Eco Healthy Families

 by Michelle Bexelius – founder of Eco Remedi 

Integrating a green lifestyle into your family’s routine is immensely rewarding. And with a little thought and planning it can be fun and fulfilling for everyone. Use trips to the market to teach your little ones the value of organic foods and cooking. Or take a walk, hike or bike ride together. In this section, you’ll find tips to teach your family about the important role each of us plays in protecting yourself, your family and your planet.

Being a new parent is exciting and so it’s understandable to get excited to decorate the new baby’s nursery. Creating a safe haven for your baby is vital to their health. So, read the labels and find our what materials they are made of before you purchase new items (including paint, furniture, bedding, curtains, rugs, clothing, toys and skin care). When we began researching many of the popular items made for babies and kids – from onesies and toys to cribs and play tables, we took inventory of the fact that many of the conventional items available contain toxins that can be harmful, particularly to developing infants and young children.  But we were able to find a variety of eco-friendly and stylish alternatives so you can have peace of mind and that your little ones will be surrounded by purer, healthier products to help them flourish.

Design Services: If you would like us to come out and design a healthy space for your child we offer our design services with color choices, furniture, accessories, clothing, toys, etc.  We specialize in eco nurseries! See Michelle’s special for HGTV – It’s Easy Being Green – Eco Nursery . Email michelle@ecoremedi.com  to schedule a consultation. 

Is your child’s room a safe, healthy haven?
If  you would like our eco consultants to help you create a healthy space for your child, and we will email you a questionnaire then send you a report with steps on how to integrate a darker shade of green into your life that is affordable and obtainable. Cost is 49.95. 

Decorating: Parents make a trip to the paint store buying paint that  has high VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), which off-gas into the air for a good couple of years. It may look great, but the air quality is sacrificed. Today there are many alternatives such as Envirocoat, Benjamin Moore (aura) which have low VOC’s. There is no smell, they dry extremely fast and look just as good. 

Eco Nursery - Healthy, Stylish, Affordable Alternatives

Furniture: The next big thing is furniture. Many couples go to chain stores and pick up cribs and dressers/changers made from melamine, particle board and plywood filled with toxic formaldehyde glues and stains. Opt for cribs and furniture that are made from solid sustainable wood. There are many companies that are creating stylish pieces that are modern and eco-conscious.

Bedding: Organic bedding and mattresses: Babies sleep much of the time and spend numerous hours tucked in their special bed, so why not make it the healthiest it can be? I suggest outfitting your babe’s crib in organic cotton sheets and blankets. Next, the mattress should be made from organic cotton, wool, or natural latex. The reason being, traditional mattresses are coated with fire retardants, formaldehyde, and stain removal chemicals.

Eco Box Air Purifier

Healthy Air: The air quality in your little one’s room is very important. Carpet can also contribute to toxic fumes in the air. Natural wool carpet or bamboo flooring are healthier alternatives. You may also want to get a high quality air purifier to help clean the air. We recommend fresh air to rid clean up smells and eco box that also kill mold, viruses and bacteria as well as purifying the air.

Clothing: One of the most fun things to do is buy your little one outfits. Make sure they are made from organic cotton or bamboo fibers. There are many companies making the switch. They are adorable, stylish and fun without the pesticides touching your baby’s skin. If you can’t always buy organic, wash the clothes at least 3 times with phosphate free laundry detergent prior to wearing.

Skin Care: Many products contain harmful toxins that later may lead to health issues. Make a fresh start by choosing items that you know are pure and sustainable. See the list of toxins to avoid in your baby’s skin care products and rest easy knowing they don’t contain them it.

Eco Baby - Keeping Babies Pure and Healthy

Diapers: A cloth diaper washed at home costs 3¢ per use while a disposable diaper costs 22¢. The difference can add up: a baby goes through about 2,500 diaper changes. Tons less waste. Disposable diapers produce at least 70 times more municipal solid waste than cloth diapers. Each year, the US discards 18 billion diapers. Opt for diapers and wipes bleached with hydrogen peroxide. It’s safer than chlorine bleach, which creates dangerous dioxin (linked to cancer ). Use baby creams and wipes with natural and fewer ingredients. Fewer ingredients equals fewer chems for baby and the environment.

Toys/Playground: Just about every toy you give your baby ends up in her mouth. Many plastic and vinyl toys contain phthalates, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and Bisphenol-A (BPA).  These chemicals can be broken down and ingested through teething.  PVC and other types of plastic manufacturing produce dioxins and can have hormone-disrupting effects in the body.  However, you don’t have to completely avoid plastics toys.  There are PVC and phthalate free plastics such as Lego toys.

Solid wood toys are a healthier alternative to plastic and are preferable to pressed woods, such as plywood and particleboard. You also want to be sure the wood toys are made with non-toxic paints and finishes such as linseed and walnut oils and beeswax

Organic and sustainably-harvested materials are a more eco-conscious choice over fossil fuel-based plastics.  When selecting imported toys, ensure that they are lead-free.  It is often safer to select toys made in Europe and the US.

Fabric toys such as stuffed animals, puppets and dolls encourage imaginative play, and babies like to explore the textures and shapes with their mouths. But try to avoid toys with stain- and insect-proofed chemicals that have been linked to cancer.  Since cotton is a heavily sprayed crop, certified organic and/or untreated cotton and wool, colored with non-toxic color-fast dyes, are a greener alternative.

Books are another popular option for children.  For a greener option, select books that teach your child about sustainability, nature and health.

Whether you have a teething baby or an older child, there are many colorful, well-made toys made from natural materials that are a safer choice for your child and the environment.

Limit the number of toys when possible. Try and avoid plastic toys made from PVC and stuffed animals made with fire retardants and stuffed with petroleum-based materials. Use toys that are made from wood and non-toxic paints as well as organic cotton. Opt for Safesand.com when using a sand box. The ones you buy from hardware stores contain carcinogenic ingredients. Buy playground structures that have not been treated with chemicals.

Phthalates are chemicals added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic to make them flexible and perfect chewing material for little ones. Phthalates are easily leached from plastic since they are not chemically bonded to PVC plastic. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is used to make polycarbonate (PC) plastic which is found in clear plastic baby bottles, reusable water bottles and many food containers. It is a hormone disrupting chemical shown to leach from PC type plastics.

Since plastics are undeniably a huge part of our modern life and may seem like a daunting step to remove every potential mouthable piece of plastic, here are just a few tips to make your children’s life safer:

• Buy PVC – Free soft plastic toys and teethers. Better yet, try to keep harmful plastic toys out of baby’s mouth! Choose wooden toys from such brands as Haba, Selecta, Plan Toys and Holztiger.
• Avoid polycarbonate (PC) plastic and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The “PC” and “PVC” labeling is usually found in or near the recycling triangle. Choose plastic labeled #1, #2, #4 or #5 which can be recycled in local municipal recycling facilities. Most foods containers are marked with the type of plastic it is made of. However, many items used daily in your little ones life are not. Call or e-mail the manufacturers to ensure it is bisphenol-A and phthalates free.
• Never heat food or beverages in plastic. Heat milk or formula outside the bottle and once cool place in bottle for immediate consumption.
• Avoid harsh detergents and high heat from the dishwasher with plastics.
• Once plastic becomes hazy or scratched, throw it out. Not only can these chemicals leach from the wear and tear, but bacteria loves to hang out in the cracks and crevices.
• Choose glass or safer plastic baby bottles (like the Born Free bottles) to avoid leaching of BPA into milk. Safer sippy cups can come in the way of stainless steel (with no epoxy coating) as well as new bio-based plastics or non-polycarbonate products
• Use metal or organically grown bamboo feeding utensils and choose enamel, ceramic, stainless steel or glass dishes. All lead free, of course!
• Use non-leaching plastic or glass storage containers for pumped breast milk and for home-made baby food.
• Apply a precautionary principle to life and take as many steps to avoid these chemicals as possible. Recognizing that the European Union and over a dozen countries are in the process of phasing out or banning phthalates from children’s products, should make us all take note as we protect our own. Many US manufacturers of toys and baby goods have restricted these products but it is still widely being used. Avoid buying these products and send out the message that you are serious about the safety of your little one.

For more information about EcoHealthy Families, contact Michelle at michelle@ecoremedi.com for a questionnaire on how to remove toxins from your home that you may not realize that are harmful.