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A growing number of baby care products display “Paraben-Free” on the label. Curious what Paraben-Free means? And perhaps most importantly, what it means for your baby if a product label lacks a Paraben-Free mention?

**Keep reading for the scoop on Parabens:**

What are Parabens? Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives and are widely found in cosmetics and bath and body care products.

What products contain Parabens? Parabens can be found in shampoos, conditioners, body wash products, antiperspirants, toothpaste and in other cosmetics and bath and body care products. Not all cosmetics and bath and body care products contain parabens. A growing number of manufacturers do not use Parabens, and frequently make mention of such on product labels.

What, if any, risks are associated with Parabens? There is controversy surrounding parabens and the effect of exposure to products containing parabens. Some researchers and organizations take the view that there are possible links between parabens (common ones include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben) and cancers (e.g., breast cancer and estrogen-dependent tumors). Some also believe that parabens contribute to skin irritations.

Are Parabens Safe for Your Baby? Studies of parabens on health continue. Some researchers, organizations, and manufacturers suggest that people use products containing parabens with caution. Others advocate avoiding use altogether until more conclusive health data is available. Still others contend that any health risks are minimal. Ultimately, the question of safety is left to parents and pediatricians. If you have concerns about parabens, talk to your child’s doctor, do your own research, and consider switching to body care products that are paraben-free.

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BabyEarth carries a full line of paraben-free California Baby products.

I’ve raved before about California Baby products, and since I’m not one to stay quiet for long, I’m going to rave some more. I stumbled upon California Baby in a natural food store weeks before giving birth to my first child. What then attracted me to California Baby was my mother-to-be obsession with finding natural and organic products for my baby. Only the best, right? My first California Baby purchase was Calming Shampoo & Bodywash. I admit, given that I was expecting a baby girl, the product’s label featuring an adorable little girl sealed the purchase decision. Hmmm…I guess the company knows how to make great products and market them, too!

California Baby’s Calming Shampoo & Bodywash cleans and smells delicious. While there are plenty of shampoos and bodywash products on the market that clean and smell good on babies, not many can claim they contain organic or sustainably grown ingredients. And few can claim that they don’t contain Sodium lauryl sulfate, DEA, or other ingredients that could potentially impact health. California Baby Calming Shampoo is a popular choice for babies or older kids (even adults) with sensitive skin. No tears and non-irritating, too.

Since I bought that first Calming Shampoo & Bodywash product, California Baby has greatly expanded their natural care line for babies, kids and sensitive adults. California Baby offers organic and natural options to traditional baby essentials such as non-talc baby powder and diaper cream, as well as unique baby products like Colds & Flu Bubble Bath. California Baby even sells products in travel sizes and sampler totes.

If you’re looking for organic and natural products for your baby or young child, check out California Baby. You can find a huge selection of California Baby products at BabyEarth.com. There’s a lot of piece of mind that comes along with buying and using a product on your baby that is as natural as baby care products probably get.

Do you have a California Baby Love Affair, too? If so, please leave a comment and give other parents the scoop.

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Whenever I smell Ivory soap or Johnson’s baby soap, I’m immediately brought back to my childhood.  Those soaps went together with bath time as much as the bath water.  As much as a love those product scents, times have changed.  Bathtime in my household also includes a selection of organic baby bath products.  I’m a fan of Mustela and California Baby products. 

Mustela makes a complete line of hypoallergenic baby products, including shampoo that is safe for even the youngest skin.  What I like about Mustela is the manufacturer’s keen attention to quality and safety standards and cosmetic vigiliance monitoring.  With recent news of lead in cosmetics like lipstick, the last thing I want to worry about is exposing my children to potentially harmful chemicals or hazards in shampoo.       

California Baby offers a wonderful selection of baby shampoo and bath products, all of which are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or DEA free, pure, and guaranteed free of pesticides or synthetic additives.  Shampoo evens comes in scented (like yummy lavendar) or scent-free options.   

Moms today are starting to take a close look at the ingredients in baby products, preferring natural and organic ingredients over difficult to pronounce, harsh lab created chemicals.  That’s a huge change from the days of my own childhood.  Knowing that I’m doing everything I can to limit my children’s exposure to chemicals is incredibly important–after all, I’m hoping that my own children will live long enough to tell their great-grandchildren all about the shampoos they used in childhood!