It’s a guarantee that we always want what’s best for our babies.This includes what we use when washing baby bottles.
Before you go to the grocery to buy dishwashing liquid, you might want to select organic products.
Here are some reasons why you should consider buying dish soaps with natural ingredients.
Toxins and Chemicals
You heard it right. Most dishwashing liquids are chemically made. Hence, the likelihood of chemicals appearing in the mix is likely.
The thing with some dishwashing liquid is that it can stick even after it dries up. Having some traces of it when such soaps contain chemicals can be hazardous for your baby’s next meal.
Although they are able to keep your utensils and other eating and drinking ware clean, they still pose a threat to the health of a baby who is more vulnerable health-wise.
How can I watch out for them?
Most of the time, a list containing all the ingredients will be found at the back of the packaging.
All you need to do is check the back and look for the chemicals present in the ingredients list.
What chemicals should you look out for?
Here are some chemicals common in dishwashing liquid that you should watch out for.
Triclosan
Triclosan is a common ingredient in many dishwashing liquids. It is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent and is able to help take out such with ease.
That said, it is harmful to the environment if disposed of improperly. Even worse, it is also bad for your health when it enters your body.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Laureth Sulfate (SLS/SLES) are foaming agents used in many dishwashing liquids. These chemicals are able to get rid of grease and clean it effectively.
A downside to this is that these can cause skin allergies and rashes if your skin cells absorb this. These two (especially SLS) can be detrimental to a baby’s skin health as their immune system is still not fully developed.
Formaldehyde
Phosphates are also present in many dishwashing liquids. The most well-known one is formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is used as a scent enhancer for detergents and liquids. This alone could be dangerous for babies and younger children.
Scents can stick to a bottle even after it dries up. This can make them feel nauseous and uncomfortable.
Artificial Fragrances
Aside from formaldehyde, other artificial fragrances can be present in dishwashing liquids. As mentioned above, artificial fragrances are not only strong but also dangerous since they are synthetically made.
When it comes to the eating ware of your baby, minimize the use of products with fragrances of any kind. The less scent, the better (but fragrance-free would still be the best option!)
Why is this specifically dangerous for babies?
Babies are still very young. Which means they are more vulnerable.
Their immune system is not as fully developed compared to an adult. What’s more, they still don’t have the capacity to know what is dangerous and what is not.
This is why parental supervision is very crucial. Should the parents be busy, the area they are in should be “baby-proof.”
Their nurseries should be a safe place for them and no possible dangers should be present.
When it comes to cleaning their bottles, which should be done frequently, chemicals should be avoided.
If the bottles aren’t washed properly and foam is still in the newly cleaned bottle, they can accidentally ingest it which is highly dangerous.
A strong artificial fragrance present in baby bottles can also cause discomfort and make them nauseous.
So what should you go for?
Are there any alternatives to dishwashing liquids? Water isn’t enough to scrub off dried-up grease and other dirt.
You need not worry. If there is a synthetic option, then there will always be a chemical-free option.
Dishwashing liquids made of natural ingredients are available for you to purchase and use for your baby’s bottle.
No need to worry about foam formation or strong fragrances popping up! All it will do is clean your baby bottles effectively, making them safe and ready to use.
How can you check if it is safe?
More natural than chemical
The ingredients say it all. Go for 100% natural ingredients if possible. You’ll feel much more at ease if this is the case.
That said, there will be cases wherein you won’t be guaranteed to find an all-natural ingredient dishwashing soap in your grocery. So long as the majority of the ingredients are natural, then that should be more than enough.
While avoiding chemicals won’t be easy, so long as they are not the ones listed above, then you should be fine.
Fragrance-Free
Fragrances should be avoided so that they don’t linger on a newly washed baby bottle.
Many dishwashing liquids for baby bottles have a fragrance-free option because of the discomfort babies feel around strong scents. You’ll be able to find those options in specific areas of the grocery on baby essentials.
Some products also come with some scents. If fragrance-free options are sold out, you can go for soaps that have a gentler scent to them so as to not aggravate the baby.
Are there fragrances that are okay?
Baby brands will still include scented options, but the scents are not as strong and are from natural ingredients anyway.
Citrus fruits are safe and used as scents for many dishwashing liquids targeted for baby bottles.
That said, fragrance-free is still the safest option to go for.
Plant-based
The main ingredient that is counter to chemicals is plants.
Plant-based solutions are much gentler on the skin, so no need to worry about your hands while washing your baby’s bottle.
You also don’t have to worry about fragrances since plants don’t give off strong scents.
Not only is it free of questionable chemicals like parabens, it is also biodegradable and environment-friendly.
Conclusion
A clean bottle is not enough to keep your baby healthy. Even the liquid you use to clean your baby bottles should be considered.
Luckily, naturally-made dishwashing liquids are much more accessible now. Make your baby bottles clean and healthy, and start looking into natural dishwashing liquids today.
