Any Info on Phalate-free Products?

yeah, i read that same article. it's scaaaaary! for those that want to read it, it was on newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/105588?from=rss

You can find out what personal care products (hair care, skin care, make up, etc) at this site (below). Not all products are listed, but it does have a lot of them. it tells you which ones are safer than others based on their rating system of the ingredients. Green is good, yellow is cautionary, red means you should probably stay away from the products or be aware of the risks that they offer your body.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

This is a spinoff website of the Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/) which looks at all environmental and health issues. They have info on there specifically about the baby bottles and other such interested/related topics.

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Hi A.,
I just posted a question like this and it was pulled by the system. Glad you posted too. I found a website called www.cosmeticdatabase.com that rates the safety of products, not just for phthlates, but other toxins as well and it is surprising! I just went and got California Baby at Target. That was rated very well. I was surprised though, that even Arbonne and some others that I thought would be ok (we use Arbonne) had some undesirable chemicals in it. You can click on the ingredients to see what ingredient is questionable and why. I think it basically comes down to this. Almost anything will have something in it that COULD case harm. As moms, we just have to use our best judgement and make informed decisions. Congratulations on your new baby. Check out the website to make informed decisions and try to relax!!
E.

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California Baby wash is rated really well in regards to chemicals etc.(At Target)If you go to the skin deep web site it rates everything.In regards to toys , My daughter has a doll from the Chalkboard that is Phalate-free and can be washed in the washing machine.The brand is Correlle.It is her favorite baby and is for 1 and up:)(They have more dolls for older girls too.

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Burts bees has baby products...baby wash/shampoo and lotion that is phalate free. I use the wash/shampoo all the time on my 2 year old and 11 week old. It smells great and leaves skin feeling soft! Great product!

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The one set of phthalate-free & PVC-free products out there is the Take-N-Toss tupperware/plasticware by The First Years. You've probably seen that stuff at any of the common stores (Babies R Us, Target, Walmart, etc.). It says in small print on the back of the package that it is "phthalate/PVC-free". I love their cups/bowls/plasticware for my toddler. And my twins (who just turned 1 year old) are just starting to use the sippy cups, which, by the way, have no valve in them, which I think is better because the liquid pours out more easily like a cup rather than like a bottle. They are inexpensive, & when the products get worn out, you can recycle them & buy new ones. They do make a couple of things (like toys) that don't specifically say "phthalate/PVC-free" on them, so I'm not sure about those. But for the most part, The First Years makes "better" plastic things.

I also want to mention that for your soon-to-be-infant, I'm assuming you'll be using at least SOME bottles. If you like the plastic bottles, avoid the clear/hard polycarbonate plastic ones (Avent, Dr. Browns, etc...). These are "bad" plastics that contain Bisphenol-A. I believe a better brand is Gerber Tints (slightly softer, less-clear, and colored bottles). There are others, too, I'm sure. The latest is one called Born Free, which is a new kind of supposedly better plastic - it looks clear/hard, just like Avent bottles. I've seen them at Whole Foods. ... Because we had twins and were ALWAYS washing bottles, We actually switched to the Playtex inserts system (you use this insert into a hollow tube - the insert looks like a giant "bottle condom"!). When the bottle is done, all you have to wash is the nipple/ring. We then put the inserts in the recycling bin. Those inserts have no Bisphenol-A.

I should mention, though, that from what I've been reading (on ewg.org)-- which bottle you use is probably less important than the unfortunate fact that the cans that baby formulas come in are lined w/Bisphenol-A. So babies are exposed to this chemical if they get any formula, but it is much more significant if you use the already-liquid kind. (The powdered kind gets diluted w/water & therefore dilutes the BPA).

As for shampoos/soaps, I'm not sure yet. I'm starting to research that stuff myself right now. I found a good website after reading an article in Cookie Magazine about this topic: Try www.ewg.org (environmental working group)... through their "health/toxics" link, there is a section on Personal Care Products ... or you can go the link directly at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/parentsguide/

Those sites have info on lots of chemicals. It could make you crazy trying to avoid EVERY chemical, though, so be careful you don't drive yourself nuts! Also, I try to remind myself that although many products contain certain theoretically harmful chemicals, often these chemicals are tested at high concentrations in a lab. This may have no correlation with what they actually do in humans when you use a given product containing that chemical.

One more thing. I found this website recently, too - It covers the subject of hazards found in children's toys. It is www.healthytoys.org ... I haven't read through too much of it yet, but it looks like a helpful site!

Hope this info helps!

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Hi A.,
I have always been very picky about the bath products I use with the kids. I've used California Baby and Earths Best products in the past... but don't have any of the bottles to double check if they are phthalate free.

I'm using Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo and Body wash right now... and the bottle says:
"Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate Free (what I always looked for), Paraben Free and Phthalate Free! It smells great and it's really easy to find. Both Meijer and Target carry it.

Good luck!!!
A.

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