So just what does organic mean for babies? There was a report done by a working environmental group that showed results including findings of a significant amount of toxic chemicals are found in the blood of new borns.
The American Red Cross ran a series of blood tests on 10 umbilical-cord samples and their findings included 287 contaminants in the blood samples. Of the 287 found in the blood, 180 of the contaminants cause cancer in humans and animals, 217 of them cause damage to the brain and nervous system. 208 of the toxic chemicals caused abnormalities and birth defects on animals tested. Included in the contaminants were mercury, fire retardants, pesticides, plastic and other noted toxic contaminants.
Now there is a whole market of organic baby products that one can buy to help eliminate the toxic chemicals that bombard our babies. The National Organic Standards Board or NOSB was established to assist the National Organic Program NOP with creating and maintaining guidelines for substances in organic production. In 1990 the US congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act, which made its stipulation that the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) establish uniform standards for Organic Agricultural Products.
On the market today are both edible and non-edible merchandise that are Organic Baby Products. You can find Organic Baby food, Organic baby textiles in which products are made from, Pesticide free wood based Organic Baby furniture products, Organic Baby Clothing, Organic Baby Body Care Products and Even a whole Organic Baby shower waiting to happen.
Organic standards included that the NOP enforces are; no organic food products may contain in production or handling: genetic engineering, ionizing radiation and sewage sludge. Crops meet “organic� standard if they were grown with out the use of most conventional pesticides, Petroleum base fertilizers and Sewage Sludge based fertilizers. Livestock must be raised according to organic standards. This means for livestock that they are fed organic feed, raised with access to outdoors, and raised free of antibiotics and growth hormones.
Also in accordance with the NOP organic farmers adhere to practices that minimize soil erosion and practice renewal resources and exercise maximum water conservation. Organic farmers rely on rotating crops and livestock grazing as opposed to using harmful chemically synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Organic farmers do not use harmful chemical pesticides that contaminate the groundwater and use natural fertilizer alternative like animal and plant waste to avoid polluting waterways. Many pregnant women who sharecrop have medical problems them selves as do their babies because of exposure to non-organic toxic substances.
Today you can walk into any well-stocked grocery store and find a supply or organic baby food as well as your local health food store. The label will say “Organic� to ensure that you are getting Organic baby food or Organic baby products.
Online I found Organic Baby Crib sets including the mattress made by a family based company called Shepard’s Dream. This means all the wool and cotton used in their products is organically grown. Arlington Furniture Factory makes FSS certified wooden products. FSS certified means that the wood they use is not wood byproduct it is real wood and it comes from renewable forests. Their finishes are natural and non-toxic. There are also lines of pesticide and chemical free Organic baby clothes you can get for your baby. Organic baby soaps and products can be found in your local health food stores as well.
For those who are expecting their own organic baby or grandchild there is a fun site where you can get all your organic baby shower products at
http://www.organicbabyshower.com/. One other great site for all Organic non-edible baby needs including rattles and teethers is
http://www.organicgiftshop.com/.
http://debraslist.com/ has a listing of many organic baby sites to choose from including the one’s I have mentioned above. Today’s health and environmentally conscious parent has a lot of choices when it comes to keeping their organic baby healthy and safe.
