Safe Bath Products

Americans use, on average, about 10–15 personal care products each day. Our government currently does not require safety testing before approving body care products. The government approves an average of seven new chemicals each day. 80 percent of these new chemicals are approved in three weeks or less often without safety tests. This means the basic ingredients of personal care products that we apply to our skin or on our children's skin contain carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, plasticizers, degreasers, and surfactants that may not have been tested. These impurities are legal for use in personal care products regardless of their known or unknown risks.

The Environmental Working Group found that more than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient that has been linked to cancer. The Environmental Working Group also found that 57 percent of all products contain "penetration enhancer" chemicals that can drive other ingredients faster and deeper into the skin.

I can not figure out how our government will allow these known toxins in the products that we use on our skin and in our hair. The good news is that there are options available to help you make better choices to keep your children safe.

For the safest products make sure they are made from organic botanical oils, paraben-free, preservative-free, petroleum-free, and vegetable-devired surfactants. A good rule of thumb is if you can't pronounce the ingredients you shouldn't rub them on your skin. Also, the less ingredients the better.

It is important to be just as careful with what you put on your body as you are with what you put into it. Please check the chemicals that you are using in your child's bath, on their skin, and in their hair. One great company making safe organic soaps, lotions, and oils for babies is Aura Cacia. A few of the great companies making bath products for mamas include Mommy's Bliss, Organic Bath Co., Organic Goddess, and Aura Cacia.