organic baby health

Organic Pomegranate

Pomegranate seed oil is both an old and a revolutionary new skincare product. Pomegranate oil has been used since ancient times for health and beauty. While it’s more popular as a product for aging skin, pomegranate oil is a fantastic product for young ones as well. New products are coming out now using this oil in skincare creams. And best of all, most of them are 100% organic.

The pomegranate fruit is rich in anti oxidants and the oil from the seeds has omega 5 oils. Anti oxidants are well known for mopping up the free radical cells that cause cancer. And Omega 5 is an essential oil that is very beneficial for skin softness. To give even more health benefits, pomegranates are rich in vitamins A, C and E.

All in all, pomegranate oil is an excellent choice for baby skin care. It’s all natural, and there are some excellent products being developed that use the oil as a base.

Babies always benefit from a gentle massage with some natural oil. It helps to relax them, get them ready for sleep, and strengthens the bond between mother and child.

Natural Rubber Trees

Rubber, or natural latex, is a product that comes from the sap of the rubber tree.  This makes it a thoroughly natural product. It is now used for mattresses, however rubber has had many many uses in the past.

Natives from the Amazon used to use this latex as a coating on their feet. (The original rubber soled shoes in their most natural form.) Where natural latex comes into its own is as a low allergen crib mattress material.

Mattresses can become breeding grounds for dust mites. Dust mites are the most common form of allergies and asthma. And mattresses are one place where they’re hard to get rid of.

Vacuuming a mattress only does so much. And the crib  is where young children spend a lot of their time. Rubber is a material that doesn’t promote the growth of dust mites.

Dust mites like mould, and rubber is quite impervious to mould. In addition, rubber hasn’t any fibers for dust mites to inhabit. Having a really low allergen crib mattress is great for a young child.

While the jury is still out on exactly what causes allergies and asthma, a low allergen mattress could certainly help.

Other properties of Rubber Mattresses

Durability. Natural latex is very strong. These mattresses will really last a few generations of little ones. They also don’ t mind spills and are easy to clean.

Firm. Rubber mattresses have a wonderful firm, but ‘rubbery’ quality. (No surprises there.) A firm but elastic mattress is actually safer for a toddler.

All Natural. Rubber is a natural product. Though some companies put vanillin in rubber to make it smell like vanilla. This substance is a petro chemical, so true organic crib mattresses shouldn’t contain this.  It’s always a good idea to check the labels to make sure you’re getting a 100% organic latex mattress.

Babies' skin is more sensitive than adults.

Many parents are coming round to the idea that organic cotton is really healthier and better for their babies. The real kicker here is that it’s also better for the economy.

While organic cotton is often slightly more expensive than conventional cotton, it pays dividends in many ways. Organic cotton production is less reliant on fossil fuels: oil based sprays and fertilisers. It often helps local businesses, cotton cooperatives, and smaller family businesses.

Organic also means using sustainable growing practises. This means no strong pesticides, fungicides and fertilisers. Sustainable farming is more stable in the long run. Farmers are less vulnerable to pesticide prices rising. They have healthier soil, which can be used for other crops.

All in all, going organic is a great choice, not just for your baby, but for the wider environment as well.

Organic Crib Mattress

There are several types of organic baby mattresses. Firstly, you’ve got the sizes: crib mattresses, bassinet mattresses, cradle mattresses.

And then the construction: wool mattresses, organic cotton, natural rubber (or latex) and combinations of these. For instance, you can get an innerspring mattress with cotton cover and wool ticking. (The foam padding between the springs and the cover is called ticking.)

Or you could have the cotton cover, wool ticking and a natural rubber core. Which type is best? It does come down to cost and purpose.

For instance, rubber mattresses are great for kids with allergies. They have very little room to harbor dust mites (a common cause of allergies.)

Wool padded mattresses are excellent for warmth and are very durable. Wool is a natural fire retardent. And as you’re probably aware, the recent scare with synthetic mattresses is all to do with the fire retardant used. PBDE’s are often used as fire retardants in synthetic foam mattresses, and these strong chemicals may not be the best for a young, sensitive baby’s lungs.

So while organic mattresses are usually more expensive than synthetic, they are a better long term choice. Being made from all natural materials, they last well, and ‘breathe.’ As long as you air out an organic mattress frequently, they stay smelling fresh, providing a safe resting place for your little one. 

When disposable diapers are so easy and convenient, why buy reusable ones?

There’s actually a few very good reasons why you might choose to do this. Firstly, over your baby’s early years, you’re going to go through about a truckload of disposable diapers! (If you choose to.) That’s not to good for the environment.

Just as important though, reusable diapers can actually be much healthier for your little one. If you go for organic cotton diapers, your baby’s sensitive skin will be only in contact with natural fibers during the first years of life.

Also, disposable diapers are definitely more expensive. You’ll save about $500 or more from using resuable diapers. And if you think the hassle will be too much, there are diaper services now. They will will pick up your baby’s dirty diapers, wash them, sterilize them, and return them and clean ready to use.

So, there are a lot of good reasons now to opt for reusable diapers. Certainly disposable diapers have there place: particularly when you’re travelling or visiting friends. But when you’re at home, why not keep it natural.

Gift registries are all about making it easy for friends and family to give you gifts that are really useful when your new baby arrives.

But supposing you want an all organic baby registry?

Many parents are choosing organic. It’s safer, you’re guaranteed low or no chemicals in your little ones nursery, and it’s also good for the environment. But it can sometimes be tricky (especially during a busy time) to go and source all organic baby gifts. So here’s a few ways to make this easy.

Online organic stores like Our Green House. allow you to create gift registries. You create your registry, browse through their online store, and pick the items you’d like for your new little one. Then, you just tell your friends and family the web address, and the name of your registry. They can see all your selections, price ranges, etc. And the best thing is that everything there is 100% organic.

Places like the Baby Earth online store also have ready made registries. You could also find your favourite organic store in town and ask them to make you a list of all the items you like best, and hold it ready for when your friends come to choose gifts from it.

At the end of the day, gift registries are a great way for you to receive the gifts you want, and for your friends to choose things for you they’ll know you like. And going organic is an excellent choice, both for your baby’s health, and for the environment.