Air fresheners:

 Oven and toilet bowl cleaners:

 These can be the nastiest. Corrosive or caustic cleaners, such as the lye and acids found in drain cleaners, oven cleaners and acid-based toilet bowl cleaners, are the most dangerous cleaning products because they burn skin, eyes and internal tissue easily. We use NZ brand Eco-store which can now be found in most supermarkets.  

Plastic Food Storage Containers:

Knowing that BPA containing plastics can cause all sorts of health problems, we spent a long time seeking out a BPA free plastic food container range . We found a fantastic range in the USA (preserve) , which bebe now stocks.  There is no need to check for codes or not know which part of their range is healthy – the entire range is made from recycled plastic and BPA free, which is great for peace of mind when it comes to left overs, work lunches and of course school lunches.

Canned food:

Bottled water:

Most people buy bottled water thinking they’re avoiding any contaminants that may be present in their tap water. For the most part, they’re wrong. Bottled water can be just as, or even more, contaminated than tap water. In fact, some bottled water IS tap water - just packaged (in plastic that can leach chemicals into the water) and over-priced.  We have invested in  reusable stainless steel water bottles and am alkalised water system which we believe has contributed to great health.

Rubber duckies:

How does such a cute toy end up on a toxic product list? When it’s made from PVC - the poison plastic. Banned in over 14 countries and the European Union, PVC, also known as vinyl, is still legally sold by Australian  retailers although it threatens environmental and consumer health at every stage of its product life cycle.  We’ve sourced some fantastic new  BPA free bath toys which we’ll be launching online and in store in the next 2 weeks – so stay tuned!

Oil-based paints and finishes:

 There are 300 toxic chemicals and 150 carcinogens potentially present in oil-based paint. It’s so common to paint the nursery when pregnant as part of teh nesting process (I did it myself too!), so it’s great to be aware of healthier options. When painting we look for water-based options - ideally those that are low- or no-VOC. We also  explore natural finishes like milk paint and vegetable or wax based wood finishes. Porters Paints offer some of these more natural options.

It might look like a trumpet, but this intriguing object is actually a wooden stethoscope, traditionally used by midwives to listen to the fetal heartbeat during pregnancy.

It has its origins in France in the early 19th century and works by amplifying the heartbeat of an unborn foetus through its bell-shaped curves. Made of smooth beech wood, you can pass it around so everyone in the family can take a listen to the baby from 20 weeks or so. I can see this being a hit with grandparents and older siblings alike.

We are exclusively stocking this Danish-made item in store and  online . A wonderful heirloom gift for the expecting mother, home birther or midwifery student or apprentice, you can pick up the midwife’s stethiscope for $39.95.

About three years or so ago I was visiting a baby store in New Zealand and noticed their counter featured large clear bowls full of Amber Teething necklaces. “Why they’re pretty necklaces” I commented to the sales rep. She politely responded “ They are sweet, but they’re actually for preventing teething pain”.  I got the feeling she said this at least twice a day. My son was well and truly past his teething phase, so it was not something I gave any further thought to. Shortly after this whilst on a buying trip in Europe,  I saw more of these necklaces – in fact every pharmacy I came across had Amber necklaces bulk stacked on counters… Perhaps there’s something in this, I thought…

It was when my second child started to show signs of teething a few months back (that;s her in the pic!) that I gave more thought to amber as I had read a lot about the potential negative affects of Panadol and other over the counter pain relievers. Despite being very open to Natural Therapies, I was a little sceptical at first – how can something that is not  ingested provide pain relief?  It was after speaking with mums who had more than one child and had tried everything else” (as had I with my eldest), and now swear by amber, that I thought it can’t hurt to try it, right?

Here I find myself typing away, with my seven month old teething baby peacefully sleeping on my lap, wearing her amber necklace. I can honestly say, in our case IT WORKS. If only I’d known about this with my eldest, many tears (both him and myself!)  and sleepless nights may well have been prevented.

So HOW does amber work?

Amber is a natural substance from trees. It is actually fossilised sap. Remember in the movie Jurassic park when excavators were looking for amber with ancient mosquitoes inside? Well, this is the same stuff…but sans the mosquitoes.  It has been used for a long time in European countries for its natural pain relief and natural anti-inflammatory properties due to the slow release of its natural oils upon the warming of the stone from the skin. The active constituent present in the resin is called succinic acid, this is what your body absorbs.

All over Europe, amber has been used to help with certain ailments such as the pain and inflammation caused by teething - hence the big counter displays at pharmacies. It has been such a prized possession that for some time, pieces of it were used as currency. It is not intended for chewing but to wear close to the skin during the day (ie under supervision).

Read more about the properties of Amber Teething Necklaces here…

Every parent worries about what goes into their baby’s mouth, which is why we love Danish brand Natursutten, which translates in english to “Natural Soother”. With my first baby I would not even consider using a dummy or teether as I knew through my studies in nutrition that the mouth is the one place that the body absorbs the most toxins.  There have been the odd dummy manufacturer that has released their own “safer” versions of dummys, but  they all still contain nasties which are harmful to our babies and best avoided.

Natursutten pacifiers/dummys and teethers are made with absolutely no BPA, phthlates, silicone or chemical softeners. By making the Natursutten choice, both you and your baby are free from:

Allergy Causing Substances

Artificial Colour

Cancer Causing Substances

Chemical Softeners, Parabens, PVCs and Phthlates

The Natursutten pacifiers are made from pure rubber wood, making them the most natural choice available in Australia, and the best choice for piece of mind for your child. The natural teething rings contain no baddies and are filled with purified steralised water, so there is no danger of any type of oil or chemical leakage from the ring.  As I prepare for the impeding birth of my next child I’m relieved that these natural options are now available to my family, providing me with peace of mind and most of all ONE LESS THING to worry about!

Check out the Natursutten range here…