Don’t get too comfortable…

According the a recent article on WebMD, those little paper packets that come packed with shoes and other products contain a chemical called DMF which can cause contact dermatitis, a doctor’s term for irritated skin. DMF is a mold deterrent often found in Chinese made products (and which of them aren’t?).

According to Joseph F. Fowler Jr., MD, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, this chemical is also used heavily in furniture and can actually seep out of fabric and through your clothing to irritate skin. It’s essentially a preservative to which some people are quite allergic.

I’ve seen these packets in many of the baby items we’ve purchased like crib bumpers, nursing pillows, and plush toys. It seems the best approach is to try to avoid furniture made in China and discontinue use of products packed with DMF packets if a rash occurs.

Mainstream Recognition of Chemical Concerns

The belief that toxic chemicals are seriously damaging human health was once a “fringe view,” according to Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times. He wrote a great article focused on the evidential links between chemicals in our world and autism. It’s worth a complete read, but a couple of key quotes:

“Among women with higher levels of certain phthalates (those commonly found in fragrances, shampoos, cosmetics and nail polishes), their children years later were more likely to display disruptive behavior.”

“The precautionary principle suggests that we should be wary of personal products like fragrances unless they are marked phthalate-free. And it makes sense — particularly for children and pregnant women — to avoid most plastics marked at the bottom as 3, 6 and 7 because they are the ones associated with potentially harmful toxins.”

Full article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/opinion/25kristof.html

Parabens in Gentle Naturals

For dry skin on little cheeks and faces, the Disney Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream works pretty well, and the name says it all, right? I mean, “Gentle Naturals” sounds like exactly what a pure-seeker would want. Not so much.

We all know by now that parabens (basically, crummy preservatives linked to a variety of health concerns) have no place in our personal care and baby care products. So, reading the ingredients in the so-called Gentle Naturals didn’t thrill me:

“…Isopropylparaben (and) Isobutylparaben (and) Butylparaben…”

Parabens aplenty…

Plain old petroleum jelly is a good substitute for really dry skin, or for daily moisturizing, check out Earth Mama Angel Baby and Avalon at http://www.repurify.com/shop/baby-mom.html