Chemicals In Nappies & Early Maturation In Baby Girls?

Most parents don’t know what’s actually in their baby’s nappies. This can be problematic to concerned parents wondering if their baby is absorbing harmful chemicals in synthetically made nappies. As parents we have the "Mama Bear and Papa Bear" instinct and naturally want to protect our babies and do what's best for their health and development.

Chemicals In Conventional Nappies

Most conventional disposable nappies on the market today contain harsh chemicals such asdioxins. A byproduct of synthetic compounds, dioxins are usually found in non-naturally made products like tampons, nappies, and even in some makeup and household goods. So, why should you be concerned as a parent? It’s rather simple,dioxins are one of the most toxic carcinogenic chemicals.

Moms with infants, have you ever seen the gel-like beads creep out through conventional nappies? Ever wonder what they are and if it’s good or bad? Guess what, they’re bad. Blame it on a chemical called sodium polyacrylate, which behaves like a filler in nappies. Basically, wetness is absorbed by these polyacrylates which turn into gel-like crystals. These gel-like crystals are not-so-friendly and can be highly irritating to your baby’s skin. Skin irritation can even mean severe burns, rashes, eczema and other infections and reactions. Sodium polyacrylates is also found in conventional tampons, which is known to lead to toxic shock syndrome and why some women opt to use Veedanatural cotton tampons made without toxic chemicals.

Bad Chemicals In Synthetic Nappies = Bad For Baby

What does synthetic mean anyway and why is it so bad? Synthetic nappies aren’t made with natural ingredients and instead contain harmful chemicals. So, what are some icky chemicals in non-naturally made nappies?

Tributyl-tin (TBT) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might be terminology that goes right over your head. So, as parents, why should you care? TBT + VOCs can both be in conventional synthetic nappies. Why is this bad? TBT can lead to obesity because it triggers a gene in the body that encourages the growth of fat. Whoa! That’s a little scary, considering a whopping43 million preschool kids struggle with childhood obesity every year which can cause a host of health issues later on in adulthood.

What about VOCs? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they’re not good for the human body. VOCs can damage the liver, central nervous system, kidneys, and can even cause cancer! It gets even more scary when you also take into consideration that plastics, petrolatums, and dyes are all used in the manufacturing of conventional synthetic diapers. Many nappy companies also use perfumes and fragrances to cloak odor, which adds even more yucky chemicals into most conventional nappies. Mom and Dad, think about this for a moment—nappies potentially laden with toxic chemicals are touching your baby’s genitals.

Chemicals likeparabens found in unnaturally made nappies can disrupt your baby’s little endocrine system and cause early puberty in girls. In a nutshell, it’s toxic to our genetic and reproductive health, plus it’s even known to cause cancer! Yikes! Your little baby’s dermis (skin) is uber thin, so chemicals can enter his or her bloodstream in 26 seconds, potentially hurting their little fragile organs, and irritate your sweet pea’s sensitive skin.  

Chemicals & Early Puberty In Girls

Preservative types of chemicals such asparabens, phenol, triclosan are known to interfere with sex hormones and timing of maturation. To break it down simply to concerned mummies and daddies with daughters—this equals early puberty. As a parent, why should you be concerned when it comes to early puberty? Here’s the low-down. Early puberty can affect various areas of your little girl’s life including short stature, behavioural problems, early sexual activity, stress and more. Parabens are found in non-naturally made nappies, while parabens, phenol, and triclosan are found in common household. Some of these harmful chemicals can be found in mouthwash, toothpaste, cleaning products as well as detergents, and even found in some soaps.

Take a quick look at the labels on products you regularly use around the house to see if any of them contain these harmful chemicals, and if they do, consider tossing them out. You can re-buy naturally-made products to replace them. It’ll be worth the switch as studies have shown that girls are affected by such chemicals and end up experiencing puberty early. Mums also exposed to such household chemicals can lead to the unborn foetus absorbing chemicals into the womb.

Making The Natural Nappies Switch

As parents, you instinctively want to protect your little one from birth and throughout their life. So what options do you have for healthier nappies? Scientific advances and product innovations bring naturally-made nappies. Happy Little Camper is a brand whose integrity and commitment to being better for baby and better for the environment has remained steadfast since the brand launched in 2015.