At Hello, Charlie! we’re often talking about products that are ‘phthalate-free’. But what are phthalates and why should we be concerned about them?

What are phthalates?

Phthalates are plasticizers - chemicals added to plastics to make the plastic softer, or more transparent, more durable or simply to make them last longer. They are frequently used to soften polyvinyl chloride, otherwise know as PVC or vinyl.

Phthalates are easily released into the environment, because there is no chemical bonding between the phthalates and the plastics with which they are mixed. The release of phthalates accelerates as the plastics begin to breakdown and age. Once outside, phthalates begin to degrade and therefore the concentration of phthalates indoors is higher than outdoors.

Humans are widely exposed to phthalates, simply because PVC is such a ubiquitous plastic. It is found in floor coverings and furnishings, children’s products such as toys and bottles, and packaging such as plastic wrap and disposable bottles. Cosmetics and scented products such as soaps, shampoos and nail polish can also contain phthalates.

Why should we be concerned?

Phthalates are thought to be endocrine disrupters (hormone disrupters) which have been linked to genital and reproductive abnormalities. They have also been linked to asthma and allergies.

Little information is available on the health effects of phthalates in humans, but studies show widespread human exposure to phthalates. The research isn’t conclusive, and as ever, the findings differ according to which interests are paying for the research. However, there is enough concern about phthalates for them to have been banned in certain products, including toys, in Europe since 2005 and more recently, the US states of California, New York and Washington, among others, have proposed bans on phthalates in children’s toys.

What is being done about it in Australia?

Australia’s National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) is currently conducting its own risk assessment on common phthalates used in Australia, with a particular focus on toys, childcare articles and cosmetics. NICNAS is the Australian Government regulator of industrial chemicals.

In January 2010 a ban on diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was proposed by the Australian Government, relating to toys, childcare articles where significant mouth contact may occur, and eating utensils for feeding infants.

For more information, see NICNAS’s information sheet: http://www.nicnas.gov.au/Publications/Information_Sheets/Existing_Chemical_Information_Sheets/ECIS_DEHP_PDF.pdf

How can I avoid phthalates?

More manufacturers and suppliers are becoming aware of consumer concern in relation to phthalates. Look for products that are advertised as being ‘phthalate free’ or that are produced in Europe (where phthalates in children’s toys have been banned since 2005).

Try to  use natural products where possible, for example wooden toys, rather than plastic, and glass bottles or containers. Don’t use plastic wrap, or re-use single use plastic containers. Avoid PVC.

Hello, Charlie! will shortly be publishing a cheat sheet on ‘How to Avoid Phthalates’, so keep your eye on the blog.

Further reading and links to articles about phthalates:

http://www.phthalates.com/

http://www.nicnas.gov.au/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120640378503760985.html

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09121.html

http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/04/phthalate-induced-asthma-gasping-for-breath.html

Check out our lovely new range of Melissa & Doug wooden toys. This range has great wooden peg puzzles, and we have shape puzzles, number puzzles and alphabet puzzles in store now.

A staff favourite is the wooden magnets. So much nicer than those horrible plastic magnetic letters, these lovely magnetic wooden alphabet letters come in a great little wooden box, with both upper and lower case letters. Brightly coloured, too, so you’ll be able to use them to learn the alphabet, sort colours, and generally have fun with! I’m also loving the animals - this box contains both domestic and wild animals, causing one of our 18 month old testers to squeal with delight!

I especially like the ’see-inside’ wooden peg puzzles. Melissa & Doug make lovely quality wooden puzzles, with a little twist by having illustrations on the puzzle board as well as on the puzzle piece. We have shapes puzzles, number puzzles and letter puzzles in store right now. These are perfect for developing the skills of hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and visual perception skills.

One of my son’s favourites from the Melissa & Doug range is the Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks. In his opinion, you can use them for stacking, sure, but they’re much better as garages for cars, and as places to hide small objects (small pieces of Lego, Meccano and marbles seem to be common!). Occasionally he’ll even check out the animals and letters down the side. I was amazed at how long he will play with this, and the sheer variety of uses that his imagination can come up with. A truly versatile toy from Melissa & Doug.

The Green Toys Dump Truck has a workable dumper and no metal axles (so no rusting if it does get left out!). The Green Toys Recycling Truck helps encourage even little children to sort bottles, cans and paper. With a moveable recycling bed and open and shut rear door, little guys can play eco!

 

• 100% recycled plastic
• environmentally friendly
• produce less greenhouse gases
• saves energy
• safe and non-toxic

Green Toys use recycled milk containers as the main ingredient in creating their toys. Yes, the exact plastic milk jugs that you and your family drink from every day. When you finish your milk and toss the container in the recycling bin, these milk containers are collected at your curb by a local recycling company, who then sorts them from all the other types of plastic. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. For you plastic geeks, the plastic material Green Toys use is called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This material is considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around.

Crocodile Creek is a child safe company manufacturing a great range of non-toxic children’s products. We particularly love the stainless steel water bottles (Bisphenol-A free, naturally!) that are just perfect for school and kindy.

The range also includes a range of wipe-clean bibs. These are great for getting out and about with your little one, simply wipe them down and pack them away. The lovely Crocodile Creek baby bibs are free from toxins like PVC, vinyl and phthalates. The bibs have great designs (we particularly love the dinosaurs!), velcro neck closures and a very handy pocket at the front.

Coming soon to Hello, Charlie! are great PVC-free lunchboxes to match the stainless steel drink bottles. More on those soon!

Just landed - new BPA-free Baby Nova products! We’re loving the new Straw Cups and Trainer Cups.

Baby Nova Trainer Cups have ergonomic, non slip handles for little hands to grip and a recess for the nose to allow for comfortable drinking. This lovely leak proof cup also has a lid to make for easy, spill proof travelling.

Baby Nova Straw Cups have a silicone straw and integral lid that closes to make the cup spill proof, and the straw stays hygenic and dirt-free. Perfect for getting out and about!

Because they’re made by Baby Nova, these sipper cups are bisphenol-a (BPA) free, and free from phthalates and PVC. They’re the safe plastic alternative. 

Wearing Baltic amber close to the skin is a traditional European remedy for baby teething. A natural analgesic, amber can help calm a baby without resorting to drugs. Used for centuries in Europe, amber’s natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties are perfect to soothe teething babies. Amber is a fossilized resin, which warms against the skin, releasing its therapeutic properties safely and naturally.

Baltic amber teething necklaces and bracelets are made for wearing (not chewing) when a baby or toddler is teething. The warmth of the skin releases the active ingredient in the Baltic amber, succinic acid. Recent scientific research has proved that succinic acid has a very positive influence on the human body. It improves immunity and the balance of acids when absorbed into the bloodstream, it stimulates the thyroid glands to help reduce drooling and soothes inflamed red cheeks. Amber’s anti-inflammatory and therapeutic properties are recognised by allopathic medicine as a natural analgesic, which will help to relieve teething pain and calm a baby without resorting to drugs. The skin’s warmth releases healing oils from the amber, a resin, which is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Our amber teething necklaces and bracelets are sourced directly from Lithuania, and are made of genuine Baltic amber. Necklaces measure approximately 35 cms and weigh around 12 grams.

One of our lovely Hello, Charlie! staff members recently took home a teething necklace for her 14 month old daughter, who was having a rough time teething. She has reported back that new teeth have been appearing without incident, and the amber necklaces have been pronounced miraculous!

We have recently introduced elasticated amber bracelets for littlies, too, especially good if you are concerned about using a necklace. Bracelets, like necklaces, must always be used under adult supervision and removed for sleep times. The bracelets are lovely, and are proving very popular!

Organic materials…Simple styling. This is the motto of Dandelion toys, new this week into Hello, Charlie!

Dandelion toys are natural toys created especially for baby’s small hands. Dandelion’s rattles and teethers feature subtle sounds, touchable tags and feel-good fabrics; soft, snuggly & stimulating. Babies can shake, touch and teethe safely, while developing hand-eye coordination and learning about cause and effect.

Dandelion toys are made of organic fabrics with natural corn filling and feature 100% recycled packaging with vegetable inks. And Dandelion toys are MACHINE WASHABLE! Earth-friendly can be adorable, safe AND practical.

About Dandelion Organic Toys

Parents are more concerned than ever about what their babies touch and teethe. The Dandelion brand gives you peace of mind: quality materials and processes, and thoughtful, earth-rriendly choices. Better still, Dandelion does it all with sophistication, in a back-to-basics, eco-conscious style.

Creative designs, appealing colors, simple shapes…a comprehensive line of natural and organic products, specially wrapped in innovative packaging: minimal by design, made of 100% recycled paper board. Fresh ideas at eco-nomical prices!

We have to agree. Dandelion…better for your Baby, better for your Environment.

New in store this week is the organic BabyBjorn range. The new family of BabyBjorn products enables parents to be kind to the earth for the next generation, while keeping their little ones safe and content using BabyBjorn favourites. BabyBjorn’s organic line features three of their most popular products, made from organically grown cotton: BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Original Organic in Walnut, and BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Organic Active in Walnut and Khaki, as well as the BabyBjorn Babysitter Balance in Walnut and Khaki. The fabrics all meet the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). They are also Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class 1 certified, meaning that they are absolutely safe and free from any hazardous substances.

We don’t think you can go past BabyBjorn products - the quality and ease of use is legendary, and using organic fabrics means a much lower eco-footprint.

All new organic BabyBjorn products are available at Hello, Charlie!

One of the questions I’ve been asked a lot lately is the difference between Oeko-Tex certification and organic certification.

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification means that fabrics have been tested and found to be free from harmful levels of more than 100 substances known to be harmful to human health. This does not mean that the fabrics are organic, however.

Organically certified fabrics such as wool and cotton must be produced under stringent standards governing the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and other chemicals used in their production and growth. However, an organic textile product is not necessarily tested to be free from harmful levels of unsafe chemicals unless it is also Oeko-Tex certified.

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification and organic certification offer different, but equally important, reassurances to consumers. Oeko-Tex certification provides confidence that fabrics are safe for human use. Organic certification ensures that fabrics are produced according to strict guidelines without the use of conventional pesticides, petroleum-based fertilisers, or syntheic products.

The ideal combination is a product that is both organic and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified. Of course, any product that is either of these is a step in the right direction!

This information was taken from the Oeko-Tex Association Press and Public Relations.

Hello, Charlie! stocks bottle feeding teats made of silicone and latex.

The good news is that silicone doesn’t contain BPA, so the silicone teats that come with baby bottles are BPA free. Silicone is a popular choice for teats - it’s soft, easy to sterilise, and is free from BPA, PVC and phthalates. Baby Nova silicone teats are made of hospital grade silicone, so they’re made with the best possible materials.

Some latex products have been linked to a carcingon called nitrosamines. Rest assured that the latex products we stock are free from nitrosamines.