We know what is on your minds because you tell us and we listen.  The  questions  “Which AIO diaper do you recommend most?” and “Is the AIO diaper truly the most convenient cloth diaper there is?” sparked our interest in finding THE BEST AIO Diapers available in the marketplace today.  We want our readers to know who has the goods! As with any product we feature on our blog, we ALWAYS test the products we rave about.

There is probably no bigger waste during a child’s first 2 years than disposable diapers.  Your child plays with non-toxic toys, eats organic food but having your child wrapped in chlorine, TBT, SAP and petroleum is toxic exposure, all day every day.   Making this one switch  can positively impact the long term health of your child and our planet.   For more information on disposable diapers, please read our post: The Stink on Disposable Diapers.

The  AIO diapers are convenient, easy and practical, especially for beginners and for those hesitant to go cloth. The AIO ONE SIZE can even be used from birth until potty training.

We want to encourage parents to GO CLOTH, that’s why we’re looking for the most convenient, mess free, and conformable AIO diaper that’s gentle to baby’ skin and planet.  We also evaluate price, quality, company practices, where they’re made, how well they wash, style and much more.

Our favorite ones will receive our prestigious ‘Mom Approved – Child Tested’ Excellence and/or Green Award and ONE will additionally receive our  ‘BEST OF 2010′  Award Seal.

So today we want to hear from readers who cloth diaper and have a particular AIO that they love.  If you are a company who would like to submit your AIO diapers, please email us!

May the search begin…

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Wow!  I personally dislike (using a nice word here) Monsanto for their corrupt and downright inhumane production of GMOs and pesticides.  Not only are they destroying our food, they are destroying our soil and the lives of innocent people/farmers.

Now I have just one more reason to “dislike” them.  I had no idea, but it is true, that Monsanto is the one responsible for the bovine growth hormone explosion that has tainted America’s cow milk supply!  Not only are they the manufacturers of genetically-engineered bovine growth hormone (rBGH), but they additionally have helped make the laws state that if a company selling milk that does NOT contain the harmful bovine growth hormone they can NOT label it as so without a disclaimer stating that rBGH is not harmful.  In fact, Monsanto is actually suing several milk companies for putting the “hormone free” label on their milk!  This is crazy.   How can a corporation like Monsanto work such corruption into our system and then have the right to affix our laws to suit their corrupt deeds?  This is outrageous!

rBGH Has Been Banned in 31 Countries but NOT in the US

Is rBGH really all that bad?  The statistics show this:  babies as young as one year old are developing breasts and tots as young as 4 are having menstrual bleeding!  This may persuade you to lift an eyebrow.  Not only do these hormonal imbalance dangers minimize as consumption of milk is reduced for these babies and children, but countries world wide have straight up banned rBGH from being used on dairy cows.  Hummmm (both eyebrows raised).  Twenty- seven European nations, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada have banned all use of rBGH to protect their people from this dangerous catastrophe.

Companies/Manufacturers free of rBGH

Here are some safe alternative companies you can trust are rBGH/hormone free.  Let us know if you know of any others please.

• Any organic dairy product
• Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream
• Starbucks
• Yoplait Yogurt
• Pinkberry
• Tillamook

For a huge data base of rBGH free companies see the site Sustainable Table here. This site additionally tells you how to download this list to your iPhone or iPod too.

For more info on the dangers of rBGH see “Milk:   America’s Health Problem” by the Cancer Prevention Coalition and John Robbins site here.

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• Part 1: The Truth About GMO
• Food Inc.: E. Coli On The Rise – A Threath To Our Children
• Milk: Does It Really Do a Body Good?
• 12 Things Your Child Should Avoid in 2010
• HappyBaby Wins Excellence Award and Answers Questions Every Parent Should Ask About Baby Food
• Nursing is more than breastfeeding and every mother can do it!
• Happy Mais Eco-friendly Toy Stimulates Creativity For Hours

I was searching for a book that offers a holistic approach with zero side effects to most common health problems and was glad to stumble onto Dr. Randall Neustaedter’s book “The Holistic Baby Guide: Alternative Care for Common Health Problems”.  Randall Neustaedter is a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of Chinese medicine who has practiced and taught holistic medicine for more than thirty years in the San Francisco Bay Area.

His book covers a detailed alternative medical approach of Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Chinese Medicine and Nutritional Supplements for most common health problems in babies like colic, digestive problems, eczema, cradle cap, diaper rash, asthma, fevers, colds and ear infection.

We highly recommend The Holistic Baby Guide to parents who are looking for a gentler way to treat their young children’s health problems. Too many sick babies receive conventional treatments for their symptoms (with many side effects) by not taking care of the root problem, Dr. Neustaedter’s little patients see great improvement and usually get back to perfectly healthy children. I would also recommend this book as a MUST READ to all pediatricians!

After reading Dr. Neustaedter’s book I had a few additional questions I am sure a lot of other parents are wondering about.  When should I introduce grains into baby’s diet?  Can Omega 3, Vitamin D and Probiotics transferred from breastmilk to baby?  Which baby should get a stool sample done for yeast?  And more wonderful questions are answered by expert Dr. Randall Neustaedter, OMD below.  This Q&A along with this fantastic book is a wonderful gift for any parent!

The Holistic Baby Guide: Alternative Care for Common Health Problems (Whole Body Healing) is available on Amazon.com.

FAQ with Randall Neustaedter, Author and Holistic Practitioner:

Safbaby.com:
You recommend keeping all grains, including rice cereals and oatmeal out of baby’s diet at least for the first 12 month. I thought that gluten-free grains are easily digestible. How do I know if a baby has problem with digestion (poop smells, undigested food in poop, or ?). Is baby, without the grains, getting enough carbs?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
I think that grains are a very difficult and complex form of carbohydrate and protein for digestion. That’s why they cause so many problems, and babies are often not equipped to handle them during the first year. Not all babies have problems with rice and oats, but enough do to warrant being cautious about their introduction. Small intestine problems are often hidden and not obvious until babies start developing allergic reactions.

Probiotic Health for Breastfeeding Moms and Infants

Safbaby.com:
Are probiotics & Omega 3 transferred to baby via breastfeeding?  Do you recommends breastfeeding moms to take supplements?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
Probiotics, Vit D, and Omega 3 fats are all worthwhile supplements for breastfeeding moms. Omega 3 fats are transmitted, not probiotics, but taking probiotics during pregnancy and breastfeeding will benefit babies (e.g. preventing eczema).

Safbaby.com:
Do you recommend every baby a probiotics supplement, even if it has never received antibiotics or is breastfed? Do you recommend any particular probiotic brand?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
No, not all babies need probiotics. I like Klaire Probiotics, but there are many that are fine.

Safbaby.com:
You mention in your book that LACTOBACILLUS RHAMNOSUS GG is most effective probiotics. For what symptoms do you recommend it?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
Colic, allergies.

Supplementing Omega 3/DHA and Vitamin D

Safbaby.com:
You say flax oil is not a suitable alternative for Vegan/Vegetarians, how about Omega 3 derived from Algae?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
Flax oil with sunflower oil can be adequate and DHA from algae is an alternative.

Safbaby.com:
Vitamin D is such a huge issue lately, most people especially young children are deficient. Do you know if the mom gets lots of sun exposure she can transfer Vitamin D to infant via Breastfeeding?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
Vitamin D goes through breastmilk, but I advise babies to also take Vit D3 (400 – 800 IU).

Yeast Overgrowth Contributing To Eczema and More

Safbaby.com:
Which infant or toddler should get a stool sample for yeast?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
Babies with eczema, asthma, digestive problems, or other allergies.

Locating Acupuncturists and Homeopathic Doctors In Your Area

Safbaby.com:
How can I find a good, trustworthy acupuncturist, homeopath and/or doctor for Chinese medicine? Is there any national certification/accreditation in the US for alternative practitioners?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
Certification for homeopaths is through the Council for Homeopathic Certification. Acupuncturists are licensed in each state.

Safbaby.com:
What’s wrong with the ‘conventional’ allergy tests?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
IgE (conventional) allergy testing is fine, but IgG tests can discover food sensitivities.

Safbaby.com:
In most industrialized countries, health insurance companies approved and cover a 100% homeopathic remedies, acupuncture and Chinese medicine – why not in the US?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
Many insurance companies cover acupuncture. I am in network for many insurance carriers.

Safbaby.com:
You mention in your book that you do not recommend combination homeopathic remedies sold at health food stores, why not?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
This is a shotgun approach that can confuse the body with too many different homeopathic medicines.

Drugs For Colic Not Recommended

Safbaby.com:
Why shouldn’t babies be given ‘colic’ drugs?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
Studies show that acid blocking drugs don’t work and they can make babies more susceptible to infections because stomach acid prevents bacterial infections. The studies are quoted in my book The Holistic Baby Guide.

Safbaby.com:
My child has excessive ear wax, is this an indication of health problems?

Randall Neustaedter, OMD:
Excess ear wax is not an indication of health problems. Some people have suspected low levels of omega 3 fats as a contributor.

About Randall Neustaedter, OMD

Randall Neustaedter has practiced and taught holistic medicine for more than thirty years in the San Francisco Bay area, specializing in child health care. He is a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of Chinese medicine, author of The Holistic Baby Guide, Child Health Guide and The Vaccine Guide, and the father of five children. Visit his website, www.cure-guide.com, to register for a free newsletter with pediatric updates.

The Holistic Baby Guide: Alternative Care for Common Health Problems (Whole Body Healing) is available on Amazon.com.

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It’s upsetting to know that the toxic chemicals used in stain-resistant children’s fabrics, pizza boxes, fast food containers, inks, nonstick cookware and many other products (being used on and around our children) are used without being safety tested.

We are happy to promote the  “I am Not a guinea Pig” campaign by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to push Congress to protect all Americans from the dangers of toxic chemicals by passing the strongest possible version of the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act (H.R. 5820) in the House and its companion bill, the Safe Chemicals Act, in the Senate.

For the future of our children, please take the time to make a difference by sending your email to congress (click on link at the end of our post to send email form, it’s a cinch we promise).  The following is directly from the  “I am Not a guinea Pig” informative and action taking website.

Many of the thousands of synthetic chemicals used in consumer products have never been required to go through safety testing.  Science is only beginning to understand how synthetic chemicals affect our health and the health of our planet, but we’ve learned even minute amounts of some of them may cause serious harm.

Many chemicals have harmful effects

Wildlife studies, for example, have shown that certain chemicals at very low concentrations can disrupt hormonal systems. Take atrazine, a widely used herbicide. Low-level exposure to it can turn male frogs into functional females.

What effect are synthetic chemicals having on people? Since the law that’s supposed to assure chemical safety has given virtually all chemicals a free pass, we’re just beginning to find out.

Most commercial chemicals have never been safety tested

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was introduced almost 35 years ago in 1976. It was supposed to allow Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to obtain information from chemical companies, assess the safety of their products and regulate those found to be dangerous.

Unfortunately, about 62,000 chemicals were “grandfathered in,” allowing companies to keep making and using them without any safety testing. Today, most chemicals on the market are among those original 62,000, and we have little information about their safety.

Many chemicals are kept secret from you

TSCA also allows chemical companies to label virtually any of the information they submit to EPA as “trade secrets.” As a result, EPA cannot share these data with anyone.

Some protection is reasonable, but the chemical industry has used this loophole to claim that about 95% of the information regarding their new chemicals be kept secret.  They even make the same claim about many chemicals for which they are required to submit health and safety data.

EPA was given weak tools to help the public

Under TSCA, EPA must contest the thousands of “trade secret” claims on a case-by-case basis. The agency can’t keep up, and only manages to examine a small number of the claims made each year.  As a result, the identities of almost 20% of the tens of thousands of chemicals in commercial use in the U.S.—used in products from air fresheners to paints—are kept secret from the government and from you.

Unsafe Chemicals in Your Home… and in You

Your home contains materials and products made with toxic chemicals. But chances are you couldn’t identify them. The decades-old Toxic Substances Chemicals Control Act (TSCA) keeps you in the dark about what health risks they may pose to you and your family.

Household products with chemicals linked to health risks

Flooring and windows, plastics, fragrances and food can linings
•    Chemicals: Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA)
•    Health Hazard: Endocrine disrupters
•    Potential Health Impacts: Infertility; breast and prostate cancer; metabolic disorders; altered thyroid function; low birth weight

Painting supplies, inks, fuels and adhesives

•    Chemicals: Trichloroethylene (TCE) and toluene
•    Health Hazards: Probable carcinogen; neurotoxins
•    Potential Health Impacts: Alzheimer’s; Parkinson’s; kidney, breast, liver, brain and blood cancers; lymphoma; leukemia

Old paint, fish, batteries, lightbulbs, microwaves

•    Chemicals: Mercury and lead
•    Health Hazard: Neurotoxins
•    Potential Health Impacts: Low birth weight; learning and developmental disabilities in children

Nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, carpeting, pizza boxes, fast food containers, cleaners, paints, roof treatment and floor protectant

•    Chemicals: Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs)
•    Health Hazard: Endocrine Disrupter
•    Potential Health Impacts: Liver, pancreatic, testicular and breast cancers; reproductive and developmental disorders

Pavement for parking lots and driveways, pavement sealers

•    Chemicals: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
•    Health Hazard: Carcinogen
•    Potential Health Impacts: Kidney and liver cancers; cataracts

Source: Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act, http://healthreport.saferchemicals.org
Posted: 31-May-2010; Updated: 25-May-2010 at http://www.notaguineapig.org/ with permissions to be reposted by SAFbaby.com

Please Take Action: Help Strengthen America’s Toxic Chemicals Standards

America’s toxic chemicals laws are badly broken. Every American – from newborn babies to senior citizens – is exposed to hundreds of dangerous chemicals in everyday household products.

Some of these chemicals are linked to prostate and breast cancers, diabetes, heart disease, lowered sperm counts, early puberty, and other diseases and disorders. For many more, we simply don’t have the data we need to know whether they are safe or not because they have not been required to be tested.

Unlike every other major environmental law, America’s main chemical safety law has never been significantly amended since it was adopted 34 years ago.
But that could soon change. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has introduced legislation in the Senate to overhaul America’s failed toxic chemicals law. Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced a companion discussion draft, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010.

We need your help to support and strengthen this reform effort.
Please Take Action: Urge your members of Congress to support strong reform of America’s toxic chemicals standards.

IT IS SO SIMPLE TO DO, CLICK HERE AND FILL OUT THE SHORT FORM.

Thanks for helping make a difference.

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We recently posted a safe alternative sunscreen guide, see here, which included organic sunscreens, mineral based sunscreens, and chemical free sunscreens.  This guide itself took us months to prepare for and present in a format that was unique and informative in many ways.  If you have not seen it, we highly recommend it.

After posting our guide we received a few comments from our facebook fans (if you are not a fan please find us here) speaking their concerns with nanoparticles in sunscreens.  Yes!  We love this!  We love being parents, involved in a community of parents, looking to provide the most conscious products to our family on a daily basis.  We very much appreciate your comments and are honored to learn from them ourselves.  So, are nanosunscreens safe?

From those couple of comments I have come up with 9 pristine questions regarding the safety of nanoparticles for our babies and children.  And we have asked each and every one of our sunscreen manufacturers featured in our safe alternative sunscreen guide to answer them.  What a phenomenal way to dig deeper into the controversial concerns of nanoparticles and educate ourselves as parents on how to provide our children safe protection in a sunscreen.  Below we have added our questions and the answers from each manufacturer, in the order that they answered us back.

Enjoy, and keep those comments coming!  We are all in this together and we respect your concerns and are honored we can help find you answers.

Did you know that there are zero regulations here in the USA regarding nanosunscreens?  Did you know that in Europe there are laws regulating some nanoparticles in sunscreens and cosmetics?  Continue reading to find out more information on this topic that you may not have known about.

Sunscreen Manufacturers and Nanoparticles

1.  What is a nanoparticle in terms of sunscreens?

KABANA:  The definition of nanoparticle for sunscreens is particles with native size less than 100 nm.

SOLEO USA:  Nanoparticles relate to the size of ingredient particles contained within different manufactures formulas. Typically, nano sized particles less than 100 nanometers are of greatest concern as they are easily absorbed into the blood stream. Anything 100nm or less.  Recently FOE (with research) have begun to classify anything 300nm or less as being a nano particle.

LAVERNA:  Zinc oxide and titanium oxide are ground minerals that come in a range of sizes, and a portion will be nano-sized.

BADGER:  In the USA sunscreens are drugs regulated by the FDA. All drugs have ‘active ingredients’ that perform the function of the drug. The active ingredients in sunscreens are either chemicals that are designed to be absorbed into your skin where they negate the effects of the sun, or minerals, that sit on top of your skin and reflect the sun’s rays. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the only two mineral sunscreen active ingredients allowed by the FDA. These minerals are ground into a very fine powders, which are dispersed in a cream base to make sunscreen. These powders consist of many small particles of the mineral that can have a wide range in particle size. The definition of a nanoparticle is a particle whose smallest dimension is between 1 nanometer and 100 nanometers. 1 nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Sunscreens made with larger sized mineral particles tend to be more whitening than those with smaller particles, which are not only less whitening but can also provide better protection from the sun.

LITTLE TWIG:   nano particles of titanium or zinc

BEYOND COASTAL:  A nano particle is less than 100 nM and usually refers to active ingredients.

LOVING NATURALS:  A particle smaller than 100 nanometers.

THINKBABY:  0 micron to 2.5 microns or 1 to 2500 nanometers.  We acquire 100> micron size zno.

2.  What concerns you the most about nanoparticles?

KABANA:  Unknown effects – these are a relatively new form of sunscreen and there is very little safety data on this new particle size. Given their size, common biochemistry sense would suggest they would have an easier time penetrating into cells, etc. however very little science has been done to study their properties.

SOLEO USA:  There is a tremendous amount of concern being raised on nanoparticles, and my biggest concern really is the amount of misinformation that is being disseminated with respect to nanoparticles (sort of a “throwing out the babies with the bathwater” scenario). Particle sizes certainly are something that consumers should be aware of, but, perhaps, even more importantly, the scrutiny should be more to what is ACTUALLY the nano sized particle? If a particle is something that otherwise would be toxic to the body (IE Titanium Dioxide), then a person should be concerned as to introducing those chemicals or minerals to their body. However, if the particle is something beneficial to the body (IE multi vitamin tablets), then certainly you’d want to have those particles easily absorbed into the blood stream.

LAVERNA: Yes we have nano-sized particles in our sunscreen.

BADGER:  At Badger, our primary concern with nanoparticles is the potential (and largely unknown) health effects of nanoparticles if they were to enter the human body. The concern with nanoparticles is that since they are so small they have a far higher surface area to mass ratio than larger particles, and thus they may have different properties (and effects on health) than larger particles which have been used for a long time. Remember, a nanoparticle is only a measurement of particle size, just because a particle is smaller than 100nm (and thus is called a nanoparticle) does not necessarily mean that the particle has different properties than a particle just above the 100nm size range. A recent study by Auffan et al. ( http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v4/n10/abs/nnano.2009.242.html) suggests that zinc oxide particles do not begin to exhibit novel properties until they are smaller than 30nm . >From all the studies we’ve read, nanoparticles in the larger end of the nanoparticle size range, above 30nm, when applied to healthy skin in a cream base, do not pass through the skin to enter the body and do not exibit novel properties. Unfortunately, there are many personal care products on the market that do contain nanoparticles the could easily enter the body, mainly though inhalation of cosmetic powders, powdered sunscreens and sunscreen sprays. We are also concerned about sunscreens that use chemical active ingredients. These are molecular in size (far smaller than nanoparticles) and they do pass through the skin and enter the blood. The US Centers for Disease Control recently published a study showing that 97% of Americans have benzophenone-3 (an active sunscreen ingredient) in their blood, likely from personal care products (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1289/ehp.11269).

LITTLE TWIG:  The absorption in the skin.

BEYOND COASTAL:  We are not concerned about nano particles as most of the research has shown them to be okay when used in sunscreens. We realize the jury is still out but feel, given the choice, people would rather have nano sunscreens that goes on smooth and quick rather than non nano sunscreens that go on white and pasty. That said, none of our current sunscreens use nano particles.

LOVING NATURALS:    The concern is whether the ingredient that is nanoparticle size is being absorbed into the body and if this ingredient is at all harmful to the body.  Also, there are concerns about photo-reactivity with some nanoparticles.  This was a concern for us as parents when we began searching for a safe natural sunscreen for our own babies as we had read so much negative press on nanoparticles. For young babies and children whose skin is thinner, a non-nano zinc oxide may be best choice though studies are showing that nano zinc oxide is as safe and the negative information on zinc oxide nanoparticles is actually unfounded. For more information, the EWG has a detailed article at this link:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens/nanotech.php

Studies have shown that even nano zinc oxide doesn’t absorb in to the skin and shows no photo-reactivity but it is also worth noting that zinc oxide is a vital mineral in our bodies and is already present in our bloodstream.

THINKBABY:  There is concern within the scientific community that very small particle sizes may affect biological processes.  Nano particles can easily pass through the epidermis and therefore could interact at the cellular level.

3.  What size nanoparticle is considered harmful to babies and children?  What size nanoparticle, if any, does your sunscreen have?

KABANA:  This is an unknown question – no one will be able to answer it.  Ours is 20x the size of most nanoparticle sunscreens at 0.240 micron/240nm.  Most nano sunscreens on the market are on the order of 12nm particle sizes.

SOLEO USA:  Less than 100 nanometers. I don’t think there is a nano particle size that is “more” harmful to a baby than it would be to an adult.  Perhaps the action of the particle may be more rapid on a baby and thus the resultant issue more rapidly manifested, but the overall impact on the cell may be the same.  Again, because we do not fully understand the action or behavior of nano particles our concerns are based on assumptions and educated guesses. While our actual size is proprietary in nature, our particles fall outside the nano range.

LAVERNA:  All our titanium and zinc particles are coated. This increases the size and renders the particles inert and unable to form a bond with other molecules.

BADGER:  What size nanoparticle, if any, does your sunscreen have? When evaluating the safety of a sunscreen, the particle size of the mineral is only one factor among many.  We feel that nanoparticles of any size in sprays or powders should not be used on babies, kids, or adults. The studies we have read show that nanoparticles greater than 30nm do not pass through healthy skin when applied in a cream base, even on babies or children.

Our sunscreens contain zinc oxide that has a range of particle sizes roughly between 70nm and 300nm with no particles below 30nm. Approximately 80% of the zinc oxide in our sunscreen is above 100nm with only 20% falling in the upper nanoparticle range. We have chosen this particular size range of zinc oxide because we feel it is a good balance of safety with regards to nanoparticles and protection from the sun’s rays.

LITTLE TWIG:  There are different test that lead to concern regarding the size of nano particles being absorbed into the skin and not being able to be washed off. We do not have nanoparticles in our sunscreen and avoid the concern of absorption.

BEYOND COASTAL:   I’m not aware of any research showing nano particles in sunscreens are harmful to babies. Our sunscreens do not have nano particles.

LOVING NATURALS:  We make a sunscreen with the smallest measurement of the particle being 120 nanometers. We will still recommend this as a great option for babies and young children and for those who remain concerned about zinc oxide nanoparticles. Studies showing the safety of nano zinc oxide and the fact that many of our customers greatly dislike the whitening effect created by the larger particle size when the sunscreen is applied is why we have also decided to offer, and will be making available soon, a nano version of our sunscreen, that when rubbed in will be almost entirely transparent. We found a portion of customers dislike the white effect so much that they are choosing products which contained many unsafe ingredients as an alternative.  Our sunscreen is ranked among the safest with the EWG and now that we will be offering it in a transparent application, these individuals will have a safer option that, once rubbed in, will not produce a whitening effect.

THINKBABY:  To our knowledge there hasn’t been any direct statements that have concluded what sizes are safe and which are not.  But in the general category of nanoparticles there is concern not just for babies but their general use.  They could have the potential for greater disruption for infants, whose bodies are going through significant development.  This is the same concern that scientists have in relation to what harmful chemicals pose on infants.  The challenge surrounds on how to do testing. It certainly wouldn’t be advisable to conduct testing on babies or animal studies.  So they will have to be done a cells to see their potential to interact and then we’ll have to
extrapolate whether there would be similar concern within our biological systems.  We can only theorize at this point that very small particles could disrupt cellular mechanisms that are very sensitive.

4.  Do you feel that enough research has been done to prove nanoparticles safe for kids?

KABANA:  Definitely not – safe for no one.  Then again, petrochemical sunscreen actives have NEVER been tested or approved for use on children!  That is a fact.  Zinc oxide is the ONLY sunscreen active approved for use on children and babies, despite much of the ‘baby’ formulas and marketing language out there.  It is a bad situation.

SOLEO USA:  Research is still being actively conducted to ascertain the overall safety (if any) of nano particles on humans, adult and children.  Generally, assumptions are made that due to the growing rate of children’s bodies and the relatively undeveloped aspect of their tissues, organs etc when compared to an adult, the effect on a child is greater and more rapid due to these points. Nano particle safety is still an unknown factor, whether it is for children or adults. I feel that there is a tremendous amount of research available on the positive or negative effects of the underlying chemical ingredients contained in sunscreens. When a parent sprays sunscreens on their children, not only are they spraying potentially toxic chemicals on their skin, but they are also atomizing those same chemicals which are invariably breathed into their children’s lungs, potentially causing more chemical ingredients to be absorbed.

LAVERNA:  Tests have shown sizes above 30nm do not penetrate the skin.

BADGER:  Again, we feel that nanoparticles on the larger end of the size fraction (above 30nm) can be safe for kids when used in a cream base applied to healthy skin. Nanoparticles on the smaller end of the size range have not been researched thoroughly enough, so we would not recommend using them, nor do we recommend using powders or sprays that contain nanoparticles of any size. We also do not recommend using any chemical based sunscreen on kids as these chemical active ingredients do enter the blood and several have been shown to be endocrine disruptors and estrogen mimickers. We use our own Badger sunscreen on our own kids.

LITTLE TWIG:  Research should be constant and reviewed year after year to understand the effects of all chemicals (natural and synthetic).

BEYOND COASTAL:  More research can be done but given the other options I think nano particles are not harmful to kids. Given the other options they may be the best option.

LOVING NATURALS:   Yes, but we understand that there are many that still have concerns and not too long ago they were a concern for us as well, so we will continue to offer a non-nano sunscreen.

THINKBABY:  There is not significant enough research to conclude that nano particles are safe.  You will not find a legitimate researcher to agree that there is enough knowledge at this point and the testing is complex.

5.  If you have nanoparticles in your product?  If so, why do you feel it is a safer nanoparticle than most?

KABANA:  NO, we are non-nano.

SOLEO USA: Soleo Organics sunscreen does not contain any nano particles at all. Our particle sizes are considered to be microfine in size (as opposed to nano sized <100 nanometers). Our “particle” ingredient is zinc oxide. Zinc, as you know, is an essential mineral which helps with chromosome creation and repair. The zinc we use is essentially the same molecularly as the zinc found in typical daily multi vitamin tablets.

LAVERNA:  Our preference would be not to use nano, but at what point can you claim nano-free?  When less than 5% of the mineral is <100nm? Or 3%? This is like ground coffee – you get all sizes, from dust to coarse ground.

Some of our competitors use the phrase “micro-sized”. I think this is misleading. We openly state that we contain nano-particles on our website and have blogged about the issue. After that, we are at the mercy of the
consumer to decide what is best for them, and we hope our 22 years of consistent commitment to making safe skin care products will help them in their decision-making.

BADGER:  See above answer for first question. Our sunscreen products do contain some nanoparticles, but these are at the larger end of the size fraction (generally above 70nm) and our zinc oxide particles are coated with a substance that isolates them from their surroundings.  In addition, the greater the particle size the lower the UVB protection while the smaller the particle size the lower the UVA protection.  Zinc oxide particles in the 70-300nm range offer the greatest balance of UVB and UVA protection.

LITTLE TWIG:  NA

BEYOND COASTAL:  No we do not have nano particles in our current formulas.

LOVING NATURALS:  Please see our answer to questions 2 and 3.

THINKBABY:  We do not use nanoparticles as we do not feel that they are safe.

6.  We thought that if a sunscreen had nanoparticles in it and the sunscreen still showed up white on skin that would mean the particle was not small enough to be of concern.  Is that true?

KABANA:  Not necessarily. Paint infinitely small particle sizes on anything and it will eventually look white – whiteness is more a property of the formula than the particle size based on Kabana’s empirical research – for instance,
our lip balm at 10% zinc oxide looks much more white than our Green Screen Organic Sunscreen at 25%.

SOLEO USA:  Not necessarily. There are many different milling processes available today globally, delivering a myriad of particle consistencies. Much of varied results you see in terms of the cosmetic efficacy of the application (IE too much whiteness, etc.) stems more from the formulaists’ ability (or lack thereof) in the interaction of the particular zinc they use, along with they way the chosen zinc interacts with the other ingredients in the formula. We feel this is a significant competitive advantage Soleo Organics has over our competition. We’re able to use relatively very large zinc particle sizes, yet deliver smooth application and not leave a white sheen. The whitening effect of a sunscreen does not necessarily imply a lack of nano particles. It may mean that some ingredients are non nano but there may be others that are.  Eg chemical sunscreen ingredients like titanium, oxybenzone,  homosylate, octinoxate, methoxycinnamate etc are generally found in the range of 25-65nm.  Sometimes a company may add anywhere from 1-5% zinc to try and fill in the gaps with regard to UV protection so the zinc they add may cause the “whiteness” yet the harmful stuff is still there.  It is important to read the ingredients list and if companies do not disclose their ingredients readily, then this should be seen as a red flag.  If the ingredients were good, a company would be proud to display them as they “have nothing to fear”.

BADGER:  That may be a reasonable guide, but there are several factors that affect the whitening of a mineral based sunscreen, including the dispersion (mixing) method, amount of mineral (SPF15 vs SPF30) and type of mineral (titanium dioxide vs. zinc oxide).  On average, sunscreen grade titanium is less whitening than sunscreen grade zinc oxide because the accepted sunscreen grade titanium particle size range is much smaller than that of zinc oxide.

LITTLE TWIG:  NA

BEYOND COASTAL:  No, if a sunscreen says it has nano particles, it has nano particles, regardless how it goes on.

LOVING NATURALS:  Not necessarily. Some sunscreens that you might think are non-nano may contain a range of particle sizes for example, 70-200 nanometers. These sunscreens are labeled as higher than 100 nanometers on the EWG, but you can usually find out if there is a range containing some nanoparticles by simply contacting the manufacturer. These sunscreens containing a range of small and larger particle sizes can still create a white effect on the skin.  Though the white effect will probably show less than ours, for example.

THINKBABY:  Most nano based and chemical based sunscreens go on clear to relatively clear.  Most non-nano formulas will cause a bit of “ghosting” which is largely due to larger particle size.

7.  Do you state on your packaging if you have or do not have nanoparticles in your sunscreen?  Why/why not?

KABANA:  Yes, we say non-nano.  It’s important for customers to understand what they are putting on their bodies.

SOLEO USA:  Why/why not? We do not state that we have nanoparticles in our formula because we don’t. We do not state that we are nano free because up till now, it has not been necessary. We are proud to be nano free and will be including it on our future packaging.

BADGER:  We list the average particle size of the zinc oxide on our sunscreen labels. We do not specifically state whether or not we have nanoparticles because the measurement of such particles is an inexact science. Most sunscreens that claim to be non-nano actually do contain nanoparticles. These companies use a mineral whose primary particle size is greater than 100nm (usually just greater than), but all powders contain a wide range of particle sizes, so undoubtedly some of the particles will be smaller than 100nm and thus their product does contain some nanoparticles. We could not, in good conscience, make the non-nano claim unless we were certain that there were indeed no nanoparticles in our product.

LITTLE TWIG:  We state that there are no nano particles in our sunscreen.

BEYOND COASTAL:  We do not state it because we don’t feel their is a need to call it out.

LOVING NATURALS:  Yes, we do indicate “Non-Nano Zinc Oxide” on our label. Any products we plan to sell with nanoparticles will always be labeled as such. It is our promise as a company to fully disclose every ingredient. We were parents and consumers first and looked for companies that we believed we could trust and it is extremely important that we offer that to our customers.

THINKBABY:  Yes.  We do not use nano particles in our formulation.

8.  If you are nanoparticle free, can you please send us the proven lab results?

KABANA:  I could send you micrographs of the particles we use. What else would you require in terms of data? You should know that even nano can show up as non-nano since particles often agglomerate. This doesn’t make them safe.

SOLEO USA:  We have independent,  third party testing and confirmation that our particle size is non nano.  However, this is confidential proprietary company information.  Soleo Organics is the leader in non nano, chemical free sunscreen technology and our particle size description is a very important aspect of our technology and as such it is not available for general dissemination.

BADGER:  We are not claiming to be nanoparticle free, but we can gladly send you the test results of our zinc oxide particle size from our supplier.

LITTLE TWIG:  We will need to obtain this from our mineral sunscreen supplier and will need to get back to you with the results.

BEYOND COASTAL:  No, we have not run lab tests, on particle size, we rely on the vendor to supply their assurances.

LOVING NATURALS:  The information regarding the particle size was given to us by our trusted supplier. We have not done lab testing on the particle size.

THINKBABY:   We could send documentation from our zinc manufacturer.  We acquire 100> micron particle size zno.

9.  The European Parliament and the U.K. require mandatory labeling of nanoparticles and ban them in certain sunscreens. Is your product sold in these countries? What sunscreens cannot contain nanoparticles in these countries?

KABANA:  We ship worldwide and are a non-nano formula.

SOLEO USA:   We do not sell into these countries as yet but they are on target for upcoming seasons.  I do not know what sunscreens “cannot” contain nanoparticles, I am not sure I understand your question.

BADGER:  Our sunscreen is currently sold in the EU.  The EU will require the labeling of nanomaterial in personal care products, cosmetics, and sunscreens by the year 2012.  The European Commission defines nanomaterial as ” Any form of a material that is composed of discrete functional parts, many of which have one or more dimensions of the order of 100 nm or less.”  Although this definition is vague, the implications are that nano zinc oxide would need to be labeled if “many” or the majority of the particles fall within the nanoparticle range of 1nm-100nm. This labeling requirement is meant to alert consumers of products that contain materials designed to be nano scale, such as a sunscreen containing nanoparticle zinc oxide within the 15nm-30nm range.  Our zinc oxide is micronized and is designed to have the majority of the particles above the nano particle range.  Test results show that approximately 80% of our zinc oxide particles are above 100nm and only 20% fall within the upper limits of the nano particle range.  We will continue to evaluate the EU regulations and label our products in accordance to their specifications.

BEYOND COASTAL:  We do not sell to the EU. I am not sure which sunscreen active is not allowed in nano size by the EU but it could be Ti.

LOVING NATURALS:  We do not yet sell our products in these countries.

THINKBABY:  We have not yet sent our sunscreen to EU.  We frankly have not been able to keep up with the US demand yet.

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I love carrying my baby boy around in a baby carrier.  I’ve tested several baby carriers for this post and wanted to share my opinion with our  Safbaby readers. There is no perfect baby carrier for all ages and babies, so below are my 4 favorite carriers, which are not only eco-friendly, but also comfortable, well-made and stylish.

All of these carriers are organic and/or an eco-friendlier option to most other baby carriers. I rated them all by important criteria.  Depending on the age of your child and what you need the carrier for, this post should help you choose your perfect baby carrier(s).

My lucky little boy is spending lots of time being carried around. He loves going to the park, city sightseeing and watching his sister going down the slide at the neighborhood playground. The carrier is always in close contact to his skin and he occasionally chews on the carrier. That’s our top reason as to why it makes the most sense to use an non-toxic and eco-friendly baby carrier.

Many ‘conventional’ carriers can contain toxic dyes, formaldehyde, synthetic materials and other hazardous substances. The 4 carriers below comply with the GOTS standards and are certified in accordance with Oeko-Tex, Standard 100, a health and safety certification that guarantees it is free from hazardous substances.

I put the following eco-friendly baby carriers to the test: BABYBJÖRN Original Organic Baby Carrier, BABYBJÖRN Active Organic Baby Carrier, Ergo Baby Organic Baby Carrier and Kokopax Eco-Classic Framed Baby Carrier.

BABYBJÖRN Original Organic Baby Carrier

Comfort: The Baby Bjorn Original Organic Baby Carrier is very comfortable for newborn babies to age 4-6 month depending on the weight of your baby.

Back Support: I do not recommend this carrier for babies over 6 months. I got a backache every time I would go on a short walk with my little boy. I was fine using it until he was 5 month old and then it was just too hard on my back. So, because this carrier has no good back support, I do not recommended it for babies over 4-6 months.  For small babies it is a wonderful carrier, not bulky and fits wonderfully.

Easy to put on and take off: Very easy and so fast. No help needed!

Baby’s view and comfort: Great neck support for infants and when babies is a bit older you can fold down the head/neck support so baby has better view. It’s a bit tighter than other carriers, so an active baby may not like the limited view. I never face my baby outward with this carrier, most baby experts agree that young babies get over stimulated with this position and it’s not a recommended for proper alignment.

I have not breastfed my infant in this carrier so I don’t know how easy and convenient it is. I have done some searches online and found several moms recommending the Babybjorn carrier for infant breastfeeding.

Look: This organic carrier only comes in one Walnut/Khaki color. My husband’s like it, looks a bit more masculine than other carriers. Personally, I’d like to wear something more colorful.

Safety: It’s a very safe carrier. You can’t put it on wrong, colors need to match part you slide in or it doesn’t work. Whatever I did with the carrier, bending down or moving around, always felt baby was very secure.

Manufacturing: The fabric complies with the GOTS standard and, like all our fabrics, is certified in accordance with Oeko-Tex, Standard 100, class 1 for baby, a health and safety certification that guarantees it is free from hazardous substances.

Care: Machine-wash, warm. Wash separately. If possible use a gentle, bleach-free detergent. I washed this carrier several times in the washer and it looks like new every time.

Price & Quality: It’s a great quality product and find it affordable for $74.95.

Conclusion: Great for short trips and baby younger than 6 month. My husband and I both liked this carrier for both our newborn son and daughter. I has a really great neck support for infant and is overall comfortable for short trips. I do not recommended this carrier for older babies, my back was aching every time, especially on longer trips. My husband who is much stronger than me also complained about backache.

Buy: The BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Original Organic Walnu/Khaki is available on Amazon.com for $65.63
Age recommendation from manufacturer: Birth to 3 years

My husband and I are using the the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Original Black AND NOT ORGANIC in the photos below! My daughter is 2 1/2 month old on these photos!

BABYBJÖRN Active Organic Baby Carrier

Comfort: Baby Bjorn’s Organic Active Carrier is very comfortable because of its lumbar support and padded shoulder straps. My husband really likes this carrier, it’s easy to adjust, so it fits perfectly. Our son is 11 month old right now and it’s very comfortable to carry him around in the Active carrier. Although Babybjorn says this carrier can be used until age 3, I doubt my son will fit in it comfortably, I already find it a bit tight for him. So I would recommend this carrier until age 12 month.

For this post, I tried to breastfeed my 11 month old this week in the Baby Bjorn Active  carrier and it worked out fine, I just had to loosen the straps a little. I do not know if it is as easy to breastfeed an infant in this carrier.

Back Support: I’ve done lots of short and long trips with Baby Bjorn’s Active Carrier and rarely had a backache. Thanks to the lumbar support, it balances baby’s weight perfectly.

Easy to put on and take off: Same as Baby Bjorn’s Original Carrier (see above)

Baby’s view and comfort: Same as Baby Bjorn’s Original Carrier (see above)

Look: Same as Baby Bjorn’s Original Carrier (see above)

Safety: Same as Baby Bjorn’s Original Carrier (see above)

Manufacturing: Same as Baby Bjorn’s Original Carrier (see above)

Care: Same as Baby Bjorn’s Original Carrier (see above)

Price & Quality: It’s a great quality product. It may seem a little pricey for $112.82 but if you choose to get ONE Baby Bjorn Carrier I’d pick this one instead of the Original Carrier.

Conclusion: Great for short and long trips for a more mellow baby. Although this carrier’s age recommendation is birth to 3 years, I find it most comfortable for baby age 0-6 month.

Buy: BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Active Organic – Walnut/Khaki is available on Amazon.com for $112.82
Age recommendation from manufacturer: Birth to 3 years

When our son sleeps on this carrier (see photo below) we usually keep the neck support up, so he’s more comfortable. He’s 11 month old on this photo!

Ergo Baby Organic Cotton Front and Back Carrier

Comfort: It is unbelievably comfortable. This carrier can be worn on front, back and hip position but I like carrying my baby in front best. It is so easy to adjust for perfect comfort and it balances baby’s weight perfectly. I use this carrier for shopping trips, days at the park, running errands, at home cleaning up and I never feel uncomfortable with Ergo Baby’s carrier.

Back Support: I’ve done lots of short and long trips and never had a back ache. It not only balances baby’s weight to parents’ hips and shoulders, it also supports correct sitting position for baby’s hip, pelvis and spine growth.

Easy to put on and take off: Very easy for front carrying but need help from my husband if I carry my baby on my back. Just can’t do it without his help.

Baby’s view and comfort: My baby is so comfortable in this carrier, he has room to move a little bit and can easily see what’s going on. I feel he’s so close to me in this carrier, can put my hand in there and give him a good hug. I especially like this carrier when my son is a bit tired and cranky, he loves to take naps in there and always falls asleep so peacefully compared to being in the stroller. I usually use the sleeping hood attached to this carrier with elastic, which make the naps even more comfortable. I also use the ’sleeping hood’ on rainy days and for breastfeeding in privacy. I’ve breastfeed him in this carrier a few times and it works really well. Here is a video on how to nurse your baby with the Ergo Baby Carrier.

Look: Comes in a 6 different designs with some cool prints and embroidery. My favorite is the Organic Twill Blue Carrier w/Embroidery, Applique – Starburst Lining , I get lots of compliments with this carrier.

Safety: I feel my little boy is very safe in there, but I always hold him when I bend down since there is a little more room there for him to move around. I haven’t tried the infant insert, but Ergo baby recommends it for babies less than 4 month.

Manufacturing: ERGObaby’s 100% Organic Cotton Carriers (including the linings, Infant Inserts and Accessories) are certified by Control Union Certification (formerly SKAL International). The inspection is conducted annually from the farms to the processing plant. The dyes are certified by Oeko-Tex Standard 100 to meet European standards and SGS to meet all U.S. Federal, State and Local Regulations as well as compliance with the European Standard EN 71 Part 3:1994 +A1:2000.

Care: The Ergo carrier is machine washable. Use cold, gentle cycles, mild detergent, no bleach and dry in low heat. I’ve washed it a few times and it still looks like new!

Price & Quality: It’s a great quality product. At $119.90, it’s a bit pricier than other carriers  but it’s worth every penny. I couldn’t live without this carrier and I use it almost every day.

Additional Features: I love the little pocket with zipper on this carrier, it’s really practical to store rattles, wipes, diapers, wallet or keys.

Conclusion: The Ergo Baby Organic Carrier is  good for all ages but I preferred using it after my baby was over 4 month old. It is truly comfortable for short and long walks. I prefer this carrier when my baby is mellow and/or sleepy.

Buy: The Ergo Baby Organic Carrier is available on Amazon.com for $119.90
Age recommendation from manufacturer: It can carry babies from infancy (with Infant Insert) to 40lbs.

My little angel is 11 month old on both photos!

Kokopax Eco-Classic Framed Baby Carrier

Comfort: The Kokopax carrier is very comfortable for walks or doing things when standing up. It’s a bit too bulky for me to use it at home to do things. Not so easy to bend down with this carrier. My son pulled off and threw down his a hat a few times and I had to bend down to pick it up – it was a nightmare! So I recommend you get a hat with a cord you can either tie around his head or attach it to the carrier.

Back Support: Good back support for short to medium long trips. It has a great padded waist support and very comfortable shoulder straps. I had a back ache after a very long walk, but I am also not the fittest person. I noticed that my back is getting stronger with this carrier. I’ve done several long walks and it feels like my back is hurting less. So this is a good workout!

Easy to put on and take off: It’s very easy to put on a higher surface like bed or sofa. Had a bit of a hard time putting it on me on the floor. My husband didn’t have a problem, he picked it up first and then put it on his back.

Baby’s view and comfort: Oh, what a view! My curious baby can see everything and loves it. When my baby is most alert (after a long nap), he loves being in this carrier, so he can discover the world from up there! It’s not really the best carrier if you’re baby is tired and ready to nap.

Look: I love the 3 cool ‘eco’ patterns & colors.

Safety: It’s very safe. It has a 5-pt. safety harness, so baby can’t move.

Manufacturing: Kokopax Eco-Classic Baby Carrier is not a certified Organic Carrier but it is made with 100% cotton canvas and fabric is printed using a combination of Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and GOTS certified dyes. The frame is made of anodized aluminum.

Care: Surface clean only with cold water with a damp sponge or cloth. I had  a little food stain that I was able to remove easily right away with some water and cloth.

Price & Quality: It’s a great quality product.  I had a few stains from using it but I washed this carrier several times in the washer and it looks like new every time.

Additional Features:
Comes with a practical carry bag which I use when I travel, so carrier doesn’t get dirty. Also has a little storage pocket on back with a magnetic closure. It fit’s in Airline overhead bins. You can also use this carrier as a baby seat. I’ve made use of it a few times at the park to feed my baby on this carrier.  I like the little ring to attach my little boy’s favorite toys.

Add-on Suggestions: There is  storage pocket with magnetic closure on the back of this carrier, which is practical to store wipes/diapers or toys but I wish there would be a little storage bag on front of this carrier for keys and money. My son just doesn’t want to keep is hat on and i would love to see a little umbrella or sun shade option for this carrier.

Conclusion: Great for any trips, especially for sightseeing. The baby seat option is great and love the comfortable shoulder straps and padded waist belt.

Buy: The Kokopax Eco-Classic Carrier is available on Amazon.com for $179.99
Age recommendation from manufacturer: 6months to 2 years (or up to 35 pounds)
Carrier weights approximately 2.7 lbs.

My baby boy is 11 month old on both photos!

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If you are looking for an organic line of baby food that is DELICIOUS and NUTRITIOUS, here you go!  Oh the reasons we love HappyBaby™ Pouches organic food for babies, tots and kids. Today we bring you the results from real moms, babies and tots testing a couple amazing organic meals and organic fruit purees that (again) unanimously ended in bowls being licked clean!  (When you have a picky eater this is something you want to shout from the mountain tops.)

Ultimately we as parents would provide the very best home-made baby food for our little ones with fresh and local produce and whole grains. Strive to do this as often as you can! But in a real world we find that this can be challenging to achieve 100% of the time.  We are busy and on-the-go, so finding a packaged baby food you can trust in, and that your kid will eat, is a gift.  And HappyBaby Pouches are packaged in BPA-free packaging!

HappyBaby™ has a line of premium organic baby foods, meals and finger foods that have all passed our prestigious testing regime.  HappyBaby’s PUFFS and MELTS have also most recently won our EXCELLENT SEAL OF APPROVAL AWARD for being safe alternative and supremely tasty baby finger foods.  Keep reading to find out what our mom testers have to say about these organic purees and meals.

Happy Baby is Lead Free

As you may wonder too from our recent findings with lead being found in organic juices and baby foods we had to ask Happy Baby:  Have you had your products tested for lead?

Happy Baby replies:  “We take a two-pronged approach.  All of our ingredients are required to be heavy metal free, and we periodically test our products (spot test) to verify the same.  FYI….we were doing this before the industry check that broke the story.”

BPA-Free Packaging For Baby Food Is a Must

Our mom testers really, really appreciated seeing the words BPA-Free listed right on the packaging.  Additional packaging likes include that these pouches are great for traveling and on-the-go parents, easy to transport and they liked not having to worry about glass breaking or leaking.  These pouches conveniently take up very little space in the cupboard or refrigerator too!  (Great things come in small packages.) A few more pointers on the pouches:

-The tubes are easy for older toddlers to grasp and suck/drink the food right out of them for a mess free clean up
-The ease of the squeeze tubes have no need for a bowl, just a spoon which is great for clean up
-Loved seeing how it was ready to eat right out of package, no need to heat and if you want it warm you just put in a bowl of warm water, which is great for no loss in nutrients.

Another happy mama put it this way,

“We loved HappyBaby easy baby meals!  The packaging is so convenient and so versatile. This is a great on the go product.  It can be eaten just as is or quickly heated up by placing pouch in some hot water.  Great for camping too.  The serving size is perfect and my baby loves the combined food. I am at peace knowing she is getting all the nutrients she needs to be a healthy, happy baby.”

Happy Baby Organic Food In Pouches

These pouches are offered in 3 phrases for introducing different food/combination of foods to your baby.

1. Starting Solids
2. Simple Combos (6 months+)
3. Balanced Meals (7 months +)

Each pouch also offers easy to find info such as:  No added sugar, soy, wheat, dairy, or gluten on certain packages, nice for children with allergies parents dont have to second guess what they are feeding them.  Here are the ones we tested:

Starting Solid Baby Food

Mango Puree-
-great real fruit smell and taste
-wonderful first solid for babies

-My 4 year old could not get enough of this stuff!  Living on an island where mangoes are one of my favorite fruits I was personally skeptical of this one, but I couldn’t get enough too.  So yummy!

Simple Combos Baby Food

Butternut Squash and apple-
-best flavor yet with super grains
-packed with protein, fiber, and antioxidants is great, its also stated on front of package!

Bananas, beet, & blueberry puree-
-tasted wonderful
-surprised how the flavors mixed together tasted really refreshing
-great chilled as well on a chilly day it works as a healthy alternative to a smoothie for babies and toddlers

Balanced Meals Baby Food

Amaranth Ratatouille-
-great hearty flavor
-super grain all throughout the meal in every bite gave great texture
-worked great on pasta too

Super Salmon-
-wonderful texture and thickness
-actual WHOLE lentils, not pureed into the meal
-great hearty smell with a wonderful taste, not a fishy smell and had a light fish taste, overall fantastic!
-daughters favorite

HAPPY BABY POUCHES:

“These were a hit in my house the past few days as I was testing them with my almost 13 month old daughter. I loved being able to hand the squeeze tube to her and she could feed herself she was so excited to do this. The food flavor combination’s were fabulous, you sure don’t get these flavors with other competition brands,” happy mama tester.

Arts and crafts is a gift to give to our children.  Sparking and encouraging that creativity in them is priceless.   Today we bring you a guide on some of the projects we have been loving creating with our children.  These arts and crafts are eco-friendly, green, a safe alternative to others readily available in big box stores (PVC-free, petrochemical free, recycled and reusable materials, water based and toxin-free), and down right FUN!  So get moving and start creating!

The Shuttle Imagination From 100% Recycled Cardboard

Why We Love It: KidsCraft’s Shuttle Imagination is fun inside and outside.  Made from 100% recycled cardboard, this is a fort that the entire neighborhood will enjoy. We love that the fun is not just in having a cool fort/playhouse that is a unique rocketship, but that imagination can also run wild with decorating the “ship”.  We used crayons, paints, markers, stickers and even glued on some feathers and beach treasures.  The possibilities are endless with what you may create. Have friends come over and bring treasures to add to the fort and this eco-friendly playhouse becomes creative fun for hours on end. Measurements(Assembled): 39″L x 34″W x 72″H Fin attachments are 12″ in length Why It’s a Safe Alternative: Made of 100% recycled cardboard and is 100% recyclable too. Cost $69.95 Available At: Kids Craft USA

Eco-Kids Natural Play Dough/Molding Dough

Why We Love It: We tried a few different natural playdoughs or molding doughs and this product was the best.  We like the texture, smell and feel of this plant based, chemical and heavy metal free molding dough. Why It’s a Safe Alternative: List of plant based ingredients: flour, salt, cream of tartar, plant-based vitamin E oil (vegan), organic rosemary oil, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, citric acid and fruit, plant and vegetable extracts from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomatoes. Cost $20.00 for one tube including 5 containers of colors. Available At: Our respected Approved Vendor Peek A Green

Clementine Art’s All Natural Paints and Natural Finger Paints

Why We Love It: The colors are vibrant and petrochemical and chemical dye free!  They are washable and completely natural, so they second as a natural finger paint set too! The texture and thickness of this paint is wonderful and a fun paint to create with! Recommended for ages 3+ and washable with soap and water. Why It’s a Safe Alternative: Ingredients:  Mayan Mineral Pigments, water, pulverized cellulose, soy lecithin, citric acid, organic distilled vinegar, potassium sorbate, vegetable glycerin, calcium propionate, titanium dioxide, and vegetable oil-based organic defoamer. Cost: A set of 6 for $13.99 Available At: Clementine Art™

Mimi The Sardine PVC-Free Arts and Crafts/Splash Mat

Why We Love It: We have used our Mimi The Sardine PVC-Free splash mat for years now.  We get so many uses out of this safe alternative splash mat, and clean eco-friendly arts-and-crafts table cover is just one of the many. Gives kids the freedom to create and keep surrounding area clean. Why It’s a Safe Alternative: Many splash mats are made of toxic vinyl/pvc but Mimi the Sardine is PVC Free. Cost $39.00 for 42″x42″ of colorful mat Available At: Mimi the Sardine

Stubby Pencil Studio’s Color ‘n Kids Eco Friendly Cards

Why We Love It: My daughter loved coloring all of her cards from the variety pack.  Stubby Pencil Studio has cards ranging from dinosaurs to butterflies and for occassions such as birthday It is fun to give cards made and colored from the kids. Why It’s a Safe Alternative: Made from 100% post consumer waste that is processed chlorine free, and made with certified renewable energy, as well as other creative and Earth friendly sources. Cost: $7.95 per set of 8 with 8 envelopes. Available At: Stubby Pencil Studio

Clementine Art™ Natural Crayon Rocks

Why We Love It: Finally a crayon that does not break! Perfect for small children’s hands. Not recommended for kids under 3. Why It’s a Safe Alternative: Free of petrochemicals and chemical dyes.  Ingredients:  Kosher soy wax, minearal pigments, beeswax, carnauba wax, vegetable stearic acid, calcium carbonate (chalk), natural brazilian rosin, and titanium dioxide. Cost $5.99 Available At: Clementine Art

Clementine Art Natural Glue

Why We Love It: My little one loves cutting with her scissors and gluing art work together.  This tube is easy to use, is usable on many surfaces and washes off with water. Why It’s a Safe Alternative: Ingredients:  water, naturally occurring bio-polymers adhesives, potassium sorbate, organic distilled vinegar, and citric acid. Cost $5.99 Available At: Clementine Art

Happy Mais

Why We Love It: Such creative play in designing anything from animals to jewelry and house and crowns.  Fun for hours and not messy! No glue needed and hence no mess! The starch contained in HappyMais works as a natural glue. HappyMais is totally biodegradable and compostable, all of which makes this a truly eco-friendly toy. Why It’s a Safe Alternative: 1 box of over 700 pieces of HappyMais Building Blocks from Ecotoys made in Italy from Mater-Bi, a natural GM-free certified cornstarch material dyed with non-toxic food colorings. Cost: $29.00 each (comes in a set for girls and boys) Available At: Peek A Green

Jaq Jaq Bird Roll Up Chalk and Place Mat

Why We Love It: Great for the little Artist on the Go! Roll it up and take with you to the Restaurant, Train, Airplane or Grandparents house. Can be used as a chalk mat and/or place mat. It comes with a small pocket to hold the chalk. Why It’s a Safe Alternative: This eco-friendly mat is free of BPA, PVC, & Phthalale. Cost: $30.00 Available At: Jaq Jaq Bird

Modern Twist Kids Placemat

Why We Love It: My little girl loves to color when we go out to eat but I don’t usually feel like schlepping the coloring books to the Restaurant. That’s why I love Modern Twist’s Kids Placemat. I roll it up and fold it, so it only uses little space.  You can use any dry erase markers. Just make sure you rinse off or wipe of with damp cloth right away, to prevent staining. The mat comes in 7 creative designs. Why It’s a Safe Alternative: This silicone map is free of BPA, lead, latex, phthalates and other harsh chemicals. Also like the fact that it can be reused unlike a coloring book, so no paper waste! Cost: $30.00 Available At: Jaq Jaq Bird

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Lead is a serious toxin that surrounds our children in ways we don’t normally recognize.  We are reposting this article with permissions from on of the “Lead Ladies” and hope it brings light to the serious nature of lead.  We were so surprised to learn how easily this toxin can absorb into our bodies just from touching something like a purse!

The following post has be written by Joanna Cerazy, co-author of Lead Babies:

Purses are women’s devoted companions. Wherever we go – they go. We carry them with us most of the time. We clutch to them. We touch them constantly. They contain our precious belongings and it is not unusual to put our kids’ toys, pacifiers and snacks in them. Their straps share our shoulders with our babies. And as children put almost anything in their mouths, it is certainly not unheard of that we catch our offspring chewing on our purses, wallets and belts. The testing carried out by the Center for Environmental Health has shown that by simply touching a lead-containing purse concerning lead level can quickly be reached.

Let’s not forget that these colorful, fashionista bags are also being lugged along by our teenage daughters. This is of particular concern. Since not all lead becomes eliminated from our bodies. Some of it accumulates in our bones and organs. This lead accumulated over the years, has the ability to pass from the mother to her unborn child.  It also interferes with a woman’s ability to become pregnant, and increases the risk of miscarriage. It affects almost every organ and system in the human body.  Unborn babies, new borns, toddlers, women, and men are all vulnerable to lead’s harm.  Exposure has been shown to lower intelligence, cause behavior problems, learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, delayed puberty, fertility problems in women and men, dental cavities, cancer, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, kidney problems, autoimmune disease and anemia.

When the US Center for Environmental Health recently tested a large number of women’s hand bags and wallets sold by various retailers such as Sears, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Target,  they found that the lead content in these items was up to ninety times that of what is permitted by federal standards.

Purses and other accessories are not included in the federal law that limits lead since they are not manufactured for use by children. The vinyl (faux leather) itself may contain lead, or it may be contained in the pigment used to color the product.

As if the knowledge that these products cause lead is not alarming enough, it turns out the forty companies that pledged that they will stop selling accessories will not be removing existing merchandise from their shelves. Rather, since they are not presently bound by government regulation, involved companies agreed that starting December 01, 2010, their accessory products such as purses, belts and shoes will contain no more than 600 parts per million of lead if they are made of leather, 300 parts per million for those made of vinyl and no more than 90 parts per million of lead in paint. They will be taking the next six months to sell of their existing stock of  lead-laden products and then insisting that their merchandise is lead-free, they will merely limit levels.

It is also important to keep in mind that these standards have only been accepted by bigger companies and are by no means all-inclusive. (For the complete list of companies notified by the Center for Environmental Health about their products containing excessive amounts of lead visit the CEH website and for the complete list of companies who have agreed to comply with these new lead limits check our Lead Ladies blog.

Lead exposure must to be avoided at all cost. And while we have no immediate control over what is being put in our shoes, belts, purses, and wallets, there are a lot of things we can do to avoid exposure. For example, purchase products that are made from natural materials, fabrics, etc.  If you already own faux leather accessories check if they are lead free. This can be done inexpensively, at home using a lead test kit. If the result of your testing shows that lead is present stop using these items immediately. You might be able to take them back to where they were purchased for refund.

Don’t underestimate your power as a consumer – expect products that are lead free and ask for them specifically. Let retailers know that you are happy to walk away if they cannot provide a minimal standard of lead-free.

Thank you Joann Cerazy for keeping us up to date. She’s the co-author of the Book Lead Babies: How heavy metals are causing our children’s autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, low IQ and behavior problems and has done a great interview with us: “What you need to know about lead exposure and children“.

Looking for a SAFE ALTERNATIVE handbag, purse/tote?  We suggest going with an organic canvas or checking out some of the unique bags and baskets we have reviewed in the past.  Check those out here:  Our Holiday Gift Guide For Mom, Diaper Bag Turns Hip, and Gifts For Moms Who Have Everything.

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We have put to the test a wide variety of non-toxic, healthy, natural, chemical free, mineral based sunscreens and are happy to give you the low down on them all. Not only that, but we have some great coupon codes from the safest, mineral based sunscreen manufacturers so you can save money on that product that all families need right now, safe sunscreen!

We personally put each and every tube of sunscreen mentioned here to the test. There is nothing worse than buying an expensive tube of “natural sunscreen” and feeling like you’re all wrapped in saran wrap baking in the sun. We give you the low down as to how these sunscreens smell, feel, how they rub in, their consistency, their ingredients and other personal insights that will be of paramount help for you in considering the sunscreen that is right for your baby or child.

When purchasing a sunblock there are certain chemicals you should keep away from your children. What these chemicals are, what are nanoparticles, and how much sun is healthy exposure for Vitamin D support will also be addressed here. Yeah, all you need to know to keep your kids safe in the summer sun is right here! Pass it on and have a safe and sunny summer.

Toxic Sunscreen Chemicals That Are Dangerous To Our Health

Have you heard that some sunscreens actually give you cancer? Yep, you read that correctly. Some people get all freaked out about sun exposure, but if you are using a toxic sunscreen you may be doing more damage than sun exposure alone. Sun exposure damages our skin over time and if we can reduce the harmful exposure dramatically while our babies and children are young, we can greatly reduce their lifetime exposure. What a great offering to our kids long term health and well being!

What ingredients should I stay away from?

• Fragrance that is not botanical derived
• Parabens
• Oxybenzone
• Octinoxate
• PABA
• Homosalate

Why are they dangerous? Some of these chemicals are known endocrine disruptors, mimic estrogen in our bodies and cause cancer cells to grow more rapidly in lab tests.

Want some sun protection tips for infants and toddlers that help reduce harmful sun exposure without sunscreen? Check one of our older posts titled Sun Protection Tips For Infants and Toddlers.

Vitamin D and Healthy Sun Exposure For Kids

When it comes to sun and our little ones, a little bit is great, but too much exposure to damaging UVA and UVB rays can be harmful. Our children have such delicate skin and and the first line of defense in keeping our kids safe in the sun is a good sunhat and SPF clothing. But, if you are anything like our family, you better have a tube of healthy sunscreen available and ready to go because we like being outdoors. But just how much sun is healthy and how much is harmful?

Our children and babies have such delicate skin, so extra precaution is necessary to make sure we are not crossing that line of healthy exposure for them. Although some amounts of sun exposure is crucial for good healthy and optimal Vitamin D levels, over exposure can be very harmful. So, how much exposure is necessary for our kids? On average, expose your child to the sun before 10 am and after 2 p.m. for 10-25 minutes, depending on factors such as skin tone (dark skin tone will need more sun exposure than light skin), child’s age and delicacy of skin, the season, cloud cover, and pollution. As a parent you will know your child’s skin and can plan accordingly. For instance, my little girl is very fair (blond hair/ blue eyes) and I make sure that her sun exposure comes from the sun when it is not anywhere near mid day sunshine or sunscreen goes on (that is what I shoot for anyways).

Organic/Mineral Based Sunscreens Safe For Kids With Reviews

Healthy Sunscreens Are Mineral Based/Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide and we have tested quite a few. We put them to the test in the yard, in the ocean, sweating at outdoor play and lounging pool side. Here is what we found:

Badger Unscented Natural Sunscreen

To The Test: SPF30 for 6 months and older Water resistant Micronized Zinc “This was a favorite for the whole family,” said one of our mom testers. The smell is a mild cocoa & shea butter smell. Its oily on the skin and goes on very easily and slightly pigmented. It applies very easily. It has zinc as one of the ingredients which is a bonus because it feels it does block sun from penetrating into skin. It feels very good on the face and body. The sunscreen is water resistant. You could see the water rolling off the skin when wet. The sunscreen lasted in the ocean water for 2 hours. Needs to be reapplied after a couple hours for maximum protection. I also like the label and ingredients that are in the sunscreen, its very natural and feels good on skin. Its a great sunscreen for the whole family to use head to toe. Ingredients: Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Micronized Zinc Oxide 20.5% Other Sunscreen Ingredients: *Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Beeswax, *Jojoba Oil, *Cocoa Butter, *Shea Butter, and CO2 Extracts of *Rosemary, and *Seabuckthorn Berry. (* Certified Organic) Cost: $16.00 for a 2.9 Tube Available At: Badger

Badger Sunscreen And Anti-Bug Repellent

To The Test: SPF 30 for 6 months and older Water Resistant Micronized Zinc Takes a little more effort to rub in than the average organic sunscreen because it is a bit on the dry side. Smell is a very strong Citronella scent and our testers did not mind the smell. It may be too much for those that are sensitive to strong smells, but if you are wanting protection from those pesty bugs, here it is! It is water resistant and we think it is a perfect sun screen for a hike. There is a whitish tint after applied. If you are already a fan of Badger products, this one will not disappoint you either. We love Badger products. Ingredients: Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Micronized Zinc Oxide 20.5% Other Ingredients: *Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Beeswax, *Castor Oil, *Citronella Oil, *Cedarwood Oil, *Lemongrass Oil, *Rosemary Oil, and *Rose Geranium Oil. (*Certified Organic) Cost: $17.00 for a 2.9 Tube Available At: Badger

Badger Sunscreen Stick

Put To The Test: SPF 30 for 6 months and older Water Resistant Micronized Zinc Unlike other sticks I have tried, this zinc sunscreen stick applied easily and evenly. I love the way it travels in purse easily, is not messy and can be applied quickly to face, lips, ears or smaller body parts exposed to the sun. My daughter is especially sensitive to the sun right under her eyes, and I like how I can apply this stick on her face easily, around her eyes too. Ingredients: Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Micronized Zinc Oxide 22.5% Inactive Organic Sunscreen Ingredients: *Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, *Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, and CO2 Extract of *Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary). *( Certified Organic) Cost: $8.50 for a 0.65 ounce stick in a box Available At: Badger

Beyond Coastal For Kids

Put To The Test: Kids SPF30 for 6 months and older Micronized Zinc and Titanium Dioxide A good sunscreen for playing in the outdoors since it is not oily and we found it best used when kids are completely dry. This sunscreen feels dry on the skin and does leave a white tint. The sunscreen did not absorb easily or flawlessly into skin when kids were wet, but it did go on easily when dry. Our testers did like that it was on the dry side and one of our mom testers said she will always keep this one on hand for her face because it is not oily at all. The smell is has a very faint smell of Zinc, and a little goes a long way when applying. You will need to work it into the skin a bit if you want to minimize the white-tint. I would recommend this as a sunscreen to apply at home before outdoor activities. We happened to jump in a swimming pool more than a half hour after applying and the tint completely washed off. It was as if the sunscreen washed off completely. Its doesn’t indicate its water-resistant on the bottle and I don’t recommend this sunscreen as a beach/pool/water sunscreen. I would buy “Beyond Coastal” Sunscreen because it would last a long time, a little drop goes a long way so it’s well worth the price. And its obvious there is protection to the skin because of the tint. Ingredients: Active: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide Inactive: Shea butter, Jojoba seed oil, Cocoa seed butter, Comfrey plant extract, Rose hip oil, Aloe vera, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Green tea extract, Grape seed extract, Algae extract, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Glycerin, Pro Vitamin B, Deionized water, Phoenoxyethanol, Potassium sorbate, Caprylyl glycol, Fractionated Coconut oil, Dimethicone, Glyceryl stearate, Cetearyl alcohol coc-glucoside, Aranchidylglucoside oleyl alcohol, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Cetearyl alcohol (coco fatty acid). Cost: $11.99 for a 2.5 ounce tube. Available At: Beyond Coastal

Episencial

Why We Love It: SPF35 for 6 months and up No Nanoparticles Water resistant This sunscreen has a delightful smell of sweet shea butter. I really enjoy the way that this sunscreen goes on easily and evenly. It leaves no visible white tint and feels good on skin because it is not greasy or heavy. If nanoparticles are of concern to you, this is your product! It’s active ingredients are more from Titanium Dioxide (10%) than from Zinc Oxide (4%) which makes it a little different from all the rest. A friend of mine who owns a spa states that she sells this at her salon also and that she has plenty of satisfied and returning customers. Ingredients: Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (Sunscreen) 10%, Zinc Oxide (Sunscreen) 4% Inactive: Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol (Plant Derived), Glyceryl Stearate (Plant Derived), Ethylhexyl (Octyl) Palmitate, Beeswax (ORGANIC), Polysorbate-60 (Plant Derived), Aloe Barbadensis (ORGANIC Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycerin (Plant Derived), Sodium Chloride (Natural Sea Salt), Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Camellia Sinensis (ORGANIC Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Capryl Hydroxamic Acid (Natural Preservative), Caprylyl Glycol (Natural Preservative), Tocopherol (Antioxidant), Allantoin (Comfrey Root Derived), Carthamus Tinctorius (ORGANIC Safflower) Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum (ORGANIC Sesame) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (ORGANIC Avocado) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (ORGANIC Shea Butter), Lecithin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Stabilized Vitamin C). Cost: $14.99 for 4 ounces. Available At: Episencial Use code EPI15 to get 15% off at www.ecomom.com

Green Screen

Put To The Test: SPF 20 for ages 0 and up No nanoparticles Water resistant Green Screen feels a little bit heavy on skin and leaves a mild white tint. The scent is extremely mild to fragrance free. It almost feels as if the lotion adheres to the top layer of the skin, not necessarily penetrating the skin. We really love that this Green Screen® Organic SPF 20 Sunscreen is made from only EIGHT edible-grade organic (86% certified organic!) and natural ingredients and that this sunscreen is approved for use on children under 6 months of age, which illustrates its safety for all of us. Another product they offer is the same sunscreen, but tinted. Ingredients: Green Screen® Organic SPF 20 Sunscreen ONLY contains the following EIGHT organic and natural edible-grade ingredients: 1. 25% Zinc Oxide 2. Eldorado Springs Artesian Water 3. Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 4. Organic Jojoba Oil 5. Vegetable Glycerin 6. Organic Shea Butter 7. Vegetable Emulsifying Wax 8. Vegetable Vitamin E Cost: 1 ounce tube $6.00. Available At: Green Screen

Laverna

Put To The Test: SPF 20 for adults and babies over 6 months old Coated micronized particles Water resistant This is the only sunscreen that we tested and in our safe alternative sunscreen guide that sprays on and is effective immediately. The spray does mist out a little bit messy (see our photo above) and you still have to rub it into the skin, but my daughter really seems to like this one and asks for it. It is very mildly greasy but feels good on skin and spread in evenly. It does leave a very mild white tint. Ingredients: Coated Titanium Dioxide, coated Zinc Oxide, Water, Glycin,e Soja Oil*, Grain Alcohol*, Lysolecithin,Sunflower Seed Oil*, Sodium Lactate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Evening Primrose Oil*, Glycerin, Licorice Root Extract, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides,Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid,Alumina, Tocopherol,Betaglucan, Rapeseed Oils, Sea Buckthorn Extract*,Vitamin C. (* indicates ingredients fromCertified Organic agriculture) Cost $33.006.6 fluid ounces Available At: Laverna Use coupon code SAFBABY to get 10% off at www.lavera.com.

Little Twig

Put To The Test: SPF 30 for 6 months and up No Nanoparticles Water resistant This sun screen had a very mild scent and the packaging/tube is just super cute. Little Twig sunscreen goes on very easily and spreads well. This one is a keeper if you have a squirmy kid who does not enjoy getting sunscreen applied to them becuause of how easy and effortlessly it applies onto skin. A little amount goes a long way and it leaves a faint whitish tint to the skin. Ingredients: Micronized Zinc Oxide, Micronized Titanium Dioxide, Deionized Water, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safllower) Oil, Caprylic/capric, Triglyceride, Glycerin, Emulsifying Wax, Cetyl Ricinoleate, C12-C14 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosqualane, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate, Lavandula Angustifolia(Lavender) Extract*, Chamomillia Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Arnica Montana Flower Extract*, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extract*, Alpha Amylase, Aloe Barbadensis Extract*, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid *Certified Organic Cost $20.99 for a 2.9 ounce tube. Use Coupon Code SAFBABY10 to get 15% Discount until August 28th, 2010 Available At: Little Twig

Loving Naturals

Put To The Test: SPF 30 for 6 months and up No nanoparticles Water Resistance This sun screen had a peachy tint. The lotion has a nice consistency that goes on well and spreads easy. A little drop goes a long way and we like that. Effecitive and not wasteful a bit. Also, the tube itself is great because the whole that the sunscreen comes out of is the smallest one of this entire list. This really allow you to have control of what comes out of the tube. Seems very resistant because of tint, although it does leave the skin looking awkward if you have dark skin. Loving Naturals feels so good on skin, so soft, so smooth. It states it is not greasy, but it feels a bit greasy or oily but yet dry at the same time. Smell is very mild, like earthy oats. Ingredients: Acitve: non-nano Zinc Oxide, Inactive: grape seed oil, organic sunflower oil, caprylic/capric triglycerides (derived from coconut oil), soy way (non0GMO), organic sesame oil, organic plum kernel oil, candelila wax, organic cocoa butter (fair trade), organic hemp seed oil, organic macadamia nut oil, organic cocoa (fair trade), organic green tea, salt, water. Cost: $9.99 for 2.7 ounces Available At: Loving Naturals

Soleo USA

Put To The Test: SPF30  for 6 months and up Water resistant This is an odorless sunscreen that you must knead the tube to make sure that the ingredients are mixed well before you apply. It has a thin and creamy texture and rubs in easily with no trace of white tint. It is very water resistant and you have to reapply after two hours of swimming. Yes, our testing kids were in the ocean playing for 2 straight hours and came out without any trace of the sun tinting their skin and their skin seemed to still look/feel protected. Applies very easy and absorbs all the way into the skin very nicely. When applied, it makes skin very shiney and tan. Are testers with dark skin and fair skin loved how it looked on. “This is a favorite. I rate it fantastic,” said one of our testers. Ingredients: Zinc Oxice 22.3% active ingredient, vitis vinifera seed oil (grapeseed), sunflower oil, capric/caprylic triglyceride, vegetable oils, candelilla cera, beesway, macadamia termifolia seed oil, Theobroma grandiflorum seed butter, camellis sinesis leaf extract, roman chamomile, lecithin, safflower oil, cucumber extract, tocopheryl Cost: $21.99 for 2.8 ounce tube Available At: Soleo Use coupon code SB10 to get 10% off at www.soleousa.com

ThinkBaby

Put To The Test: SPF 30+ Sunscreen for 6 months and up. No nanoparticles There is a smell of fruity beeswax. When applying to skin it spreads easily and leaves a very faint whitish tint. This sunscreen is pretty runny however and comes out of the tube very easy, almost too easy because you often end up pouring out more than you truly need which may end up being wasteful. This sunscreen feels good on the skin and rubs in easy. Nice feature if you have a squirmy kid who doesn’t like too much fuss rubbing sunscreen in. Thinkbaby also sells a sunscreen targeted for athletes too. Ingredients: Active Ingredient: ZnO – 25% Inactive Ingredients: Distilled buffered water, vegetable glycerine, whole leaf aloe vera gel, raspberry seed oil, carrot oil, jojoba oil, rice bran oil, gamma oryzinol, olive oil, aribinogalactan, L-arginine, vitamin E, vitamin C, orange peel wax, bees wax, frankincense, rosemary, cornstarch, arrowroot, carageenan Cost: $16.99 for 3 ounce tube Available At: Think Baby

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