12 Sustainable Products Myths Explained

As parents, we only want what’s best for our babies, so it’s easy to fall for clever marketing tactics that present products as sustainable or eco-friendly, implying that they’re better than regular, commercially manufactured products. While this may be true to some degree, not all so-called sustainable baby products are better or safer. Here are 12 myths that can prove this:

1. Natural Automatically Means Safe

The term “natural” can be arbitrary, considering there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules to precisely define its meaning. Most people understand natural as any product made without added or manufactured chemicals, but not all “natural” products are safe or are entirely natural at all. Some companies don’t even list all the ingredients they use as they aren’t really required to do so because of allowances made to protect trade secrets. So, it’s best to be cautious when buying sustainable products labeled as “natural.” You can never really tell how true this is.

Rather than rely on a product’s marketing to determine how safe it is, lean on customer reviews. These Mama Bear Gentle Touch Hypoallergenic Diapers have over 25,000 reviews and a 4.5 star rating on Amazon. It’s safe to say that these diapers have been put through their paces and are a great choice.

2. Anything Organic Is Good

Just like the term “natural,” “organic” and “green” are also overused labels that can mean just about anything.

More often than not, “organic” is used for food products, and when it comes to baby food, even those packaged as organic may still contain harmful ingredients. Instead, consider preparing homemade food for your baby as opposed to supposedly organic but prepackaged ones. Making cooking for your baby effortless with a baby food maker!

3. Bamboo Diapers Prevent Rashes

Bamboo is touted for its comfort and breathable properties, making bamboo diapers the green alternative to most commercial ones. But as much as bamboo is a permeable material, using bamboo diapers won’t really prevent rashes but can simply minimize them.

While bamboo diapers can certainly feel softer and more comfortable than regular ones, the type of diaper isn’t what causes a rash. It’s not being able to change them regularly that tends to irritate your baby’s delicate bottom due to prolonged exposure to urine and poop.

Always be prepared for diaper changes with a stylish, eco-friendly diaper bag made from recycled materials and keep your baby’s bum happy.

4. Non-Wrinkling and Non-Stain Fabrics Are Better

Most people may not be aware, but these types of textiles are heavily treated with chemicals to give them that wrinkle-free or non-stain effect. Hypoallergenic fabrics are still a good option, but unless your baby has extremely delicate skin, cotton fabrics can work as long as you’re sure that they’re not treated with chemicals or aren’t mixed with synthetic fibers that can cause irritation. For example, check out these hypoallergenic, chemical-free 100% cotton receiving blankets on Amazon.

5. Tear-Free Shampoo Isn’t Really Tear-Free

Similar to “natural” and “organic” products, shampoos that are labeled as tear-free won’t always be what you expect. Unless you test the shampoo yourself (Aveeno’s tear-free shampoo doesn’t cause any watery eyes or irritation), you can never be too sure about how they can irritate your baby’s eyes and cause different levels of discomfort. Some supposedly mild and tear-free shampoos may even contain cancer-causing chemicals such as formaldehyde, phthalates, and dioxane. Always read the labels, check out product reviews, and if possible, test on yourself before trying anything new on your baby.

6. Baby Powder Can Remove Diaper Rash

Whether made from talc or cornstarch, powder is not as safe for diaper rashes as they were once thought to be. In fact, putting powder on broken skin can increase your baby’s risk of experiencing skin granulomas, infection, and crusting. There’s also the risk of severe respiratory damage if they excessively inhale baby powder. Instead of powder, use a mild diaper rash cream to treat the irritation.

7. Silicone Is the Best Material for Pacifiers

Using pacifiers is a subject of debate for many parents. On the one hand, they can help soothe a fussy baby and are believed to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). On the other hand, prolonged pacifier use can increase the risk of your baby suffering from dental problems or middle ear infections.

While food-grade silicone is generally considered a safe material, pacifier safety will depend on several factors, such as whether the pacifier is a one-piece item or if its design prevents bacteria from accumulating. How frequently you clean the pacifier will also play a part in keeping it safe for use.

Silicone pacifiers remain a good option but be sure to sterilize and maintain them properly. You can do this easily with a portable UV Sterilizer and Sanitizer Box.

8. Baby Scrubs Can Remove Hair

Some parents try to use scrubs to remove the fine hair on their baby’s skin. However, it’s important to know that vigorous scrubbing can easily irritate your baby’s very delicate skin. In most cases, this fine baby hair, which occurs in 30% of full-term babies and a majority of preterm babies, will fall off even without scrubbing. Instead of scrubs, use mild baby soap for regular cleansing.

9. Cow’s Milk Is Better Than Formula

Many parents have been led to believe that commercially produced baby formula will have adverse effects on their baby, which is why they would rather have something organic like cow’s milk to substitute for breastmilk. Not only will this cause gastrointestinal problems in your baby, but cow’s milk is also acidic and can lead to increased inflammation.

Happy Baby Organics makes a GMO-free, milk-based, organic baby formula that will keep your baby happy and healthy. With over 2,500 reviews and a 4.5-star rating, you can trust this product as a safer choice for your baby than cow’s milk.

10. Natural Sunscreen Will Protect Your Baby

While it’s important to keep your baby protected from the harmful effects of the sun, not every sunscreen is safe to use, even if they’re labeled as natural. Some may contain ingredients like octinoxate that can potentially cause liver and brain cancer.

When choosing natural sunscreen for your baby, make sure it doesn’t have octinoxate, phthalates, and oxybenzone.

11. Choose Unscented

Unscented products are generally recommended for babies since they’re believed not to contain fragrance chemicals, but this isn’t always the case.

Some supposedly fragrance-free products contain fragrance chemicals, while products without actual fragrance chemicals can have a pleasant scent, such as a calming baby lotion. What’s important is whether the product has artificial fragrances as opposed to having no scent at all.

12. Dish Soap Is Bad

Most parents tend to veer away from using dish soap to clean their baby’s bottles, plates, or utensils, believing that the baby might ingest some residue. However, dish soap isn’t entirely bad as there are baby-friendly dish soaps that don’t contain harmful chemicals and are completely safe to use for your baby’s items.

Shop Wisely

At the end of the day, we as parents are responsible for giving our babies the best items we can afford for their care and safety. Always do your research before buying “natural” or “organic” products to ensure you aren’t doing more harm than good for your little one.

Love,
Scooch and Steve