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When we consider our toxin exposure as parents our first thought is often our innocent babies. Nappy time is one of the first places we should think about swapping out our toxic products for lower toxin alternatives. Why? Well firstly it’s easy to make a few swaps here and there, and also its one of the things we are doing most often, especially with newborns. Below I have listed some common products used and swaps for a lowtox nappy time.

Nappies

When we think nappy time the first thing we often think about is nappies, so I have chosen to start here. We all know its better for our babies and environment to avoid disposable nappies. This isn’t always possible and I personally know it can be a hard switch to make. Modern cloth nappies are the new way to go cloth, tricky pins have been replaced with press studs and velcro. I have an array of the modern cloth nappies, which in reality are super easy to use. BUT I still fall back on disposable nappies often and it is an area I am working on.
If like me you struggle to ditch the disposable nappies, or simply find it easier when leaving the house there are ‘better’ alternatives. Our top choice is Eco Originals made here in Australia from mostly plant based ingredients. Click here to find out more about Eco Original disposable nappies and how to buy.

Wipes

Store brought wipes are often full of hormone disrupting chemicals like parabens and skin allergy causing methylisothiazolinone just to name a few. You can choose to go cold turkey on wipes and opt for damp flannels or cloths or make you own using the many tutorials online. If however you want to keep the convenience of store brought wipes we recommend and use WotNot’s. We buy these in bulk and find them more affordable than the more readily available Waterwipes. If I’m waiting on my delivery, I will buy water wipes from the supermarket, however try not to make a habit of this just to keep costs down.

Powder

By now I’m sure you have heard the horrors of talcum powder and its cancer-causing claims. Many talc’s contains asbestos and is known to cause cancer when inhaled. Even talc that is asbestos free hasn’t been proven safe for use, and best just avoided altogether. Although used for many years during nappy change time, it really isn’t necessary. I chose to skip the powders all together, however arrowroot/tapioca starch is a great alternative.

Cream

Most babies develop a nappy rash at some point whilst they are in nappies, so a nappy cream is a good product to have. We want to avoid putting those pesky hormone disrupting chemicals on our babies delicate genital regions. Weleda have a great range of low tox baby products including several nappy creams. Check out their full range here.

Nappy free time

Letting your little ones tooshies air out is a simple no cost way to help avoid nappy rash. Its also great for their development to have some kicking and rolling without the barriers of nappies and clothing. Accidents are common with no nappy time, but if you keep an eye on them you can avoid it being spread over the place, speaking from personal experience! Outside on a mild sunny day without a nappy is also great especially if they are developing a bit of a rash.

Whether you choose to swap out all your nappy changing items, or just a few, remember every little bit counts. Go at your own pace and wherever you feel comfortable. I’m not perfect and as mentioned nappies in particular is an area I’m still working on! As tiring and stinky as nappy changing can be we must remember to enjoy our babies whilst they are so little. Soon enough they will be grown up wiping their own bottoms and not needing us quite so much.


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