Do You Know What’s in Your Baby Care Products? Plus Infant Massage Tips ( + Giveaway – Closed)

When my first child was born, I trusted a well known baby brand with his precious skin, finding out later that it was full of things that I didn’t want him coming into contact with (this was fall of 2005, before we even knew about BPA).

Studies have shown that children begin environmental chemical exposure while still in the womb. This is scary: in a study of 10 minority newborns, more than 232 chemicals were found in umbilical cord blood. Studies have found flame retardants, BPA (bisphenol-A) and other environmental chemicals in breast milk. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics was the first to document the widespread presence of both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in bath products for children, including baby shampoos, bubble baths and baby lotions. We need to make sure everything we give to our children is safe, especially anything that touches our child’s skin.

So What Can You Do?

Avoid body care products with:
•  Parabens (Ethyl -, Methyl- , Propyl-)
•  Phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DMP, DEP)
•  Formaldehyde releasing preservatives:   Quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl urea ,Diazolidinyl urea,  Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol)
•  “Fragrance” or “preservatives” rather than listing the actual ingredients
•  Triclosan
•  DEA (diethanolamine) and TEA
(triethanolamine)
•  Tetrasodium and Trisodium EDTA

Seventh Generation just released a new baby line called Wee Generation. And my family and I are crazy about this non-toxic, biodegradable line of products that is the first complete line of USDA-certified biobased baby care products. They do not contain synthetic fragrances, phthalates, or parabens. Endorsed by Healthy Child, Healthy World, everything in the line is gluten-free, tear-free, and it’s made with natural ingredients that come from plants and minerals. It also contains extra-virgin olive oil to moisturize and protect skin.

We love using the Foaming Baby Shampoo and Wash  with our kids. It’s got a great citrus scent and my kids love the foam.

Their baby lotion (which contains extra virgin olive oil) is perfect for massaging your little ones too. I attended a great online meeting last week all about infant massage and learned some great tips.

 

Did you know that massaging your baby can help with digestion, brain development, as well as helping you to bond with your child?

Tips for Infant Massage by Tina Allen of LiddleKidz.com

Choose the Best Time and Place

Creating the best environment for massage is an ideal way to give yourself, and baby time
to relax. Choose a familiar place that is warm, quiet and with few distractions. The best
time for massage is when baby is awake, healthy and happy. Some babies prefer the
morning, while others prefer the afternoon or before bedtime.

Be comfortable

Relax, enjoy and have fun! Position yourself so that you are comfortable. Be sure baby is
safe and placed on a soft area. Keep in mind, babies roll and become slippery when using
oil. Be sure your hands are warm and clean before you begin.

Choosing Massage Oil

While it is not required, using oil can help make massage more enjoyable for some babies
and parents. Olive oil and Grapeseed oil are some of the best choices for infant massage.
However if you choose to use lotions be sure to choose a non-toxic option, like Seventh
Generation baby lotion – which contains extra virgin olive oil as a main ingredient.

 

Ask Permission

Infant massage can be a wonderful tool for increasing your communication. Massage is not
something that parents do to their baby, but rather with their little one. Listen to your
baby. She will give you the signals to let you know she is enjoying massage, or when she is
all done for now.

Know When Not to Massage

Never provide massage for your baby without permission (when sleeping, crying or fussy).
Avoid massage when he is ill, has a fever or infection. If he has broken skin, rash or
bruising. Wait at least 48 – 72 hours following immunizations. For tummy massage, wait
30 minutes after eating. If he has any special healthcare needs seek further guidance as to
what would be the safest approach.

For more information on Infant Massage visit: www.LiddleKidz.com. Since I attended this briefing, I’ve been massaging my 2 year old with Seventh Generation’s Baby Lotion. He loves it! But since he is a toddler, sometimes he wants to sit up or stand while I massage him.

Check out a wonderful video on Infant Massage.
Connect with Seventh Generation on Facebook.

Want to try out some of Seventh Generation’s Wee Generation line for yourself? I have two baskets of products to give away to two lucky winners. Enter below with either your email or facebook id.
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I received products and compensation from Seventh Generation and The Motherhood for this post, but all thoughts and opinions are always my own.