Ever since that celebrated lead poisoning scandal that had involved China on its toys, it has apparently spread as far as the other baby products coming from them. In fact, it has raised the level of expectancy on quality and hazzards. With these harmful deterrents, it has come to the attention of most parents to be more alert on the things that they buy.

Babies are quite fragile and these unseen harmful toxins may more or less be a critical factor in their growth and well-being in the long run. Just read this post from Yahoo on such health issues that are sure to make you think twice the next time you buy a baby product for your child.

Baby shampoos, lotions and powders may expose infants to chemicals that have been linked with possible reproductive problems, a small study suggests.

The chemicals, called phthalates, are found in many ordinary products including cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. They are used to stabilize fragrances and make plastics flexible.

(Source) Yahoo Health

[tags]harmful_toxins, child_baby, baby_product, critical_factor, lead_poisoning, baby_products, health_issues, medical_supplies, scandal, parents, china, toys[/tags]

Recently my daughter had a rather scary (although very minor) reaction to a new baby shampoo, it wasn’t anything severe just worrying enough to warrant throwing out the whole bottle. Thankfully after a bit of a rinse off with water, she was good as new.

What I didn’t understand was simply it was a brand (going unmentioned) that I’ve used on her since her birth, just a slightly different formulation.

Truthfully it really got me thinking much more about what exactly is actually in the products that are used on babies, although I did write about some brands coming under fire recently it was put out of my mind for a bit.

Now however, it’s front and center.

When I was much younger (well, I still have it), I had a few allergies to soaps and anything highly fragrances.  So, it’s looking like my daughter has been lucky enough to inherit this from me. (Sorry!)  The only thing I could use without winding up a huge pile of crying itchy mess was Dove bar soap.  For a girl who loves her bubble baths to this day, that was a hard pill to swallow.

 Then again when I was a child they didn’t have this wealth of organic products without all the insane ingredients.  So, there was a lot of trial and  quite painful and itchy error trying to find something I could use.

Many people have recommended going fully organic with all of her bath things to ward off future reactions like I had.  Although I’ll be talking to the pediatrician soon, going more organic is still something I’m going to do. 

I’ve been leaning towards picking up the travel pack shown above for a trial run, from this website.  

Before jumping however, curiosity struck me – what are your favorite organic (or simply hypoallergenic) baby bath products?

Incoming search terms for the article:

• infant baby bath

EcoSaurus Rex

Above is EcoSaurus, he’s made entirely out of EnviroBlox, they are a foam-like material made out of corn starch and stick together with a bit of water.   EcoSaurus stands at about 8 feet tall and was an (extreme) example of the eco-friendly toy on display at the Toy Fair at New York City’s Javits Center.  You can see a fantastic slide show with more eco-friendly toys here (From Discover Magazine).

Kids are naturally curious, they has an innate love of learning new things. They have a wonderful fascination with the world around them, and the unending drive to explore it all.  Be it bugs, the stars, or the mud most kids love experiencing their environment.  Nurturing this, and thinking a bit outside the box can have some amazing reactions.

 Thames &  Kosmos was linked in the slide show.  They have a great assortment of science and learning oriented (and yes, environmentally friendly!)  toys.  These can really help push your little scientist in the right direction.

These are so cool, the new angle on one of the classics- building blocks.  Just try not to think of cubist artwork after looking at these (or maybe that’s just me? ).

They’re called Dado Cubes, and are one of the coolest toys personally seen in a while.  The rest of the same website linked, has much more in the way of  ’re-imagined’ and truly inspired toys.  

(Bonus: When looking for the image above of EcoSaurus (love that name) I stumbled across this site (named ecosaurus.com). The wrapping paper is absolutely adorable, the green and white looks so fresh and pretty.)

Are you looking for decently priced baby goodies, groceries, and all the other stuff you need?  

Even with the economy the way it is, there are still things you and your family need, but how can you save some money in the process?

One great way is to shop online, yes there is shipping and handling to buy, but taking into consideration the amount you will have to spend for gas for your car and whatever last minute things you will see (something retailers are really sneaky about, but I’ll get more into that in a bit).

Go Online

You can usually find much better deals online than in a brick and mortar shop.

Steer Clear of the “Line Items”

If you have to go into a brick and mortar type shop, resist the urge to pick up those things that weren’t on your list.  Those little last second, about to get into line purchases are set up deliberately to snare you.    Stores spend a fortune on figuring out ways to get you to part with more of your money than you had intended.  

Turn Left!

Another way?  Go left.  You will find the better deals on the left side of the store.  

Stores running consumer habit studies have found most people go right, so they put higher priced items over on that side.  

Resist.
Sure that giant bath tub ‘o butter might sound like a bargain, and you always hear ‘buy in bulk’. Well bad news, that’s not great advice anymore. Retailers are on to money saving tips and are now jacking up the prices on the bulk items. A lot of ”sale’ items might sound like a good deal, but do the math and you might find that the normal sized item is actually the better deal.

Image via Wikipedia

With all the buzz about the poisons found in baby products lately, there is a real fear for the safety of our children. Looking for the perfect gift for a special little one in your life, things might seem a bit more harrowing. With all the new concerns on top of the previous ones.

There is thankfully some good news, with some careful research you can take some steps to protect your little ones. Not only from the dangerous chemicals but from generally unsafe products.

You want toys that are both safe and fun. There are a few things that not only are great gift ideas but are also very child and environmentally friendly. First, check the history and any warnings for your child’s new and already owned products using the website Kid’s in Danger or the CPSC recall list to keep up to date on any new recalls.

A safe baby gift is one that:

-does not present a choking hazard
-does not have parts that are small or loose
-if the baby is in the teething phase does not have parts that can be chewed off
-does not have the potential of getting wrapped around baby’s neck, arms or legs
-is not flammable
-does not contain chemicals or other hazardous materials

From About Safe Baby Gifts

Finding the perfect and safe item shouldn’t be more hassle than it is worth, you can find out so much information online. Research any items before you purchase them, look for any potential hazards on the actual product.  A good rule of thumb is by using a empty toilet paper roll, if small pieces can fit easily through the roll a baby could choke on it.

Using these websites, and armed with some knowledge you can ensure the safety of your child.

[tags]toilet_paper_roll, dangerous_chemicals, great_gift_ideas, unsafe_products, hazardous_materials, baby_gift, baby_products, baby_gifts, toys[/tags]