Lots of commercial baby products contain some pretty yucky chemicals – which is concerning for anyone who has little kids at home.
Hard to believe, but yet this is true: the government does not require safety testing on personal care products. And in terms of household cleaners, the government doesn’t require a list of ingredients OR that any of the products are tested for health and safety.
Concerning? Yes!
When it comes to personal care products, manufacturers can use almost any chemical they want – no matter what the associated risk might be.
Commercial baby wash products are just some of the most popular and most purchased items in store – heavily marketed to people who are expecting, promoted in maternity magazines in doctors offices all over the U.S., and heavily advertised in magazines, television and product campaigns A good majority contain toxic chemicals including synthetic fragrance, artificial colors and dyes, and preservatives that can affect your baby and create health issues.
We need to be extra careful with our kids because they are exposed to far more contaminants than adults .Their metabolism and organ systems are not fully developed as a baby, therefore they are not quite a s capable of handling the same type of chemical assaults on their body that an adult may be able to withstand.
When it comes to kids:
- DIY or buy fragrance free
- Don’t allow yourself to be influenced by marketing
- Always check ingredients and realize that fewer products are always better
- Look for harmful chemicals Triclosan, Boric Acid, Sodium Borate, Oxybenzone and any ingredients that starts with “PEG” or, has an “-eth” in the middle
You can find many organic body wash products out there on the market – but they cost a pretty penny. I have seen some varieties range from $5 – upwards of $30 for a single bottle. Crazy – right?!
Here’s a popular baby wash that is often marketed to new parents:
Believe it or not, making your own Homemade Baby Wash is far easier, and cheaper than anything you could buy in store.
Homemade Baby Wash Ingredients:
Making your own takes just a few minutes – in fact, you can even whip up 3-4 in a matter of 2 minutes with the following ingredients:
Aloe Vera helps moisturize the skin.
Vegetable Glycerin will help give the baby wash some thickness as well as serve as a natural moisturizer.
Castile Soap is a coconut based, organic soap that is gentle on skin of all ages
Essential Oils like Lavender are a non-toxic way to provide a small scent but also work to support healthy skin
We have found that buying several of these foaming pumps allows us to have not just one but at least 3-4 in the bathrooms for body wash and hand soap. When you have everything readily available you tend to find making your own much easier.
Can you believe that I can fill up all of the foaming pumps in under a minute?! That’s so much faster than driving to any local store (kids in tow!)
How to Make Homemade Baby Wash
- 4 pk Foaming Pump (we get ours on Amazon)
- 4 oz liquid castle soap
- 2 oz aloe vera
- 2 Tbsp vegetable glycerin
- 3 oz distilled water
- 4-5 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)
To make: In your foaming 10 oz pump bottle, add the castile soap, glycerin and aloe vera. Then top with distilled water and replace the lid. Use as needed on your baby. I wouldn’t suggest bathing your baby too often – we usually aim for every 4 days. As with any product, avoid using near the eyes.
(Disclosure: Normally you would avoid using plastic with essential oils – just a few drops is ok in this instance because it’s very diluted. Though I would not recommend plastic foaming dispensers if you plan on using citrus oils.)
Use caution when selecting essential oils for your personal care items – most essential oils in store are fragrance (aromatherapy) oils that should not be applied to skin or ingested. We only use Young Living Essential Oils – and Lavender is our favorite because it’s gentle and wonderful for healthy skin.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.