Non toxic homes

[Anonymous]

Any tips for transitioning to a non toxic hh before baby? New place so a fresh start for a lot of things. Also things like toys, clothing....how do you regulate what relatives buy for your kid without being a jerk? We also Know organic cotton and non plastic toys can be more expensive. We don't expect anything from anyone but the Grandparents and aunts and uncles will want to buy things.

[Anonymous]

Haha first kid right? Please don't be that parent... Toys are toys and your kid is not going to want all wood when they have the choice.

Also, if you don't use antibacterial cleaning products your baby will get sick. I used clorox wipes etc but would then go over it with a less harsh cleaner.

[Anonymous]

Don't have kids.

This world will kill them. Slowly, or quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haha first kid right? Please don't be that parent... Toys are toys and your kid is not going to want all wood when they have the choice.

Also, if you don't use antibacterial cleaning products your baby will get sick. I used clorox wipes etc but would then go over it with a less harsh cleaner.

Google the hygiene hypothesis. You are killing your kid.

[Anonymous]

I would cool it on the toys (they don't last long anyway) and just focus on cleaning and baby products -- get a HEPA filter vacuum and air purifiers. Use non toxic cleansers. I use water with a squirt of dr bronners and essential oil for much of my cleaning. Switched to a greener soap for dishwashing. Fragrance free detergent and use the extra rinse function. Bottles, sippy cups, should be glass or other material that's not cheap plastic made in China. Use Water Wipes or washcloths instead of Huggies/Pampers scented wipes.

TBH I even cloth diapered for awhile but it was giving DS a rash, so we use both cloth and conventional.

Pay attention to rugs and furnishings. New furniture and carpet off gas terribly. Buy stuff in advance. For my baby's playroom, I bought a natural fiber rug. For his nursery, I put the furniture together, painted etc way in advance and also let the mattress breathe months before he arrived.

Just do what you can, but relax if you aren't at 100% all the time. MIL buys cheap bibs and plastic toys and Gerber spoons and I accept and use them with thanks.

[Anonymous]

Are you the same person asking about a non toxic bassinet?

[Anonymous]

Set up your nursery, install a ceiling fan (best for baby when he arrives anyway) and turn it on, open the windows wide and close the door. Air out the room and new furniture for as long as possible. Get several air cleaning house plants for the nursery.

Don't worry about what people give him. If you are weird about nonorganic clothes, keep the baby in organic onesies all the time and put gift clothes (washed) on top.

[Anonymous]

I would just say “I like toys from Magic Cabin, Heartsong, Fat Brain Toys” ect, ect if asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha first kid right? Please don't be that parent... Toys are toys and your kid is not going to want all wood when they have the choice.

Also, if you don't use antibacterial cleaning products your baby will get sick. I used clorox wipes etc but would then go over it with a less harsh cleaner.

Google the hygiene hypothesis. You are killing your kid.

Yes!!! My mother was this same type of mother. I have horrible allergies and asthma. Coincidence?

[Anonymous]

Op I had the same intention as you: create a non toxic, no plastic home for my newborn baby twins..... but you know it’s hard to keep up and then they are playing with plastic toys on play dates or at the library etc. By month 6 I gave up and embraced that I couldn’t have that type of control. I use mostly nontoxic cleaning supplies and detergent but I have no problem using Clorox wipes either. It’s a balance. The one thing I try to do is buy organic milk and meats. I’m not sure it makes a difference but it makes me feel better.

[Anonymous]

There is no way to control gifts without being a jerk. You can ask for experiences instead, but you need to decide now what matters mire: a theory of parenting that probably isn’t sustainable or your kid having a relationship with family. This isn’t a rope you want to deal with when in the mire of teething, no sleep, throwing up hell.

[Anonymous]

We have nothing with BPA. All our kids toys were non-toxic until age 3. We found websites that had toys and clothes we were cool with, and shared them with our parents. They were very cool about quietly rolling their eyes yet doing what we wanted. I think all their clothes through 3T were organic. There are lots of sites that sell them, and stores.

The kids are now 4 and 6. They get clothes from the Gap or wherever, and I just wash everything before they wear it. I'm still careful about what comes into our home, and all food at home is organic. But when we're out the rules are relaxed. They're still not eating Doritos or drinking Coke, but they eat in restaurants and at birthday parties, etc.

I feel good that I gave them a good start that was as chemical-free as possible, and when they're 16 I'm sure nobody will see a difference between my kids and the kids next door who were born in Disney clothes.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to do your homework and figure out what matters and what you can let go. Plastic toys-- meh. Get an organic crib mattress because your baby's face is pressed against for a huge portion of their young life. I'd do organic dairy and maybe meat to avoid the hormones. Read about the dirty dozen-- the fruits and vegetables that are important to buy organic and those for which it doesn't really matter. Expose your child animals and don't make the environment too sterile.

One thing that's never mentioned but I think is actually a real issue is be careful of toys that make noise. I don't think noise is regulated very well, and a lot of (especially battery operated) toys are way too loud. Research shows hearing damage at low levels over time, not just one time exposure to extreme noise. I worry that years from now, we'll find out that we damaged our children's hearing when they were very young. This is just my pet bugaboo, but something to consider. I put masking tape over the sound holes in toys to muffle the volume.

[Anonymous]

Organic mattress, organic sheets, greenguard certified crib because baby spend so much time there (as PP noted). Glass bottles and storage containers to avoid food/beverages sitting in plastic (the new BPA alternatives may be no safer than BPA-- we just don't know yet).
I also did a lot of organic clothes for very early days but not convinced it matters.

Check out EWG rankings for soaps and stuff. A lot of the stuff marketed for babies, like Dreft, is actually awful in terms of parabens/etc.

And don't kill yourself re: toys and what others get you. It's not worth it, and other things are higher impact.

Burts Bees has lots of affordable organic bedding and clothing options. Also consider used clothes-- they've been washed so much any original chemicals are likely long gone.

[Anonymous]

Also, for pp's-- being free of chemicals doesn't mean being free of dirt. I'm a big believer in both the hygiene hypothesis and avoiding certain endocrine disrupters/etc.