at home with Jo Frost - October 2012 - (Page 122)

| green parenting| ECO-MUM W hen you become a mum, making the world a better place for your kids becomes a priority. Here are some simple ways to help prevent nasty chemicals from polluting the nation’s surroundings and waterways in the future – and the air our children breathe. Detergents tend to contain complex chemical cocktails made up of nasties including surfactants, bleaches, colourants, fragrances and solvent ingredients. Many of these are made from crude oil and can release toxins into the atmosphere and the rivers, lakes and seas, causing damage to human health as well as poisoning animal and plant life. Once washed down the drain, chemicals that cannot easily be removed will be pumped into the waterways along with the sewage. Those which do not quickly degrade can enter marine eco-systems where they are passed through the food chain, eventually ending up back inside you via the fish and seafood that you eat. Why is it better? Eco-friendly laundry washing products have to pass demanding environmental and cleaning tests laid down by the EU if they are to be entitled to carry the Ecolabel. Testing is undertaken in a number of categories. If your product has this label you know it has a reduced amount of total chemicals, less packaging, increased biodegradability, and limited substances harmful to the aquatic environment. Give it a Go? Visit www.simplywashing. com for more information. easy ways to be an Cotton is routinely sprayed with toxic pesticides derived from petrochemicals and, because it is not a food, eight times more pesticide is used on one hectare of conventional cotton than on other crops. The effect of this on the environment is significant as it disrupts eco-systems and contaminates water supplies meaning many of the chemicals used in cotton farming are acutely poisonous. DISpOSABLE Organic cotton, on NAppIES TAkE the other hand, uses AN AVERAGE Of agricultural methods 500 yEARS TO to help sustain the land DECOMpOSE it grows on, it provides a better income for farmers and is sustainable in the long term. Organic cotton farming keeps the soil healthy, fertile and productive by replacing synthetic fertilisers with natural pesticides and compost and frequent crop rotations. Why is it better? When you buy organic cotton baby or children’s clothes, you know the fabric that’s in contact with your child’s skin is natural and free from harmful chemicals. It is also softer, because the fibres have not been damaged by the chemicals used in the farming and processing of conventional cotton. Being free from harmful chemicals will also make it less likely to trigger allergies. Give it a Go? Visit www.mama-earth. co.uk for a gorgeous selection of organic cotton baby clothes. it doesn’t take much effort to help ease the burden on Mother earth while improving life for your children Go green… clothes Go green… laundry Go green… bath and skincare Chemicals that are used for industrial cleaning products are frequently used in our bathroom and beauty products, from shampoos to bubble baths and from baby wipes to toothpaste. These include sodium laurel sulphate (SLS), propylene glycol (GC), Diethanolamine (DEA); Triethanolamine (TEA) and Monoethanolamine (MEA). In 1989, a study by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the US showed that of 2,983 chemicals used in personal and household products, 884 were known to be toxic. So why do they use these chemicals when there is so much evidence documenting their harm? One reason is that they are cheap. Reactions to these chemicals can include rashes, irritation or damage to the eyes, hair loss and even cancers. Not only that, but some 100,000 tonnes of man-made chemicals are used in so-called ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ cosmetic products each year. A frightening fact is that up to 60% of a substance can be absorbed through the skin. Synthetic chemicals accumulate in the body and are stored in organic and fatty tissues causing a cocktail effect that can lead to eczema, allergies and immune disorders. Why is it better? Choosing products that are truly natural and chemicalfree takes away the build up of poisonous chemicals in the body for both adults and children. Synthetic fragrances are replaced with natural scents and active natural and organic ingredients help to protect, nourish, renew and, most importantly, they help to balance the skin. And most importantly, you will know that what you are putting on your baby or child will nurture his skin, not cause potential future health problems. Give it a Go? Visit www.greenpeople.co.uk 122 | OCTOBER 2012 Words: Georgina Maric | illustration: Getty images http://www.mama-earth.co.uk http://www.mama-earth.co.uk http://www.simplywashing.com http://www.greenpeople.co.uk http://www.simplywashing.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of at home with Jo Frost - October 2012

EDITOR’S LETTER
JO’S HELLO
WHAT’S NEW IN PARENTING?
OCTOBER OUTINGS
SCRUB A DUB DUB
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
NICE WHEELS
FAMOUS MUMS
JO FROST ON THE GO
THE NAUGHTY CORNER
ADULT CLASSES
THE BIG C
YUMMY MUMMY
GET THE LOOK
PUSHY MOTHERS
TOPS ON TREND
MAKE-UP MAGIC
MOTHER WEAR
BABY BUMP BLISS
FIRST-TIME WORRIES
STARTING OUT
ON-THE-MOVE
SIGN UP
MILK TIME
SLEEP EASY
CRY BABY
WHAT’S THAT RASH?
MORE PLEASE
BABY STEPS
JOIN THE GREEN TEAM
COUNTRY COOL
PRE-SCHOOL LEARNING
BUDDING BOOKWORM
AN ITCH TO SCRATCH
‘I’M NOT HUNGRY’
GOING POTTY
BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT
LIVING WITH AUTISM
OPEN WIDE
THE COLD WAR
LET MUMMY KISS IT BETTER
PANIC STATIONS
A CLEAN SWEEP
PROJECT RUNWAY
ORGANISE THIS
TIME FOR BIG SCHOOL
ALL KITTED OUT
WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM?
‘I HATE YOU!’
TWEEN HEALTH
EAT WELL
TRICK OR TREAT
THE GHOST WITH THE MOST
LET’S BAKE
BABY BUDGET
WHAT KIND OF PARENT ARE YOU?
GIVE A CHILD A HOME
FAMILY MEN
GIRL POWER
DAY TRIPPER
GET PACKING
WHY PETS ARE BEST
COMING SOON
STORY CORNER
COUNT TO 10
PEARLS OF WISDOM
QUESTION TIME
KODAK MOMENTS
SURF’S UP
SOUND BITES
STOCKISTS

at home with Jo Frost - October 2012