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caring for your baby with ecostore

We understand some of the changes you might be going through as a new parent. (Lots of us at here at ecostore have been there too!) You want to do what's best for your baby but it can be a bit overwhelming when you need to make decisions about everything from car seats to nappy rash.

We don’t have all the answers but we can offer have some practical suggestions to help you do the right thing for your baby and hopefully make your life (and theirs) a whole lot simpler and easier!

Did you know?

What we put or next to our skin is just as important as what we eat or drink (if not more). Our skin is the largest organ in our body, it lives and breathes, yet is relatively defenceless, easily absorning everyday chemicals it comes into contact with.

Babies' skin is about five times thinner than ours and is a lot more permeable, in other words; what goes on their skin gets absorbed into their body’s in some form. And once in there, it may have a surprisingly strong effect.* Also - when it comes to breathing, keep in mind that children actually inhale more air than adults do so it pays to be mindful about using spray cleaners in the same room as your baby (avoid if you can).

That's why it's so important to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals.

Where to Start?

The good news is that you can make changes to create a safer and healthier home for your new baby relatively easily, without spending a lot of time or money. Here are a few tips and ideas to help you on the way.

Step 1. Clean out your cleaning cupboards

Make sure the laundry products you use are free of things like enzymes or optical whiteners. They can leave potentially harmful residues in your baby’s bed linen and clothing which is up against their skin 24/7. If they become damp (as babies tend to do a lot!) they can reactivate these residual chemicals and cause irritation.

When it comes to keeping a clean home for your new baby, don't go overboard and create a sterile environment. In fact not all bacteria are bad. We need to protect ourselves from the nasty bacteria without harming the good bacteria. This is really important for your baby to develop a healthy immune system.

Also keep in mind that fumes from any spray cleaners you might use in the bathroom or kitchen including oven cleaners are also often loaded with some fairly toxic solvents, perfumes and antibacterial agents which are not dissimilar to pesticides. Plant based cleaners made from citrus are a good alternative - they are naturally antibacterial and can tackle the heavy duty jobs job of some nasty solvent based cleaners. 

Step 2. How safe are your baby care products?

The average baby hygiene product contains a complex mix of chemicals to make it froth, glide or bubble, as well as various fragrances, preservatives and colours. While these do go through individual product safety tests there has been relatively little research done on the overall effects of combining the chemicals in all of these products. In fact research we found stated that ‘Most children have measurable levels of at least 300 groups of chemicals in their bodies, taken in through food, household or garden chemicals, cosmetics and even the air they breathe.

Step 3.Think twice about washing your hands

As a new parent, there’ll be lots of nappy changes and you’ll find yourself forever in the bathroom washing your hands. It’s so easy to reach for the anti-bacterial hand wash or soap, thinking that it’s safer. The reality is that antibacterial soaps and washes have no better cleaning properties than normal soap, and are often loaded with nasty chemicals like Triclosan that strip your skin of it’s natural oils, and can aggravate the skin, leaving it red and itchy.

*Study by: K.B Michels, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health. Pub Online, May 12 2009 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.