<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Belli Baby is 100% Phthtlate free and screened for all other xenoestrogens. But what does that mean and why is it important to you as a parent?</strong></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Xenoestrogens <em>(pronounced zenoestrogen)</em> are chemicals which mimic the effect of estrogen, the female hormone, on the body. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Studies have shown that phthalates are also xenoestrogens.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In male infants, exposure to xenoestrogens including phthalates can cause abnormal development of the reproductive system, including low sperm counts later in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In females, it is thought to be linked to early onset puberty among many other links to reproductive problems. The results of recent published clinical trials have shown, the effects can be long term and extremely detrimental to a babies normal hormone development. "Phthalates have links to harming new developing babies and they are avoidable, so why not avoid them".</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Belli Baby goes a step further</strong> caring even more for your baby, as the only baby skin care range in the world that excludes <span style="text-decoration: underline;">all</span> known xenoestrogens from their formulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A short list of just some of the &ldquo;red flagged&rdquo; ingredients that may surprise you includes phthalates, paraben preservatives. lavender oil and tea tree oil</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What are Phthalates?</strong>&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">They are synthetic chemicals used to soften PVC plastic and make it more flexible, as well as make artificial/synthetic fragrances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are often used in toys and baby personal care products, as well as adult personal care products such as nail polish and many other items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Phthtlates</span> are found in the majority of baby personal care products found on the shelves in Australia, but are banned in the EU and in many states across the USA in personal care products for babies.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Who says they are harmful?</strong> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There has been research and trials conducted on these chemicals for many, many years. The outcomes have been consistent enough for the Australian government to now release a hazard report on them. One of the most recent research program undertaken suggests that as the use of baby skin care products increased, so too did the concentration of phthalates in more than 80 per cent of children&rsquo;s urine tested. In addition to being linked with male reproductive problems, the chemical has also been linked to early puberty for females, birth defects and fetal death.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>But I use organic or natural products, surely these are fine?</strong> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">At Belli we spend a lot of time working with leading associations and organisations who conduct the latest research to ensure our formulas don't simply attach the label 'organic' or 'natural'. There are many wonderful organic and natural products on the market, but this does not mean they are necessarily phthalate free or the safest for your baby. The packaging for instance may determine that it is not. The easiest way to make sure is ring the company and ask if their products (including the packaging as this leaks into the contents of the container) are 100% phthalate free. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>What does Belli Baby contain or not contain that makes sure it is safe?</strong> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The experts at Belli have known about the risks of xenoestrogens and phthalates for several years, and were able to use that information to help formulate their products. Parents can feel completely confident knowing that the Belli Baby collection contains only natural fragrances, and is <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">100% phthalate free</strong>. Belli Baby is also RIPT tested, allergy tested, free of parabens, dyes and artifical fragrances. The Pregnancy and Motherhood range are also 100% phthalate free and we organic wherever possible in our formulas, as long as it is the safest, as this is our first priority. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Belli also avoids using plastics in their packaging which are known to contain xenoestrogens such as BPA (bisphenol A) and PVC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> As a tip y</span>ou can tell which type of plastic is used by looking at the recycle code on the bottom of the bottle, which has a number with a triangle around it:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>number 7 (BPA) and number 3 (PVC).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>The clinical trial*</strong> outcome published in Pediatrics journal in Feb 2008, suggests "it is a good idea to decrease the amounts of personal care products (containing phthalates) used, especially in newborns&hellip;young infants are more vulnerable to developmental and reproductive toxicitygiven their immature metabolic system capabilityand increased dosage per unit body surface area." The results cannot be argued phthalates should be of concern when using them on your baby. Parents should be aware that when choosing shampoos, lotions &amp; powders they should choose those free from phthalates.</span></span></p> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: georgia,palatino;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: georgia,palatino;">*To view the full clinical study visit </span><a href="http://www.pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/121/2/e260"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: georgia,palatino;">www.pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/121/2/e260</span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: georgia,palatino;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><input id="shopNow" class="kwbutton" onclick="function onclick() { location='/~belliski/categories/belli_baby' }" maxlength="134217727" name="shopNow" type="button" value="Shop Now for Belli Baby" /></p>