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Prepping for baby’s arrival: A list of non-toxic living tips

Want to detox your home before your baby arrives? Trying to create a non-toxic baby registry? Here are 9 simple tips to help you make a safe and welcoming environment free of nasties for your newborn.

Aida Garcia-Toledo Non-toxic Living Expert

As soon as you find out that you are pregnant, you will probably want to start preparing for the day you get to bring your newborn home.

You might buy a book about what to expect, or start a baby registry, gather ideas for nursery decor and – undoubtedly – start shopping.

Throughout this entire process of preparing for your baby’s arrival, it is important to understand that what babies need most to flourish is your love and attention, but they can also benefit immensely from a healthy, non-toxic home.

Newborns are tiny and still rapidly developing, which is why they are quite vulnerable to environmental toxins. Where are these dangerous toxins lurking? Actually, they are all over your home and may even be found in many baby items.

In this article, we’ll go over:

Chemicals to avoid in baby products
9 simple ways to de-tox your home in preparation for baby’s arrival
The best non-toxic products for babies

Scroll down to learn more!

Chemicals to avoid in baby products

It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a onesie, teether or diaper cream, you must find out what it’s made of.

At The Tot, we don’t use or recommend anything that hasn’t passed The Tot Safety Test. This means we’ve reviewed third-party testing and certifications for every product on the site.

Scroll down to see the ingredients and materials we avoid in baby products and why.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and very low levels can irritate and burn the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Those with asthma may have exacerbation of symptoms when exposed to formaldehyde.

PVC

PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride, or vinyl, is an incredibly toxic chemical that is harmful to our bodies and to the environment right from the production phase through to disposal. It contains additives like phthalates, lead, cadmium, organotin that are quite toxic and have been linked to asthma, allergies, reproductive problems and cancer.

Harmful phthalates

Many phthalates are known endocrine disruptors associated with asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer, obesity, type II diabetes, neurodevelopmental issues, behavioral issues, autism spectrum disorders, altered reproductive development and male fertility issues.

BPA + BPS (bisphenols)

Bisphenols mimic the hormone estrogen and have been linked to prostate cancer, breast cancer, female infertility, and obesity. BPA is an especially dangerous endocrine disruptor since even small amounts of this chemical have been shown to cause serious reproductive damage, especially when the exposure occurs in utero.

Lead and other heavy metals

Exposure to heavy metals can cause nerve damage, learning and behavioral problems, reproductive damage and irreversible brain damage.

Synthetic fragrances

Synthetic fragrances can contain dozens of chemicals that often do not need to be disclosed. Some of the most common chemicals found in man-made fragrances include phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors, and benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and toluene, which are known carcinogens.

Click here to view the full list of ingredients that The Tot avoids.

9 simple ways to detox your home in preparation for baby’s arrival

#1 Invest in an organic crib mattress

Babies sleep a lot, so it’s important to make their sleep environment as toxin-free as possible. Conventional crib mattresses still often contain flame retardants and other chemicals that can harm your child. Organic crib mattresses will assure you that your baby is not breathing in toxic chemicals while sleeping.

#2 Avoid mattress protectors that contain vinyl

You should definitely protect your organic mattress, but not with a protector that contains vinyl. The safest alternatives are wool or polyethylene protectors.

#3 Wash everything before use

New clothing, linens and towels often contain certain chemicals, like formaldehyde resin, that give a wrinkle-free look and reduce the chance of mildew developing during shipping. This chemical has been linked to skin allergies and even cancer. Make sure to wash everything, and keep in mind that even detergent marketed towards babies can contain harmful chemicals like phosphates, parabens and fragrance. So make sure you purchase a non-toxic laundry detergent.

#4 When you can, buy organic

Especially when purchasing items that your baby will use daily and have close contact with, like pajamas, onesies, swaddles, blankets, baby carriers and crib sheets.

#5 Keep baby’s environment clean

Harmful chemicals that are given off from items in your home accumulate in the form of dust. Once baby arrives, it is so important to keep dust at a minimum. Also, make sure that when cleaning your home, that you use the most natural cleaning products available. I like a 50/50 vinegar/water mixture for all-purpose cleaning before and once baby arrives. Don’t forget to open windows when you can to get the fresh air circulating through your home.

#6 If you are using it on your newborn’s body, make sure it’s non-toxic

Body wash, diaper ointment, moisturizer, diaper wipes – one would assume that all of these products would be safe and chemical free, however that is not the case. Look up all baby product on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database to make sure they are safe for your baby. Choose products that are fragrance free (NOT the same thing as ‘unscented’), paraben, phthalate and SLS-free too.

#7 Nursery decor can be quite toxic too

Paint should be VOC-free, wall decals vinyl-free, rugs without stain treatments nor adhesives, and, if possible, wooden furniture should be made of real wood and not wood composite since this will off-gas formaldehyde (at the very least, let it air out well before baby’s arrival).

#8 Make sure baby isn’t placing chemicals in their mouth

For babies, both toys and bottles will probably end up in the same place: inside their mouth. Stay away from plastic which can potentially leach unsafe chemicals. Even if you plan on breastfeeding exclusively, it’s always a good idea to have baby bottles on hand. Opt for glass and silicone baby bottles and silicone, wood, natural rubber or organic cloths toys.

#9 Research car seats before buying

Few things are as essential as a safe car seat. Unfortunately most car seats currently on the market in the US contain toxic flame retardants, although some are much worse than others. Good news, there are a few brands using materials that don’t require flame retardant chemicals! (Will list one of our favorites below!)