Why we will never use Johnson & Johnson baby products (or even some "natural" brands)

And why I do my best to avoid any products by them. I loved J&J products before I had kids! I loved that "baby smell", I thought it was great that they had "tear free" shampoo, etc. But while I was pregnant, I stumbled upon a website that forever changed the type of skin care/beauty products we use in our home. It's a cosmetic database, and it rates cosmetics on a scale of 0-10, 10 being the most harmful. Because the FDA does not regulate cosmetics, pretty much anything can be added to them. Let's take a look at how harmful it could be if all our baby products were J&J:

Shampoo: 5
Baby Lotion: 7
Baby Wash: 6
Diaper Rash Cream: 4
Baby Oil: 3-6

Even the lowest number, a 3 (which is only their original baby oil) is still in the "moderate hazard" category. While we are bombarded with chemicals, carcinogens, and toxins every day, I feel it is important to limit my children's exposure when I can. My next step was to find natural bath/body products for them, and it's what eventually led me to creating Fresh GraNOLA. My first stop was Whole Foods, and since I was not very educated on the matter at the time, I ASSumed the products carried there were safe- especially the ones marked "natural". Boy, was I wrong. Nature's Gate is a popular brand at natural food stores, and it caught my eye because it was less expensive. I bought some for me, and I splurged on California Baby for my daughter. California Baby was a good choice; Nature's Gate, not so much. According to the cosmetic database, NG shampoo has a rating of 5, and their product line ranges from a 2 to an 8. If I'm going to get all these chemicals anyway, I'm going to spend 3.00 a bottle over 6.00 any day! Being the stubborn person that I am, I did not give up. I continued my research and discovered Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap; It's been around for over 50 years and found out their rating is 0-2 on the database! That's much more like it.

The Cosmetic Database is not something I follow like the Bible; it's simply a guide. I still read labels and decide based on those what we will purchase. However, when stories like this come out about the harmful chemicals in the J&J baby line, it reassures me we are doing the right thing.

Currently, we use a mixture of Dr. Bronners, California Baby, and Avalon Baby Organics products on our kiddos. I'm still phasing out things like shaving cream and harsh shampoo for myself and my husband. Oh, and I'm trying desperately to get my husband to stop buying his "man soap", even though I love the way it smells!! We're taking small steps to help prevent our children from being exposed to potentially harmful toxins, and I feel that we are on a good path with home and body care items. Next on my list of "crunchy granola" things- FOOD. I'm skeered. I love love love my unhealthy foods!