When I first became a parent — busy with work and life, I just wanted to know what bare essentials I needed.  Living in New York City, I prefer to have as few things as possible in our apartment.  So below was our list of essentials.

1) Seventh Generation Diapers are wonderful. They are chlorine free so babies are not unnecessarily exposed to it. I have occasionally used more traditional diapers by other well known brands and they did not seem nearly as absorbent! They have 3 stars from 33 Amazon customers but Stage 2 has 4.5 stars from 600 Amazon customers and Stage 4 has 4.5 stars from 214 Amazon customers. They’re all the same too, except for size.

2) Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Baby Wipes. These work great. They have 4.5 stars from 239 Amazon customers. They also have a hazard rating of 1 out of 10 by the Environmental Working Group.

3) Baby Wash & Shampoo: you can use water for a while. When something stronger is necessary, then California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Bodywash is a good option. It is rated a hazard of 1 (out of 10) by the Environmental Working Group.

4) Alba Un-Petroleum Jelly is great for any way that you would use regular petroleum jelly — lip balm, protection for baby’s bottom, gentle protection on face before taking baby out on windy winter day, etc.

5) California Baby Calendula Cream. I tried many lotions and I found this to be the most effective! It has a hazard rating of 1 out of 10 by the Environmental Working Group.

6) Badger Balm Diaper Cream. Definitely get exactly as the picture shows (yellow on the tube). I had to get another version by the same brand because I couldn’t find the yellow tube and wasn’t sure if it’d make a difference. It does. I only use this as needed. This has a hazard rating 1 out of 10 from the Environmental Working Group.

7) Baby Powder: none. Click on Avoid Baby Powder to read why.

Please Note: All products with an image shown below can also be found at Convenient Shopping!, along with many other products not listed below.

Before getting this toothbrush, my daughter had a couple traditional (non-electronic) children’s toothbrushes.  This electronic toothbrush has made it much easier for me to get my daughter to brush her teeth!  I can’t get her to stop brushing her teeth with this brush!  My only complaint is that after having it just maybe 1-2 months, the brush looks like it needs replacing, maybe because my daughter is biting on the brush head, maybe because of another reason.  After having to buy a couple new brushes, we stopped using the “electronic” toothbrush after she got in the habit of brushing her teeth (because the brush head quickly needed replacement).  So, not the best long-term solution but a great transition tool!

My daughter was afraid of these bubbles until recently and now (at about 1.5 years old) loves chasing them around the home!  It has a hazard rating of 2 out of 10 from the Environmental Working Group.

California Baby Super Sensitive No Fragrance Hair Conditioner

I wish this hazard rating were lower but it’s still pretty low at 2 from the Environmental Working Group.

California Baby Shampoo and Bodywash Calming

This is what we’ve been using and it had a hazard rating of 2 (1 being the lowest hazard rating) from the Environmental Working Group (as of 12/5/2009, I can’t find any baby shampoo products in this database).  It works fine and is easily accessible for us.

California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Bodywash

I finally feel comfortable with our shampoo and body wash.  We use California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Bodywash, which had a hazard rating of 1 (1 being the lowest hazard rating) from the Environmental Working Group(as of 12/5/2009, I can’t find any baby shampoo products in this database), works fine, and is pretty accessible.

Dr. Bronner’s

While traveling, I’ll bring a travel size bottle of Dr. Bronner’s.  We’ve only had Peppermint so I was nervous about getting some of this soap in my daughter’s eyes.  It works fine but seems to be a bit drying.  It had a hazard rating of ZERO from the Environmental Working Group (as of 12/5/2009, the database seems to be empty), which makes me love it.  I just bought Almond to see if it has a less drying effect and might be more gentle on the eyes.  We also have the Baby Mild version that we’ve been using for cleaning but we will try on my daughter.  Will let you know.

Lanolin: Used for ages, lanolin is the natural oil found on the wool of sheep (it is also known as wool fat or grease).  A natural emollient, it makes skin soft, and is also acquired without having to kill an animal.  On the downside, lanolin can be contaminated if the sheep has been exposed to chemicals.  Therefore, be careful to look for the pure (ultrapure) variety.

Zinc oxide: It provides a protective barrier on baby’s bottom and is safe to use.

Calendula: An excellent healing agent for the skin made from marigold.  Effective for treating diaper rash, Calendula has natural antibacterial properties and is soothing and antiseptic.

Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) made from the seeds and the pulp of a grapefruit works against microorganisms and has bactericidal, antiviral, fungicidal, and antiparasitic properties.  It is excellent to prevent and treat diaper rash.  In a spray bottle, dilute 5 – 10 drops of GSE in one ounce of water, and use as needed on baby’s bottom.  It can be applied at the same dilution with a cotton swab for thrush in baby’s mouth and mother’s nipples.

RECOMMENDED

California Baby Calendula Cream

I’m very picky about lotions because I have very dry skin and I need something nourishing.  After trying many lotions (not all are listed here since I can’t remember them), I found this one to be the most effective.  This has a hazard rating of 1 out of 10 by the Environmental Working Group.

Erbaviva

I received a lovely gift basket of Erbviva products, which allowed me to try those listed below.  All the products smelled beautiful.  The lotions and creams didn’t seem to work too effectively, however.  Or, they caused some skin irritation when my daughter was <6 months (I stopped trying during this time).  There were some really love products though, and they are noted below.  I really enjoyed this gift so I’d recommend it, especially for new moms who may just beginning their journeys of exploring non-toxic, high-end baby products.

1) Erbaviva Baby Soap — Lovely, gentle soap that worked well on both baby and mother (including my face)

2) Erbaviva Baby Wash Bag — This was absolutely divine!

3) Erbaviva Baby Cream –  This caused some skin irritation but wasn’t too bad.  Worked better than Aveeno but not as good as the California Baby Calendula Cream.  It has a hazard rating of 0 out of 10 from the Environmental Working Group, however, so I may try it again.

4) Erbaviva Diaper Cream — This worked well!

5) Erbaviva Sunscreen — I use California Baby since it has a low hazard rating.

6) Erbaviva Baby Lotion  –  This caused some skin irritation but wasn’t too bad.  Worked better than Aveeno but not as good as the California Baby Calendula Cream.

7) Erbaviva Baby Oil  –  This wasn’t too bad.  I don’t mind me or baby being a bit greasy but, after a couple of hours, my daughter’s skin would feel dry.  The California Baby Calendula Cream is better.

Erbaviva Shampoo — kind of drying on my daughter’s hair.  We stopped using it.

9) Erbaviva Lip and Cheek Balm — not so great on my daughter because it’s hard to apply, but I use it on my hands in the winter since I need something much stronger during this season.  I love that I can throw it in my purse and use it on my hands, face and lips!

Although not all products are one that I would repeatedly buy, I enjoyed this as a gift since it was fun to sample the variety of products.

BABY BEAR SHOP
I tried this because it has a hazard rating of 0 out of 10 from the Environmental Working Group. It doesn’t spread easily at all, however. I didn’t use it on the children but I ended up using it on my hands and feet during the dry winter months.

The Sunscreens We Currently Use:

For young children, in Disease-Proof Your Child, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D. writes that he recommends non- chemical sunscreens that are made only with titanium and zinc oxide.   (Disclaimer: These low-toxic sunscreens tend to leave a white film and are harder to apply, but I rather have low-toxic sunscreens on my children than have more “user-friendly” sunscreens with potentially harmful chemicals.)  Since Badger Balm is less toxic, it is our first choice but is harder to find in stores.  California Baby is our second choice, which is also easier to find (sold at Whole Foods).

Badger Baby SPF 30.  I was recently introduced to this by an informed, experienced retail owner.  He said that Badger generally makes good, non-toxic products.  The Environmental Working Group gave it a hazard rating of 1 out of 10.  You can click on the EWG Sunscreen list to find its ranking of top sunscreen options.  You have to carefully spread the sunscreen to eliminate the white streaks but the low toxicity levels make this worthwhile for us.  On my face, I use California Baby SPF 30 (below).

California Baby SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion.  This works great and gives my daughter a really nice sheen (her skin looks like that of a doll with this sunscreen).  More importantly, it has a hazard rating of 2 out of 10.  I also use it on my face every morning.

Please note: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that, regardless of skin type, a broad-spectrum (protects against UVA and UVB rays), water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 should be used year-round. Babies under 6 months shouldn’t get any direct sunlight, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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From BabyCenter.com:

When does my child need fluoride and how can I tell if he’s getting the right amount?

Developing teeth can certainly benefit from a little fluoride.  This mineral prevents tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel and making it more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria. Most municipal water supplies are fortified with fluoride. (Call your local water authority or ask your dentist about yours.)  If it isn’t, or if you get your water from a well, consider buying a test kit from a hardware store to determine the fluoride level in your water supply.  If it’s less than .3 parts per million, ask your pediatrician whether you should give your child a supplement (the amount recommended for children under 3 is .25 milligrams per day).  She can prescribe a fluoride supplement in the form of drops or chewable tablets.

A little fluoride is a good thing for your child’s teeth, but swallowing too much of it over time can lead to a condition called fluorosis that can cause white spots to show up on his adult teeth.  If you live in an area with fluoridated water, your child is most likely getting plenty of fluoride. Bottled water and fruit juices may also contain fluoride, although the amount is rarely listed on the label.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends waiting until your child is at least 2 to use fluoridated toothpaste.  And when he does graduate to toothpaste, you should let him use only a pea-sized drop each time.  This is because young children tend to swallow their toothpaste rather than spit it out.  Swallowing too much toothpaste over time can lead to fluorosis.

When should I start taking my child to the dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatrics and most pediatric dentists say it’s a good idea to bring your child to a dentist around the time he turns 1, just in case there’s a problem that your family doctor missed or couldn’t diagnose.  If your child still hasn’t sprouted his first tooth by 16 months, or if you notice tooth decay, mention it to your pediatrician, who will likely refer you to a dentist.

From the Environmental Working Group website:

Fluoride is great for teeth, but it can be harmful if swallowed. High doses cause ugly blotches to stain teeth, and have neurotoxic effects. The American Dental Association recommends fluoride-free toothpaste for children under 2. For children under 6, the Centers for Disease Control recommends “child-strength” toothpastes with around 0.08% fluoride (0.075% W/V fluoride ion or sodium monofluorophosphate 0.35% or sodium fluoride 0.12%), or about 1/2 of what’s found in regular strength toothpaste. Low fluoride children’s toothpaste is common in the E.U. but hard to find in the U.S. If your children use a fluoride toothpaste, make sure they use a pea-sized amount and thoroughly spit and rinse.

Avoid these ingredients:

• Fluoride – Neurotoxic agent that can discolor teeth at high doses
• Triclosan – Linked to thyroid disruption, produces toxic byproducts in tap water
• PEG compounds – Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities

I have been wanting to find a “safe” toothpaste for my daughter but it was not clear to me which one to try.  Given our options at Whole Food’s, we tried one by Earth’s Best.  After I tried it myself, I was shocked at how sweet it is.  It just does not make sense to me that toothpaste that sweet is worthwhile for my daughter.  I just found the following list from the Environmental Working Group, and will start going down this list of three:

1) Tom’s of Maine Natural Homeopathic-Style Whitening Toothpaste, Apricot, which has a hazard rating of 1 (out of 10).  RESULTS: I decided to pass on this since it had fluoride.

2) Weleda Calendula Toothpaste, which has a hazard rating of 1 (out of 10).  RESULTS: this is our current toothpaste of choice since my daughter is less than 2 years old, should not have fluoride according to the American Dental Association (discussed above in this post), and my daughter LOVES this toothpaste!

3) Colgate Toothpaste Regular, which has a hazard rating of 3 (out of 10).  RESULTS: I decided to pass on this since it had fluoride.

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