Bumkins Finer Baby Products

This one goes out to my mommies and mommies-to-be. I want to tell you about a great baby product company called Bumkins. They make, hands down, the best toddler bibs I have found. They use an incredible waterproof material that is stain resistant, machine washable, and quick drying. Best of all, the material is Lead Safe, PVC, phthalate and BPA Free.

The Bumkins company started in 1989 producing cloth diapers. As their popularity grew so did their product line. In addition to their cloth diapers and amazing bibs, they also offer diaper bags, lunch bags, and other tote bags; clothing; and an organic line of towels, washcloths, cloth bibs, and blankets. They have a variety of adorable prints for both boys and girls, as well as a licensed Dr. Seuss line.

Almost two tears ago, when my oldest son started eating solid food and needed a non-cloth pocket bib, I bought two Bumkins SuperBibs. I still have them today and they still look brand new. Even after countless spaghetti nights, not one stain can be found on my bibs. I use them exclusively as I know there is no need to try a different product. I now have enough for both boys to use at each meal. They wash and dry beautifully in the washing machine. In between meals, if they aren't super dirty, I give them a quick hand wash at the kitchen sink using a little hand soap and hang dry them. They are perfectly clean and dry before the next meal.

Additionally, I have some of their washcloths. The washcloths and towels are made from unbleached organic cotton and trimmed in cotton or satin. Because they use unbleached cotton you can use chlorine bleach on them if necessary and it doesn't ruin their appearance (I know this from experience). The fabric is lush yet lightweight.

Of all the great baby products I have uncovered, Bumkins Finer Baby Products is one of the best lines I have used. I hope you'll give them a try as I'm sure you'll be as impressed as I am!

Parabens

Before I delve into the world of product reviews and recommendations, I want to share my thoughts and feelings on some controversial ingredients and materials used in today's manufacturing. One topic I am extremely passionate about is the avoidance of parabens in my family's health and beauty products.

There has been a lot of discussion about parabens in the media lately. What are they? Are they good or bad? Should I avoid them? Wikipedia gives a good definition of them: Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. . . They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/potential pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives. They are considered a safe chemical by the FDA, however the FDA is currently studying their effects to determine whether or not any of the controversy surrounding them is founded.

So what is the controversy? Some studies have found parabens to have estrogenic activity (encourages estrogen production in the body). We know from studies regarding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) that there is a correlation between tumor growth and over-production of estrogen. While the estrogenic activity in parabens is far less than that in HRT, some believe that it could still contribute to potential tumor growth. There was a study conducted in Japan in 2002 where newborn male mammals exposed to certain types of parabens (specifically butylparaben) adversely affected the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system. Additionally, parabens have been found in cancerous breast tissue. It has yet to be determined whether or not the parabens found could have been the cause of the cancer, but we do know that increased estrogen levels have been associated with breast cancer.

Parabens do occur naturally. Many fruits and vegetables produce parabens as a natural protection against microbial spoilage. However it has been found that orally ingested parabens are not absorbed into body tissue, instead they are metabolized and excreted without harm. The parabens used in beauty products are all synthetically produced. While that does not necessarily make them inherently bad, there is research that shows parabens can and do enter body tissue through skin absorption.

The upside to the paraben controversy is the increasing number of paraben-free beauty products on the market. While many long-established products do not and never did contain parabens, there are new product lines that call attention to the fact that their products are paraben-free, making it easier to spot them. One of my favorite brands of paraben-free products is the Be Fine Food Skincare line. To date I have tried about half of their offered products and I continue to replace old items with their brand. I will highlight their awesome products in a future blog.

In summary, I have personally made the decision to avoid parabens. I am an avid label reader and have stopped buying some long-time favorite products because they contain parabens. I am also sure not to buy any products for my little ones that contain parabens. Unfortunately some mainstream baby care lines do use them, but it's quite easy to find alternatives. Again, a future topic of discussion.

Luckily, parabens are easy to spot on ingredient lists. While there are several different types of parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl.) they all contain the word "paraben" (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben). Should you choose to avoid products containing parabens, you will be able to easily spot them on ingredient lists as well.

I welcome your recommendations for paraben-free product lines and your feedback on my thoughts.

-NM

Welcome to my blog!

Hi all,

I've decided to venture into the world of blogging. I hope to use my blog to educate and entertain. I am the mother of two little boys (age 1 and 2, they are 13 months apart). After having my second baby I returned to my career as a paralegal on a part-time basis, but on my "days off" I wanted to find something constructive to do during nap time. I've always had a love for writing (I got my degree in creative writing) but have been waiting for my inspiration to start putting words to paper (or screen). In addition to writing, I also enjoy shopping, specifically for new and exciting products. I take great joy in discovering a new product and sharing my find with my friends and family.

With my recent adventures in mommyhood, I have uncovered some great (and not-so-great) baby products. I thought I would write a book on baby products, but I realized that (a) there are a ton of baby product guides already in print, and (b) by the time I would be able to finish an entire book on baby products, some of the products may no longer be available or there would be some better alternatives.

Then there is my obsession with beauty products. I have my mother to thank for this. As an cosmetologist, I can remember from a very early age her showing me how to properly apply make-up, how to find the perfect fragrance, and how to get great lift and volume in my hair. I could spend hours at Ulta or Sephora checking out various beauty products. I love reading about the newest beauty breakthroughs in magazines. But best of all, I love to try new products.

Lastly, I am a very health and eco-conscious person. I am dedicated to finding the very best foods and products for my family while being mindful of my impact on the environment. I am a firm believer in getting back to basics, especially when it comes to what we put in and on our bodies. We eat more organic than not in my home. Recently I have taken this belief to the beauty world. As I become more educated about various ingredients used in today's beauty products, I've learned that there are some ingredients that are best avoided.

So, I plan to share with you the various information, ideas and products I have discovered in my daily life to help you lead a simpler, healthier and happy life.

-NM