Search Results for: blog baby shampoo and lotions containing probably carcinogens

How to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time of life with a lot of unexpected moments here and there. If you can do a little preparation before you get pregnant, you can help things go smoothly for yourself, your baby and your household. Here are some ways that you can prepare for pregnancy even before you get pregnant. Most likely, you won’t realize that you are pregnant for the first three or four weeks of your pregnancy. Meanwhile, anything you ingest could affect your baby, such as prescription drugs or alcohol. A good rule of thumb is to act as though you are … Continue reading →

Colognes and Perfumes Believed to Harm Hormones

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Are you having trouble getting pregnant? Maybe it is your husband’s cologne…or yours. Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit consumer advocate, has conducted an independent study on “secret” ingredients that can be found in colognes and came up with some startling results. After analyzing 17 perfumes and colognes, EWG found that some contain compounds that may interfere with your hormones. In fact, the chemical diethyl phthalate, which was found in a previous Harvard study to cause sperm damage, was found in 12 of the 17 scents tested. But, diethyl phthalate wasn’t the only potentially harmful chemical found in the scents … Continue reading →

BPA: Harder to Avoid Than Originally Thought?

You have probably heard about BPA (bisphenol A) and how some believe it is bad for our health. BPA is an industrial chemical used to make plastics. In 2002 alone, there was 2.8 million tons of BPA produced, so there is a lot of it out there. You have probably heard experts warn not to reuse your water bottles, choose BPA-free plastic baby bottles, don’t microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers (use glass instead), and just plain avoid any plastic that has the No. 7 recycling label because it is made with BPA. Right now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) … Continue reading →

Reading Beauty Labels: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Laureth Sulfate

It’s funny how things filter into your brain. I remember hearing that either sodium lauryl sulfate OR sodium laureth sulfate was bad for you — but didn’t remember which one or why it was bad. Thanks, brain. Good to know you’re looking out for me! It turns out that in 1998, an email forward started circulating that claimed that sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) caused cancer. As with many email forwards, it was incorrect. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant (wetting agent) and detergent (cleaning agent) that is found in small amounts in many personal care products. It’s such a good … Continue reading →

Chemicals in IV Bags May Damage Preemies

If your baby is a preemie, than he already has some obstacles to overcome. But what if the simple treatment of using an IV to keep him hydrated and fed could actually be harming him? That is what a new study in Germany may be revealing. My oldest son was born at 38 weeks when my water broke, and I had to be induced. Of course, 38 weeks is hardly a preemie, and in fact considered full term by the medical community. Still, he suffered from jaundice that was bad enough to have him hospitalized. His liver wasn’t mature enough … Continue reading →

Is Your Deodorant Safe?

It is scary how commonly used products contain known carcinogens and can release chemicals that are bad for the environment, bad for animals and bad for humans. Your antiperspirant deodorant is no exception. Most of these products are not green and have been linked to health risks. So how can you tell if your deodorant is safe? Don’t completely rely on the labels Many products claim that they are hypoallergenic or natural. This doesn’t mean that they don’t contain harmful chemicals. These two labeling terms are not regulated by the FDA, which means that there doesn’t have to be any … Continue reading →

Preparing a Young Child for the Hospital

Whether it is tubes in the ear for frequent ear infections or something more serious, having a young child stay in the hospital, especially when it involves surgery, can be a nerve-filled experience for both you and your child. Parents Magazine recently published an article all about preparing children when they have to go to the hospital. There is some good advice here, especially as it relates to babies and the youngest children. I’ve adapted some of the advice given as a result of my own experiences with children and hospitals. Inform yourself I always became less anxious whenever I … Continue reading →

What is Greenwashing?

Chances are that you have been a recent victim of greenwashing. What is it and how can you protect yourself in the future? Keep reading. The topic of going green is really hot right now. Consumers are becoming more and more responsible with their choices to protect our environment, and manufacturers are responding to this. While this awareness of greater social responsibility has given us all many more choices that are safe and environmentally friendly for all of our needs, it has also produced the phenomena of greenwashing. Greenwashing occurs when a manufacturer produces an overpriced product that claims to … Continue reading →

Sun Protection and Your Baby

Protecting your baby’s skin is so important for his lifelong health. One bad burn in childhood can dramatically increase her chance of getting skin cancer as an adult. Baby’s skin is thin and can often burn even on a cloudy day in the shade. Here are some tips that you can use to protect your baby from the damaging rays of the sun. What type of sun protection should you choose? Sunscreen acts as a screen absorbing the suns rays, while sunblock does a better job at actually blocking out everything. There is generally no difference between the active ingredients … Continue reading →

The Best Plastics to Buy

While reducing the amount of plastics that we use make good sense, sometimes it is hard to avoid them. We may need plastic plates and cups for children who would be in danger from glass or heavy stainless steel. And some of the food products we buy, even that organic yogurt may come in a plastic container, and the organic free range chicken may come in a plastic wrap. Still, some plastics are better than others when it comes to the chemicals they release and the easy of recycling them. Here is a guide. The next time you are out … Continue reading →