These not added ingredients to be found on the label, rather they're coming from the processing & are hidden dangers. Of note--Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo/Wash is what most hospitals are bathing babies with, so if you are concerned, you can opt not to bathe your baby (it's not dirty!), just have your baby rinsed off or bring your own baby products.
I highly recommend Miessence Certified Organic products because they are certified organic to food grade levels by the USDA & because they are cold-pressed & cold-extracted, which means they don't need chemicals to get the ingredient out of the source. One way to make Miessence products more affordable is to buy foaming soap dispensers (ebay is a good source) & then use the Sunflower Body Wash or shampoos for your family...you'll save a lot of money that way. Go to my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net to learn more about Miessence products.
Probable Carcinogens Found in Baby Toiletries
By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post
Staff Writer
Friday, March 13, 2009
More than half the baby shampoo, lotion and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer, the organization said yesterday. Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion, tested positive for 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.
The chemicals, which the Environmental Protection Agency has characterized as probable carcinogens, are not intentionally added to the products and are not listed among ingredients on labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product break down over time, while 1,4-dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals. The organization tested 48 baby bath products such as bubble bath and shampoo. Of those, 32 contained trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane and 23 contained small amounts of formaldehyde. Seventeen tested positive for both chemicals.
"Our intention is not to alarm parents, but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkan, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the government to more strictly regulate personal care products such as shampoo, lotion and makeup. Companies that manufacture and sell the products tested by the group stressed that they comply with government standards. "The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."
The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient in personal care products, but the Food and Drug Administration has not established a safe limit for the chemical in shampoo, lotion and other toiletries. It maintains that the trace amounts found in those products are not harmful. A 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4-dioxane can penetrate human skin when used in lotion. Health advocates argue, however, that federal regulators have not considered the cumulative effect of chemicals in personal care products.
"The levels we've found are relatively low, and the industry often says there's just a little bit of carcinogen in my product," Malkan said. "The problem is, we're finding a little bit of carcinogen in many products. Many of these products are used every day, so we've got repeated and frequent exposure to these low levels of chemicals. They're not the safest and purest products, and parents ought to know that."
In addition, government studies have not examined the effect of chemical exposure on the particular vulnerabilities of infants and children, whose bodies are still developing, the advocates said. Several Democratic lawmakers said the report is evidence that the nation's chemical regulation system needs to be changed.
"The fact that we are bathing our kids in products contaminated with carcinogens shows how woefully out of date our cosmetics laws are and how urgently they need to be updated," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.). "The science has moved forward; now the FDA needs to catch up and be given the authority to protect the health of Americans." Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) called the findings "horrifying" and said she intends to introduce legislation that would require stronger oversight of the cosmetics industry.
The report can be found at http://www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub.
Showing posts with label baby care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby care. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Babies Absorb Chemicals
Babies absorb chemicals from personal care products
http://www.seattlechildrens.org/home/about_childrens/press_releases/2008/02/003170.asp
Use of Baby Personal Care Products Associated With Higher Levels of Phthalates in Children
February 4, 2008
Babies recently treated with infant personal care products such as lotion, shampoo and powder were more likely to have man-made chemicals called phthalates in their urine than other babies, according to a Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute and University of Washington study appearing in the February 2008 issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Phthalates (pronounced "THAH-lates") are added to many personal care and cosmetic products, as well many common household plastic and vinyl products. Some studies suggest phthalates may affect reproductive development in humans. Animal-based studies of phthalates have found that these synthetic chemicals can harm reproductive system development, and studies in humans have found that prenatal exposure or exposure through breast milk can alter hormone concentrations. Early-childhood exposure has not been extensively studied, so additional research is needed to determine if phthalate exposure can indeed cause reproductive development problems or other adverse effects in infants.
Phthalates are commonly found in many plastic products like children's toys, lubricants, infant care products, cosmetics, and personal care products. Since phthalates are not chemically bound to these products, they can be released into the air or into liquids, possibly leading to exposure through breathing, ingestion, and skin contact. Product labels in the United States are not currently required to list phthalate content.
In this study, researchers set out to see if using baby personal care products was associated with urine phthalate concentrations. To accomplish this, they collected urine samples from 163 infants aged 2 months to 28 months, and measured the levels of nine different phthalates in those urine samples. They also had the babies' mothers fill out questionnaires on their use of infant personal care products in the past 24 hours. When they cross-referenced the data, they found that the use of baby powder, lotion, and shampoo were each strongly associated with higher phthalate levels in the urine. The scientists also found that every baby had detectable levels of at least one phthalate in their urine, and about 81% of the infants had detectable levels of seven or more phthalates. Younger babies from birth up through 8 months of age showed the strongest associations between product use and phthalate concentrations, as did babies whose mothers used more infant personal care products.
"We found that infant exposure to phthalates is widespread, and that exposure to personal care products applied onto the skin may be an important source," said the study's lead author, Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH, a researcher with Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "This is troubling, because phthalate exposure in early childhood has been associated with altered hormone concentrations as well as increased allergies, runny nose and eczema. Babies may be more at risk than children or adults because their reproductive, endocrine and immune systems are still developing."
Parents who want to decrease their baby's exposure to phthalates should limit the amount of baby care products used on infants and young children, and apply lotions or powders only if medically indicated. Since phthalates are also found in many household plastic products including plastic food containers, parents can also stop heating plastics in the microwave oven and use glass alternatives for food storage whenever possible. Phthalate-free cosmetics and personal care products are also available.
This research project was supported by grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. With Sathyanarayana, the research team included Catherine J. Karr, MD, PhD, Paula Lozano, MD, MPH, and Elizabeth Brown, PhD, from the University of Washington; Antonia M. Calafat, PhD, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Fan Liu, MS, and Shanna H. Swan, PhD, from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
For phthalate-free health & beauty products, choose Miessence certified organic products for your family. Go to www.AWellLivedLife.Net & click on the Miessence tab at the top to learn more about the difference between certified organic, organic & natural according to the cosmetic industry. You'll be surprised!
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
http://www.seattlechildrens.org/home/about_childrens/press_releases/2008/02/003170.asp
Use of Baby Personal Care Products Associated With Higher Levels of Phthalates in Children
February 4, 2008
Babies recently treated with infant personal care products such as lotion, shampoo and powder were more likely to have man-made chemicals called phthalates in their urine than other babies, according to a Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute and University of Washington study appearing in the February 2008 issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Phthalates (pronounced "THAH-lates") are added to many personal care and cosmetic products, as well many common household plastic and vinyl products. Some studies suggest phthalates may affect reproductive development in humans. Animal-based studies of phthalates have found that these synthetic chemicals can harm reproductive system development, and studies in humans have found that prenatal exposure or exposure through breast milk can alter hormone concentrations. Early-childhood exposure has not been extensively studied, so additional research is needed to determine if phthalate exposure can indeed cause reproductive development problems or other adverse effects in infants.
Phthalates are commonly found in many plastic products like children's toys, lubricants, infant care products, cosmetics, and personal care products. Since phthalates are not chemically bound to these products, they can be released into the air or into liquids, possibly leading to exposure through breathing, ingestion, and skin contact. Product labels in the United States are not currently required to list phthalate content.
In this study, researchers set out to see if using baby personal care products was associated with urine phthalate concentrations. To accomplish this, they collected urine samples from 163 infants aged 2 months to 28 months, and measured the levels of nine different phthalates in those urine samples. They also had the babies' mothers fill out questionnaires on their use of infant personal care products in the past 24 hours. When they cross-referenced the data, they found that the use of baby powder, lotion, and shampoo were each strongly associated with higher phthalate levels in the urine. The scientists also found that every baby had detectable levels of at least one phthalate in their urine, and about 81% of the infants had detectable levels of seven or more phthalates. Younger babies from birth up through 8 months of age showed the strongest associations between product use and phthalate concentrations, as did babies whose mothers used more infant personal care products.
"We found that infant exposure to phthalates is widespread, and that exposure to personal care products applied onto the skin may be an important source," said the study's lead author, Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH, a researcher with Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "This is troubling, because phthalate exposure in early childhood has been associated with altered hormone concentrations as well as increased allergies, runny nose and eczema. Babies may be more at risk than children or adults because their reproductive, endocrine and immune systems are still developing."
Parents who want to decrease their baby's exposure to phthalates should limit the amount of baby care products used on infants and young children, and apply lotions or powders only if medically indicated. Since phthalates are also found in many household plastic products including plastic food containers, parents can also stop heating plastics in the microwave oven and use glass alternatives for food storage whenever possible. Phthalate-free cosmetics and personal care products are also available.
This research project was supported by grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. With Sathyanarayana, the research team included Catherine J. Karr, MD, PhD, Paula Lozano, MD, MPH, and Elizabeth Brown, PhD, from the University of Washington; Antonia M. Calafat, PhD, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Fan Liu, MS, and Shanna H. Swan, PhD, from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
For phthalate-free health & beauty products, choose Miessence certified organic products for your family. Go to www.AWellLivedLife.Net & click on the Miessence tab at the top to learn more about the difference between certified organic, organic & natural according to the cosmetic industry. You'll be surprised!
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
Monday, March 10, 2008
Miessence Testimonials
Miessence Certified Organic Product Testimonials--Pregnancy & Babies
From Issue Two of the MiNews Newsletter
May 11 2007
I recently had my 1st baby named Oliver! Throughout the whole pregnancy I used Rejuvenessence on my belly twice a day. It felt great & kept my skin in excellent condition. I did not get one stretch mark (my body was prone to getting them in the past)--I was so thrilled! It's such a wonderful product!
Another must-have product during pregnancy was In-Liven. I took it 3 times a day & felt absolutely fantastic. On the odd few days that I forgot to take it, I found my hips would ache at night. This was just another indicator of how much this probiotic does for your body. Needless to say, my baby is bright-eyed, has perfect health & is bounding with energy. I know he getting all the nourishment he needs from my organic diet & lots of In-Liven. There is no way I would go through a pregnancy without it!
Thank you Czerral & ONE Group!
Regi S., Australia
Feb 12 2007
I have been using the In-Liven probiotic regularly for 4 months now, since my daughter was a month old & began having colic. I am breastfeeding & found that her colic symptoms improved greatly after about a week of my taking In-Liven. I have also lost around 15 kilos (from a size 16 down to a size 10), & no longer retain too much fluid since I started taking it. I have been overweight since my son was born 14 years ago & am feeling so much healthier & fitter now. Thanks for such a safe, healthy & effective product.
Karyn B., Australia
August 7 2007
I just wanted to let you know of another fantastic reason to use In-Liven. My daughter who is teething has been getting dreadful nappy/diaper rash (4 teeth through & horrid nappy rash). Due to gastro going around town, I increased the amount of In-Liven the girls were having. Next thing I realize that 5 more teeth have through (over 2 month period) & not a sign of ANY nappy rash. I only realized that when I increased the In-Liven that the rash disappeared also, & we never got gastro in our house at all, even though most of the town I live got it. Has to be the In-Liven. Thank you very much.
Lisa D. Australia
February 27 2007
When I was pregnant, the pigmentation in my skin around my face & under my arms began to go dark. I was so embarrassed to raise my arms. The worse thing, I was pregnant during the summer, so wearing singlets was a no-no. Pregnancy brings out the beauty in some women, but, not under my arms. I became depressed until my best friend told me to go organic & to try Miessence. Wow, what a godsend! I was able to clean off the dark pigmentation & I have never gone back to any other deodorants. I highly recommend this product to all women who love to have beautiful skin.
Marjorie M., Australia
If you're interested in finding out more about the products mentioned in these testimonials, please visit my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net & click on the Miessence tab. Miessence products are certified organic to food grade levels & contain the highest levels of certified organic ingredients compared to other product lines. The ingredients have been cold-pressed & cold-extracted.
From Issue Two of the MiNews Newsletter
May 11 2007
I recently had my 1st baby named Oliver! Throughout the whole pregnancy I used Rejuvenessence on my belly twice a day. It felt great & kept my skin in excellent condition. I did not get one stretch mark (my body was prone to getting them in the past)--I was so thrilled! It's such a wonderful product!
Another must-have product during pregnancy was In-Liven. I took it 3 times a day & felt absolutely fantastic. On the odd few days that I forgot to take it, I found my hips would ache at night. This was just another indicator of how much this probiotic does for your body. Needless to say, my baby is bright-eyed, has perfect health & is bounding with energy. I know he getting all the nourishment he needs from my organic diet & lots of In-Liven. There is no way I would go through a pregnancy without it!
Thank you Czerral & ONE Group!
Regi S., Australia
Feb 12 2007
I have been using the In-Liven probiotic regularly for 4 months now, since my daughter was a month old & began having colic. I am breastfeeding & found that her colic symptoms improved greatly after about a week of my taking In-Liven. I have also lost around 15 kilos (from a size 16 down to a size 10), & no longer retain too much fluid since I started taking it. I have been overweight since my son was born 14 years ago & am feeling so much healthier & fitter now. Thanks for such a safe, healthy & effective product.
Karyn B., Australia
August 7 2007
I just wanted to let you know of another fantastic reason to use In-Liven. My daughter who is teething has been getting dreadful nappy/diaper rash (4 teeth through & horrid nappy rash). Due to gastro going around town, I increased the amount of In-Liven the girls were having. Next thing I realize that 5 more teeth have through (over 2 month period) & not a sign of ANY nappy rash. I only realized that when I increased the In-Liven that the rash disappeared also, & we never got gastro in our house at all, even though most of the town I live got it. Has to be the In-Liven. Thank you very much.
Lisa D. Australia
February 27 2007
When I was pregnant, the pigmentation in my skin around my face & under my arms began to go dark. I was so embarrassed to raise my arms. The worse thing, I was pregnant during the summer, so wearing singlets was a no-no. Pregnancy brings out the beauty in some women, but, not under my arms. I became depressed until my best friend told me to go organic & to try Miessence. Wow, what a godsend! I was able to clean off the dark pigmentation & I have never gone back to any other deodorants. I highly recommend this product to all women who love to have beautiful skin.
Marjorie M., Australia
If you're interested in finding out more about the products mentioned in these testimonials, please visit my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net & click on the Miessence tab. Miessence products are certified organic to food grade levels & contain the highest levels of certified organic ingredients compared to other product lines. The ingredients have been cold-pressed & cold-extracted.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Homemade baby wipes
I recently had one of my HypnoBirthing moms ask me what kind of baby wipe I use.I buy Seventh Generation & get a case of them from Amazon.com. That's the cheapest that I've found. They are chlorine free & don't have as many chemicals in them. There is also the option of making your own wipes. Here is what you can do...note that the paper towels you use need to be thicker so they don't fall apart...it's hard to find unbleached paper towels that are made thicker. Also, the 1st few weeks, you don't really even need to use anything with a cleaning/soap agent in it...warm water & cotton balls or squares works really well to get breastmilk poops off your little one's bottom. Oh...& I swear by Triple Paste Cream for diaper rash. It does have petroleum based substances in it, but it also has the highest amount of zinc oxide out there, which helps heal up the rash really quickly. You can get Triple Paste Cream at any pharmacy, but you have to order it...tube form or tub form.
Homemade Baby Wipes
You can store these solutions in a spray bottle and spray it onto the wipe at the time of the diaper changing or you can store the wipes and the solution in the same leak proof container.
Ingredients:
1/2 roll of paper towels (cut in half to make short rolls--use a really thick type of paper towel like Bounty)
1/8-1/4 c. baby shampoo (I recommend Miessence's Sunflower Body Wash..certified organic, cold-pressed, all natural & non-toxic...go to my website to learn more)
1/8-1/4 c. baby oil
2 cups lukewarm water
1 plastic container that the rolls fit in
Cut roll in half and remove center cardboard. In Baby Wipe Container, mix liquid ingred. and place half of roll in container. Place on lid and tip upside down. To use, pull out from center.
Herbal Solutions
The basic recipe for wipe solution will do good job of cleaning your baby's bottom, but you may want to use a herbal solution to add some extra soothing and diaper rash treatment properties.The herbal ingredients that may be added to the solution have different properties that help protect your baby's sensitive skin and / or promote healing of diaper rashes.
Calendula -This herb commonly used to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. The herb is helpful for people who suffer from skin rashes and sunburn. Calendula helps to soothe inflamed tissues, reduce pain and aids in quick healing of cuts and abrasions.
Aloe Vera - The gel from the Aloe Vera leaf is great for healing and relieving burns and rashes.
Tea Tree Oil - This oil readily penetrates the skin and is useful for treating burns, scrapes, bites, stings, and various skin irritations. It may also help to prevent or treat yeast infections. Very effective fungicide, antibacterial and antiseptic.
Lavender - Lavender added to salves and creams promotes healing and as an aroma additive eases tension, tiredness and feelings of depression
St. John's Wort - Helps promote healing and has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Comfrey - Helps relieve inflammation and promotes healing.
Baby Wipes Recipe
1 1/2 - 2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
1 TBS Calendula oil
2 tsp. Baby Shampoo
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2-3 drops lavender oil
Mix solution together, use to wet wipes.
Anti-fungal Baby Wipes
1/2 c. distilled water
1 tbs. vinegar (helps discourage yeast)
1/4 c. aloe vera gel
1 TBS. calendula oil
1 drop lavender essential
1 drop tea tree essential oil
To prepare, use a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Pour all your ingredients in, cover the jar and shake to blend the ingredients.Place your wipes in a container and pour on enough solution to moisten them. Store any extra solution in the fridge. It should stay fresh for a long time especially if you used distilled water.
Rash Treatment and Prevention
Natural Rash Treatment
Extra virgin olive oil that has been steeped with fresh calendula. You can apply this oil at diaper changing time to help soothe and heal the rash.To infuse calendula: Pour the desired amount of Olive Oil or whatever oil you choose into a glass jar and put calendula into jar and shake. Place in dark place for 3-4 weeks shaking the jar every day or so. You can also place the jar in a water bath (pan with water in stove) and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to a very gentle simmer and cook for 1-2 hours. After infusion is complete, strain calendula out of oil. A simple way of straining the calendula out of the oil is touse a strainer lined with cheese cloth. When all the oil has strained through, be sure to squeeze the cheese cloth to get all the oil out of the calendula.
Baby Salve © Millie Fodor
1 part St. John's Wort
2 part Calendula
1 part Comfrey leaf
1 part Comfrey root
1 part Plantain Olive Oil
Beeswax .
Vitamin E
For full instructions on how to create this salve visit:http://www.wildroots.com/salves.htm
Hope you find this helpful!
Carol
awelllivedlife.blogspot.com
Homemade Baby Wipes
You can store these solutions in a spray bottle and spray it onto the wipe at the time of the diaper changing or you can store the wipes and the solution in the same leak proof container.
Ingredients:
1/2 roll of paper towels (cut in half to make short rolls--use a really thick type of paper towel like Bounty)
1/8-1/4 c. baby shampoo (I recommend Miessence's Sunflower Body Wash..certified organic, cold-pressed, all natural & non-toxic...go to my website to learn more)
1/8-1/4 c. baby oil
2 cups lukewarm water
1 plastic container that the rolls fit in
Cut roll in half and remove center cardboard. In Baby Wipe Container, mix liquid ingred. and place half of roll in container. Place on lid and tip upside down. To use, pull out from center.
Herbal Solutions
The basic recipe for wipe solution will do good job of cleaning your baby's bottom, but you may want to use a herbal solution to add some extra soothing and diaper rash treatment properties.The herbal ingredients that may be added to the solution have different properties that help protect your baby's sensitive skin and / or promote healing of diaper rashes.
Calendula -This herb commonly used to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. The herb is helpful for people who suffer from skin rashes and sunburn. Calendula helps to soothe inflamed tissues, reduce pain and aids in quick healing of cuts and abrasions.
Aloe Vera - The gel from the Aloe Vera leaf is great for healing and relieving burns and rashes.
Tea Tree Oil - This oil readily penetrates the skin and is useful for treating burns, scrapes, bites, stings, and various skin irritations. It may also help to prevent or treat yeast infections. Very effective fungicide, antibacterial and antiseptic.
Lavender - Lavender added to salves and creams promotes healing and as an aroma additive eases tension, tiredness and feelings of depression
St. John's Wort - Helps promote healing and has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Comfrey - Helps relieve inflammation and promotes healing.
Baby Wipes Recipe
1 1/2 - 2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
1 TBS Calendula oil
2 tsp. Baby Shampoo
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2-3 drops lavender oil
Mix solution together, use to wet wipes.
Anti-fungal Baby Wipes
1/2 c. distilled water
1 tbs. vinegar (helps discourage yeast)
1/4 c. aloe vera gel
1 TBS. calendula oil
1 drop lavender essential
1 drop tea tree essential oil
To prepare, use a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Pour all your ingredients in, cover the jar and shake to blend the ingredients.Place your wipes in a container and pour on enough solution to moisten them. Store any extra solution in the fridge. It should stay fresh for a long time especially if you used distilled water.
Rash Treatment and Prevention
Natural Rash Treatment
Extra virgin olive oil that has been steeped with fresh calendula. You can apply this oil at diaper changing time to help soothe and heal the rash.To infuse calendula: Pour the desired amount of Olive Oil or whatever oil you choose into a glass jar and put calendula into jar and shake. Place in dark place for 3-4 weeks shaking the jar every day or so. You can also place the jar in a water bath (pan with water in stove) and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to a very gentle simmer and cook for 1-2 hours. After infusion is complete, strain calendula out of oil. A simple way of straining the calendula out of the oil is touse a strainer lined with cheese cloth. When all the oil has strained through, be sure to squeeze the cheese cloth to get all the oil out of the calendula.
Baby Salve © Millie Fodor
1 part St. John's Wort
2 part Calendula
1 part Comfrey leaf
1 part Comfrey root
1 part Plantain Olive Oil
Beeswax .
Vitamin E
For full instructions on how to create this salve visit:http://www.wildroots.com/salves.htm
Hope you find this helpful!
Carol
awelllivedlife.blogspot.com
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