Polysorbate-20

Published March 22nd, 2013

Polysorbate-20 is a chemical found in facial cleansers, baby wipes, body wash, toners, and moisturizers. It also goes by the names Tween-20 and Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate. Polysorbate-20 functions as an emulsifier in various products. This means that it helps fragrance oils mix into products without separating. It also thickens and helps products more easily absorb into the skin.

This chemical is considered moderately toxic. Potential health effects of Polysorbate-20 include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, mucous membrane irritation. There are also developmental and reproductive toxicity concerns.

Sources:

https://www.caymanchem.com/msdss/583151m.pdf
http://www.annmariegianni.com/ingredient-watch-list-polysorbate-20-it-may-be-contaminated-with-carcinogenic-14-dioxane
http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?pr11037
http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/todays-chemical/2010/2/2/polysorbate-20.html
http://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/polysorbate-20

Methylisothiazolinone

Published January 14th, 2013

Methylisothiazolinone, also known as MIT, is a preservative that is commonly used in shampoo and body care products. It is a powerful biocide that helps products have a longer shelf life without being contaminated by bacteria or fungi. MIT is found in low concentrations in “rinse-off” products like shampoo, conditioners, body wash, liquid hand soap, etc.

Many baby wipe products contain Methylisothiazolinone. MIT is known to cause skin irritation and allergies. It should be avoided, particularly if you have sensitive skin. The European Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers suggested that companies limit the maximum concentration to 0.01%. However, U.S. companies are not required to follow the guideline.

MIT has also been linked to being a neurotoxin. Studies through in vitro cells have shown that MIT can cause nerve damage. Brief exposure to MIT is toxic in low concentrations during neural development, which increases the risk of seizures and visual abnormalities.

Sources:
http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/todays-chemical/2010/1/23/methylisothiazolinone.html
http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/methylisothiazolinone
http://www.annmariegianni.com/ingredient-watch-list-methylisothiazolinone-the-toxic-ingredient-that-could-cause-nerve-damage
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22245758
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient.php?ingred06=703935#jumptohere

Disodium EDTA and Baby Wipes

Published December 27th, 2012

A common ingredient that is found in baby wipes is Disodium EDTA. This ingredient primarily works as a preservation, chelator and stabilizer, but has also been shown to enhance the foaming and cleaning capabilities of a cosmetic solution. Disodium EDTA is found in a wide range of personal care products, including contact solution, eye drops, shower and bath products, skin care products and cosmetics. It is also used as a preservative and stabilizer in many processed foods and beverages.

Although there is debate about the toxicity level of Disodium EDTA in humans, be careful about using baby wipes that contain Disodium EDTA. On average, you wipe your child 7-10 times a day. Disodium EDTA is a “penetration enhancer”, and it can cause alterations to the skin that allows other chemicals to seep deeper in to baby’s sensitive skin. This can cause rashes, allergies, asthma, irritation to mucous membranes, eczema, and other various symptoms. Disodium EDTA is also a potential carcinogen.

Sources:
http://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/disodium-edta
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5007478_what-disodium-edta.html
http://www.ewg.org/news/how-toxic-your-bathroom
http://www.blissplan.com/beauty/natural-skin-care-beauty/beauty-skin-care-product/

WaterWipes Featured in What to Buy for Your Baby

Published November 26th, 2012

We’re very excited to have WaterWipes featured in the revamped edition of What to Buy for Your Baby for a second year in a row! This second edition, now available through Amazon, will continue to offer parents guidance through the mind-boggling world of baby care products showcasing the best and safest products for newborns.

Unlike the first book, this newest edition comes fully illustrated with new “star-buy” products highly recommended within a particular category by authors, Liat Joshi and Caroline Cosgrove along with a panel of parents. Additionally, showcased products will come with their own sections to better highlight the “pros” of each of these products. What to Buy for Your Baby will officially hit bookshelves September 24, 2013 but is now available for purchase through amazon.com.

Author Liat Hughes Joshi is a freelance parenting journalist who tests and writes about baby gear for a range of national and online publications. Caroline Cosgrove is managing director of Baby Concierge, a personal baby shopping service, which aims to provide impartial advice on buying baby products.

Go Purple for National Prematurity Awareness Month!

Published November 1st, 2012

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month, and November 17 is World Prematurity Day. To show our support, we’re hosting a “Purple Out” for the month of November. For the entire month, we’re changing our Facebook cover photo, and our Twitter avatar purple. If you would like to participate, take these images below and feel free to use them to spread the word.

WaterWipes supports premature baby charity Miracle Babies. Their mission is to provide financial assistance and support to families in need with newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. MiracleBabies is maintained by volunteers, many of whom are parents of prematurely born children. There are numerous ways to help, whether it’s by volunteering your time or making a donation. Miracle Babies assists families with basic care items and supplies and monetary assistance for expenses.

We feel a responsibility to help these families whose lives can be completely turned upside down. For every 10 “likes” we receive on our Facebook page, we will donate a pack of WaterWipes to Miracle Babies. We want every baby to have the best possible start to life, and with your help we can also be there for premature babies. So be sure to “like” our Facebook page and share with friends and family.

Feel free to use any of the images below to raise awareness about National Prematurity Awareness Month!

 

 

Friends of breastfeeding – Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge 2012

Published October 1st, 2012

A picture is worth a thousand words…

The meeting went well. This is a great kickstart to the National Breastfeeding week in Ireland, here are a few shots we liked!

 

 

Happy WaterWipes Winner!!! See more pictures of the event here

Winner of a 3 month supply of Waterwipes at the Citywest Shopping Centre site of the Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge 2012.  Ireland had over 10 sites and while numbers are still being confirmed, over 500 nursing pairs were counted.  For more info about these events and updates please go to www.friendsofbreastfeeding.ie

 

 

Your Baby Wipes May Have Similar Ingredients to Your Insect Repellent

Published September 28th, 2012

A common ingredient is found in most eco-friendly and/or natural baby wipes, Benzoic Acid  is derived from the chemical benzene and contains carboxylic acid. It is used in a wide variety of goods including coffee extract, sauces and tomato paste, cosmetics, dyes, plastics, perfumes, insect repellents, and more. Its most common uses are in food preservation and the treatment of bacterial infections. Benzoic acid preserves food by killing bacteria. It also has inhibitory effects on the growth of yeast which is a major cause of food spoilage.

The amount of benzoates that can be added to foods is carefully controlled because it can be toxic in large doses. The maximum percentage allowed in the United States is 0.1 by volume. The highest percentage of benzoic acid can be found in juices, soda, pickles, and salad dressing.

You may want to rethink using baby wipes that have this chemical in them. Benzoic acid comes with a few warnings. It may also cause skin irritation, redness, burning or itching if contact is prolonged. If large doses of benzoic acid are ingested, sore throat, nausea, and vomiting can occur.

There is also a warning against pregnant or nursing women from using products that contain benzoic acid.

Babies & Allergies

Published September 21st, 2012

There is no worse feeling than a parent not being able to help or fix their child’s problems, and allergies are just that – not knowing and sometimes not being able to “fix” it. No one likes seeing anyone in pain, especially mom and dads when it comes to their tiny precious cargo. Babies are super susceptible to illness and allergies at such a fragile young age, so here are some tips on how to look out for allergies and knowing what to do when you see them developing.

An allergic reaction/allergy is essentially the body’s way of responding to an “invader” in the body. Our bodies mistake these invaders as dangerous so it releases histamines and chemicals to fight it off, leading to runny noses, sneezing, itching and coughing – what we all know as allergies. It is often confusing to differentiate allergies and colds so here are some helpful tips in determining what are actual allergies.

I will start from the top and work my way down to their tiny little toes. Remember that at times, it’s often difficult to identify what is actually the cause of allergies. Sometimes there is no cure or cause. However, if you notice persistent thin watery nasal discharge coming out of your baby’s nose it’s indicating that it is an allergy. When your baby isn’t crying because they are hungry or tired or just feel like crying and you see them tearing up excessively, rubbing their eyes frequently and have dark circles underneath their eyes it is a sure sign of allergies. Most babies are prone to rashes, which is why doctors don’t recommend using conventional baby wipes on newborns, but they should vanish by the time they are 2 or 3 months.

Around this time is when allergic reactions will start to show, such as eczema, which is a red, scaly rash on their cheeks, torso, arms and legs. Often times babies poop – we all know this, but if they are vomiting, having diarrhea and are extra gassy it tends to mean they have stomach ailments from environmental allergies.

You now know how to detect an allergy, but now you need to know some prevention and treatment tactics. Often times to treat allergies you need to visit an allergist or get a blood/skin test (only for babies over 2 months), but there are a few things you can try before going in that direction. Skin moisturizers or 1% hydrocortisone cream is best for treating eczema and other symptoms, any oral antihistamines like benadryl (which will also have them in nana land) would work. A good thing to know as well is that if you can eliminate your baby’s exposure to whatever is causing their reaction. Other baby wipes, even those listed as “natural” can contain as many as eight to twenty different ingredients. Eliminating as many ingredients as possible may help you find the culprit.

Before jumping the gun and trying out the testing route, you can also look into these preventative options as well. Covering your mattresses and pillows with dust mite-proof covers, if you have a cat or dog have them spend a week out of the house, put away any feather pillows and try switching to a hypoallergenic laundry detergent. If none of those work then head over to your nearest doctor and have your baby tested.

Allergies can be pretty obnoxious and they definitely aren’t you or your baby’s best friend so stay on top of them and treat them now!

 

Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms

Published September 14th, 2012

It’s every mother’s dream to welcome their newborn into the world, hold them, kiss them, bathe them, watch them grow. However, when it comes to breastfeeding, for whatever reason, the overwhelming joy isn’t always initially there. Some mom’s are scared, nervous and don’t know a whole lot about the process. Fear no more – here is everything a new mom needs and should know about breastfeeding.

Don’t let stress overwhelm or cause you to panic when realizing that it is your milk that you are producing that is ultimately going to allow your baby to grow. (No stress, right?) Honestly, there is not a lot you need to do before preparing to breastfeed. Your body automatically does everything it needs to do to prepare (Easy, right?!). The best time to start feeding is right when you meet your baby! No time is better than the present, so might as well get up close and personal as soon as you can. Some feedings may take up to 40 minutes, no worries – it’s totally normal. Newborns generally eat every hour or 2 for the first week and it’s usually 8-12 feedings every 24 hours. Most babies breastfeed for the first year and then move onto regular milk. There are always rumors floating around when it comes to breastfeeding but one you should really not listen to is rubbing your nipples with towels or loofahs to “toughen them up.”  Your nipples are supposed to be soft and comfy – as they already are – so they can better fit into your baby’s mouth.

There are many ways to hold your baby when breastfeeding and no way is the right way. It comes down to what is most comfortable for you and the baby. Four positions that are often used are the Cradle hold, Cross-Cradle, Football Hold and the Side-Lying hold. The cradle hold is when the baby is placed against your abdomen so you’re belly-to-belly with the baby’s head resting in the crook of your elbow. Cross-cradle hold is pretty similar to the cradle hold except you support the baby with the opposite arm and the baby’s bottom rests near your elbow. Football hold is when you hold your baby at the side under your arm. You can either use a pillow or your leg to keep the baby level with your breast. If you choose side-lying, you both lie side by side facing one another.

While breastfeeding, it’s important to maintain a healthy nutrition filled diet. It is essential to eat perfectly to increase your energy and resistance to illness. Getting enough nutrients is more important than calories so start snacking more on veggies, fruits and whole grains. Mom’s should be eating 500 more calories than non breastfeeding mom’s, therefore taking in around 2,000-2,500 calories a day. Drinking alcohol is something that most pregnant mom’s have been missing for the last 9 months, and now that you are breastfeeding, you should still stay away. If you have one glass of wine at dinner, it safe to breastfeed 3 hours later as this is how long it takes for the alcohol to escape your body.  A big No-No is crash dieting. A sudden large drop in your calorie intake can and will affect your milk supply so no major dieting! Keep in mind that breastfeeding is one of the best and easiest ways to lose weight.

The final and most important key to breastfeeding is the actual milk you are producing and what is actually in it. Breast milk contains the perfect combination of nutrients – over 100 of them! The milk also contains large amounts of antibodies which help the baby resist illness and improves their immune system as well. Hormones in your milk create a feeling of sleepiness and general well-being which is great for colicky or fussy babies. Always stay hydrated when breastfeeding too – water or juice is best right before you start and also before you begin pumping. Finally, breastfeeding is free! Formula is super expensive and breastfeeding also allows for bonding with your baby.

You should be a pro at breastfeeding now! Remember, stay calm, eat well and start bonding with your baby!

Wipe Away the Fear

Published August 23rd, 2012

For a baby, the world can be a scary place. As a parent, you do everything you can to protect your children. But did you know that a product you use on your baby up to ten times a day can be causing skin irritation? Other baby wipes can contain anywhere from eight to twenty different ingredients. WaterWipes are the only baby wipe that contain only two ingredients–purified water and a drop of grapefruit seed extract. It’s extra soft and gentle on baby’s skin. No preservatives. No fragrances. No harmful chemicals. No skin irritation. And nothing to be afraid of. Wipe Away the Fear with WaterWipes–the World’s Purest Baby Wipes.

WaterWipes are the only chemical-free baby wipe on the market. Made with 99.9% water, 0.1% grapefruit seed extract. No preservatives. No chemicals. No skin irritation.

Convenience and purity with no greasy residue.

WaterWipes, the World’s Purest Baby Wipe, are currently available online at Amazon.com and Diapers.com.