Many cultures around the world have made a ceremony of the baby’s first bath. Though the religious significance may vary, the idea of making it ceremonial is to ensure that the parent is properly trained in giving a bath to the baby. The baby has tender skin and a developing immune system. Thus, it becomes very important to ensure the baby’s safety and well being during the bath too. To shield the baby from chemicals that are often a part of the towels, soaps, shampoos and plastics used in the bath becomes the responsibility of a parent. And to do that, it is best to make use of organic and ‘green’ bath products. Here are some green bath options and reasons why they would be the preferred choices for your baby.
1. Bath tubs
When it comes to providing a ‘green’ bath for your baby, the first thing you should consider is to get a eco-friendly bath tub. This means that you must ensure that the tub should not be made of plastic that contains harmful chemicals. The baby explores mostly through the mouth. It should not be surprising to see it sinking its baby teeth into the edges of the bath tub as it plays around in the bath water. Thus, when the safety considerations of the baby in the bath tub are taken into account, one should not forget the ‘green’ aspect.
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Many baby tubs nowadays are being made from recyclable, non-toxic plastics which are free of BPA and PVC. You could find some real good and friendly tubs at Spa Baby Tubs which has been launched by a mother, Brandy Cameron. Another good option would be the Comfy Bath Center which, apart from being green, also features a comfortable backrest, a built-in temperature strip, an accessory tray and plug for easy drainage.
2. Bath toys
Babies and toys always go together – irrespective of the time and place. And the bath tub is no exception. Starting from the rubber duckys and bath mitts, there is a complete range of toys that your baby can play with. However, the standard toys are made of plastics that contain harmful chemicals and carcinogens. The baby is more susceptible since its immune system is not mature yet. Phthlates, BPAs and PVCs in toys will cause harm for the baby on the long run. Note that any wooden or organic toy cannot double up as a bath toy. It has to be water proof and bath proof. The manufacturer’s label would be useful in determining whether something could be used as a bath toy or not.
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Water bugs and Splat are the prominent toys in the Boon line of bath toys for babies which are made completely safe. The Sitting Duck Company has come out with rubber duckys that the baby can play with to its heart’s content and even chew upon it without any hazard. If you are looking for appliqués and ring tosses, then Sassy would be another brand to consider.
3. Cleaning products
Soaps and shampoos are directly applied to the skin of the baby. It is very important to ensure that they do not contain harmful chemicals. A normal soap or shampoo contains chemicals for the coloring, for the texture and for the fragrance. There are times when the baby accidentally ingests the cleaning agent. At such times, it is vital that it be safe and non-toxic. So, it is best to make use of organic soaps that contain all-natural ingredients. They should also be tender and gentle on the skin of the baby that is especially sensitive.
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For a wonderful and adorable line of soaps, you could consider using Little Twig. They are all based on natural oils like lavender and tangerine that soothe and relax the baby. Gaia Naturals is another line that you could consider. Made specially from natural products for ultra-sensitive skin, they are among the greenest like of products.
4. Baby towels
Conventionally, towels are made from absorbent fibers and cotton is the top choice. Conventional cotton makes use of more chemicals per unit produce compared to organically grown cotton. This means that organically produced cotton has not been exposed to chemical defoliants, pesticides or fertilizers like the conventional cotton. Thus, if the baby happens to chew upon the towel, especially during its teething period, organically grown cotton-towels would be the perfectly safe. Also, since it is less processed, it is more durable and lasts for more washes or more number of years. Such towels are also less likely to cause allergies in babies.
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Envirocitizen.org ensures that all the towels they stock are made from organically grown fibers alone. They have not been processed with any of the standard chemicals like formaldehyde. They are also soft and tender on the baby’s skin.