Baby Safe Natural Cleaning: Let’s Protect Our Littlest Loves

baby safe is important, our kids aren’t just mini-adults

Kids and babies aren’t just smaller versions of us—they’re uniquely vulnerable to the harsh chemicals that lurk unnoticed in many homes today. With each generation facing more synthetic substances than ever before, it’s critical to adopt natural cleaning methods to protect these pint-sized members of our fam. Reducing chemical exposure at home is especially crucial for your little ones, it’s were they spend most of there time. Focusing on baby safe natural cleaning solutions is a great way to make a tangible positive change to look after our wee ones.

Why chemical exposure poses bigger risks for younger bodies

The impact of chemical exposure on babies and children is far more significant than on adults. Here’s why this demographic’s physiological differences make a compelling case for natural and non-toxic cleaning solutions:

• Exploring the Home Equals an Increased Risk: Children and babies naturally explore the world with their mouths. This behaviour significantly increases their risk of ingesting chemical baddies, whether it’s from a favourite blanket, toys, or any objects they come across. The question of what these items are washed with becomes crucial because what’s on them ends up inside these little explorers.
• Higher Metabolic Rates Mean Greater Absorption: Babies and children have higher metabolic rates compared to adults, requiring more energy and oxygen per kilogram of body weight. This means they absorb more of whatever chemicals are present on surfaces where food is prepared, or in the air they breathe, making them disproportionately affected by the same environment.
• Immature Body Systems Struggle with Toxins: The younger the child, the less mature their organ systems. This immaturity hampers their ability to detoxify and eliminate toxins, leading to potential accumulations that their bodies are not equipped to handle.
• Closer Proximity to Where Toxins Settle: Often, non crawling babies are placed on the floor for safety, and typically small children play on the floor too. Since many toxins in a household settle downwards, then end up on the floor. Children on the floor are in direct contact with harmful substances more frequently and intensively than adults.
• Toxin Exposure can Cause Developmental Dysfunction: Children’s bodies require constant energy for growth and development. When exposed to toxins, their bodies may prioritise detoxification, potentially stalling developmental processes. If the chemical can not be excreted by the body, then it will accumulate – so call bioaccumulation is where harmful toxins build up overtime and lead to illness. Repeated exposures to allergy causing chemicals can lead to improper formation of their immune systems and then allergic reactions. Exposures to heavy metals can damage the brain and slow learning.
• Longer Exposure Over a Lifetime and Respiratory Risks: Children born today have more years ahead of them to accumulate toxins in their bodies compared to adults. Frequent use of cleaning products in the home may increase a baby’s risk of developing asthma and chronic wheezing during early childhood. A recent study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights that infants are more susceptible to chemicals due to their developing organs and immune systems. High use of scented cleaning products was associated with a higher risk of asthma and wheezing in children, likely due to inflammatory responses of the immune system triggered by exposure to harmful chemicals hidden under the term “fragrance” on labels. Starting with a lower chemical exposure as early as possible is essential to keep this cumulative exposure within safe limits. Learn more about reducing indoor air pollutants.

The Benefits of natural and non-toxic cleaning products

Opting for baby safe natural and non-toxic cleaning products offers more than peace of mind—it provides safety for your family. Long gone are the days when natural cleaning was just an old-fashioned idea; today, it’s a necessary return to safer, healthier practices as disease from out environments is on the rise.

Embracing safe, simple, and effective cleaning solutions

Choosing Figgy & Co’s products means saying no to harmful chemicals like hormone disruptors, sensitising agents, and petrochemicals that can wreak havoc on a child’s developing body. Instead, you opt for simple, safe, and highly effective solutions that promise cleanliness without compromise. Most of the time, soap is enough. It’s the best cleaner out there, we stake our reputation on it. And it’s safe. Soap is not included on any hazardous substance register – because it is non-harmful chemical. Embracing natural cleaning isn’t just about avoiding chemicals and living with a less than clean home; it’s about choosing safe cleaning allies to foster a family-safe lifestyle that supports the well-being of your family and the environment.

Here are our top tips for reducing your child’s exposure to harmful chemicals:

• Limit the number of household cleaning products you routinely use, Keep it simple! This way you can keep track of what cleaning chemicals are in your home. You will find that regular cleaning is easily maintained with soap. Soap is ideal for of keeping up with daily messes. Dilute Castile soap into a general purpose spray cleaner, use it for washing windows, make a soft scrub with baking soda to wash out babies bath, and even use it for carpet stains – including in your Bissell spot cleaner!
• I know you’re busy, but hear me out. Making your own home cleaners works really well for two kid-friendly reasons. Firstly, as you are learning about non-tox living, DIY means you are in the driving seat of what chemicals you have in your home. Stick to a few easy go-to cleaners, to keep it simple and now you can be certain that nasty chemicals aren’t slipping in. Secondly, kids make a lot of mess, so you are likely cleaning more than ever! Making your own means you can use premium safe cleaning ingredients, like castile soap, while saving money.  To make it really accessible we have a DIY recipe booklet with instructions to whip up your own home-made cleaners that work a charm!
• When keeping your home clean & baby safe its important to know what cleaning chemicals aren’t considered safe – and bear in mind that the vast amount of cleaning chemicals in typical cleaners, even those that say they are eco, are either considered not safe or aren’t well studied for safety. Avoid using the following for general daily cleaning – after all, what we clean with mostly will have the biggest influence on our wellness. AVOID: Detergents, especially those that end with sulfate/ sulphate. Chlorine bleach. Quaternary Ammonia compounds. Synthetic fragrance. Phthalates. Ammonia. Hydrogen peroxide. PEGs. 2-Butoxyethanol. Preservatives like Parabens. Phosphates (waterway pollutant).
• Avoid using spray cleaners with ‘nasty’ ingredients – especially if they say they kill 99.9% of germs – these are loaded with allergy causing Quaternary Ammonia compounds or QUATs. Remember what you put into the air you will inhale. When using a spray cleaner, direct it onto the surface from not too far away or into a cloth. Be very cautious of spray tops that make a very fine spray – very small droplets hang in the air for longer and inhalation is increased and may also be inhaled deeper into your lungs.  We suggest using our Figgy Everyday Spray or our disinfectant spray, both have a breath easy formulation with no fumes that will make you choke.
• Open windows and doors for good ventilation. Our homes make a surprisingly large amount of moisture – from our cooking, showering and breathing. And if you dry washing inside you can be adding 5+ litres to the air in you home. Damp houses are harder to heat, hold smelly odours and grow mould. The plan is to limit the moisture getting trapped in your home. Use exhaust fans in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry. Dry washing at least partially outside and use your heat pump on the moisture setting. Open windows at least once a day for 5-10 minutes – after cooking and showering is best. Use cross ventilation where air flows across and then out of your home from windows open on opposite sides of the room.
• Avoid products with the term “fragrance” on the label. The term fragrance is a coverall term for 10’s and up to 100’s of individual chemicals that make up the perfume for that one product. You may read an ingredient list and think there is 10 ingredients total, but actually with ‘fragrance’ there may be hundreds of chemicals in the mix. Studies show synthetic fragrances or perfumes contain phthalates &  cause disruption to hormones (puberty, fertility, diabetes, obesity) and can cause allergies and breathing problems (asthma, eczema & allergic reactions). Candles & odour-masking air fresheners can be a source of continuous, harmful emissions and quite literally make the air you are breathing toxic. Instead opt for opening windows to flush stale air daily, safe use of diffused essential oils, and target odour sources not by masking the smell, but by cleaning them up with soap and water. It is growing bacteria that typically causes bad smells – soap is very effective at cleaning away odour causing germs.
• Look for labels that fully disclose all ingredients and then chose safe ingredients. It’s an automatic red flag if there is no ingredient transparency. Remember the term ‘fragrance’ actually is a cover all for multiple chemicals – so this is a red flag too. And don’t give “fragrance free” products an automatic pass. They may still contain respiratory irritants, allergens, and asthmagens. All Figgy & Co cleaners have a fully disclosed ingredient lists – we empower you to choose what you are bringing into you home, we also make decisions easier by being fully transparent – after all decisions are hard when you don’t have enough information. Our products that are scented are so with our Figgy botanical blends, these are blended in house from people-safe, pure whole plant essential oils.
• Regular removal of toxins that settle on the floor is important. The best way to reduce toxins on the floor is by taking off shoes before coming into the house. Studies show us our shoes can track in pesticides, heavy metals and pathogens (bacteria and virus) that can cause illness. To keep our floors safe, use a combination of regular vacuuming and mopping. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is best, as it will stop very small toxins and allergens being blown out the back of the vacuum. All mopping can be done with Castile soap! Too easy.