The Ultimate Non-Toxic Baby Guide: Why You Should Avoid Popular Baby Brands
Your Go-To Guide for Safe Baby Products! This guide includes Product recommendations for everything from Nursery and clothing to travel and wellness and everything in between! 👶🏼👩🏻🍼🍼🚼
Whether you’re planning for a baby of your own or shopping for another expecting mama, I know it can be stressful to pick out products you can completely trust and feel confident that will be safe for baby.
There are so many baby brands out there and so much research to be done ⏤ in order to save you time, and offer some of my holistic wellness expertise, I have created the guide of your dreams for all of my favorite safe baby products, as well as popular brands to avoid.
Important Ingredients To Avoid
TALC
Talc powder is a common ingredient of many brands of baby powder and while they smell and feel fresh, it’s actually an allergen that is known to irritate lungs when inhaled. The mineral talc has also been studied as a potential carcinogenic.
Look for alternatives like corn starch, tapioca, and rice.
FRAGRANCE
Fragrances can contain synthetic chemicals that are derived from harmful sources like coal and petroleum, which can cause skin, respiratory, and even neurological issues.
Instead, always choose fragrance-free baby products!
BPA, BPS, BPE, BPF
BPA used to be a common chemical found in many plastic baby products like baby bottles, sippy cups, plastic feeding containers, and others before it was banned in 2012. Unfortunately, alternatives to BPA (BPS, BPE, BPF, etc.) are just as toxic and harmful.
It’s best to choose products that are not made of plastic, such as stainless steel, hospital-grade silicone, and glass.
PARABENS
Like BPA and its alternatives, parabens are also a common ingredient found in many baby and household products like shampoo, soaps, and body washes. But parabens are linked to hormonal, reproductive, and skin issues. In general, you need to stay away from any ingredient with “paraben” in its name, including alternate names like “methyl,” “butyl,” “propyl,” or “benzyl.”
FLAME RETARDENT
Another toxic substance to watch out for is the flame retardant. This can be found in baby products like bedding, pillows, mats, and even car seats. The issue with flame retardant is that it is linked to lower IQ, fertility issues, thyroid issues, ADD, and others.
The best way to avoid this substance is to choose baby products that are made of 100% pure cotton.
pHTHALATES
Phthalates are a toxic chemical that serves as a plastic softener and can be found in baby and lifestyle products like fragrances and personal care products. Phthalates are harmful as they are linked to developmental disorders, respiratory issues, and fertility issues.
Go for fragrance-free baby products, avoid products with vinyl, and as much as possible, buy baby toys that are made of cotton instead of plastic.
MINERAL OIL
Mineral oil, which can be found in some baby oils, are a byproduct of petroleum and can cause skin irritation.
Choose natural oils instead like coconut, olive, and jojoba.
SYNTHETIC DYES
Baby products often contain artificial colors and synthetic dyes to make them bright and attractive for babies but such dyes must be avoided while choosing a baby product as they can cause an allergic cascade.
SLS, SLE
Types of sulfates are used as surfactants in soaps and shampoos. They are known to cause irritation on the skin and in the eyes, while also found responsible for allergic episodes in babies whose skin develops sensitivity to sulfates.
FORMALDEHYDE
A preservative that is used in products to prevent the growth of microorganisms can potentially have a long-term effect on the respiratory system and skin.
WATER PROOFING CHEMICALS
Chemicals like vinyl/PVC, phthalate plasticizers, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and/or other harmful chemicals are often used to waterproof baby products like docking stations, crib mattresses and pads, silicone baby bibs, and any baby rain gear. Instead of using questionable waterproofing chemicals, support brands that use a healthier waterproofing alternative on our baby products that are sourced from plant-based, non-GMO sugarcane so no toxic chemicals are used.
Popular Brands To Avoid
This could potentially ruffle some feathers because consumers love to support brands that are familiar. Unfortunately, popular brands are often filled with cheap, toxic ingredients and broadcasted with big bucks. Big brands don’t care about our babies health so we need to be our own advocates. I would strongly encourage avoiding the following brands:
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
JOHNSON’S BABY
TUBBY TODD BATH CO.
MILLIE MOON
BABYGANICS
DREFT
SEVENTH GENERATION
BURT’S BEES BABY
BANANA BOAT BABY
AVEENO BABY
MELALEUCA WELLNESS COMPANY
You might be surprised by some of these brands, but a lot of these fall short due to marketing schemes like greenwashing. The best thing you can do is to beware of companies who use terms like “all-natural” or “cruelty-free”, “vegan” or “ECO-friendly” but don’t have anything to back it up.
Always look for these third-party certifications and verifications when vetting a company or product. MADE SAFE®, GREENGUARD® Gold and UL Formaldehyde Free are a few you can trust.
PCOS Doc Approved Baby Products
Are you looking for more specific products that you can simply click & buy? Inside the full non-toxic baby guide you can find exact links for products in the following categories:
NURSERY
TRAVEL
DIAPERING
NURSING
TEETHING
FEEDING
FORMULA
BATHING
SKINCARE
WELLNESS
CLOTHING
BOUNCER
LOUNGER
SWING
DENTAL
LAUNDRY
Please note that all information contained within this guide is the intellectual property of The PCOS Doc. We kindly ask that you refrain from sharing or distributing the guide with others. We appreciate your respect of our privacy, time, and resources we Utilized to produce this guide.
Nothing in this guide should be taken as medical advice. Use and select these products at your own risk and discretion. When in doubt, consult with your medical provider. I may earn a small affiliate commission off of a few of the products mentioned in this guide but nothing has been added based on a paid promotion or sponsorship but solely based on ingredients and safety.
