Harmful Ingredients
By Sue Bedford RGN

When starting a family, most parents want the best for their children. They read the latest books about pregnancy care and how to care for their baby in the first five years of life but seldom do these books point out the potential harm from every day products we use on ourselves or our children.

I remember using the first bottles of baby shampoo, baby bath liquid and nappy cream, some of which came free in a "goody bag" from the hospital. Everything was new and they helped to make my baby smell nice and keep him clean.

If I had known then, what I know now, I would never have used those samples.

Why? Because certain chemicals used in the formulas have the ability to pass through the skin and into a baby's bloodstream where they deposit in the lungs, heart, liver and brain. They are used in the laboratory to sensitise skin on animals and some studies show that they can retard eye development. These harsh detergents are used in industry to clean garage floors and degrease engines because they're so efficient at stripping oils.

Using these ingredients in products during pregnancy may also harm the baby before he is born, as they can cross the placenta, too and deposit in the same organs as mentioned above.

When I discovered this, I felt shocked and sickened. How dare the manufacturers suppress this information which they have known about for years and yet repeatedly deny to be true! It reminded me of the practices of the tobacco industry in the fifties and sixties.

My quest for solid evidence led me to read many books, scientific articles and documents and, to me, the evidence appears overwhelming. I also discovered that many toxicologists, scientists and researchers constantly ask governments and regulatory bodies to do something about these chemicals but they come up against vested interests with industry. Unless they become as inquisitive as me, most people will simply accept that the adverts, and descriptions on toiletry containers must be true or the government wouldn't allow it.

Below, is a list of chemicals commonly found in Baby and Child Care products which have been shown to be potentially harmful to human health. Check the labels on your child's toiletries and see if any of these are listed. If you are pregnant or planning a family, you should check the labels of your toiletries, too.

Sodium Laureth Sulphate -

skin/eye irritant, may cause allergic reaction. Found in baby shampoo and baby bath liquid.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate -

skin/eye irritant, may cause allergic reaction. Accumulates in organs. Found in junior toothpaste.

Propylene Glycol -

skin/eye irritant, may cause allergic reaction. Found in baby wipes.

DEA, MEA, TEA -

accumulates in organs, skin/eye irritant, may cause allergic reaction. Can damage nervous system and cause cancer. Found in shampoos and children's bubble baths.

Talc -

may cause cancer, respiratory problems and block pores. Found in baby powder.

Mineral Oil & Petrolatum -

skin/eye irritant, may cause allergic reaction. Blocks pores and may suffocate skin. Found in nappy rash cream and baby oil

Lanolin -

may damage nervous system and can cause cancer due to presence of organo-chlorine pesticides in some samples. Found in nappy rash cream.

Fluoride -

accumulates in organs, may damage nervous system and cause cancer. Found in junior toothpaste. Ingestion of ½ tube of adult toothpaste containing fluoride can kill a small child.

If you have found any of these ingredients listed on yours or your child's toiletries, you will probably be eager to find a company which produces safe alternatives.

Neways International is one such company who has gained worldwide recognition from cancer prevention specialists in manufacturing safe toiletries for all the family. They have spent 3 years developing a special range of totally safe baby care products which contain none of the aforementioned ingredients.

The range is called NEWays generations and it has been specifically designed for young children and babies. The products are also excellent for adults with sensitive skin.