Sunday, December 23, 2007

Shampoos So Safe And So fine!

Shampoos are an essential part of our cleaning routine. But have you ever notice what goes into them to maintain our crowning glory? A typical supermarket shampoo contains the following ingredients : Water, sodium C12-13 pareth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, dimethiconol, dimethiconol/silsequioxane copolymer, laureth-23, TEA-dodecylbenzenesulfonate, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, cucumis sativus (cucumber fruit extract), propylene glycol, metha-aquatica leat extract, sodium chloride, disodium EDTA, DMDM hydantoin, PPG-26, fragrance(synthetic). You can probably find a few ingredients which are natural (in bold) but found at the end of the ingredient list. The product mainly contains synthetic chemicals including silicone derivatives, fragrance and preservatives. Let us look at the ingredients of a reputable 'Made in USA' shampoo which is sold only in salons for about $20. Water, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamide DEA, cocamidopropyl betaine, matricaria extract, nettle extract, rosermary extract, quillaja saponaria extract, tocopheryl acetate, keratin amino acids, panthenol, avocado oil, allantoin, soybean sterol, honey, ceramide 3, wheat flour lipids, polyquaternium-10, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, styrene/mthacrylic acid/itaconic acid polymer, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, magnesium citrate, sodium chloride, polyglyceryl-3 distearate, polysorbate 60, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylsothiazolinone, citric acid, propylene glycol, propylparaben, methylparaben, fragrance (synthetic). You find a few truly natural and wholesome ingredients (in bold) in larger concentrations in this formulation but loads and loads of synthetic chemicals and preservatives. I find at least four in the product above. I have used the above product for years without knowing what goes inside. Finally, let us look at the organic shampoo which I am currently using. Organic aloe vera leaf juice, coco polyglucose, Yucca Schidigera extract, organic rice bran extract, non-GMO lecithin, d-panthenol (pro-vit 5), sunflower oil, organic avocado fruit oil, non-GMO xanthan gum, organic lime essential oil, proprietry blend of essential oils (natural parfum), citric acid, organic horsetail extract, organic nettle extract, organic burdock extract, organic rosemary extract, organic sage extract. I love this Desert Flower Shampoo for several reasons : It is completely safe. It uses natural ingredients. It uses organic ingredients certified to food standards by reputable certification body Australian Certified Organic. This shampoo is meant for normal to dry hair and is ultra mild for daily use. It is suitable for children and babies too. It contains Yucca juice and coco polyglucose which gently cleanse the hair. My husband has oilier hair and he uses Miessence Lemon Myrtle shampoo. He also loves the invigorating aroma of organic lemon. It has the following ingredients : Organic aloe vera leaf juice, coco polyglucose, d-panthenol (pro-vit 5), proprietry blend of essential oils (natural parfum), non-gmo xanthan gum, organic lemon myrtle essential oil, citric acid, organic horsetail extract, organic nettle extract, organic burdock extract, organic rosemary extract, organic sage extract. My little boy uses Miessence Desert Flower Shampoo. However, I love to also use Aromababy's Pure Hair Cleanse to wash his hair. I can be rest assured of its safe and simple ingredients used : Purified Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Orange Sweet Essential Oil, Geranium Bourbon Essential Oil, Hydroxymethylglycinate.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Enjoying Baby Massage

WHY BABY MASSAGE?
It is now well documented that baby massage can play a vital role in aiding relaxation, digestion and to promote bonding. Research has also found massage to be a valuable tool in encouraging weight gain, particularly for the premature baby. Supervised massage is an ideal way for older siblings to bond with a new baby and is a great way to get Dad involved in caring for his newborn. For toddlers who seem unable to lie still, massage time can also be used as ‘sharing’ time or story time and provide an opportunity for quiet and gentle communication. The long, rhythmic and fluid strokes of massage can be instrumental in helping even older children prepare for slumber and are definitely nurturing and soothing to us all.

Massaged babies :

  • Gain weight more quickly, compared to unmassaged babies.
  • Have lower levels of "stress hormones" cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine.
  • Have increased level of serotonin, the "happiness hormone".
  • Fall asleep more quickly and easily.
  • Do better on developmental tests and interaction assessments.
  • Cry less and feel more secure.
  • Become more alert and have more motor activity (especially for premature babies).
  • Have greater "alert time" in which the baby is awake and quiet but alert - it is thought that infants learn best in this mode.
  • Have increased activity in the vagus, the part of the brain related to attentiveness.
Some parents, however, fail to understand the importance of the actual product they use to massage their baby. For a newborns or very young infants, a good choice may be a cold pressed, preferably organic natural oil which is petro-chemical free. Oils such as Sweet Almond or Jojoba are ideal but offer little nourishment to the skin on its own. A pre-blended product that is aroma-free (no essential oils or added artificial fragrance) and contains a simple mix of cold pressed, naturally nourishing oils such as Calendula or Evening Primrose oils may provide additional benefits to dry, sensitive skin. These types of oils are rich in natural fatty acids and vitamins and can help to moisture dry skin whilst providing a medium for gentle, fluid movement. __________________________________________________________________________________________
AROMABABY® have developed massage oils that contain no essential oils, as a result of consultation with various members of both infant massage Associations in Australia, over a period of time. Its Newborn Organic Jojoba oil uses up to 99% certified organic Jojoba oil, an oil with a chemical structure closest to our skin's. Its Mother & Child massage oil is made up of the following ingredients : Cold Pressed Pure Sweet Almond Oil (prunis dulcis), Evening Primrose Oil, Calendula Healing Oil, d-Alpha-Tocopherol (GM- free Natural Vitamin E). Both oils contain an added natural anti-oxidant which is a high grade, certified GM-free natural vitamin E (d-alpha Tocopherol). This ensures a reasonable product shelf life (a rancid oil could go undetected by a novice and can cause more harm to Baby than good).
________________________________________________________________
I have giving my son more massages during the cold and dry wintry weather and really saw a visible improvement in his skin condition. The massage oils helped in moisturising his skin as well, an added bonus of baby massage.
________________________________________________________________ TIPS TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO BABY MASSAGE
  • Prior to massage, take time out for yourself, take a few deep breaths if necessary, and ensure you are totally relaxed and prepared to spend some quality time with your child.
  • Always ensure you massage in a warm environment - an infants body temperature can drop dramatically when undressed, so keep a towel/blanket or spare clothes close by for draping over the parts of the body not being massaged.
  • Take care when handling Baby as freshly-massaged infants/children can be extremely slippery. I usually massage my son on his mattress, where he will fall asleep for his nap, so I need not worry about having to carry him.
  • Avoid any harsh lights (including sunlight) that may be too bright for the infant to look into whilst lying down. A room which is dimly lit or filled with gentle sunlight is ideal.
  • Massage with Baby placed on a bed or thick blanket.
  • If you listened to some particularly soothing music whilst pregnant, you may like to play this softly. It is very reassuring for Baby to hear your voice whilst being massaged to hum, speak softly or sing to your Baby during this special time as you caress and stroke them.
  • Short, clean fingernails are essential and remove any jewellery or rings that may interfere.
  • If you have long hair, tie it back and roll up any long sleeves.
  • Ensure you keep one hand in contact with Baby's skin at all times - this will help with the flow of energy between you and your child and allows Baby to look around and take in their surroundings without having to keep checking that you are still there.
  • Avoid massaging over wounds, surgery or cuts or recent scar tissue. It is not recommended to massage an infant who has a fever, unusual heart condition, blood pressure problems or a contagious disease or you may encourage it to spread.
  • Take care not to massage on Baby's abdomen immediately following a feed or when he/she has the hiccups. Massage of other areas during this time is fine.
  • Do not massage a newborn infant at bath time as this can be over-stimulating. If your infant is older than four months, and you wish to massage at bath time, it is best to massage after the bath to allow the oils to be absorbed by the skin.
  • Never watch the clock during massage you will know when either you, or more importantly your baby has had enough. Infant massage is beneficial to both you and your baby so take the telephone off the hook and enjoy!

________________________________________________________________

10 STEPS TO BASIC INFANT MASSAGE

1. Always start at the legs for newborns, as this is least intrusive area. Begin by holding Baby's right foot in your left hand, gently stroking up the leg with your right hand, from the outside of the ankle, up over the knee and to the inner thigh, then sweeping down to the inside ankle. Repeat each stroke 2-3 times.

2. Using both hands, apply a gentle 'wringing' action, squeezing up and down the length of the leg, finishing at the ankle.

3. Use your thumb to lightly circle the soles of the feet, gently squeezing and releasing Baby's toes one by one. Gently move one hand off Baby's leg and onto the other leg, then move your second hand over so as not to break the flow of fluid movement. Continue to massage Baby's other leg using strokes explained in Steps 1-3.

4. Move up toward the tummy area and make contact with this new 'space' so Baby becomes familiar with the area to be massaged next. This is an ideal time to introduce circle shapes and shapes of letters, even spelling out words on the skin, making the massage more enjoyable particularly for the older child. Be sure to maintain eye contact as you explain the shape or word you are making to your child. Keep in mind strokes should be in a clockwise direction and should be confined to the abdomen only. Massage Baby's tummy from YOUR left to right, (clockwise) in the direction of their digestive tract, using small circles with fingertips or the flat of your hand and taking care to avoid the umbilical cord area.

5. Complete the front by placing both hands in the centre of Baby's chest and sweep up and out over the centre of the chest, over the shoulders and hugging the entire length of the arms finishing off at the fingertips . Using both hands massage Baby's arms using a gentle squeezing up and down, finishing off at the fingertips. Massage each finger from knuckle to tip but do not attempt to restrain your baby if he/she curls fingers, kicks or moves arms during any part of the massage.

6. Gently turn Baby over and use the whole hand to stroke from the shoulders, down Baby's back to the buttocks - take care of Baby's delicate spinal area and so always work on either side of the spine.

7. Use both thumbs/knuckles to make small light circles around the top of the buttocks using both hands, starting toward the middle and moving out to the sides. Gently knead the buttocks simultaneously with both thumbs/knuckles using a roll-and-lift action.

8. Move onto the back of Baby's legs and use a gentle wring and release action starting at the top of one leg, massaging from the thigh all the way down the back of the leg and onto the soles of the foot. Move hands one at a time gently onto the second leg and repeat these movements.

9. Using long, light and fluid strokes from the head to Baby's toes, finish off the back area.

10. Carefully turn your baby over and stroke across the forehead using fingertips of both hands. Starting in the middle and gliding out toward Baby's temples. Pause for a moment and use feather-light circles around the temple area. Do not massage near the eye/eyelids and take care not to get oil near Baby's eye area.

Remember baby massage is a time of bonding so always maintain an unhurried and relaxed attitude. I have been giving my son regular massages after bath since he was born till now. It is always a wonderful quiet time for him and for me. It is very rewarding to see him enjoying the massage and slowly drifts into dreamland after that. It also encourages him to nap better and longer! Try it today!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Safe Milk Bottles And Toddler Cups II

I have managed to send all of my son's Avent's polycarbonate (#7 plastic) milk bottles for recycling. I went shopping on Sunday and was trying to find some bottles which are made of Polypropylene (#5 plastic/PP). I found Pigeon's MagMag (there are two types - one could be made of clear polycarbonate and another type is made of safe polypropylene) bottles which can be fitted with wide-necked teats, spouts or straws but the maximum volume is 150ml. You can go up to 200ml but that is right to the brim! Medela's bottles have the same small volumes and they are not cheap. 3 for about $30 and that does not include bottle caps and teats. After much consideration, I bought Aprica's milk bottles and Mug Kiss (which is a toddler cup with straw). They are lovely! And they were on promotion. I got the two bottles and the Mug Kiss for $49. That did not include the expensive Aprica teats or extra straws but it was fine. Aprica is a Japanese brand and now they produce their products in China. It does not matter to me as I believe the quality assurance is surely trustworthy. The milk bottles actually come with anti-colic features as well. It is a little troublesome to use and wash extra spare-parts but I guess I will adapt to it fast. The material used for the bottles and Mug Kiss is polypropylene and is safe and does not leak Bisphenol-A. Now, I can use these for my boy with peace of mind.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Safe Milk Bottles And Toddler Cups I

Medela is undoubtedly world-first in breastfeeding and it specializes in designing and manufacturing breastpumps as well as breastfeeding accessories for all mothers worldwide who are on a mission to give their newborns the best nutrition - breastmilk! My focus here is on their milk bottles. Medela produces safe baby milk bottles which are made of polypropylene. It is Bis-phenol A (BPA) -free. The only drawback of these bottles are that they can only allow for a maximum volume of 150ml, perhaps 180ml, which is really not practical for toddlers (like my son) who are still drinking larger volumes from bottles. Another feature to take note is that the Medela bottle comes only with standard narrow necks. (Refer to first image)
Recently, I went to the Pregnancy and Babies Exhibition and bought a toddler cup for my boy. It is called the Kala's Downunder Magic Cup (Refer to second image). I really like it very much for these big reasons :
  • It has a total of four parts only - cup with large handles, lid which is screw-on to cup, spout which is screw-on to lid and a dust cover. Some cups come with many spare-parts which makes assembing a chore, and some spare-parts are really tough to reach for proper cleaning.
  • Because the parts are screw ons, the cup is totally spill-proof no matter how you shake it or turn it upside down.
  • The cup is made of PP (polypropylene) (#5) and the spout is made of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) (#2). Completely safe of BPA.
  • The spout comes with a valve. Liquids only come out if there is suction. The valve is very easy to clean both from the inside or outside of the spout. So, this cup has the most hygenic valve system.
  • The spout is round and the lips seal around it nicely. The design also somehow prevents my son from trying to chew it.
  • It has large handles for easy grip, even for the most slippery fingers after handling finger foods!
  • It comes in various colours (for both boys and girls) with interchangeable mix 'n' match spouts. The pigments used in the cup's manufacturing contain no heavy metals and conform to JHOSPA food contact standards.
  • It is lightweight even when full.
  • It come with a waterproof label that I can write my boy's name onto, which is wonderful especially for childcare use (you won't lose it or mix it up with others).
  • Best of all, it is completely Australian-made and owned.

Some small reasons which are great to have :

  • The spout fits any drink bottle with an opening diameter of 28mm.
  • The cup and lid are dishwasher-safe.

Some other points to note :

  • This cup cannot be microwaved.
  • This cup is not meant for hot or fizzy drinks.
  • This cup cannot be sterilised (anyway, who would sterilize a toddler's cup?)
  • The cups come in 200ml and 300ml.

Check out http://www.kalaslittlestars.com/

I have also tried using Avent's toddler's spouts on its milk bottles for Samuel. However, I did not find it very good. The green spout comes with a silicon piece. While the silicon piece is easy to clean, the interior of the spout is hard to reach. I did not find that very hygenic. Also, occasionally, the spout does leak. You have to really fit and press the spout into the screw cap and check! Another bad thing about this spout is that my son tends to chew it a lot since it is shaped in a flat way. It makes it rather tempting for him to chew on it while drinking. The spout becomes very worn-out and rough after all the chewing.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Most Sunscreens Work Partially Only - Part II

Continued from Part I. Here are the ingredients of one sunscreen which I have trusted and used before. I am glad that I am now educated and will never buy it again : Thermal spring water, ethylhexl methoxycinnamate, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, cyclomethicone, isodecyl neopentanoate, glycerin, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethybutylphenol, water, glyceryl stearate, potassium cetylphosphate, stearyl alcohol, pvp/eicosene copolymer, butylparaben, caprylic/capric triglyceride, decyl glucoside, disodium edta, ethylparaben, fragrance, isobutylparaben, methylparaben, o-cymen-5-ol, phenoxythanol, propylparaben, sorbic acid, titanium dioxide, tocopheryl glucoside, triethoxycaprylysilane, xanthan gum, zinc oxide. What a load of stuff that goes onto my face! Now i wise up and use Miessence's Outdoor Reflect Balm. Ingredients : organic olea europaea (olive) juice extract, zinc oxide, organic butyrospermum parkii (shea) fruit butter, organic unrefined cera alba(beeswax), avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, polygonoum multiflorum root extract, d-alpha tocopherol (natural vitamin e), organic copernicia prunifera (carauba) wax, aroma (essential oils), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, dunaliella salina algae extract. Check up more : https://www.mionegroup.com/product/13430
"All that mankind needs for good health and healing is provided by God in nature...the challenge of Science is to find it." - Paracelcus, the father of Pharmcology, 1493 - 1541