Toxic Bad Guys

I searched and searched for a skin care line that would be pure and natural, not make my child's hair greasy and one that she would like. After spending a small fortune and trying almost every natural line on the market, I came across TruKid. All of TruKid's ingredients are natural and free of toxins. Check out their Toxic Bad Guys list. This list shows many of the ingredients found in the majority of skin care products that have been reported to have detrimental effects on the planet and human health. Many have been linked to one or more of the following: cancer, neurological damage, and developmental/reproductive toxicity.

Toxic Bad Guys: 10 Most UNWANTED Ingredients:

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Found in 90% of products that lather)
2. Petroleum (cold creams, lipsticks, baby creams, etc.)
3. Phthalates (listed under fragrance) - Can be found in plastics, nail polishes, creams, lotions (anything containing fragrance/parfum ingredient)
4. Avobenzene (aka: oxybenzone, benzophone, dioxybenzophone or benzophenome-3; and Parsol-1789) Can be found in chemical sunscreens as UVA absorber
5. Triethanolamine (EDTA) Found in shampoos, toothpastes, sunscreens, hair color and moisturizers
6. Parabens - Found in 75-90% of personal care products
7. Diethanolamine (DEA) - Found in creams, shampoos, lotions and other cosmetics
8. Propylene Glycol (PG) - Can be found in cake mixes, soft drinks, lotions, creams, baby wipes, shampoos, deodorants and other cosmetics
9. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) - Can be found in most skin cleansers, toothpastes and oven cleaners.
10. Formaldehyde Derivatives - (DMDH Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea) - Can be found in shampoos and cosmetics to prevent molds, mildews and bacteria spoilage.

Source: TruKid

Remove Harmful Chemicals From My Children's Products

Moms are instinctively protective of their children. When a new mom brings home a beautiful baby from the hospital, this protective instinct can go into overdrive. They don't want anyone around the baby, they are afraid to take them out in the cold, they have baby monitors to hear every breath, they buy thermometers to make sure the bath water is not to hot...the list could go on and on. We do all these things because we now hold this beautiful miraculous human being that we love more than anything in the world. We have seen many changes in safety recommendations over the years. My first baby slept on her stomach because it was safer if she got sick. By the time I had my second child, I was placing him on his side with pillows to keep him in place. By the time I had my third child, I put her on her back to sleep, removed any blankets or pillows and swaddled her in a blanket. We are moms and we listen and learn and adapt to create the safest environment for our children. Thanks to the efforts of numerous non-profit groups such as the Environmental Working Group and Healthy Child Healthy World, moms are learning that there are also hidden dangers that they need to be aware of. They are learning that there are chemicals in products that can be harmful to their children. Just look at the awareness of the dangers of Lead, Bisphenol A and Phthalates to name a few. Many parents are starting to ask questions and read ingredient lists. They want to know what is in a product. There has been huge growth in the demand for organic products as more and more parents seek purer more natural choices for their children. One of the best resources to find out if a skin care product is safe for your baby is to check the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Safety Database. They even have a great printable buying guide to take with you shopping with a list of ingredients to avoid. It is easy to pretend that something that we can't see could possibly do harm. However with the rise in asthma, autism, cancer and birth defects in children, I think we owe it to our children to take the time to research and listen to organizations that are dedicated to protecting our children. If you have 15 or 20 minutes, please take that time to listen to this video from the Environmental Working Group.

Is Your Baby Mattress Safe?

As many of you know, GreenPea Nursery refuses to carry any crib mattress that contains phthalates or flame retardants knows as PBDEs. As of February 10, 2009, the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) requires the removal of certain types of phthalates from crib mattresses. Wow this is great! I can now sell more brands of mattresses. Not so fast. You see the CPSIA requires the removal of three varieties of phthalates (DEHP, DBP, and BBP) for use in baby and children’s mattresses and other baby products. Crib mattress manufacturers are still allowed to use three other types of phthalates known as (DINP, DIDP, and DnOP). These phthalates are only illegal for teethers and other items that are expected to be placed into a child’s mouth. According to Naturepedic, another phthalate chemical known as (DnHP) which has been known to cause cancer has not yet been banned at all. So although three of the bad guys have been removed, other phthalates may be used in vinyl covered crib mattresses.
Naturepedic does not use PVC (vinyl) for the waterproofing of their mattresses. They use a food-grade polyethylene which is naturally soft and does not require a plasticizer additives.

Read more about phthalates and what the CPSIA means to crib mattresses in this article provided by Naturepedic.

CPSC Grants One Year Stay

Breaking News Today!

Today the CPSC granted a one year stay of certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products. The CPSC implemented the stay in order to buy time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve some materials from the lead testing and to fine tune the testing guidelines.

There are four areas that the stay does not apply:

1. Lead in paint and other surface areas.
2. Standards for full-size cribs, non full-size cribs and pacifiers.
3. Ban on small parts.
4. Lead content of metal components of children's jewelry.

Click here for the full article.

There is no doubt in my mind that we need to look at the products on our shelves and ask questions about all the unnecessary chemicals that we are exposing ourselves and our children to on a daily basis. Manufacturers that are more concerned about providing cheap plastic toys with little regard to their safety should be the ones that are punished not the manufacturers who care. This new law is a step in the right direction but it was given very little thought as to what the impact would be on smaller businesses and the homemade goods industry. Parents are becoming more and more aware of what to look out for in products. Those companies that are dedicated to providing safer products already test. They are proud to tell you that there product does not contain phthalates, BPA or lead. As a parent and a store owner, I ask you to support those businesses that care.