Joonya came into being out of concern for the harmful chemicals that we were unknowingly exposing our children to. When you consider that nappies (diapers) and wipes are in almost permanent contact with your baby, its important to know whether they contain harmful chemicals that could absorb into your baby’s thin layer of skin.
In this blog, we explore the issue of heavy metals toxicity in baby products, understand the potential dangers, note common sources, and discover ways to safeguard our children from this hidden danger. There is plenty to worry about these days as a parent, and it is not our intention to alarm our readers. Knowledge is indeed power though!
What are heavy metals?
Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that can be toxic to the human body, especially in high concentrations or prolonged exposure. The most common heavy metals of concern in baby products include lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. Babies and toddlers are particularly vulnerable to heavy metals toxicity due to their smaller size, developing bodies and brains, and increased susceptibility to absorbing and accumulating toxins, even at low levels of exposure.
Heavy metals can find their way into various baby products through different routes. Some of the common sources include:
- Contaminated soil, water, and certain farming practices can introduce heavy metals into baby food and even the natural fibres used to make wipes or nappies.
- Some infant formulas contain ingredients which may have high levels of heavy metals, such as brown rice syrup.
- Decorative paints, pigments, and plastic materials used in toys and teethers may contain lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals.
- Certain baby lotions, powders, and creams may contain heavy metals, particularly lead and mercury.
- Low-cost jewellery items marketed for children may contain high levels of lead, cadmium, or other toxic metals, posing a risk if chewed or swallowed.
The presence of heavy metals in baby products can have serious implications for a child's development. Even low levels of exposure can lead to cognitive and behavioural problems, delayed milestones, and long-term health issues, including:
- Neurological effects leading to learning disabilities, lowered IQ, and attention deficit
- Organ damage
- Growth and developmental delays
- Carcinogenic effects
So what can we do?
As parents, we can take proactive steps to minimize our children's exposure to heavy metals:
- Always opt for trusted baby product brands known for their rigorous testing and safety standards. Look for third-party lab testing.
- Read labels and ingredient lists, avoiding products that contain known heavy metal contaminants or harmful substances.
- We highly recommend looking at the in-depth ingredient research undertaken by https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/ and https://cleanandconscious.com.au/ . Joonya wipes were ranked #1 safest brand by ‘I Read Labels For You’ for over 6 years and won multiple Gold & Editors Choice awards via the Clean & Conscious Awards, and The Australian Non-Toxic Awards.
- Opt for organic and natural options for baby food, personal care products, and toys, as they often have stricter regulations regarding heavy metal content.
- Be mindful of packaging & avoid using plastic containers or dishes for heating or storing food, as certain types of plastic may leach heavy metals.
- Wash hands and toys regularly
We believe that all families deserve an accurate demonstration that the chemical components of nappies and wipes are safe, which is why we publicly share our testing results on our website here - https://joonya.com/test-results/
All substances tested do not exceed any health threshold & are below the level of quantification.
It’s a continuous quest for the truth and we will never stop improving or finding the options that put your babies’ health first.