In my ongoing quest to provide my daughter with a toxin-free environment, I am examining and re-examining everything I put in, on or around Tessa.
When it comes to eco-friendly and toxin free items to splurge on for your child, pacifiers are REALLY high on the list. Anything that your child spends a great deal of time sucking or chewing on NEEDS to be completely safe.
In the world of pacifiers, not all binkies are created equal. The various brands, styles and options available range from safe to downright dangerous and toxic.
The Problem With Plastics
I’ve addressed the issue of toxins in plastic many, many times on my blog. To quote a recent article:
During the first few years of life, when babies’ cells continue to undergo “programming”, exposure to certain toxic chemicals can disrupt the delicate process. The biggest toxic culprit to infants health is Bisphenol A, better known as BPA.
BPA is a compound in hard, clear polycarbonate plastics that mimics the effects of estrogen in children (and adults!) and has raised particular concern because it interferes with hormone levels and cell signaling systems. BPA’s have the potential to cause permanent and lasting damage to infants health.
Still other plasticsare contain diisononyl phthalate (DINP) or phthalate esters, which can be released during sterilization.
Many pacifiers have BPAs in them, and while the number is rapidly declining given all the recent publicity about them, it’s better to play it safe and avoid using plastic when it comes to mouth-specific items for your baby (teethers, pacifiers, nipples, etc.).
*UPDATE* I had written that “Latex pacifiers are a no-no because they are known to leak low levels of nitrosamines, a known carcinogen” in my original post. The folks at EcoPiggy were kind enough to contact me with an informative and helpful correction: “Natural rubber and latex are the same thing. There is a protein in latex that irritates latex sensitive/allergies. This protein is removed from the rubber used in our pacifiers by a water-based washing process.”
So while no plastic and latex is out.. the only options that leaves is silicone and 100% rubber as the only safe and toxin-free options for your baby’s delicate mouth.
About 100% Rubber EcoPacifiers
Before receiving the 100% Rubber EcoPacifiers made by EcoPiggy, I had Tessa using Avent silicon pacifiers. These have been great for us, and completely safe for Tessa. But I wanted to try some pacifiers made of 100% natural rubber, so that I could comment on the two safe options and share with ya’ll on my blog! (Also, my little princess has a cute habit of losing her binkies, so new binkies are always welcome!)
EcoPacifiers are made without chemical softeners or colorants and are completely BPA, PVC, phthalate, and paraben free. The 100% pure rubber pacifier (made from the rubber tree, Hevea brasillensi) is molded into one complete piece – unlike other pacifiers with separate parts (such as the Avent ones Tessa has been using), the EcoPacifier’s nipple, shield, and grip ring are connected securely, which prevents choking hazards.
The entire pacifier – protective shield and all – is soft, smooth and flat, allowing for free and natural oral muscle activity and development.
One of the other areas where rubber has a leg up on silicone, is that rubber is naturally more resistant to sharp teeth than silicone and offers a little more resistance and soothing action for sensitive gums of teething babies. Rubber is also more natural and biodegradable than silicone, making rubber pacifiers a far more eco-friendly option.
My Thoughts On The EcoPacifier
I asked EcoPiggy to send me their 0-6 month orthodontic pacifiers for my five month old, Tessa. The rounded EcoPacifiers are similar to the natural shape of a mother’s nipple, while the orthodontic EcoPacifiers have been scientifically designed to support the shape of babies’ developing palates and jaws. The flattened shape simulates the shape of a mother’s nipple when flattened in the mouth, and it also encourages the most natural sucking action to help proper oral development.
The EcoPacifier has a much longer nipple length than the Avent nipples Tessa is used to. When I first offered her the pacifier, she accepted it readily, but had an immediate, almost gagging-like reflex to the length and kept spitting it out.
We were on the verge of calling these pacifiers a bust, when we noticed that she LOVES to play with them, and chew on the shield guard. The rounded handle is perfect for her to hold and handle and grip. I’d have to say these rubber pacifiers are one of her favorite toys to grab and try to aim for her mouth with. She is definitely honing her fine motor skills and hand-to-mouth accuracy with these pacifiers more than with any other toy at the moment.
After a couple of days of her grabbing, chewing and gumming on the pacifiers, we tried offering them to her once more, and she took them without a problem. We can now use the Avent and EcoPiggy brands interchangeably. (Though we have noticed that when she is in a “super fit”, she’ll only take the Avent pacifiers, most likely because it’s what she’s been accustomed to since birth.)
I like that the entire EcoPacifier is rubber, so it doesn’t have any hard plastic edges that hurt my chest when I carry Tessa in her sling. It’s also great for bedtime because it doesn’t press against her chin or leave unsightly marks on her face.
Also, with the entire pacifier being toxin free, I don’t have to worry about her bored moments when she’d rather chew on the pacifier than suck on it.. it’s completely safe and unlike her other pacifiers, it works double duty as a soother and as a teething toy.
While researching EcoPiggy pacifiers, I did see a couple of moms concerned about the little hole in the back of the pacifier – many moms were afraid that dirt or bacteria would get in and they would be difficult to wash. However, when you sanitize the pacifiers by immersing them in boiling water for five minutes or in a vinegar solution, the inside of the nipple gets thoroughly cleaned. I rather like that the nipple doesn’t have trapped air inside, and that every surface of the pacifier – inside and out – is accessible and cleanable.
Overall, when baby number two rolls around, I’d definitely like to have rubber pacifiers on hand right from the start. While silicon is safe, it doesn’t offer the molded into one piece, baby-friendly handle and 100% toxin free bonuses that rubber offers.
I’m happy that Tessa has warmed up to these pacifiers around her teething time, as they will make her transition from toothless infant to tiny toothed baby so much smoother.
She is not only an adorable model, she is a product tester! Such a talented little doll. None of my three kids would take a pacifier. Which is probably good since they were most likely full on plastic back then. Great arrival/review.
Yeah, she is growing up flirting with the camera, so I’m sure this bodes not well. 😉
I wonder if Ella would have taken this one. She’s my only baby to flat out refuse all pacifiers, period. The other two loved their avents.
Hey, if she can self soothe, that’s awesome! Tessa took a pacifier right away, and now we always keep one handy. Which I hope doesn’t become a problem later on… :-/
Cool!! I might have to get one of these 🙂
Post pix if you do!!
Great product! Plastics are pretty nasty. I’m glad there are healthier, less toxic options out there. I never knew they had ecopacifers. Thanks for sharing!!
No problem! I had a couple girlfriends buy some of these, and they LOVE them so far!