Highest BPA Level Ever Reported In A Woman

This distinction of great concern goes to a Cinncinnati, Ohio woman. The woman was pregnant at the time the measurements were taken in 2004, as part of a study of 400 participants. Her child experienced certain unspecified neurological problems at the age of one month, but the researchers were unable to definitively conclude whether such problems were, in fact, due solely to the high levels of BPA in her body.
How did such high levels of BPA accumulate in her body? The woman said that up to the 26th week of her pregnancy she ate canned ravioli every day and drank canned beverages – and a great majority of beverage and food cans are lined with BPA.
BPA is already known to interfere with the production of hormones and can reduce the quality of sperm and its effects on neurobehavior add a new level of concern.
Read more online in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Tags: BPA, BPA-free cans, BPA-free products

This entry was posted on Monday, May 16th, 2011 at 12:16 am and is filed under healthy baby, smart mommy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Nothing But Trouble [VHS]

Decade in Diapers features favorite episodes - as chosen by kids who know their Rugrats! (Also available in Decade in Diapers Gift Set)

Volume 1 - Contains 5 favorite episodes and the rarely seen Rugrats Pilot Episodes for added value!
Episodes: Angelica Orders Out - The First Cut - Reptar On Ice - No Bones About It - Be My Valentine.

Price: $9.98

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Sesame Street - Elmo's Potty Time

Movie DVD

Price: $12.99

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FDA Is Amending Sunscreen Rules

Current rules only cover ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, which causes sun burn, but not ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation, which goes under the skin and causes early aging of the skin. But most importantly, both UVA and UVB cause skin cancer – squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and basal cell carcinoma – and damage the immune system. The new rules, which go into effect in one year, will require that sunscreens provide information on both UVB and UVA protection so that consumers can determine the level of protection they need. Going for broad spectrum protection means that the sunscreen protects from both UVB and UVA radiation.
Do mineral sunscreens provide both UVA and UVB protection? Yes. The Environmental Working Group released its list of best sunscreens last month and the top rated sunscreens all contained zinc or titanium.
To find the right sunscreen for you, visit my sunscreen category page here.
And don’t forget to put sunscreen on when you are driving – even though you are inside, you are not protected as the higher incidence of skin cancer the left side of of the body suggests that significant sun exposure while driving increases the risk of skin cancer.

Tags: mineral sunscreen, sunscreen, UVA protection, UVB protection

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 19th, 2011 at 12:33 am and is filed under healthy baby, smart mommy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Pampers Sensitive 3X Wipes 192 Count (Pack of 4)

11 PK OF 70 TOTAL 770 WIPES

Price: $29.99

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My Favorite All Natural Beauty Products

It is that time again! You already know what my favorite face care products are, and after two years and six months of testing (and I mean serious testing of at least one hundred foundations and other products…), I finally settled on some fantastic eco-friendly and non-toxic beauty products that work better than anything else on the market. It was not easy – the various chemical ingredients in the “commercial” brands make most of them work well at least temporarily, and even though they do not promote healthy skin, they can make it look good while you are wearing them. But I finally found some natural make-up products that work at least as well as the “nasties” – and in most cases even much bettere.

Best foundation: RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-up and Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Luminous Foundation. Nothing works as well as these two (not even top of the line “commercial” brands). RMS is soft and creamy, but light as air as it glides onto your skin, perfectly filling the tiniest (and largest pores) without the need for a moisturizer. It evens your skin tone and you won’t be able to tell that you have foundation on your face. My skin is combination and RMS works wonders on colder days and drier spots. Worth every penny! Vapour is just as great and the only difference is the formulation. Vapour is drier (it comes in a stick) but it still blends like mousse into your skin. It will keep your face clean and oil free without looking like you are wearing foundation. Perfect for humid days, even with sunblock under it (another subject but check out Coola Suncare – they have an all natural matte sunblock with cucumber).

Best mascara: BareMinerals Flawless Definition. Natural. Eco-friendly. Smudge-free. Flake-free. Intense color. Enough said.

Best eye shadow: RMS Beauty Cream Eye Shadow. Can’t get enough of this brand… Apply it with your fingers, just a thin veil of it. The color bleds in beautifully, even into the creases, and will stay on all day. You won’t notice you are wearing any. I also love Evening Primrose & Sunflower Oil Antioxidant Eye Quad from Korres, and the one reason it is not in a tie for #1 is that it flakes at the time of application just the tiniest bit since it is in powder form. Just in case you need a third favorite – check out BareMinerals High Shine Eye Color. Fantastic colors with great staying power – but super hard to apply as the powders fly all over your face and deposit under your eye. But for special occasions it is worth it to make it work!

Best eye liner: I have yet another tie! ZuZu Luxe (by Gabriel Cosmetics). The colors are true and clean, the tips are just the right consistency (neither too soft nor too hard) and they won’t feather or smudge by noon. As a matter of fact, they won’t smudge at all, even when applied on top of eye lotion. My other go to is 100% Pure’s CreamPearlstick (which is actually an eye shadow but I think it is perfect as a liner). It is a bit softer than Zuzu, but still easy to apply. It stays on all day and the colors are beautiful (check out the periwinkle).

Best lip stick/lip gloss: This was very difficult as I do not use a lot of lip stick (I am more of a chap stick with a shine kind of person, but that is yet another post). In addition, my favorite Dr. Hauschka Lip Stick Novum was discontinued. However, after a considerable amount of testing Vapour‘s Siren Lipstick became my new best friend. It goes on like silk, neither cakey nor feathery, and neither sticky nor flavored. Just perfect. My other favorite (Alverde) is only available in Europe.

Tags: all natural cosmetics, all natural make-up, eco-friendly beauty products, organic beauty products, organic make-up

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 30th, 2011 at 9:19 pm and is filed under personal care products, smart mommy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Chicco DJ Baby Walker, Splash

Designed for use from birth on up, the Lamaze Play and Grow Peacock has bright colors and multiple textures and sounds that are sure to stimulate and delight baby. Developed in conjunction with child development experts from Yale University, this "first friends" toy comes complete with a Lamaze link for easy attachment to strollers, carriers, and diaper bags, so it's a snap to take the Play and Grow Peacock with you on play dates, errands, or trips in the car.

The Lamaze Jacques the Peacock offers: Different textures, mirror, and colorful patterns encourage exploration Soft velour body with several busy wings A Lamaze link clip for easy attachment to strollers, carriers and diaper bags

Multiple textures and sounds to keep baby entertained. View larger.

Stimulates Baby's Vision and Auditory Skills
When babies are first born, they see in black and white. This is why the Play and Grow Peacock strikes a balance between bright, high contrast patterns that help stimulate baby's vision, and bold solid colors that give baby's eyes a place to rest. Sounds like crinkle, squeakers and jingles also help stimulate and develop baby's auditory skills. Finally, large, friendly eyes on the Play and Grow Peacock invite baby to focus and stare at a single object, which helps calm baby while supporting healthy eye development.

Child-Safe Design
Whether they're playing in the crib or preparing for a nap, your little one will enjoy hours of delight with the Play and Grow Peacock. Safe and easy for little hands to manipulate, it features a soft velour body that invites snuggling and playing. And the busy wings have different textures and interactive components--like the mirror, which allows for both independent and parent/baby peek-a-boo play--to keep baby engaged as he grows.

The Play and Grow Peacock comes with a limited 90 day warranty.

Squeaker

Rattle

Mirror

Crinkle

High contrast Black and White

About Learning Curve
The creative force behind hundreds of award-winning toys, Learning Curve created the Lamaze Infant Development System by working in tandem with parents, babies, and childhood experts. Learning Curve understands that what matters most to parents is keeping their children healthy, happy, and safe. The company's goal is to help parents do just that by offering products for every stage of a child's development--from feeding to playing to sleeping. Learning Curve's thoroughly researched developmental toys engage children, and provide parents with peace of mind. And their care, safety, feeding and soothing products give you solutions to day-to-day needs at mealtime, bedtime, at home and on-the-go.

What's in the Box
Peacock toy and Lamaze link clip.

Price: $69.99

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Chemicals That May Cause Cancer

In June, the National Institute of Health added eight chemicals to the government’s list of chemical an biological agents that may cause cancer.

Formaldehyde, a chemical with a distinctive odor, is widely used in industrial manufacturing and as a preservative in laboratories and funeral homes. It is listed as a know carcinogen. Perhaps it will be finally eliminated from personal care products and cosmetics, in which it (or its other formulations as formaldehyde-releasing preservatives TEA (triethanolamine), DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), or DMDM Hydantoin are widely used. Have you checked your label lately? Yes, they are there, in many high-end, luxury products and even some natural products in which you would not expect to see them.

Aristolochic acid, which is found in herbal supplements, is also classified as a carcinogen.

Styrene, captafol, cobalt-tungsten carbide, certain glass wool fibers, o-nitrotoulene, and riddelliine are “anticipated carcinogens.”

You can access the full NIH report here.

Tags: cancer causing chemicals, cancerous, DEAM, DMDM hydantoin, formaldehyde, MEA, perservatives, TEA, toxic personal care products

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 at 10:15 pm and is filed under General Topics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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California Baby Pregnancy Line Is Here!

California Baby just released its NEW pregnancy skin care line, which includes a nourishing emulsion and a nourishing lotion – both of which fight stretch marks and itchy skin! The products are free of synthetic fragrances and colors, parabens, mineral oils, and other nasties. What is more, they are made in a solar-powered facility in California and packaged in #2 plastic that is phthalate and BPA free.

Tags: natural pregnancy care, natural stretch mark cream, non-toxic stretch mark cream

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011 at 12:17 am and is filed under personal care products, smart mommy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Reasons To Celebrate!

Today is EARTH DAY!

Today is the day to show your personal commitment to a green and non-toxic Earth – just make sure it is not only a “once-a-year” event. Keep your environment (and your family) healthy by eating organic, local, or unprocessed foods (reducing pesticides and chemical additives in your body and the environment), using non-toxic and earth-friendly household and personal care products (to eliminate allergies and the harmful effects of chemicals), and switching to green products in and around your home (you know, that chemical smell in your polyurethane foam-rich mattress, and that new shower curtain smell…..). And if the weather is nice where you are – go for it, plant a tree, or a bush, or some flowers…. it keeps the Earth green, your front yard pretty, and your behind off the couch!

And if you celebrate – Happy Good Friday and Happy Easter. What a better time to reflect on your (hopefully green) life and the choices you make every day.

Tags: Earth Day, green homes, green life, green living, non-toxic home, non-toxic living

This entry was posted on Friday, April 22nd, 2011 at 9:23 am and is filed under General Topics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Nana Banana Cookie Bars

I really wanted to like these gluten-free, all natural cookies – probably even more than my daughter. However, neither of us could eat it. It crumbles when you bite it and it tastes like saw dust. Perhaps we just got a bad batch, I am not sure, but at the price (over $3.50) for a tiny box I am not willing to try again.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 15th, 2011 at 3:38 pm and is filed under smart mom's product reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Are We Poisoning Ourselves?

Dr. Bramhall believes we are and wrote a rather interesting article on the subject.

Apart from the political context, she points out that it is the common household products, toiletries, and cosmetics we use every day that are making us sick. Phthalates and BPA are endocrine disruptors that are thought to cause breast cancer, premature puberty, and low sperm count in men. And then we have the preservatives acting as endocrine disruptors (for example parabens) and those you can find in almost every single personal care product, from toothpaste to sunscreen. For a list of personal care products that are paraben free, click here.

The EU bans over one-thousand of these chemicals and ingredients believed to be endocrine disruptors or suspected of causing other health problems in humans – and the US currently bans less than ten.

What evidence is there that these chemical substances are endocrine disruptors or cause cancer? Quite a bit. Click here to read more about these chemicals and the research supporting their potentially harmful effects on humans.

In short, a lot of research has been done over the last few decades and the results are discouraging in that they show strong links between the increased use of chemicals and preservatives in products and processed foods and the increase in cancer and asthma rates over the last few decades. It is encouraging in that we know what we need to do to limit their effects on us.

By the way, do you ever wonder why your great-grandmother lived to be ninety-two but your uncle died at sixty? I know too many of these great-grandmothers and uncles for it to be a mere coincidence every time.

Until harmful ingredients are eliminated in a reasonable way (with proper evidence and without special interest) – ask yourself whether your ninety-two year old grandmother would have eaten that bag of favored (processed) corn chips laden with FD&C yellow #5 and possibly a dose of parabens…

Tags: additives, artificial colors, artificial dyes, artificial preservatives, BPA, parabens, phthalates, toxic ingredients

This entry was posted on Monday, June 27th, 2011 at 11:23 pm and is filed under healthy baby, smart mommy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Redmon Nighttime Nursery Blackout Drapery Liner, White

There is nothing more important to you than your child%27s safety and security%2E You want to be with them day and night to know that they are safe at all times%2E But with so much to do around the house in an average day%2C you know that it isn%27t always possible%2E The BABYVIEW20 is Levana%27s easy%2Dto%2Duse video baby monitor that ensures you%27re always there for your loved one%2E This portable system allows you to watch over your child with a handheld monitor and be alerted whenever she makes a sound%2C even when the system is in standby mode%2E The night vision feature allows you to see your child when it%27s dark%2C and you can play comforting lullabies directly from the camera%2E The BABYVIEW20 is the perfect solution for every parent %2D now you can rest easy knowing your child is safe%21

Price: $39.99

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Thermos Foogo Leak-Proof Food Jar - 10 oz

Sculpted Elmo on fork and spoon. Easy grip handles for toddlers to self feed. BPA Free

Price:

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Yes To Inc.’s Soothing Cucumber Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes

So, another disappointment…Yes To Inc.’s Soothing Cucumber Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes. Although most of the ingredients are quite harmless (water, aloe vera, sea salt) there are a number of contenders for what made my face turn flaming red for about half an hour after cleaning it with a towelette (and I tried 3 nights in a row, just to make sure) – and my vote goes for the unidentified “parfum/fragrance.” I am glad I bought the travel size only, but I wish I had read the Makeup Mermaid’s review of the same product first…

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 25th, 2011 at 6:18 pm and is filed under smart mom's product reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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LaCie 130811 Bus Powered USB Speakers

The LaCie USB Speakers provide excellent digital audio for your laptop or desktop PC or Mac computer. With a frequency response of 90Hz-20kHz, they deliver clear, vibrant sound for enhancing your music, movies and games. Created exclusively for LaCie by Neil Poulton, their unique design combines easy usability and chic, modern style. The built-in cables discreetly and conveniently tuck under the speakers for a neat, clean look. The widely used USB interface provides an excellent digital audio stream and bus-power so there s no need for an AC adapter or batteries. Compact and mobile, you can use them at home, at work, when visiting friends or relatives or while traveling. They can even be used with your MP3 player (additional adapter required, sold separately).

Price: $44.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Help! Eco-friendly Products Needing Improvement

I like to focus on the positive – the advantage of using organic, eco-friendly, non-toxic, and natural products. For some uses green products are an absolute MUST (such as BPA and phthalate-free baby bottles and pacifiers or preservative-free baby and toddler foods), and for others they provide a sensible way to detoxify your family’s life and become gentle on the environment (such as using non-bleached disposable diapers or a flushable/cloth diaper mix like G diapers). You can buy fantastic organic skin care and make up, cute organic baby and children’s clothes, and even trendy and functional non-toxic furniture.

But in some important areas organic, natural, and non-toxic products are still lacking. With the exception of women’s and men’s organic work out apparel, where are the office-proof clothes that are not just stylish but also free of harmful dyes and artificial materials?

I hope someone takes on the challenge!

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 26th, 2011 at 6:05 pm and is filed under General Topics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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NEW! Sunscreens and Sunblocks for Mommy

Make sure to visit my new page dedicated to eco-friendly and non-toxic sunscreens and sunblocks perfect for moms (and dads and babies too).

California Baby and Coola Suncare are just a couple of the fantastic organic and natural options available. No need to lather on the chemicals! And don’t forget to check back for frequent updates.

Tags: natural sunblock, natural sunscreen, physical sunblock

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 at 12:01 am and is filed under General Topics, personal care products, smart mommy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Prenatal Vitamins May Cut Autism Risk

A study conducted by researchers at the University of California (Davis) found that women who consumed prenatal vitamins immediately before and during the first month of pregnancy were half as likely to have a child with autism than women who consumed no prenatal vitamins. Approximately 700 California families participated in the study, with children aged 2 to 5 who had autism.
Additional factors taken into account included gene mutations (one being a variant of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), which is generally associated with less efficient metabolism of folic acid and increased blood levels of homocysteine, and the other being a variant of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, which is also linked to increased levels of homocysteine).
In sum, taking prenatal vitamins right before and during the first month of pregnancy is key to avoiding various birth defects as well as developmental disorders.

Tags: autism, birth defects, prenatal vitamins

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 29th, 2011 at 11:20 am and is filed under General Topics, smart mommy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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FDA Is Amending Sunscreen Rules

Current rules only cover ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, which causes sun burn, but not ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation, which goes under the skin and causes early aging of the skin. But most importantly, both UVA and UVB cause skin cancer – squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and basal cell carcinoma – and damage the immune system. The new rules, which go into effect in one year, will require that sunscreens provide information on both UVB and UVA protection so that consumers can determine the level of protection they need. Going for broad spectrum protection means that the sunscreen protects from both UVB and UVA radiation.
Do mineral sunscreens provide both UVA and UVB protection? Yes. The Environmental Working Group released its list of best sunscreens last month and the top rated sunscreens all contained zinc or titanium.
To find the right sunscreen for you, visit my sunscreen category page here.
And don’t forget to put sunscreen on when you are driving – even though you are inside, you are not protected as the higher incidence of skin cancer the left side of of the body suggests that significant sun exposure while driving increases the risk of skin cancer.

Tags: mineral sunscreen, sunscreen, UVA protection, UVB protection

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 19th, 2011 at 12:33 am and is filed under healthy baby, smart mommy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here