Organic baby products are made without pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, genetically modified organisms, additives, irradiation or sewage sludge.
Benefits
Organic baby products are substituted for conventional baby care items in order to reduce the amount of chemical exposure for rapidly developing infants. Some physicians recommend choosing organic foods for babies from conception until the age of three. During this period of time babies' body's and brains grow faster and they are more vulnerable to environmental toxins. The fact that babies are smaller means they absorb more pesticides per pound of body weight than adults. The bottom line is toxins stay in their systems longer and can have more impact than fully developed adults.
In addition to being free of pesticides and other additives, organic foods are believed to be more nutritional than their conventional counterparts. A 2007 European Union study confirmed that organic fruit and vegetables may have up to 40 percent more antioxidants than non-organically grown produce.
Authentic organic fabrics and clothing can help the environment in a number of ways, such as:
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Manufacture of chemicals is not required
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Chemical residues are not entered accidentally into the environment
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Humans and animals are not exposed to chemicals
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When the fabric is finished with chemicals are not returned to the earth in landfill, or enter into recycling process.
Cotton covers 2.5% of the world's cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world's insecticides, more than any other single major crop. It can take almost a 1/3 pound of synthetic fertilizers to grow one pound of raw cotton in the US, and it takes just under one pound of raw cotton to make one t-shirt
Disadvantages
Organic baby products are more expensive to produce and get certified. Therefore they are in most cases priced higher than conventional goods and are not as accessible to middle and lower income families. As a result, families that may believe there are health benefits to using organic baby products will not be able to afford them.
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) says that while prices have been declining, there are reasons the costs of certified organic products remain higher than conventional products. They include limited supply as compared to demand, greater labor and transportation costs per unit produced. The smaller number of units involved also means marketing and distribution costs have to be spread out over a smaller number of units. As demand for organic food and products increases, technological innovations and economies of scale should reduce costs of production, processing, distribution and marketing for organic produce.
Baby formula and food
Mothers who are not breastfeeding can choose to use organic infant formula to meet their baby's nutritional requirements for the first four to six months of life. Certified organic baby formulas can be made from soy and dairy milk. Organic infant formulas can be obtained at the hospital, grocery store and through various channels on the internet.
Parents can find organic versions of baby cereals in whole grain rice and whole grain oatmeal and multi-grain varieties. Some manufacturers fortify them with iron. Most brands make organic baby food in jars. The organic foods are blended to accommodate the various textures and blends of food desired by growing babies and toddlers.
Personal care products
A study reported in the February 2008 issue of Pediatrics found babies can be exposed to toxic chemicals in ordinary personal care products such as lotions, shampoos diaper creams. While the list of chemical ingredients involved in skin care manufacturing is extensive, this particular study focused in on phthalates, a reproductive toxin that can cause damage to sexual organs and impact future fertility. Another study released in March 2008 by the Organic Consumers Association found a cancer-causing chemical 1,4 Dioxane to be present in many personal care products.
Clothing
Baby clothing companies now offer items made from organically grown fibers, such as wool, cotton, hemp, soy or bamboo, that have been grown without the use of pesticides or produced without toxic fabric finishes and flame retardants.
Sleepwear/Pajamas made from organic cotton should be free of pesticides, flame retardants, and synthetics, such as polyester and acrylic. They must be snug-fitting if they have not been treated with flame retardant chemicals.
Nursery items
Mattresses and mattress pad covers should be made from organic cotton, organic wool and rubber latex from rubber-tree farms. The mattresses should be free of pesticides and other processing chemicals.
Cloth diapers made from organic cotton, hemp or wool should be free of the chemical-based super absorbent gels, pesticides and chlorine found in conventional diapers.
Certified organic toys have no pesticides and contain no toxic dyes and paints. Toys should be made from organic fabrics and non-toxic stuffings; wooden toys should use water- or milk-based paints and stained with natural oils or beeswax. Upholstered nursery furniture should be made from untreated, sustainable wood and covered in organic fabrics to reduce the amount of toxins in the nursery.
External links
References
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^ Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Baby Care, Alan Greene, MD, page 137. ISBN 978-0787996222
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^ Medical News Today.Medical News Today.
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^ http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/121/2/e260
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