Sunday, June 29, 2008

Are You Protecting Your Baby From Harmful Chemicals?

By Alan Heppenstall

Have you ever taken the time to stop and think about what chemicals might be lurking in the fabric of that crisp new vest or sleepsuit for your baby? Your baby products might just contain Phthalates, Organotin compounds, Brominated flame retardants and other chemicals potentially dangerous to new borns.

Ok so let’s not get too over the top here, your baby clothes and toys wouldn’t be on the market if they were regarded as truly dangerous and there’s no reason to move into a padded chemical-free bubble made of organic soap to protect them!

On the other hand we can’t overlook the fact that such chemicals are being presented to our babies when the long-term health effects are not entirely known. There is good evidence that exposure to, and subsequent build up of chemicals can cause major damage. For example a build of Phthalates can have a damaging effect on development of the reproductive organs.

So what can we do to limit the amount of potentially harmful chemicals our babies come into contact with? Sew our own baby clothing from home grown cotton? Try out baby clothes on ourselves first? Let them wander naked and free? It might be simpler to make sure we buy organic items.

What are organic fabrics and dyes?

Organic fabrics are materials which are manufactured with the minimum use of chemicals and damage to the environment. This includes all stages of the manufacturing process including growing the cotton, harvesting the cotton, dying the fabric and finishing the fabric.

Organic dyes are made from plants, vegetables and roots. A surprisingly wide variety of colourfast pigments can be achieved this way.

Why buy organic?

The first and often most important concern for most parents who buy organic is that they want to protect the health of their child. Using organic fabrics and manufacturing practices can minimise the amount of toxins your baby comes into contact with giving you piece of mind.

You might even sleep a little better at night after buying Organic baby gifts. They are environmentally friendly as they are not produced from nylon or polyester. Both of these are made from petrochemicals which are both very polluting and contribute to global warming. The manufacture of nylon released nitrus oxide, a very harmful greenhouse gas! Furthermore these materials, unlike cotton are non biodegradable, adding to our landfill.

Moreover the growing of cotton is extremely harmful to the environment, with it requiring more pesticides per plant than almost any other crop in the world. Apart from affecting local eco-systems and animals these pesticides can cause the farmer illness or even death!
Organic cotton is grown without the use of such pesticides, making them cheaper for the farmer and much more environmentally friendly. Replenishing and maintaining soil fertility also helps to reduce impacts on the environment.

It’s not difficult to see the benefits to your baby, third-world farmers and even the entire planets environment when buying organic baby products. They’re not as expensive as you’d think and it’s certainly worth the piece of mind so next time you need something for your or another’s baby, think organic!

For more information about organic baby gifts and their benefits, please visit Visit here more information about organic baby gifts and their benefits.

Written by Alan Heppenstall

Monday, June 16, 2008

Organic Crib Mattresses - Six Reasons to Buy Organic

By Jamie Jefferson

So much care and attention goes into preparing for a new baby, and it's only natural that you would want to provide the very best.

One of the decisions that new parents are faced with is whether to choose a traditional or organic crib mattress. Organic crib mattresses work just as well as traditional mattresses but have the added benefit of being free from chemicals. Here are six considerations to help you in your purchasing decision:

1. By purchasing organically made products, such as a crib mattress, you are influencing the marketplace with your dollars. The more people purchase organic products, the more they are likely to be provided in the future. Because organically grown cotton reduces the use of pesticides in fields, your purchase is helping the environment.

2. Switching from a traditional crib mattress to an organic crib mattress may be more than just an eco-friendly move. It may be a matter of safety. Many traditional crib mattresses contain a number of materials with questionable effects. Experts are starting to look at everything from polyurethane foam to chemical fire retardants to see what kinds of effects they may have on growing babies.

3. Some experts say that organic crib mattresses, with their natural ingredients, allow air to flow freely through the mattress. The better air circulation may help your baby breathe better. In addition, some studies suggest that the organic cotton may lead to a lower incidence of allergic reactions.

4. Due to the recent interest in organic baby products, be wary of any misuse of the word "organic" in the marketplace. You want to make sure that you are getting a certified organic mattress. You can also call the Organic Consumers Association to get a list of accredited organic retailers.

5. If you're purchasing your organic crib mattress online, you need to read the fine print and look through the list of components. A mattress may say that it's organic, but lists polyurethane in the components, for example, it can't be 100 percent organic.

6. Organic crib mattresses are more expensive than traditional crib mattresses. But given the fact that a new baby spends 70 percent of her time sleeping, it might be worth a little bit extra to get an organic crib mattress. When you lay your baby down on something you know is chemical free, you may find that you rest easier yourself.

Babies have been sleeping on traditional mattresses for a long time, so don't be overly alarmed by the claims or warnings that you might read online while researching organic baby gear. That said, with so many chemicals in our world today, it might make sense to research your options before making this important purchase.

Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com and Susies-Coupons.com, where she shares price comparisons on organic crib mattresses and organic baby lotions.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Buying Organic Cotton Baby Clothing

By Jason Hobbs

People are nowadays becoming increasingly aware that we need to protect our environment. That is why we are seeing a lot of sustainable development plans that have been produced by many companies. Many companies are now manufacturing organic baby clothing for infants and parents are quickly adopting these materials.

Organic cotton baby clothing has recently made its apparition in the world of baby clothes and there are many parents that are switching to this material. They are finding it helps look after the future of their world for all the family.

One of the disadvantages of organic cotton baby clothing is that it is relatively expensive compared to ordinary clothing. Despite this difference in price parents are ready to buy organic baby clothing for their kids because it is safer for their health.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is cotton that has been made without the use of chemicals. In this way the environment is not affected. Natural methods for fertilising the cotton plants are used and pesticides usage is avoided or kept to a minimum to ensure that there is the minimal possible impact on the environment. This kind of production method ensures that the cotton that is obtained is natural.

Organic cotton baby clothing

Organic cotton clothing are made from these organic cotton in strict conditions that ensure that the environment is not adversely affected. There are even companies that use dyes that are not that harsh to ensure that their clothes are as natural as possible. Parents should be aware that organic baby clothing are clothes that has gone through the most rigorous quality control to ensure that they are as natural as possible.

Cautions when buying organic clothing

There are some companies that sell clothes that are made from standard cotton and label these clothes as organic cotton. When buying organic cotton baby clothing parents are advised to check the label to know the composition of the clothes. Parents should insist to get only clothes that are made of 100 per cent organic cotton to ensure that they are getting the best product.

Parents will also be better off in trusting a well known brand when buying organic baby clothing in order to avoid some unpleasant surprise.

When choosing organic cotton baby clothing for their infants they are not only providing an additional protection to the health of their kids but also ensuring that they are leaving the Earth in a good state for them.

If you would like more information on where to buy Baby Supplies and recieve a FREE Newsletter on the subject visit the authors site http://www.babysuppliesrus.com

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Organic Cotton Baby Clothes - Benefits Every Parent Should Know

Organic cotton baby clothes are a hot item with retailers of all kinds these days. They're so hot, in fact, that mega-giant Wal-Mart now carries a line of organic baby clothing and layette items in its stores.

Though the organic cotton baby clothes trend is extremely popular with apparel makers and retailers, many parents are confused because they simply don't understand how the term organic relates to cotton and baby clothes. Too, parents often believe that the term is simply made up to con them into believing there's something special about the baby clothes when there probably isn't. Many of them will pass on buying organic baby clothes, blankets, and such-and thus miss the many benefits that their children could get from wearing them.

So when looking at organic cotton baby clothes it's good to have some background. For example, organic cotton is grown chiefly in India under strict regulations and in fields that are chemical-free. Organic means that something is grown in a chemical-free environment. Organic cotton growers take that further by ensuring that the fields have not chemicals or pesticides of any type used for a minimum of three years. This is heavily regulated and is highly watched to ensure that organic cotton is exactly what it claims to be.

By comparison, ordinary cotton is grown in places that aren't as particular about where the cotton is grown. It is also grown using high levels of pesticides and chemicals that is imbibed by the cotton as it grows. As there are far fewer restrictions in place for conventionally grown cotton, there's no way of knowing just how much chemical pesticides are really being used.

These pesticides are generally petroleum-based and have many serious side effects, and these chemicals do stay in the cotton. The chemicals left in the cotton are thought by experts to have the potential cause everything from allergic reactions to asthma to even cancer. Add to that the fact that manufacturers also often add dyes to the cotton which offer additional chemical reactions, and you have a serious problem.

Baby clothes made from organic cotton eliminate all health issues that can come from traditionally grown cotton. To make organic cotton baby clothes an even healthier choice, many have nickel-free snaps or buttons made from nuts, which are hypoallergenic, further ensure that the baby clothes are the safest possible clothing for children to wear.

Organic cotton also protects our environment. It also protects water quality and the health of people who work growing it and manufacturing it. So purchasing organic cotton baby clothes, blankets, bedding, etc., means that you not only protect your child, you also have a hand in making the whole world a little safer place to live.

Alma Newton is mother of four and grandmother of three, and takes great pleasure in offering you the very best of the organic cotton bedding, clothing and cloth diapers that she can find. Please visit her website at Organic Cotton Baby Boy & Baby Girl Clothes and find what you need for your special little person.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alma_Newton

Organic Baby Clothes - The Only Eco Friendly Choice

Cotton may be one of the most versatile crops in the world, but with the amount of pesticides and insecticides (over 25% of the worlds total usage) involved in their production it can also be said that cotton is the most toxic crop in the world. It takes roughly one pound of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals to produce three cotton t shirts.

Once cotton becomes a garment, traditional products are still subjected to toxic dyes and chemical finishes that whiten and preserve. The reason; these traditional methods save the manufacturer money. This is a sad truth, but sadder still is that these chemicals out gas and are absorbed into the wearers skin and respiratory system.

As green parents, you all know that heavy pesticides contribute to such diverse problems as air, river and ocean pollution and animal ill health. The health risks for farm workers include asthma, fatal poisoning and cancer when dealing with conventionally grown cotton. Consider for a moment how the residue of these poisons will affect your babies skin and respiratory system when wearing garments made of this cotton.

The only eco friendly choice for your child is organic cotton baby clothing. Even though organic cotton farmers only account for around 1% of cotton production, the market is growing, nearly 15% each year. And the market will continue to grow as more and more green parents choose cotton organic baby clothing, blankets and plush toys for their children.

Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. By reducing the amount of toxic pesticides and fertilizers we help to maintain soil fertility and build a more biologically diverse agricultural system. Third party organic certification involves inspections, soil, water and processing plant testing and record keeping requirements to insure all standards are met.

Organic cotton baby clothing is one of the fastest growing areas of the organic cotton movement. This is for good reason due to infants and babies skin allergies and sensitivities. Baby clothing made with organic cotton is softer and healthier for your child than traditionally grown cotton clothing.

Even though the numbers are still small for organic cotton, there are things you as a parent can do to help raise awareness about the benefits of organic cotton. The best and easiest way to support organic cotton is through personal purchases or gifts to friends and family.

Organic cotton baby clothing does not use chemicals in growing or processing and is the healthiest solution for the planets ecosystem and the health of your children. Help your child start off a cleaner, healthier life in clothing made of organic cotton.

Want to see baby clothing made of organic cotton? Help your child get a healthier start in life with toxic free clothing. Click now to see some organic cotton baby clothing, blankets and gifts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_KingCotton may be one of the most versatile crops in the world, but with the amount of pesticides and insecticides (over 25% of the worlds total usage) involved in their production it can also be said that cotton is the most toxic crop in the world. It takes roughly one pound of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals to produce three cotton t shirts.

Once cotton becomes a garment, traditional products are still subjected to toxic dyes and chemical finishes that whiten and preserve. The reason; these traditional methods save the manufacturer money. This is a sad truth, but sadder still is that these chemicals out gas and are absorbed into the wearers skin and respiratory system.

As green parents, you all know that heavy pesticides contribute to such diverse problems as air, river and ocean pollution and animal ill health. The health risks for farm workers include asthma, fatal poisoning and cancer when dealing with conventionally grown cotton. Consider for a moment how the residue of these poisons will affect your babies skin and respiratory system when wearing garments made of this cotton.

The only eco friendly choice for your child is organic cotton baby clothing. Even though organic cotton farmers only account for around 1% of cotton production, the market is growing, nearly 15% each year. And the market will continue to grow as more and more green parents choose organic cotton baby clothing, blankets and plush toys for their children.

Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. By reducing the amount of toxic pesticides and fertilizers we help to maintain soil fertility and build a more biologically diverse agricultural system. Third party organic certification involves inspections, soil, water and processing plant testing and record keeping requirements to insure all standards are met.

Organic cotton baby clothing is one of the fastest growing areas of the organic cotton movement. This is for good reason due to infants and babies skin allergies and sensitivities. Baby clothing made with organic cotton is softer and healthier for your child than traditionally grown cotton clothing.

Even though the numbers are still small for organic cotton, there are things you as a parent can do to help raise awareness about the benefits of organic cotton. The best and easiest way to support organic cotton is through personal purchases or gifts to friends and family.

Organic cotton baby clothing does not use chemicals in growing or processing and is the healthiest solution for the planets ecosystem and the health of your children. Help your child start off a cleaner, healthier life in clothing made of organic cotton.

Want to see baby clothing made of organic cotton? Help your child get a healthier start in life with toxic free clothing. Click now to see some organic cotton baby clothing, blankets and gifts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_King