Children, especially newborns, are extra vulnerable and sensitive to the wide array of dangerous chemicals found in mainstream personal care products. Bath time should be all about getting squeaky clean in a safe and healthy manner, and these seven non-toxic bath products will keep toxins out of baby’s tub, and out of his fragile, developing system. From tub to toothbrush, stock up on these finds and then suds up!
1. TummyTub
The TummyTub is an innovative infant tub that very young babies may find soothing due to its womb-like design. The smaller surface area of this bucket-shaped tub enables the water temperature to remain warm for a longer period of time. It is also much easier to maneuver a small, sudsy and squirmy baby within its comforting confines which allows baby to assume the familiar fetal position. The $43 TummyTub is free of BPA, lead and phthalates and it is recyclable.
2. Flexibath
The Flexibath pictured at the top of this post is perfect for babies and toddlers who can sit upright without assistance. This is the first folding bathtub on the market, designed to help families save space by storing the tub between uses! Flexibath ($40) is also BPA, lead and phthalate free and it comes in a variety of eye-popping colors to match bathroom decor or boast your tot’s favorite hue.
3. Preserve Jr. Toothbrush
It doesn’t get any greener in the world of toothbrushes for tots than Preserve Jr. toothbrushes. Designed for kids ages 2-8, their handles are made from 100 percent recycled #5 plastic, they are BPA free, recyclable, and they come in playful colors that correspond with endangered animals: St. Lucia parrot, the Galapagos tortoise, and the tigers of Southeast Asia. Preserve offers a $13 subscription in which they’ll send your tot a new toothbrush every three months for a year, and you can send the used toothbrush back to Preserve to be recycled in their Gimme 5 program.
4. Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste
Kids may actually want to clean their teeth if you put a dollop of Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry toothpaste ($4) on their brush. This is the only natural kid’s toothpaste to earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance, and it uses the power of strawberries to keep smiles white.
5. Earth Mama Angel Baby Shampoo/Body Wash, Lotion and Bottom Balm
Every single product in the Earth Mama Angel Baby line has earned the boast worthy score of zero from the Environmental Working Groups’s Skin Deep website for their inherent purity, safety and for being completely free and clear of any toxins. The company’s extensive collection of personal care products for moms and babies includes a treasure trio of: Angel Baby Shampoo/Body Wash, Angel Baby Lotion and Angel Baby Bottom Balm. Pick up the A Little Something for Baby kit which contains all three. I’m having a baby in August, and I already bought the kit to take to the hospital for my son’s first bath! A Little Something for Baby Kit costs $19.95.
6. Boon Bath Toys
Bath toys are typically made of plastic, and it’s best to make sure your tot’s toys are toxin free. Boon offers a great collection of colorful toys to keep kids entertained while you scrub behind their ears and between their toes. Put a Scrubble set in tiny hands and watch as your babe interchanges the lids and squeezes water through the tops. Or choose from Boon’s line of Odd Ducks, which put a new spin on an old favorite, the rubber duckie. Older kids may try their hand at Splat, the floating ring toss game, or they may want to scoop up Water Bugs floating bath toys with a net. All of the above are BPA, phthalate and PVC free. Priced from $6 – $10.
7. Under the Nile Organic Frog Wash Cloth
Put the “fun” into the function of getting baby clean with a cute little character wash cloth who does the dirty work for you. Under the Nile makes sweet 100 percent organic Egyptian cotton wash cloths in frog and duck characters that are sure to put a smile on your little one’s face.
Images: Flexibath, Preserve, Boon