinse, I still end up with dirty dishes.  So, shamefully, I keep going back to conventional, which I HATE.  Not only from the chemical aspect, but because it leaves a detergent taste on my dishes, especially silicone, which I can’t stand.   But I’m kind of at a loss.

Ingredients to avoid:

Phosphates: Phosphates are all sorts of bad and are completely unnecessary in your detergents.  Phosphates act as a water softener, in order to make your detergent “work better.”  They leak into the ground and water system, and wreak havoc on our eco-system.  Once in the water system, it causes algae blooms, which rob water of oxygen.  This is just a smidge important for our aquatic life.  (fish need oxygen too!)

Chlorine: Chlorine is one of those cleaners that people swear by.  Your house is just not “clean” unless you douse it with a healthy dose of bleach.  Need your baby’s toys or bottles sanitized?  Just add a little bleach to the water.   Again, entirely unnecessary.  Bleach is caustic.  The fumes alone are enough to make you sick.

Artifical perfumes (phthalates): By now, it’s known that phthalates are just plain bad for you.   Those fresh morning daisies you’re smelling in your dishwashing detergent, most likely contain phthalates.   And are most likely leaving that residue on your glasses.  Ew.

Good Alternatives:

Please keep in mind that this is not a complete list. This is just what I could find, or what I know of offhand.

Without further adieu:

EcoStore Auto Dish Powder: I’ve heard of this around the Internet and our buddy Sommer from Green and Clean Mom raves about EcoStore’s products.  Lo and behold, they carry a powder dish detergent for a relatively affordable price considering how much you get (Huge container for $12).

Seventh Generation: This is probably one of the more popular eco-friendly dishwashing detergents on the market.  It’s available at most grocery stores, as well as Target.   Truthfully, I was not a fan of it, BUT, I only used the powder, so the gel may be a different story entirely. Kathy has used the gel version with much success – she’s a fan!

Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder: I haven’t tried biokleen’s dishwashing detergent, but I have used some of their other stuff and am a big fan.  Their bac-out works wonders. So this might be worth checking out.  I’ve always found their stuff to be affordable too.

Citradish: I have to admit, I’ve been curious about Citradish for awhile now.  I haven’t tried it yet, but I love the smell and the cleaning power of orange.   This one is next to try on my list, as I feel better about it being a gel, versus a powder.

Dapple: We’ve actually done a review of the Dapple dish soap, and it worked pretty well.   This detergent was made specifically for baby bottles and dishes.  I haven’t had a chance to try the detergent, but given that my daughter gets bottles, and given how much I hate washing them by hand (which I still do, anyway, because they just don’t seem as clean otherwise, see above re: caked on food), it makes me feel better that there are moms out there who get the same icky thoughts about putting their baby’s bottles in the dishwasher with a harsh chemical detergent.

Ecover: I have to say, out of all of the eco-friendly dishwashing detergents out there, this one worked the best.  Especially being a powder.   If you couldn’t tell, I tend to not be a powder fan.  I hate the powder residue.  But these handy little tablets actually worked rather well, and didn’t leave much in the way of residue.  The downside?  Is the cost.   I also had a hard time finding them, and that whole new baby thing has left me a tad bit forgetful in remembering to order some.   Given the amount of dishes we go through on a regular basis, running out of detergent is just not an option.   But this has no bearing on the performance.  I love Ecover products!

Method Smarty Dish: If there’s one thing that Method has down, it’s a knack for packaging.  They try to make their packaging appealing and cute.  And I’ll admit that it gets me.   Those sleek curved edges.   But I have not tried their smarty dish.  I’ve heard good things, but I just have a hard time justifying the cost of only 20 tablets.  That’s like a week in my house.  Also the fact that it’s a powder makes me leery.   I’d like to say you can teach an old dog new tricks, but not for a mere 20 tablets.

Nellie’s Dishwasher Nuggets: Again.  I haven’t tried these, but they popped up in my quest for a safer detergent.  I passed on them, because of the powder/ small amount they give you combo.   If you only do a few loads a week, maybe this is the detergent for you.

Mrs. Meyers: Mrs. Meyers is another popular “eco-friendly” brand out there.   I’ve always loved their products, and the majority of them have worked well.  I have not tried this, however, so I make no claims.  I will say that if you’re familiar with the brand, you know their a bit on the pungent side.  So if you’re olfactory can’t handle strong smells, you’re probably best to steer clear of Mrs. Meyers. (Note: This is the only Mrs Meyers product we recommend. The other products they carry do not pass our requirements)

Allen’s Naturally: Allen’s has a pretty popular following of their laundry detergent in the cloth diaper world.   I know it works rather well.  I would be surprised if the dishwasher detergent did not do the same.  I have not tried this…  In fact, I didn’t even know they made dishwasher detergent.  I may have to check this out.

SafeMama Reader Mention: Someone had made mention of Trader Joe’s making a dishwasher detergent, however, I went searching for this at my local store and all I saw was dish soap.  So I’m not sure if I maybe misunderstood, or maybe my local TJ’s didn’t carry it?   If it’s out there, I’d love to try it out.

Alternatively, I did find a recipe for making your own, online, and the recipe is as follows:

1 cup borax
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup citric acid (found in bulk at nutrition store)

Mix and then grind to fine powder.  Use vinegar as a rinse agent. This will get the dishes clean and leave no film.

Found here.

I’m ALL about the vinegar and baking soda.  We use TONS of it in our house, and I did try my hand at a couple of methods (not this one) in my dishwasher, and was unsuccessful.  I would love to hear if anyone has used this recipe or something similar with success, because I would switch in a heartbeat if I knew it would work.

Now it’s your turn SafeMama readers.   Is there anything here that we haven’t mentioned that has worked for you?

Aug

12

SafeMama Diaper Rash Cheat Sheet

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Product Reviews | 7 Comments

Welcome to the SafeMama Diaper Rash Cheat Sheet!  We got this request a dozen times so here we go. One of the inevitable things about having kids, is diaper rash. I’ve been lucky so far with my son never really getting diaper rash, though he’s had his fair share of weird patches, oozing eczema on the behind and some of other things, so I always kept diaper rash cream on hand.  And I know some kids are more prone to it than others.  One of my friend’s kids seems to get diaper rash from the slightest thing.  Others only get it when they start solids. Who knows.  But I do know that even if kids only ever got it once, I’d rather slather it with something safer than paraben cream plus.

So we compiled a short list of diaper rash creams that are better for your baby.  Granted, this is not every single safe cream that’s out there, just some that we’ve tried or are from brands that we know and trust, or that we’ve tried personally.  It doesn’t mean that your preferred brand is bad if it’s not included on here.

We’ve divided this list into two categories:  zinc based balms and zinc free balms that are safe to use with cloth diapers.  Zinc based balms can cause build up on cloth diapers, preventing them from doing their job, and really, you want your diaper to do its job.

Zinc Based Balms

California Baby

cababyKathy says: Love it! Cures all my diaper rash issues but has a strong scent. I would spot test before using in case some babies have sensitivity to it.  I have used this is conjuction with the California Diaper Wash spray (use at each poop change) and I have had very little diaper rash problems if any to speak of. 

Statia says: My son is one of those who has sensitivity to it. It worked OK for awhile, but one day, I put it on and he screamed bloody murder. I haven’t used it since.

Price: $9.99  Skin Deep: 3  | Buy it on Amazon, or find it at many local stores including grocery stores, Target and Whole Foods.

Nature’s Baby Organics

organic_diapercreamKathy says: This diaper cream is unscented which is nice since many creams have a strong smell, but it seperates in the tube between uses quickly and you get an oil oozing out of the tube.  So when you’re trying to cream up a wiggly baby, it gets chucked back into the drawer and I grab for something else.  Goes on a little thin for my taste too.

Price: $12.00 Skin Deep: 1  | Buy it on Amazon

Love Me Baby Me

lmbm_buttbalm Statia Says: I love the way this stuff smells. Love Me Baby Me all has a really nice floral scent to it, but not so overpowering that it’s off putting.

Price: $19.95  Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on Love Me baby Me’s website

Weleda Diaper Care

weledababy Neither of us has tried this one yet, but we love a lot of Weleda’s products and with calendula, the zinc not only forms a barrier to protect rashes, but the calendula helps heal the rash.  Kathy has a sample of this in her diaper bag so she’ll inevitably have some thoughts on it soon.

Price: $11.00 Skin Deep: 3  | Buy it on Amazon, or find it at many local stores including grocery stores, Target and Whole Foods.

Burts Bees Baby Bee Diaper Ointment

burtsbeesbabyStatia says: I actually like the Burts Bees diaper rash cream. It’s really thick and covers well. The price point is nice and it’s readily available just about everywhere.  Kathy says: I can’t stand the smell of this or any other burts bees baby stuff (except the bar soap) so I don’t care for it but I’ll use it if there’s nothing else around. 

Price: $8.99  Skin Deep: 3  | Buy it on Amazon, or find it at many local stores including grocery stores, Target and Whole Foods.

Fresh Organics Baby Bottom Balm

fobalm Statia Says: This is actually new to the market, so I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet (read our review!), but the ingredients list is pretty good and it’s not over priced. Kathy says: I can’t wait to try this… I loved the rest of their products!

Price: $7.99  Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on Fresh Organics’ website

Little Twig Diaper Cream

littletwigdc We like a lot of Little Twig’s products, and while we haven’t tried this one, we know that Little Twig puts out paraben and phthalate free products. Sign up for their mailing list, they’re always sending out coupons.

Price: $12.00   Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on Amazon.

Zinc Free Formulas

The great thing about zinc free balms is that you can use them on cloth diapers and not have to worry about build up. They allow the skin to breathe and they’re multi purpose. I use my zinc free balms on scrapes, cuts, bug bites and more.

Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm

AngelBottomBalm Statia says: I really like this one. It’s soft enough in the container and it melts onto baby’s skin. It helps heal nicely and there’s no real scent to it, which is also nice. The other nice thing is that while it’s a little pricey, a small container will fit nicely in a diaper bag, so I’m not lugging around a giant tube of diaper cream.  Kathy says: I’ve used many other EMAB products and I LOVE the ingredients… they all rate a ZERO in Skin Deep too. 

Price: $7.00+   Skin Deep: 0  | Buy it on Amazon.

Dimpleskins Bum Bum Balm

bumbalm1 Statia Says: I really like Bum Bum Balm. We used this a lot in the early days, along with Earth Mama on my daughter, who seemed to poop with every diaper change, making her poor little hiney chapped and raw. This stuff worked like a charm. It’s a little tough to get it going at first, but once you get it out of the container, it goes on nicely.

Price: $9.95   Skin Deep: 0  | Buy it on Amazon.

Lusa Organics Booty Balm

lusabalm Statia says: I keep a tin of this in my son’s room, who as of late, can’t be bothered to come around for a post poop diaper change. Because of this, he gets rogue breakouts and this stuff seems to heal them nearly in the same day. I also put it on his cuts too and it helps keep them moisturized.

Price: $5.25 – 7.50  Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on LuSa Organics’ website (comes in travel sizes too)

Dr Bronners Organic Baby Balm

drbronner This is another one that neither one of us has tried, but we personally use a lot of Dr Bronners in this house. My husband uses the soap for shampoo. We use it for hand soap and I use the bar soap to wash my face. So I trust that this would work rather well.

Price: ~ $4.00 Skin Deep: 1  | Buy it on Amazon.

Edens Kiss Calendula Balm

edenskiss We had done a review of this awhile back and both of us confessed we actually stole it for ourselves for our dry winter chapped skin. It makes a great healing balm. Kathy says “I used this on my newborn to help with those early days of peeling hands and feet… worked like a charm.”

Price: ~ $18.00 Skin Deep: 0  | Buy it on Eden’s Kiss website

Mama Rose’s Magic Touch Baby Balm

mamarosebalm Mama Rose has quite a line up of products that have healthy ingredients. We haven’t tried this one, but it’s safe to use with cloth diapers. Quite a few SafeMama readers have emailed us telling us how much they like this line.

Price: ~ $3.00 and up   Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on Mama Rose’s website

Apr

13

SafeMama’s 2009 Safer Sunscreen Cheat Sheet

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Eco-Mama, Phthalates Info, Skin Care, Toy Safety, paraben free | Comments Off

sunscreenIt was high time to redo last year’s Safer Sunscreen Showdown.. spring is here and summer is around the corner!  So here’s the scoop:

SafeMama™ Sunscreen Criteria: All sunscreens we approved needed to be free of parabens, phthalates, PEG’s, propylene glycol, SLS, dioxanes, and synthetic fragrances. Another ingredient we watch out for is the synthetic chemical oxybenzone.  Oxybenzone is an endocrine disruptor which can affect the nervous system, has been linked to cancer in some laboratory studies, and creates free-radicals when exposed to the sun which are harmful.  Below are our selections of safer natural sunscreens that use mineral (or sometimes referred to a physical) sunscreen which is typically Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide or any combination of those two.

A note about the Skin Deep ratings. Their ratings are a good start, but take them with a grain of salt.   They have a big job over there and sometimes formulas change and their information gets a little outdated.  Which is why we stress learning to read the labels!  Concerning sunscreen, the EWG’s Skin Deep published a sunscreen guide last year and while we generally respect the research and efforts of EWG, we don’t agree 100% with their top picks.  For example the top choice on their Top 10 list is Blue Lizard without oxybenzone, but all Blue Lizard products contain multiple parabens, Propylene Glycol and PEG’s not to mention the giant list of chemical ingredients on every label.  So, again… read labels and don’t just take anyone’s word for it.

* A note about Micronized and Nano:  This is a controversial topic and there have been many reports that micronized vs. nano particles of titanium or zinc oxide have the ability to pass through the skin more easily (which is why they aren’t as white as others). There is also a concern that nano titanium/zinc dioxide particles have higher photo-reactivity than coarser particles and may generate free radicals that can cause cell damage. Some manufacturers have addressed this issue by coating the particles to prevent free radical formation.  We have listed the exact active ingredient in each sunscreen for a reason.  So you as a consumer can decide which is right for you.  We will continue to investigate these materials further and share with you our findings.  We are comfortable recommending sunscreens with Micronized zinc or titanium (most natural sunscreens ARE) NANO zinc or titanium is something we feel should be avoided if possible.

These are NOT in order of recommendation… this is a random list.

Badger All Natural Sunscreen for Face & Body (SafeMama’s Top Pick)

badger30Protection: SPF 30+ / SPF 15
Active Ingredient: Micronized Zinc Oxide 20.5% (read this)
Skin Deep Rating SPF 30: 1 (last updated 03/07) SPF 15: 2 (last updated 03/07)

Price: ~ $14.00
Reviews: Kathy says, “I had heard Badger sunscreen was like spreading toothpaste, but I’ve got to say that totally isn’t the case at all.  Goes on thick (like any natural sunscreen) but spreads really easily, doesn’t have an overpowering smell and really protects nicely.  One of my new favorites!  Badger says its naturally water resistant and I’d have to agree.  One of the few that are 100% chemical free.” Read our full review here!

Notes: For extra protection, choose Badger Lip Balm SPF 15 – safe for you and the kids.

Mama Rose’s Naturals Sunblocker All Natural Sunscreen

sunblocker

Protection: SPF 30, SPF 50
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (inquiring further information)
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $15.00 – 18.00

Notes: Seems to be chemical free, comes in an SPF 50 which is the highest natural sunscreen SPF we’ve seen.  Available online through the companies website.

TruKid Sunny Days Face Stick

trukidstick

Protection: SPF 30+
Active Ingredient: Micronized* Titanium Dioxide 8%
Skin Deep Rating: 0 (last updated 3/08)
Price: ~ $8.99
Reviews: Kathy says “I carry one of these in my bag for those ‘oops I forgot’ moments or unexpected uses.  I rub a little on faces and cheeks for quick protection.  Makes getting tops of ears and noses easy too…stays on well.  ”

Weleda Children’s Sun Screen

weledaProtection: SPF 18
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 7.6%, Zinc Oxide 0.4%
Skin Deep Rating: 4 (last updated 6/08)
Price: ~ $14.00

Reviews: Statia Says: “Neither of us has tried this sunscreen yet, however by the ingredients listed, we feel it makes the list and is considered one of the safer sunscreens out there.”

JASON Cosmetics Chemical Free Sunblock (Sunbrella’s version too)

jason1Protection: SPF 30+
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide (8.0%), Zinc Oxide (2.5%)
Skin Deep Rating: 1 (last updated 12/08)
Price: ~ $12.49

Reviews: Kathy Says: “I really liked the way this goes on, and the scent is beachy, not chemical smelling.  It reminds me of old school Coppertone.  I use this on myself too. “

Soleo Organics Chemical Free Sunscreen

soleoProtection: SPF 30
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22.3%
Skin Deep Rating: 0 (last updated 03/08)
Price: ~ $9 – $23.00

Reviews: Coming Soon

California Baby Everyday/Year-Round™ Sunscreen

cababyProtection: SPF 30+ (Also avail. in SPF 18)
Active Ingredient: Micronized* Titanium Dioxide
Skin Deep Rating SPF 30: 1 (last updated 03/07) Skin Deep Rating SPF 18:  2 (last updated 03/07)
Price: ~ $17.99 – 19.99 No fragrance: $17.00 – 19.00 With Citronella: $19.00 – 25.00

Reviews: Kathy Says: “CA Baby SPF 30 goes on thick and works well but it’s sticky.”

Statia Says: “We have the bug blend and it goes on well, not as sticky, but it has a strong smell.”

Variations: These come in a No Fragrance version and a Citronella version (which Kathy can never find)

California Baby Everyday/Year-Round™ Sunblock Stick

cababystickProtection: SPF 30+
Active Ingredient: Micronized* Titanium Dioxide
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $14.99

Burt’s Bees Chemical Free Sunscreen (w/ or w/o Hemp Seed Oil)

burts2Protection: SPF 30+ (Also avail. in SPF 15)
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide (8.58%) (EWG claims it’s Nano Titanium Dioxide)
Skin Deep Rating SPF 30:  3 (last updated 06/08) SPF 15:  3 (last updated 06/08)
Price: ~ $9.99 – 11.00

Reviews: Statia Says: “I wasn’t really that impressed with this stuff.  It was immediately cakey upon contact with the skin, and yet, I still felt  really sticky.  I felt gross all day.”

Kathy says, “I made friends with the SPF 30 version… it is a little tough to get on but it protects like the rest.  It’s not my first choice, but it works.”

Erbaviva Natural Children’s Sunscreen

erbavivaProtection: SPF 15
Active Ingredient: Micronized* Titanium Dioxide
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $26.00

Reviews: Kathy says, ” This sunscreen blends in wonderfully and there is no over powering scent whatsoever – great for faces too.” Full review here.

SuperGoop Dr. T’s Quickstick

Protection: SPF 30
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 8%,  Zinc Oxide 5%
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $9.00
Important Editor’s Note:  This is the only SuperGoop product we feel comfortable recommending.  The other sunscreen’s and products they offer contain Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Padimate O, Propylene Glycol, PEG’s, and several parabens which of course are ingredients we adamantly avoid.  We listed the Quickstick as an option but if we had to choose, we’d opt to support companies who have made a commitment to safer skin care in general.

Kabana Skin Care Green Screen

greenscreenspf20Protection: SPF 20
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 25%
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $16.50 40z.
Company Website: KabanaSkinCare.com

Notes: Made from 8 edible-grade organic and natural ingredients and uses non-nano Zinc Oxide for protection.  This only has an SPF of 20 (also available in tinted SPF 22 and SPF 15) but it a great option as far as safe ingredients go.  We’re anxious to give it a try.

Notes: For extra protection, choose their Liplovers™ Natural Lip Balm with 10% Zinc Oxide sunscreen protection  – safe for you and the kids.

Sunscreen Usage and Sun Tips

Follow the directions on the sunscreen you use for proper sun protection. However, our motto is “everything in moderation”.  This means sun exposure too of course.  It’s ok to be out in the sun for 20 minutes without covering every square inch of your kid with SPF 80. Sun exposure is good for us, (Vitamin D!), and it’s been studied that people – especially kids -  with regular moderate time in the sun are healthier and may have less risk of developing conditions like Multiple Sclerosis or other auto-immune deficiencies.  But sunburns are not good, so choose a safe sunscreen and apply according to the directions for days when extended sun exposure is on the docket!

When the option is available, use hats, cotton clothing or use the shade of umbrellas to avoid too much sun exposure. No need to bake in the sun all day… keep cool and stay in the shade!  Investing in some SPF Protected clothing for the kids is a good idea too.  Reduces the need for so much sunscreen and can have a UVB protection of up to 50.  Snapper Rock makes great SPF Swimwear for kids.  We also like Baby Banz Sun Hats for baby and kids… they also have a wide brimmed bucket hat with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor rating of 50+.  The wide brim helps keep sun off kids faces.

After Sun Soothers

I got the idea to include these after a day at the beach on Easter Sunday (I know, I know… my mom already told me it was 30 degrees in New York, I swear I’m not trying to rub it in!) when we were in the sun for a particularly long day.  I sometimes use after sun lotions or balms to hydrate my skin.  A few I like:

Badger Balm Bali Balm. We’ve never tried it but it’s an organic balm designed just for after sun exposure. Cocoa and Shea Butters, with Olive and Jojoba to make a soothing body balm good for after sun, or for dry skin. Has a tropical scent! made completely with natural and organic ingredients.. not a synthetic ingredient in the bunch. We love Badger!

Burt’s Bees After Sun Lotion with Aloe, Linden Extract and nourishing Coconut Oil. This has a really fresh scent and feels great on hot skin.  I actually put this in the fridge before I leave so it’s extra cold.  Like with many of the Burt’s Bees products this isn’t 100% natural (or organic for that matter but it’s easy to find in stores.

Enjoy the outdoors!  Be sure to check out our Safer Bug Repellent Report for safe choices to keep the buggies at bay.

Download our Sunscreen Wallet Card for easy shopping!

Nov

7

SafeMama’s Safer Toy Guide 2008!

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Toy Safety | Comments Off

SafeMama's 2008 Safer Toy Guide!We know many of you are a little ill at the thought of holiday shopping for kids stuff this year (or perhaps at the thought of starting your shopping). After last years “Year of the Recall” scares, making holiday toy purchases makes my stomach churn. Or did. We didn’t get to it last year but this year we decided we would make some recommendations for your little ones.

say hello to SafeMama’s 2008 Safer Toy Guide to Holiday Shopping for little kiddies.  We went with the “pretend play” theme to encourage imagination and tossed in a few favorites from smaller shops who take care in selecting toys made responsibly and in many cases with care for the environment. As other people start publishing their toy guides we’ll add links to those from there as well so you can access a bevy of wonderful and safe ideas for the holidays.

For added convenience in the spirit of “one-stop”, we’ve extended the recent recalls there as well so in the event something does get recalled you’ll be the first to know. You can never be TOO safe we always say.

Be sure to look for the coupon codes at the bottom, which we’ll continue to add to as more filter in or we find good deals that we think will help. In this economy every saved penny counts! Happy Holiday shopping!

Oct

6

SafeMama’s Safer Dishware Cheat Sheet: BPA, PVC & Phthalate Free Dishes

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Bisphenol-A, PVC Free, Product Safety | Comments Off

We’ve gotten the request for a cheat sheet for dishware so here is our list of favorites. We made sure all the items listed are free of Bisphenol-A, PVC and Phthalates and we listed as much of a diverse selection as possible for those who are looking for alternatives to plastic we made sure to include options for you too. Note: There is no melamine dishware on this list. You can read why here. (Last Updated: February 18, 2010)

Plates, Dishes, Bowls, Cups

Utensils

  • Bambu Kids Organic Bamboo Utensils
  • TreBimbi Dinnerware Utensils
  • Munchkin: Soft-Tip Infant Spoons,
  • Boon: Benders Fork & Spoon, Modware Utensils, Squirt (new version)
  • IKEA: Kalas 18 Piece Cutlery set
  • SteadyCo: Cutlery
  • Williams Sonoma: Kids Stainless Flatware
  • One Step Ahead: My Very Own Flatware stainless steel (3 and up)
  • Gerber: Graduates Kiddy kutlery, Graduates, Tossables, Scoopin’ Spoons, Safety Fork and Spoon
  • ThinkBaby Utensils
  • Preserve Tableware
  • Oneida baby flatware
  • Dandelion Natural Feeding Utensils
  • Green Toys BPA Free utensils

Snack Containers

Lunchboxes, Food Containers

Wait! You can also find a more comprehensive list of our Safer Lunchbox Picks located here.

Have a product you think belongs on this list? Let us know! Please link back to SafeMama.com if you share this so we can keep this site going! Thanks!

Take the headache out of no-toxic shopping by visiting our friends at The Soft Landing. Use coupon code “SF-10″ for 10% Off!. They have a safer Dish and Cup Guide as well. Have a look.

Jan

4

BPA Free Pacifiers and Teethers Cheat Sheet

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Bisphenol-A, Green Mama, PVC Free, Phthalates Info, Product Safety | 20 Comments

I’ve gotten a couple of emails from parents asking about BPA Free pacifiers and teethers. With all the news surrounding Bisphenol-a (BPA) in bottles and sippy cups, parents are now wondering what else they might need to modify in their babies routine to avoid those plastics. Once a parent learns about potential hazards its tough to know what to buy and what to avoid. I’ve said myself more than once “Can’t someone just tell me what to buy?“.. and I am pretty sure I am not the only busy parent who’s uttered that phrase. Not a comprehensive list.

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.

Last Updated: February 23, 2010

BPA, PVC & Phthalate Free Pacifiers*

  • BornFree: BPA-Free Pacifier for Day and Night Use, Clear Button Pacifier, Clear Pacifier, CoolFlow Pacifier
  • Playtex: Playtex “Binky” (one piece silicone pacifier), Binky Most Like Mother Latex Pacifier, Binky Most Like Mother Silicone Pacifier, Binky Angled Pacifier, Ortho-Pro Pacifier
  • Gerber: NUK Original, NUK Classic, NUK Nautical
  • The First Years: Soothies Silicone Paci’s, Safe Comfort, Ultra Kip
  • Vice Versa Binky w/ Case
  • Natursutten Natural Rubber Paci
  • Evenflo: Mimi Soft Touch, Mimi Premium, Mimi Neo One-Piece, Vizion, Fuzion and Illuzion
  • Happy Baby Soothers
  • NurturePure™ Pure™ Orthodontic Silicone Pacifier & Teether
  • Sassy Mini MAM, MAM (only with packaging labeled BPA FREE)
  • Avent PES Pacifiers (marked BPA Free) Nighttime, Fashion, Freeflow, Bear, Translucent

BPA, PVC & Phthalate Free Teethers*

  • Please also check out The Soft Landing Blog for a great list of BPA Free products.
  • Cross check your items with The Zrecs Guide to see what harmful chemicals are/aren’t in them.

*This is not a comprehensive list, it just contains the BPA, PVC & Phthalate Free products I am aware of. If there is a product not on here, it does not mean it’s not safe. Inquire with the toy maker about materials used if you are unsure. If there is a product that is not listed here that SHOULD be, please let me know and I will be thrilled to add it.

My absolute favorite site to take the headache out of non-toxic shopping:
The Soft Landing

What is Bisphenol A?
Bisphenol A is a hormone-mimicking chemical used in polycarbonate plastics 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 argue that the use of Bisphenol is safe to the human public but research may begin to further prove 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.”

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