How to reduce plastic in your baby’s environment
We wouldn't be called Organic Baby Food Shop if we would not stand for the environment. Truth is, we love our little planet and want to make sure it is a safe and happy place for our children to enjoy for many years more to come.
By now you have read over and over again how important it is to feed your baby organic food and organic formula, today we want to take our beliefs a step further and share with you how to efficiently reduce or even eliminate plastic from your baby’s environment to avoid toxins and chemical exposure. This will not only be great for the environment but also for you and your baby's health.
When getting prepared for a baby you hear a lot of, “Do this, don't do that”! While some of the tips are indeed optional, reducing your baby’s exposure to harmful toxins should always be one of your priorities.
Fortunately, if you are reading this article, you are surely already feeding your baby one of our organic formulas: Lebenswert, Holle or HiPP, so you can cross exposing your baby to toxins through food off your list!
But there are other harmful elements that are in your environment that are quite easy to avoid, once you know what they are. Today let's take a closer look at plastic.
What actually is plastic?
Plastic is a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers such as polyethene, PVC, nylon, etc., that can be molded into shape while soft, and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. Plastic was made to last forever, even if most of the things we use plastic for go to the trash after one use only (water bottles, straws, bags etc). Unfortunately, plastic is not biodegrade; it can only be broken down into smaller pieces.
Why is plastic so harmful?
Plastic is not only extremely harmful to our environment but also toxic to humans. This is due to the fact that the chemicals found in plastic leach out, and can actually be found in our blood and tissues. Exposure to the toxins found in plastic is linked to cancers, birth defects and many other serious health issues.
Ok, we are done scaring you! On a happier note, let's see what we can actually do to reduce exposure to plastic.
Baby Bottles...
…are made out of hard plastic. Even the so-called BPA Free bottles still contain plastic and its toxins can leach into the content of the bottle. So you are feeding your baby the best formula available and without knowing it, adding toxins to it. The best non-toxic bottles are glass bottles and are the best alternative to plastic, glass is free of BPA and naturally of other toxins. And the best news is, there are some great choices to pick a glass bottle from. One brand we love is Philipp Avent, which can be bought on Amazon and even Target. Another great option is 100% stainless steel bottles, which we also highly recommend.
Plates and spoons
If your baby is like our daughter, giving it a glass plate might not be the best idea, as it most likely will end up on the floor. But there are other great options to substitute a plastic plate with, for example, wood. There is a wonderful little company in the UK that ships to the US that makes not only beautiful plates and cutlery but also in fun forms. All of the 100% organic and toxin free. Here is their website.
Diapers
Disposable diapers are not only toxic to your baby but are also very expensive and cause a huge impact on the environment. You might be thinking that switching to washable organic disappears is too much work, but given the fact that disposable diapers expose your child to over 50 harmful chemicals that can lead from anywhere from a skin rash to actual cancer, you might want to change your mind. If you decide to give reusable diapers a try avoid those that have plastic in them and choose ones that are made out of natural materials such as cotton, hemp, and wool. If you are looking for the best option for disposable diapers, we highly recommend Bambo Nature.
Baby wipes
Another place where you will find chemicals and plastic are in baby wipes. Great alternatives are Softie Organic Cotton Cloth Baby Wipes which can be found here. Another excellent option is the brand Water Wipes which is made up entirely of water and a drop of fruit oil. It is wise to avoid perfumed wipes, as many perfumes can cause hormonal disruptions, and irritation to skin and mucous membranes.
Though we know it is pretty hard to go totally plastic free, we feel that every little effort to avoid using plastic can make a huge difference, for your health, your baby’s health and the planet we live on. For more information on how to avoid plastic, visit this awesome site.
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