| Babies are helpless little creatures entirely dependent | | | | to skin irritations, diarrhoea, breathing problems and eye |
| on us to give them the best care we possibly can. | | | | damage particularly in small children. In higher |
| There is a wealth of information available to mums | | | | concentrations this same chemical is used in household |
| about feeding and parenting but when it comes to | | | | cleaning products. When combined with other |
| baby toiletries there is little information given and a | | | | ingredients it can form nitrosamines which are |
| bewildering range of products to choose from. | | | | carcinogenic. Propylene Glycol this is a surfactant or |
| It used to be thought that cosmetics did not penetrate | | | | wetting agent and an active component in anti freeze! |
| the skin and there was consequently no regulations | | | | Diethanolamine(DEA) Triethanolamine(TEA) and |
| about what manufacturers put into their products. Adult | | | | Monoethanolamine(MEA) commonly found in children's |
| human skin is thought to absorb 60% of everything it | | | | bubble baths combined with nitrosamines they can |
| comes into contact with and baby's skin is about six | | | | become carcinogenic. These chemicals have been |
| times thinner and five times more sensitive. Yet when | | | | outlawed in some countries but are widely available in |
| you read the list of ingredients listed on baby products | | | | the U.K. There are many many more chemicals such |
| they look much the same as those listed on standard | | | | as these and probably the best way of avoiding them |
| family toiletries. Furthermore there is no independent | | | | is to choose pure and natural toiletries for babies and |
| assessment on the safety of chemical substances | | | | question which products you actually need at all. |
| used even though there are rising levels of concern | | | | Advertisers would like us to think that to be good |
| about potential harmful effects on both health and the | | | | parents we should cover our babies in lotions and |
| environment. Manufacturers are not required to prove | | | | potions from the day they are born but why expose |
| ingredients to be safe. At present 99% of the | | | | your child to a cocktail of detergents, preservatives, |
| substances that have been used for years are only | | | | colourants and fragrances. Avoid products containing |
| tested by the manufacturers. Only if an ingredient is | | | | potentially irritating or harmful ingredients. Remember |
| proved to be unsafe is it withdrawn. | | | | young babies are unable to tell you if they are itching |
| Look at the chemicals listed in your child's toiletry | | | | so watch for red patches, rash or flaking skin. Above |
| products commonly SLS or sodium lauryl sulfate is | | | | all keep what you use simple and to a minimum. |
| used in baby wipes and shampoo's it has been linked | | | | |