Healthy Kitchen: Organic Baby finds and Natural Kids Plates, etc.

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organic baby kitchen items

I’ll be completely honest, when I planned out this blog post, I was 8 months pregnant with my now 5 month old, Cameron.  I planned to share all of the natural baby items and organic baby kitchen products that I would be currently using for my baby and someday toddler.  

If you follow me on Instagram, you may know that Cameron’s birth and his story so far have been far from normal.  I’m a completely open book about his medical needs and what our day to day life looks like, and I’ll warn you, it’s not completely in line with what I teach.

A baby with special medical needs for the time being means that I have to be okay with some of the toxins being used in my home now.  At first the thought of this truly frustrated me and left me with a pang of guilt every time I thought about it.  

Without getting into a crazy amount of detail, the amount of plastic being used in my house during these first six months with Cameron is at an all time high.  Between his temporary feeding tube (all flexible plastic of course), and the insane amounts of breast milk stored in plastic bags in our freezer (silicone bags just weren’t a feasible option for us with the amount we are storing) to adding formula to his milk; what I envisioned when I wrote this is far from reality. This Instagram post will give you an idea of what I’m talking about.

But the point of me sharing all of this with you is to give you some peace of mind.  I KNOW there are some of you reading this who just can’t swing completely non-toxic for your babies.  It could be due to financial restrictions, convenience issues or you just plain don’t have the means to do it.  What I want you to know is that you don’t have to feel guilty.  You don’t have to feel like you’re not giving your baby or your child the best that’s out there.  

We all walk different paths and we all prioritize different things in our homes. And sometimes, sometimes we are forced to change those priorities, whether we want to or not.  So what do you do when you’re stuck using a product, method or item that brings toxins into your home?

First give it the good old fashioned evaluation.  Is it necessary?  Does it have to be this way?  If the answer is yes, then give yourself some grace.  And remember that not everything is permanent forever.  Things may change down the road.  And if they don’t change, remind yourself of all the other improvements you’ve made to your life. Focus on those positives and just know you’re doing the best you can do.

With all that being said, I want to share with you my recommendations and trusted products when it comes to finding feeding items and organic baby items and natural kids mealtime favorites.

Mealtime components that are toxin free and what to do if you can't switch over to plastic free baby utensils

AVOID PLASTICS

You know that I’m adamantly opposed to eating off of plastic or using plastic in the kitchen whenever possible.  Plastic is one of those items in the kitchen that can really expose you to a plethora of toxins. 

This article put out by Harvard outlines the main chemicals that make plastic so harmful to our health:  phthalates and bisphenol.  Both of these chemicals are harmful to the natural production of hormones.  OUr hormones regulate so much within our bodies including supporting our immune system and childhood development.  Once those natural systems are burdened or hindered, all sorts of other health issues start to pop up.

These problems can include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and abnormalities in liver enzymes. There is also concern for pre and postnatal development when exposure to BAP and plastics takes place.  Phthalates also play a role in development of the reproductive system and trigger serious disorders. Another study linked bisphenol to  affect brain development and the way it affects behaviors. (STUDY)

This list for plastic exposure issues is just the short list to be honest.  And while exposure to plastics comes from MANY different sources, limiting the sources you can is the best way to avoid low-dose chronic exposures to plastic chemicals.

plastic free organic baby mealtime favorites that are healthy to use

WHEN YOU CAN’T AVOID TOXIC MATERIALS

As I read the studies and findings in the articles I shared above, one of the problems that jumped out at me was the concern for infants being exposed to plastic if they have spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit.  As a NICU mom to a baby who spent the first 48 days of his life in the NICU, it left me with a pang of guilt and worry.

Rationally, I know there’s no sense in worrying about his time in the NICU — it was necessary for him to survive.  But part of me will probably always wonder what the exposure to plastics has done to his little body.  

That being said, there are still things that I cannot avoid when it comes to plastics with both him and in our home.  My only job is to try to limit it as best I can. This is a lesson in changing what is in your direct control and mentally letting go of what is not able to be changed.

For you, this may mean ditching plastic dishes or switching over to glass bottles.  It might mean opting for silicone milk storage bags or buying baby food stored in glass jars instead.  But maybe you can only change one or two of those things.  THAT’S OKAY.  Change what you can and remember that you can change other things down the road, or leave them.

Finally, a really effective way to limit plastic exposure when it comes to littles is to get on a routine schedule of dusting.

Dust holds SO many toxic chemicals and with kids’ this can easily end up on their bodies and in their mouths.  Because kids play close to the ground and because their hand to mouth habits are different than adults, their exposure to dust through ingestion and inhalation is much higher.  

Make it a point to vacuum and dust on a regular basis to remove as much dust as possible and protect those little bodies. So even if you can’t switch over to more organic baby products and items, you’re still protecting your children in other ways.

how to avoid plastic at kids mealtimes with natural baby plates and baby utensils

SAFE MATERIALS TO LOOK FOR IN ORGANIC BABY ITEMS AND KIDS DINNERWARE

So we know that avoiding plastic is the way to go.  But let’s be honest, plastic is a convenient, shatterproof product that most of us have grown accustomed to.  So what type of organic baby product could replace it?  Nothing will be exactly the same, but if you can get used to some small changes, here are my top picks for safe materials when it comes to organic baby products.

Silicone: A while ago I did a rather lengthy post all about silicone and what to look for when you’re purchasing items made of this material.  This is a great alternative to plastic as it is soft and moldable.  It’s not a material that can break necessarily and it’s often a very safe product.  Make sure you’re opting for food grade or platinum silicone when you’re on the hunt for organic baby items.

Glass: Glass is a tricky material when it comes to kids and babies.  And while it’s a totally safe material health wise, it can pose other issues when put in the hands of our kiddos.   Glass bottles are a great alternative to plastic and often times comes with a cloth or silicone sleeve to protect the glass if it were to fall.  

Metal: Stainless steel is another great option for organic baby items, especially when it comes to baby utensils and kids dinnerware.  Again, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting a stainless steel product.  Try to avoid products that contain aluminum as that can affect brain development (STUDY)

Bamboo: I love that so many disposable dishes are now made with bamboo instead of plastic.  Bamboo is an incredible renewable resource that is being tapped into and can help replace quite a bit of plastic when you’re hunting for kids dinnerware.  Be sure to get bamboo that doesn’t contain any sort of adhesive.  Oftentimes pieces of bamboo are adhered together and they can contain formaldehyde and other solvents in the glue.  Look for a third party certified organic baby product here.

Natural Rubber: Natural rubber has been our go-to for toys and some pacifiers.  Make sure you’re getting a 100% natural rubber that has been third party certified if possible.  It’s also best to find organic baby products made of rubber that don’t contain any dyes.

safe materials for kids plates, cups, utensils, bottles and food and milk storage containers

NATURAL AND ORGANIC BABY ITEMS:

Bottles:

Dr. Brown’s Options+ Wide-Neck Glass Baby Bottles

Philips Avent Natural Glass Baby Bottle

8 oz. Mason Bottle DIY Kit: BPA-Free Glass Baby Bottles

Milk Storage:

Zip Top Reusable 100% Platinum Silicone Breast Milk Storage Bag Set

Junobie Food Grade Silicone Breast Milk Storage Bags

Haakaa Breast Milk Storage Bags made of Food Grade Silicone

Food Containers

WeeSprout Glass Baby Food Storage Containers

WeeSprout Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray with Clip-on Lid

Babymoov Glass Food Storage Containers | Leak Proof Stackable & Reusable Glass Jars

Bibs

Touched by Nature Baby Organic Cotton Bibs

Otterlove Silicone Bib – 100% Pure Platinum LFGB Baby Bibs

Pacifiers

HEVEA Crown Round Pacifier 0-3 months

Ryan and Rose Cutie PAT Pacifier Grey Stage 1

Food Mill

The Hungry Artisan Baby Food Mill

Toddler Cups

Otterlove Natural Grip Silicone Baby/Toddler Cup – 100% Platinum Pure LFGB Silicone

Elk and Friends  Glass Mason jars with Silicone Sleeves &  Straws with Stoppers

Stainless Steel Cups for Kids and Toddlers 8 oz – Stainless Steel Sippy Cups

Non-Toxic Plant-Based Sippy Cup Without BPA, BPS, Bpf

Sippy Cup Lids – 100% BPA Free Leak Proof Silicone

Food Mill

Avanchy Bamboo Suction Toddler Plate & Spoon

Bumkins Silicone Grip Dish, Suction Plate

Stainless Steel Silicone Suction Plate with Dividers by Avanchy

Eco Safe and Friendly natural wheat straw food-safe premium plates

Organic Baby Vitamins

Garden of Life Baby Multivitamin Liquid – Certified Organic

Wellements Organic Multivitamin Drop – Free from Dyes, Parabens, Preservatives

Mommy’s Bliss – Multivitamin Organic Drops

Silverware

Munchkin Polish Toddler Fork, Knife and Spoon Utensil Set, Stainless Steel

Bumkins Silicone Utensils – Food Grade

To Go Ware Kids Reusable Bamboo Utensils – heat and stain resistant

Otterlove Silicone Baby Spoons – 100% Platinum Pure LFGB Silicone

safe materials for baby plates and baby utensils, milk storage bags and bottles, toddler cups and more

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