After you read about the Top 5 Dangerous Chemicals to Avoid in Baby Products, keep scrolling to read about the #1 brand of baby products I recommend. There’s also an AWESOME giveaway at the end of this post! Moms would do anything to protect their babies and keep them safe. It’s an instinct we’re born with. Yet, according to the Environmental Working Group, our children are exposed to up to 27 dangerous chemicals a day through personal care products. Moms allow this not because they don’t care about their children or knowingly want to put them in danger, but because they don’t have the knowledge. They don’t understand just how dangerous these chemicals can be or the damage they can cause to a developing baby.

One of the mission of this website is to help you sort through the information and be armed with knowledge to make good decisions for your family. Today I’d like to share with you the top 5 dangerous chemicals that you should avoid when purchasing baby products. Make sure you keep scrolling to see the #1 brand of baby products I recommend and how you can enter a giveaway to win some of these great, safe products.

Top 5 Dangerous Chemicals to Avoid in Baby Products

1. Fragrance

I find this to be one of the most difficult to avoid. Many brands who use otherwise safe and natural ingredients also use fragrance. The problem is that “fragrance” is a generic term and we often don’t know what exactly companies are using as they don’t have to disclose. Depending on what exactly is used to create the fragrance, this term can be linked to ingredients that cause asthma, eczema, neurological problems, respiratory damage, and eye damage. Often fragrance is used to mask the unpleasant odor of dangerous chemicals.

What to Avoid: 

Products with the word “fragrance” on the ingredient list.

2. Phthalates

Phthalates are used as a preservative in personal care products like shampoos and lotions. These cause endocrine disruption and can lead to decreased sperm motility and concentration, allergies, asthma, and cancer.

What to Avoid:

Products with diethylhexyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, demethyl phthalate, or diethyl phthalate.

3. Parabens

Parabens are another preservative used in many personal care products. They are known endocrine disruptors that can lead to reproductive problems, developmental disorders, skin irritation, and cancer.

What to Avoid: 

Any product that has an ingredient that ends in “–paraben.”

4. Formaldehyde 

Formaldehyde is a preservative used in water-based products. It helps inhibit the growth of mold. The problem? It’s a known carcinogen and linked to allergy-like reactions, respiratory problems, headaches, and nausea.

What to Avoid:

You’ll want to avoid any products with formaldehyde as an ingredient, but you also need to be careful of formaldehyde-releasing ingredients. Look out for: quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol) and glyoxal.

5. 1,4-dioxade 

This is a by-product of a cheap manufacturing process called ethoxylation. This process uses a cancer-causing petrochemical ethylene oxide. The result is something that is a carcinogen, kidney toxicant, neurotoxin, and respiratory toxin. Not good. Because it’s a by-product of a manufacturing process and not an ingredient itself, you really have to be aware to avoid it.

What to Avoid: 

You won’t find 1,4-dioxade on labels. To avoid it, look for ingredients that contain the letters eth, as that is an indicator of the presence of 1,4-dioxane. Stay away from polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, sodium laureth sulfate, ceteareth, oleth, oxynol, -xynol, and PEG.

Which Baby Products are Safe?

There are so many different products out there for your baby, it can be hard to sort through and figure out which ones are safe for your precious child. The #1 brand that I recommend is Baby Mantra.

Why do I recommend Baby Mantra? It’s simple. Their ingredients are safe and the products are effective. They are the only baby care brand that holds the label of EWG VERIFIED. (Read here to find out about the process of getting this certification.) Here are some more facts you should know about Baby Mantra’s products:

• Certified by the Natural Products Association
• PETA Certified – Cruelty Free
• NO Sulfates
• NO Parabens
• NO Phthalates
• NO Dyes
• NO Artificial Fragrances
• Gluten Free
• Allergy Tested
• Rated “1” on EWG’s Skin Deep ^R

These are ingredients you can feel good about putting on your baby’s skin. Remember, what you put on your baby’s skin is absorbed into her body. Nobody wants to expose their child to dangerous chemicals that can have a negative effect on their development or make them sick. If you have a baby, I highly recommend Baby Mantra’s products.

My “babies” are seven and four, and I still use gentle products especially made for babies on them.

This 3-in-1 bubble bath, shampoo, and wash is perfect for washing hair, cleaning bodies, and having a fun bath! Natural bubble bath products don’t bubble up the same as the harsh chemical-laden products, but it’s enough for my kiddos to enjoy their bath time with some bubble fun. This is our favorite and most-used product. The lotion and massage oil are great for sensitive skin, as well.

Baby Mantra would like to give three Happy Healthy Mama readers a Baby Shower Bundle. It’s the perfect gift for a new mom or mom-to-be! There are five essential products every mom needs for her baby. The value of each bundle is $64.45. Here’s what each bundle includes:

3-in-1 Bubble Bath, Shampoo & Wash – An essential to your bath collection. The light scent of lavender and intense moisturizing properties of Aloe Vera will leave your baby calm, relaxed and snuggly soft. Perfect to relax your little one into sweet slumber. Follow up with our calming massage oil for the perfect bed time skin care regimen.

Calming Massage Oil – Essence of Apricot, Grape Seed, and Jojoba to leave your little one feeling nothing short of elated. Rich in Vitamin E, a few drops of this oil is just enough to form a lush moisture barrier that is sure to last throughout the day. Avocado helps protect sensitive skin against rashes and eczema and deeply nourishes the skin from the inside out. We recommend using it as a pre-bedtime massage oil to help soothe baby into sweet slumber.

Calming Lotion – Infused with Vitamin E & Shea Butter. Baby Mantra’s Calming lotion quickly absorbs into baby skin and provides just the right amount of moisture while forming a protective sealant to maintain a soft supple feel. Lavender Oil provides a light soothing scent to calm and nurture baby, making it the perfect bed time choice. Also this non-greasy formula helps heal and protect baby’s dry, delicate skin, leaving skin feeling soft, smooth and healthy. Gentle massage with Baby Mantra calming lotion helps calm and comfort your baby before nap time or bed time.

Newborn Shampoo & Wash – Moisturizing coconut oil paired with antioxidant rich aloe make this a favorite for mom & baby. The convenience of a shampoo and body wash in one refreshing foam free preparation. Guaranteed splashes and smiles! Perfect for babies.

Diaper Rash Ointment – Soothe baby’s bottom with the natural elements of sweet Almond oil, Rosemary leaf, and Jojoba – ingredients aimed to relieve skin irritation and give comfort and ease to diaper rashes. A must have in your baby’s natural diaper change routine.

See below for how to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Baby Mantra for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I only share and recommend products that I know, use, and love.