Finding The Safest Nappies For Baby is something as parents we must do!
Your average disposable nappy is manufactured using a whole host of toxic ingredients ranging from bleaches, glues, lubricants and plastics, through to artificial fragrances, dyes and odor neutralizers. These lay snugly and constantly against our babies and toddlers skin and genitals day in and day out for years.
This article will first show you what hazardous materials go into the making of conventional, cheaper nappies and then help you find safer, healthier, chemical free, eco-friendly nappies – diapers.
Toxic Ingredients Inside Diapers/Nappies
The ingredients found in disposable nappies such as chlorine bleaches, xylene, ethyl benzene, styrene, isoproylene (neurotoxin), dioxins (carcinogen) and phthalates are linked to cancer, as well as being suspected endocrine, neurological and respiratory toxins.
Plastic Nappies Linked To A Decrease In Male Fertility
A study was done on baby boys to try and find a reason to why male fertility has declined so much in recent decades. The babies wearing plastic lined disposable nappies resulted in overheated testicles http://adc.bmj.com/content/83/4/364.abstract
Allergic Reactions & Chemical Burns From Diapers
Studies have been done to show allergic skin reactions as well as a link between asthma and respiratory illness from the dyes used in disposable nappies
http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Diapers
Nappy rash is a major problem caused by disposables. Recently there have been a couple of law suits in the United States against a major manufacturer of disposable nappies.The company’s new ‘Dry Max Technology” is being blamed as the cause of the chemical like burns to the skin of the babies http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2010/05/28/f-disposable-diapers.html
Plastic Disposable Nappies Polluting Our Environment
These are the immediate dangers of nappy use. But conventional disposable nappies end up in landfill where they remain constantly leaching toxins into our environment. According to Environment Victoria, every year a baby in disposable nappies will contribute 700kg of dirty nappies to landfill! http://www.environmentvictoria.org.au/content/reusable-nappies.
How To Shop For Safe Nappies & Diapers For Your Baby
There are basically two solutions.
Eco, Safer, Disposable Nappies/Diapers
One you can choose to buy eco-friendly, biodegradable and safer disposable nappies.
These newer generation of nappies are made from safer and more sustainable materials, leaving out the dangerous stuff; e.g. chlorine bleach, PVC plastic, artificial perfumes, and petrochemical based moisturizers etc.
These eco disposable nappies are much safer for baby and for the environment.
They are readily available from many baby and online eco-stores. Currently they are a little more costly than conventional disposables, reason being, they are more expensive to manufacture.
If you are taking the disposable nappy route, then it is well worth the few extra pennies when you consider how much safer and healthier they are.
Interestingly enough I have only ever used these eco nappies on my children and on the odd occasion when I had to borrow a friends conventional disposable nappy, my kids immediately got nappy rash.
Reusable Organic Cotton Or Cloth Nappies/Diapers
Or two, you can use cloth re-usable nappies.
There are some fantastic user-friendly, modern and eco safe versions of the traditional cloth nappy.
Reusable nappies come in a variety of fabrics, but by far the healthiest for baby and the environment is going to be the ones made from pure materials; e.gs organic cotton and bamboo fiber.
Safety Tip- Be sure to avoid the old fashioned PVC plastic nappy covers, known as Pilchers. PVC is the most toxic of all plastics! See –Toxic PVC In Plastic Toys & How To Avoid Them
Happily, the modern version of the cloth nappy means, no more dangerous diaper pins or confusing folding required.
The downside is and always has been, the washing. Although according to mummy advocates of reusable cloth nappies, this is something that becomes second nature.
So if you are prepared to wash dirty nappies, then reusable nappies will definitely save you a lot of money in the long run, although the initial outlay expense is quite high, but it is a once of expense.
The Importance Of Washing Cloth Nappies/Diapers In Natural, Eco Detergents.
When washing reusable cloth nappies, it is very important to make sure you use natural, non-toxic and green, products to wash then in.
The toxic residues of chemical detergents, bleaches and fabric softeners, can cause as much harm to your baby as a regular disposable plastic nappies. They also cause a lot of harm to our eco-system.
Why not try cheap, 100% natural soapnuts to wash your baby’s nappies in?
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You may also be interested in these natural health and safety articles from my Babies, Pregnancy and Children’s sections;
Toxic PVC Toys and How To Avoid Them
What To Avoid During Pregnancy & What Is Safe
Toxic Chemicals In Baby Personal Care Products & Choosing Safer Baby Skincare
Mattress Wrapping To Prevent Cot Death
Keeping Baby’s Room Safe & Healthy
Baby Proofing and Child Proofing Your Home and Garden
Toxic Chemicals In Baby Mattresses
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