Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [2]

Green Personal Baby Care,
en route to a Greener Life.

Being a Green Parent is not always just about keeping the baby safe,
it’s about accepting our responsibility to ensure that what we use is safe.

Be a Green Parent,
Be an Environment Aware Consumer.

Part 2 : Telon Baby Oils,

The pure natural baby oil of Indonesia origin.
Natural products are undoubtedly better for the baby.

You are my everything,
*if we can’t eat it, don’t put it on his skin*!!!

Telon baby oil is made from genuine pure natural oils of Indonesia origin, it consists of a mixture of 3 different oils, two different volatile / essential oils, Cajuput oil & Fennel oil, and one vegetable oil as carrier oil, Coconut oil, all ingredients used are the best and finest quality of genuine pure natural herbs of Indonesia origin, which has special pleasant smell, preservative free, so it is safe enough to be applied on baby’s / infant’s tender skin, mild enough for infant, leaving both the hair and the body clean and refreshed, traditionally has been used by Indonesian people for generations, mother use it regularly to rub on her baby's chest, stomach, waist and foot soles, it brings warmth when applied to the baby’s skin, is usually and regularly used to warm up the body after bath in the morning as well as in the evening, baby needs this precious oil, because his / her body's temperature system is not as perfect as the adult's, during cold weather, the baby's body is unable to get enough energy from burning the fats, which made he / she suffers from cold, application of these baby oil on his / her body will help to protect the baby from getting cold, it has also been used effectively to relieve the bloating stomach, routinely used for baby massage, because baby loves massage, that relaxing the baby’s tender muscle, allowing he / she falling in deeply sleep after having mother’s gently touch, it will tighten the bonding relation among them, baby massage is one of the most effective ways to soothe and communicate with a new baby, it helps relax and calm baby’s nervous system, may also strengthen baby’s respiratory, circulatory, and gastrointestinal functions.

Compositions : Cajuput Oil 60 %, Fennel Oil 15 %, Refined Bleached Deodorized Coconut Oil [RBD-CNO] 25 %,
Alternative formula: in Telon oil products the use of Fennel oil can be changed with Anise oil or with Star-anise oil.

The Main three active Ingredients of Telon Oil

Cajuput Oil

Genuine Indonesia Essential oil,
Steam distillation from leaves & twigs of Cajuput Tree.

Cajuput Tree, in Indonesia called kaju-putih, meaning white wood, has a long flexible trunk with irregular ascending branches, covered with a pale thick, lamellated [fibrous] bark which is soft and spongy and from time to time throws off its outer layer in flakes, a tall evergreen tree up to 30 meters high, the flexible trunk has a whitish spongy bark, which flakes off easily, its leaves entire linear, lanceolate [slender and pointed, needle-like], ash color, alternate on short foot-stalks; flowers sessile, white, on a long spike, the leaves have a very aromatic odor. Cajuput tree also known as White tea-tree, Broad-leaved tea-tree, Paper-barked tea-tree, Swamp tea-tree, and White-wood.

Cajuput Oil, a multi purpose uses essential oil, which has broad medicinal properties, The Buru Island’s Cajuput Oil is well-known as one of the premium quality.
Cajeput oil / Cajuput oil / Oleum Cajuputi USP 1820 – 1936, BPC 1976, its Chemical Abstract Service [CAS] Registry Number 008008-98-8, Cajuput oil is an essential oil / volatile oil obtained by steam distillation in copper vessels [at home industries] of fresh leaves and twigs of the plant Melaleuca leucadendron Linn / Melaleuca cajuputi Roxburgh / Melaleuca minor Decandolle, family Myrtaceae, and rectified by steam distillation, it takes approximately 60-70 kg of leaves and twigs to make 1 kg of cajuput essential oil, a pale yellow or greenish volatile oil due to the traces of copper that have been detected in the oil and this may explain its green tint, the green color is not essential, and may be removed by distillation; it is due chiefly to the presence of copper, and partly to the presence of some altered chlorophyll, it has a distinctly camphoraceous odour, and an aromatic, bitterish taste, levorotatory [leftist optical rotation] has specific gravity of 0.922 to 0.929 at 15° C [equivalent to 59° F]. it is originally produced in Indonesia, previously well-known from Buru Island, in South Molucass Islands group, but now has been heavily cultivated in various regions in Java Island, several other species of Melaleuca leucadendron are utilized such as Melaleuca hypericifolia, Melaleuca veridifolia, Melaleuca lalifolia, Melaleuca paraguayensis, the Australian species Melaleuca decussata and Melaleuca erucifolia are also used, cajeput oil / oil of cajuput contains from 50 to 65 % of 1,8-cineole / eucalyptol [also called cajuputol], it is used internally as a carminative, stimulant and diaphoretic, externally used as a parasiticide.

1,8 Cineole / Eucalyptol / Cajuputol

Cajuput Oil contents:
Cajuput oil contains 1,8-Cineole [cajeputene hydrate, eucalyptol, cajeputol C10H18O] as the main active ingredient, which should average 50 to 65 %, other ingredients are solid terpineol, several aldehydes such as valeric-aldehyde, butyric-aldehyde and benzoic-aldehyde, terpinyl acetate, pinene, nerolidol, both free and as an ester of acetic acid, small amount laevo-pinene, farnesol, phytol, squalene, alloaromadendrene, ledene, palustrol, viridiflorol, ledol, betulinaldehyde, betulinic acid, platanic acid, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene, limonene, linalool, ρ-cymene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, terpinolene.

Therapeutic uses:
Cajuput essential oil has stimulant and relaxant activity and is used both internally and externally, stimulating the circulation around the point of application, producing sensation of warmth, used in a baby massage oil to relax the muscles, as embrocation [rubbing] for the relieve of stomach disorder / bloating stomach as carminative, in combination with other medicinal oils, by promoting sweating, cajuput oil cools down the body and helps with such infections as colds / flu, pharyngitis and pneumonia, it is also helpful for asthma, sinusitis and a sore throat, it also used as a mildly counter irritant for mosquito / insect bites.

Aromatherapic uses:
cheering, sense enhancing, mildly euphoric, aids relaxation & emotional balance, calming, for insomnia, for flu.

Safety used:
Cajuput oil is non toxic and non sensitizing, however may irritate the skin, therefore it needs to be well diluted with carrier oil, such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and never allowed to come into contact with mucous membranes, as it contains essential oils, irritation could be occurred in baby with hypersensitive skin, so don’t rub it onto the face and skin's sensitive areas, eyes and open wounds, for pregnant or breast-feeding women: no harmful effects are known.

Read more . .........................

Fennel Oil [Oleum Foeniculi]

Fennel Oil is a volatile oil / essential oil which is obtained by steam distillation of the ripe and dried fruits of the plant Foeniculum vulgare, family Umbelliferae, it contains not less than 2,0 % v/w of essential oil, a colourless or a clear pale yellow liquid, with sweet, licorice like, odour and taste of fennel, produce a special fragrance, that mothers would call as " baby's smell oil ", it has Specific Gravity 0,953 – 0,973, Refractive Index: 1,5280 – 1,5380, Optical Rotation: +12° to +24°

There are two kinds of Fennel Tree [Martindale, the complete drug reference, thirty-fifth edition]:

1. Bitter Fennel: Foeniculum vulgare, sub-species vulgare, varietas vulgare, it contains not less than 4,0 % v/w of essential oil, the oil contains not less than 60,0 % of anethole, not less than 15,0 % of fenchone.
2. Sweet Fennel: Foeniculum vulgare, sub-species vulgare, varietas dulcis it contains not less than 2,0 % v/w of essential oil, the oil contains not less than 80,0 % of anethole.

Therapeutic uses:
use as an aromatic and carminative, to expel gas from bloated stomach, for neuro-muscular spasm, rheumatism and arthritis, bronchitis, whooping cough, as a nerve tonic in relieving stress and nervous tension.
Considers that the use of Fennel oil in infants and toddlers is contra indicated, it is also used in herbal remedies for respiratory tract disorder and in aromatherapy [Martidale, the complete drug reference, 35th edition, 2007].

Aromatherapic uses:
to aid with mental and emotional block, resisting change, fear of failure, creativity blocks.

Refined Bleached Deodorized Coconut Oil

Coconut oil [CNO] is a fixed oil or fat consists of triglycerides of lauric acid [C11H23COOH] and myristic acid [C13H27COOH], obtained by pressing or extracting the mesocarpium of the dried fruit of the plant Cocos nucifera, family Palmae. the crude oil than refined through the consecutive process of de-gumming process with phosphoric acid, bleaching process with bleaching earth, vacuum distilling the free fatty acid, mainly caproic acid [C5H11COOH] and caprylic acid [C7H15COOH] and deodorizing at 250oC under vacuum, to obtained a Refined-Bleached-Deodorized Coconut Oil [RBD-CNO], a clear or a pale yellow greasy oil, consists of triglycerides of lauric and myristic acids. Coconut oil acts as carrier oil [dilution], helps to dissolve the mixture between Cajuput oil and Fennel oil, dilutes, thus producing a smooth, not irritable oily liquid, suitable for baby massage.

Lauric acid [C11H23COOH]

Myristic acid [C13H27COOH]

Alternative ingredients: replacing of the Fennel oil:

1. Oil of Anise, distilled in Europe from the fruits of Pimpinella anisum [Anise fruit]
   
2. Oil of Star Anise, distilled in China from the fruits of Illicium vernum [Star Anise fruit] The oils obtained from these two fruits are identical in composition, and nearly the same in most of their characters.

Anise Oil [Oleum Anisi / Oil of Anise]

Pimpinella anisum, an annual herb of the parsley family [Apiaceae, or Umbelliferae], cultivated chiefly for its fruits, called aniseed, the flavour of which resembles that of licorice, the plant, up to 0.75 m tall, has long-stalked basal leaves and shorter stalked stem leaves, its small, yellowish white flowers form loose umbels, the fruit, or seed, is nearly ovoid in shape, about 3.5 mm long, and has five longitudinal dorsal ridges.

Anise oil is a volatile oil / essential oil which is obtained by steam distillation of the dried ripe crushed seeds of Pimpinella anisum, family Apiaceae / Umbelliferae, a colourless or a pale-yellow liquid, with characteristic aromatic odour, has a clean sweet top note, with a strong anistic [licorice-like] middle note, lightly tenacious with a woody anethole dry out, it has specific Gravity: 0,980 – 0,990, Refractive Index: 1,553 – 1,560, Optical Rotation: +1° to -2°, The active ingredient of Anise oil is trans-anethole 87 – 94 %, other ingredients are linalol 1,5 %, 5,0 % estragol, less than 1,2 % α-terpineol, 0,1 – 0,4 % cis-anethole, 0,1 – 1,4 % anisaldehyde, 0,3 – 2,0 % pseudo-iso-eugenyl-2-methyl-butyrate.

Therapeutic uses:
The medicinal properties of anise come from the chemicals that are present in the fruits, the anethole in anise helps to relieve gas and settle an upset stomach, aids in digestion, Anise warms the abdomen, dispels gas [especially after eating beans] and is helpful for belching / send out gas from the stomach noisily through the mouth, vomiting, chronic diarrhea, abdominal pains, sluggish digestion, especially good for children with stomachaches, the chemicals creosol and alpha-pinene act as expectorants, loosening mucus and making it easier to cough up, anise oil is a common ingredient of cough preparations, the estrogenic action of anise is from the chemicals dianethole and photoanethole, which act in a way similar to estrogen, as a medicinal plant, anise has been used as an antibacterial, an antimicrobial, an antiseptic, an antispasmodic, a breath freshener, a carminative, a diaphoretic, a digestive aid, a diuretic, a mildly expectorant, a mild estrogenic, a mild muscle relaxant, a parasiticide, a stimulant, and a stomachic, anise oil is also used in aromatherapy.
It may cause contact dermatitis, probably due to its anethole content [Martidale, the complete drug reference, 35th edition, 2007].

Aromatherapic uses:
energizes a fatigued mind, cheering, mildly euphoric, sense enhancing.

Star Anise Oil [Oleum Anisi Stellati / Oil of Star Anise]

Illicium verum, is an evergreen tree family Illiciaceae / Magnoliaceae, indigenous to the southeastern part of China to Vietnam, the dried fruit called Star anise, has flavour similar to those of anise, the fruit takes its name from the star-like arrangement of its carpals around a central axis, the dried fruit is about 0.25 to 0.5 cm in diameter; individual carpals are usually about 1 cm in length and contain a single seed, dried carpals are hard, rough, and reddish brown; the seeds are smooth, lustrous [smooth & shining surface], and light brown in colour. The dried fruit containing not less than 7 % v/w of’essential oil, a minimum of 86 % trans-anethole in the essential oil, other ingredients are chavicol, methyl chavicol, foeniculin, limonene, linalool, nerolidol and cinnamyl acetate.

Therapeutic & Aromatherapic uses:
Star Anise is a warm, aromatic herb that is not only an important ingredient in Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines, but has also been used to relieve digestive disturbances, it is said to be particularly helpful in cases of gastric distress, including flatulence, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting, it also a stimulating herb that is believed to relieve complaints that are associated with cold conditions, flu, bronchitis, coughing, lumbago, and rheumatism, it is considered an antibacterial, antifungal, and expectorant, has been used to relieve bronchitis, and has even been included in cough mixtures to relieve dry coughs, as well as a flavoring.
Neurotoxicity has been associated with the use of star anise infusions in infants, the toxicity is attributed to adulteration or contamination of Chinese star anise [Illicium verum] with Japanese star anise [ Illicium anisatum / Shikimi fruit] which contains toxic sesquiterpene lactones such as anisatin [Martidale, the complete drug reference, 35th edition, 2007].

Also Read:
Growing up Green, for Healthier Prenatal Babies
Growing up Green, for Healthy Newborn Babies
Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [1]
Cajuput Oil, the people's Green Health Cares
Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [3]

Cajuput Oil, the people’s Green Health Cares.

Cajuput Oil, Genuine, Natural, Pure,

Essential Oil of Indonesia Origin.

Having broad medicinal properties,

multi purpose uses by people for generations

Cajuput History 1848

Oil of Cajeput / Cajuput Oil has been known in Europe for above two centuries, Rumphius first described the tree which produces it under the name of Arbor alba, a literal translation of one of its Malay names, Cayu-puti [Kayu Putih], or White-tree, several botanists have described it in more recent times, but the species was generally mistaken until the researches of Sir J.Smith, published in 1819 in Rees' Cyclopaedia, and those of Roxburgh, first made public after his death by Mr.Colebrooke in the Medico Botanical Transactions for 1828.

Rumphius accurately distinguishes two closely allied species under the names Arbor alba, major and minor, the former was generally considered the source of cajeput-oil / cajuput oil, probably because the Malays apply to it chiefly the name of Cayuputi, its more correct Malay name, however, being Cayu-Gelam. This is the Melaleuca Leucadendron of modern botanists, an inhabitant of most of the Moluccas Isles [Maluku Islands], and abounding on Amboyna [Ambon], but more especially on Boerou [Buru Island] and Ceram [Seram Island].

It appears, however, from the inquiries of Smith and of Roxburgh that the usual reference to this species is a mistake; that the Arbor alba major of Rumphius, contrary to his statement, has no odour ; and that cajeput oil is the produce only of his Arbor alba minor, the Melaleuca minor of Smith as well as Decandolle, or Melaleuca cajuputi of Roxburgh, Lindley, and others, this plant belongs to the Linnaean class, order Polyadelphia, and to the natural family Myrtacese, it is a crooked tree, about twenty feet high, a native of several of the Moluccas Isles [Maluku], especially of Boerou [Buru Island] and Manipa, and also of the southern part of Borneo [Kalimantan], but not of Amboyna [Ambon]

Map of Indonesia,

showing the location of Moluccas / Maluku Islands

Map of South Moluccas Islands Group,

showing the location of Buru Island, west of Ambon Island.

Buru Island’s Cajuput Oil

well-known as one of the premium quality.

Cajuput Tree:

The tree has a long flexible trunk with irregular ascending branches, covered with a pale thick, lamellated [fibrous] bark it is soft and spongy and from time to time throws off its outer layer in flakes, a tall evergreen tree up to 30 metres high, the flexible trunk has a whitish spongy bark, which flakes off easily, in Indonesia it is called kaju-putih, meaning white wood, leaves entire linear, lanceolate [slender and pointed, needle-like], ash colour, alternate on short foot-stalks, flowers sessile, white, on a long spike, the leaves have a very aromatic odour, cajuput tree also known as White tea-tree, Broad-leaved tea-tree, Paper-barked tea-tree, Swamp tea-tree, and White-wood.

image for illustration only

Cajuput Oil

Cajeput oil / Oleum Cajuputi USP 1820 – 1936, Chemical Abstract Service [CAS] Registry Number 008008-98-8, is an essential oil / volatile oil obtained by steam distillation in copper vessels / stills [at a home industry] of fresh leaves and twigs of the plant Melaleuca leucadendron Linn / Melaleuca cajuputi Roxburgh / Melaleuca minor Decandolle, family Myrtaceae, and rectified by steam distillation, it takes approximately 60-70 kg of leaves and twigs to make 1 kg of cajuput essential oil, a pale yellow or greenish volatile oil due to the traces of copper [from copper still used in steam distillation] that have been detected in the oil and this may explain its green tint, the green color is not essential, and may be removed by distillation, it is due chiefly to the presence of copper, and partly to the presence of some altered chlorophyll, it has a distinctly camphoraceous odour, and an aromatic, bitterish taste, levorotatory [leftist optical rotation] has specific gravity of 0.922 to 0.929 at 15° C [equivalent to 59° F]. it is originally produced in Indonesia, previously well-known from Buru Island, in South Molucass Islands group [see map], but now has been heavily cultivated in various regions in Java Island [see map], several other species of Melaleuca leucadendron are utilized such as Melaleuca hypericifolia, Melaleuca veridifolia, Melaleuca lalifolia, Melaleuca paraguayensis, the Australian species Melaleuca decussata and Melaleuca erucifolia are also used, cajeput oil / oil of cajuput contains 50 to 65 % of 1,8-cineole / eucalyptol [also called cajuputol], it is used internally as a carminative, stimulant and diaphoretic, externally used as a parasiticide.

Distillation of Cajuput Oil

home industry, cajuput oil distillation using copper still.

The steam containing essential oil vapour, leaves the still and passes into a condenser by way of a "goose-neck", some sort of gauze or screen is often fitted at the mouth of the goose-neck to prevent plant material being blown over into the condenser, in the condenser the vapours are cooled and condense, the vapours pass through a coiled tube contained in a water bath, and condensate is obtained at the bottom of the condenser tube, it is important that condensation is complete or oil may be lost by evaporation, the mixture of water and essential oil then leaves the condenser and flows into a separator, called a florentine flask, in which they separate into two layers, the essential oil will generally be lighter than water, the oil floats to the surface and the distillate water drains away.

Constituents of Cajuput Oil:

The principal constituent of Cajuput oil is 1,8-cineole [cajeputene hydrate / eucalyptol / cajuputol / C₁₀H₁₈O], which should average 50 to 65 %, solid terpineol is also present and several aldehydes such as valeric-aldehyde, butyric-aldehyde and benzoic-aldehyde, terpinyl-acetate, pinene, nerolidol, both free and as an ester of acetic acid, and small amounts of terpenes, such as laevo-pinene, other compounds include: farnesol, phytol, squalene, alloaromadendrene, ledene, palustrol, viridiflorol, ledol, betulinaldehyde, betulinic acid, platanic acid, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene, α-terpinene, limonene, γ-terpinene, ρ-cymene, terpinolene, linaolool, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol.

1,8 Cineole / Eucalyptol / Cajuputol

Medicinal actions and Therapeutic uses:

Cajuput essential oil has stimulant and relaxant activity and is used both internally and externally.

Externally uses / Topical uses:

• as embrocation [rubbing] for the relieve of stomach disorder, colitis with hemorrhage and impetigo.
• works by stimulating the circulation around the point of application, has been used since the 17^th century as a remedy for rheumatism, it provides deep, penetrating action and soothing relief for muscular and rheumatic aches / pains, pulled muscles or ligaments, sprains, bruises, muscle tension, slipped disk, low-back pain, and sciatica.
• mildly counter-irritant for mosquito and insect bites.
• used as baby massage oil or an ointment for all painful conditions, especially arthritis and rheumatism, may also be helpful due to its pain relieving properties for sports injuries, muscle stiffness and general aches and pain.
• has strong antibacterial activity, shows antiseptic properties, for the treatment of psoriasis and other skin infections, treatment of candida yeast infections, external sores and abscesses, boils, carbuncles, cuts, scrapes, ringworm and external fungus infection such as athletes foot, head lice
• as a vaginal douche in cases of “erosion of the cervix” and gonorrhea.
• useful for the treatment of oily skin.
• used as a fragrance and freshening agent in soaps, cosmetics, detergents and perfumes

Internally uses / Inhalation uses:

• when vaporized soothes bronchial and sinus passages and relieves sore throat, stopped up sinuses, fever, tight chest, laryngitis, pains, toothaches,
• Aromatherapic uses: as a tonic to the nervous system and may be used to alleviate fatigue, drowsiness and restlessness.
• in combination with other medicinal oils, by promoting sweating, cajuput oil cools down the body and helps with such infections as colds / flu, pharyngitis and pneumonia, it is also helpful for asthma, sinusitis and a sore throat.

Internally uses / Ingestion:

• it warms the stomach, highly stimulant, producing a sensation of warmth, it calms the digestive system, soothes colic, enteritis, dysentery, vomiting and spasms, as carminative and local analgesic properties
• as an antiseptic in cystitis and as an anthelmintic for round worms,
• as a stimulating expectorant in chronic laryngitis and bronchitis,
• occasionally employed as a flavor component in food products and soft drinks

Safety used of Cajuput Oil:

1. Cajuput oil is non toxic and non sensitizing, however may irritate the skin, therefore it needs to be well diluted with carrier oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil etc, and never allowed to come into contact with mucous membranes, open wounds and eyes.
2. Possible drug interactions: no interactions have been reported.
3. For pregnant or breast feeding women: no harmful effects are known.

Back to:

Growing up Green, for healthy babies & kids [2]

Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [1]

Green Personal Baby Care,

en route to a Greener Life.

Being a Green Parent is not always just about keeping the baby safe,

it’s about accepting our responsibility to ensure that what we use is safe.

You are my everything,

*if we can’t eat it, don’t put it on his skin*!!!

[the rule of thumb]

Before going through Green Baby Care Products, let us take a look on the term relating to the age of the young ones:

• Baby…..........: newborn (post natal) - 3 months
• Infant…...…..: 4 months- 12 months
• Toddle….......: 1 year old (at first birthday) - 2 years
• Preschooler...: 3-4 years old
• Kid / child…..: Kindergarten: 5 -11 years old

is not really a formal term, it is more casual, slang, that can refer to any aged child,

as the kids reach their toddler years, they may enjoy a lot of the same things and have similar interests.

• Tween………: 12 years old
• Teens……….: 13-19 years old

• adolescent….: from 11-17,
• Adult………..: legally at 18 you can consider someone an adult but some may say 21.

Adolescent....: from 11-17,

Consider products that stated *Hypoallergenic Tested, *Dermatologist Tested,

Natural products are undoubtedly better for the baby.

be an Environment Aware Consumer, be a Green Parent.

Part 1: Green Baby & Oils

Newborns’ skin:

Baby's skin is different from ours, his / her skin is thinner only 40% to 60% the thickness of adult skin, other opinion says generally around five times thinner than an adult’s skin, more fragile and less oily, newborn baby’s skin is a unique and essential shield that offers protection from the outside world, it plays an important role in maintaining health, more susceptible to irritants, it defends against irritants, toxins and infections, the skin also regulates infant's internal temperature, and is a tool for exploring the world through touch, it also produces less melanin, the substance that helps keep away / ward off sunburn, it is less resistant to bacteria and harmful substances in the environment, especially if it is irritated, newborn baby also sweats less efficiently, can lose moisture more quickly, infant skin absorbs and loses moisture at a faster rate than more mature skin, so it is harder for he / she to maintain their inner body temperature, in a recent clinical study, 90 percent of mothers thought their infant's skin was not dry, when in fact 60 percent of their infants had signs of dry skin! so it's a good idea to protect the infant's skin and keep it healthy, soft and not stiff [supple] by applying a moisturizer frequently, especially after a bath or diaper change.

Baby / Infant Massage:

Massage can relax babies, improve their sleep patterns, and calm them when they are irritable, baby / infant massage should last about 15 minutes, but even a short massage is good for the baby / infant, using a lotion or oil that is gentle enough for baby's / infant’s skin will help reduce friction and make the massage more soothing, choose products that have been passed hypoallergenic-tested ^[1] as well as dermatologist-tested ^[2] so it's sure safer for massage, baby / infant massage is a good thing, massaging him / her can be calming for both mother and baby and a great time to gain confidence with each other, it encompasses and supports vital aspects of human bonding, baby massage bonds parents to babies and babies to parents, touch is the first language of baby, touch during massage is a very powerful element in human bonding, as communication, both verbal and non-verbal, and prolonged eye contact, bonding has been defined as a unique relationship between two persons [mother and her baby / infant] that is specific and endures through time, it is said to strengthen the bond with the baby, which makes the baby happier and aids digestion, baby / infant massage will stimulate the immune system and promotes the growth of myelin, the protective insulator around motor nerves that enables nerve impulses to travel faster, this means their fine motor skills may develop more quickly, it is also said as a life safer, it doesn’t help them off to sleep, but also deals with their digestive problems, including colic, particularly in the early weeks and months, delayed bonding may occur due to situations such as premature birth, recovery from caesarean, medical complications, adoption, lack of physical and emotional support and post natal depression, in these cases baby / infant massage can begin to recreate the elements of bonding.

^[1] Hypoallergenic is a term coined by advertisers, and first used in a cosmetics campaign in 1953, it is used to describe items, especially cosmetics and textiles that cause or are claimed to cause fewer allergic reactions.

The American Food and Drug Administration has stated, Hypoallergenic cosmetics are products that manufacturers claim produce fewer allergic reactions than other cosmetic products. Consumers with hypersensitive skin, and even those with "normal" skin, may be led to believe that these products will be gentler to their skin than non-hypoallergenic cosmetics. There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term "hypoallergenic." The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean. Manufacturers of cosmetics labeled as hypoallergenic are not required to submit substantiation of their hypoallergenicity claims to FDA. The term hypoallergenic may have considerable market value in promoting cosmetic products to consumers on a retail basis, but dermatologists say it has very little meaning.

^[2] Almost all cosmetics can cause allergic reactions in certain individuals. Often the first sign of a reaction is a mild redness and irritation. There is no list of ingredients that can be guaranteed not to cause allergic reactions, so consumers who are prone to allergies should pay careful attention to what they use on their skin.

Hypoallergenic: implies that products making this claim are less likely to cause allergic reactions. There are no prescribed scientific studies required to substantiate this claim. Likewise, the terms "dermatologist-tested," "sensitivity tested," "allergy tested," or "nonirritating" carry no guarantee that they won't cause skin reactions.

The traditional strategy of safety assessment of cosmetic products was an evaluation by animal testing for single substances as well as for finished products. Since the beginning of the eighties more and more efforts have been made to substitute classical tests with animals through in-vitro methods or other alternatives. Nowadays, many data can be obtained by direct dermatologie observation in humans. The general conditions valid for tests with humans are dealt with and a standard test strategy for dermatological tests is presented.

Do and Don’t for babies:

Organic oils and creams are food for your baby’s skin and can extremely soothing, if product is labeled hypoallergenic, it does not necessarily mean it is not allergenic to everyone, it just means that it doesn’t contain ingredients that are common allergens.

Do:

1. Use beeswax ^[3] a natural wax produced by honey bees, instead of petroleum jelly.

^[3] Beeswax is an ester, the empirical formula for beeswax is C₁₅H₅₁COOC₃₀H₆₁, its main components are palmitate, palmitoleate, hydroxypalmitate and oleate esters of long-chain (30-32 carbons) aliphatic alcohols, with the ratio of triacontanylpalmitate CH₃(CH₂)₂₉O-CO-(CH₂)₁₄CH₃ to cerotic acid CH₃(CH₂)₂₄COOH, the two principal components, being 6:1.

2. For baby oils: use olive oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, palm kernel oil,
3. Use lavender hydrolats ^[4] roman chamomile hydrolats for babies under 6 months, because they contain some of the same properties of the plant material of essential oils.

^[4] Hydrolats / Hydrosols are the final water by-product left over after the steam distillation of a plant has been completed. Most essential oil distillations use the same water over and over again in a process known as cohobation [the process of repeated distillation of the same matter, with the liquid drawn from that liquid being poured again and again upon the matter left at the bottom of the vessel], at the end of each distillation cycle, there will be a high concentration of water soluble elements in the water. These waters are known as hydrolats or hydrosols, genuine hydrolats are a totally natural by product of hydro / steam distillation and are free from any preservative or fragrance enhancements.

4. Use natural products, as natural products are undoubtedly better for the babies / infants, as well as for mothers.

Don’t:

1. Avoid products that contains: surface active agents [surfactants]: sodium laury sulphate [SLS], sodium laureth sulphate [SLES] and the like., SLS and SLES are associated with eczema and cancer.
2. Avoid products that contains alcohol, monoethanolamine [MEA], diethanolamine [DEA], triethanolamine [TEA],or cocamide, there are concerned that they may form nitrosamine which is carcinogen.
3. Avoid fragrances and fragranced products, because babies are more sensitive than adults, better take their hydrolats, but if essential oils should be used, use certified organic essential oils that are free from exposure to chemical fertilizers, to harmful herbicides and pesticides, never use essential oils undiluted on the skin [dilute with vegetable oils], be careful to take away from the eyes, never take essential oils internally, always keep essential oils out of reach of baby and children.
4. Avoid products that contain benzoic acid synthesized preservatives: parabens family, like methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, non smelly preservatives used to kill bacteria, fungus and yeasts in shampoos, bubble baths, nappy rash, lotions, ointments, baby wipes, toothpaste. Parabens was said penetrate the skin and get into the bloodstream, have been found in cancerous tumours, particularly in breast tissue, they are also oestrogen mimics and have been involved / implicated in a number of health issues.
5. Phathalate that found in synthetic fragrances / perfumes, which have been linked to reproductive damage,
6. Avoid skin products that use propylene glycol stearate in it, as it is an ingredient in antifreeze.
7. Avoid products containing anti fungus: imidazolidinyl-urea, diazolidinyl-urea.
8. Avoid uses PVC containers, better uses HDPE, PP, and PET / PETE containers.

Baby Oils:

Baby oil is a common product in many families' homes, with lots of uses, including cleaning baby's skin and infant massage, conventional baby oil comes from petroleum, it helps lock in moisture with the smooth, silky feel that only an oil can provide, but even though it is highly purified, there is some research showing that it may not be the best choice for baby's skin, perhaps the biggest danger of baby oil is baby accidentally getting a hold of it and ingesting it, baby oil contains almost 100% mineral oil which has many hazardous side effects, that could hurt them,

Mineral oil / White oil ^[5] is a petroleum ingredient, it comes from crude mineral oil, is essentially a waste product from the distillation of gasoline from oil, it consists of long alkanes, with a length of the carbon chain of about 20, only highly purified petrolatum can be used in cosmetics, this is quite different from a vegetable oil like coconut oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, which is a triglyceride, the important from a biological point of view is our body can digest most vegetable oils, but cannot do so with mineral oil, mineral oil works as a laxative by lubricating the colon, the only advantage of mineral oil is that it does not spoil or become rancid, unlike vegetable oil which can easily be oxidized to become rancid, the most significant hazard is that mineral oil blocks the pores of the skin, it coats the skin like plastic wrap, this does not allow the skin to breathe and prevents the natural release of toxins from the skin, since the skin is the body's largest elimination organ, this is a serious health hazard, especially for a baby, when applied, mineral oil can promote acne and other skin disorders, mineral oil also slows down normal cell development and causes the skin to prematurely age, another significant problem with mineral oil for babies is that it may possibly cause vitamin deficiencies because it is absorbed into the skin, gets processed by the liver and then nutrients get bound by the oil, blocking their absorption.

^[5] White oil is any of various colorless odorless tasteless mineral oils used especially in medicine, pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations, white oil is manufactured with a mixture of paraffinic and naphthenic hydrocarbons of the highest purity, white oil meets FDA requirements for use in applications where direct, indirect or incidental contact with food may occur, it may be used to lubricate machinery, protect against moisture or control dust on grains and animal feed, it also is used as a component in certain consumer products, such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and may be used as smoke oil at air shows

Danger of mineral oil used for medicinal and cosmetic:

According to the International Agency for Research into Cancer in Geneva, mineral oils are probably carcinogenic as analyses of mineral oils used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes reveal the presence of several carcinogenic PAH [polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons]^[6] which are in the Eighth Report on Carcinogens, including benzofluoranthene, benzofluoranthene, and benzo-α-pyrene. They're noted as a human teratogen by inhalation which has caused testicular tumours in the foetus. they are also skin and eye irritants and may be implicated in aspirational pneumonia.

^[6] Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical compounds that consist of fused aromatic rings and do not contain heteroatoms or carry substituents, PAHs occur in oil, coal, and tar deposits, and are produced as byproducts of fuel burning [whether fossil fuel or biomass], as a pollutant, they are of concern because some compounds have been identified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic. PAHs are also found in cooked foods, such as grilled meats

Vegetable oils suitable for making Green Baby Oils:

We took for granted that these ingredients were safe in the products we had grown up with !

Jojoba oil is a botanical extract of the seed of the jojoba tree [Simmondsia chinensis], Jojoba is safe for all sensitive skin, including newborns, Jojoba mimics the sebum found naturally in human skin and can replenish skin that has become dry due to age, weather, environmental pollutants or stresses, with anti-biotic and anti-fungal properties, Jojoba prevents infections from developing in exposed abrasions and speed the healing process while preventing scar tissue from forming, it isn’t actually just an oil, but rather what we call a wax ester, because out of all of the compounds in nature, this wax ester is the most similar to human skin oil [sebum], it is theorized that applying jojoba to the skin can trick the skin into thinking it is producing enough oil, thus balancing oil production, natural jojoba oil serves as an excellent moisturizing agent with exceptional spread. The lubrication properties leave a rich velvety non-oily feel on the skin, while retarding water loss and enhancing the flexibility and suppleness of the skin, Jojoba is completely miscible with the natural sebum of the skin, and when used on the skin forms a very thin, non-greasy lipoid layer, this layer is partially porous and provides exceptional trans-epidermal respiration and moisture control. Unlike greasy occlusive materials such as petrolatum, mineral oils and some lanolin products, jojoba oil provides an absolutely non-tacky, non-oily and non-greasy, dry softening to the skin, it also significantly reduces trans-epidermal water loss, without totally blocking the transpiration of gases and water vapor.

Calendula oil [Calendula arvensis]

Coconut oil [Cocos nucifera]

Palm Kernel Oil [Elaies guinensis]

Certified organic essential oils:

Cajuput oil [Melaleuca leucadendron]

Eucalyptus oil [Eucalyptus globules]

Tea tree oil [Melaleuca alternifolia]

Fennel oil [Foeniculum vulgare]

Anise oil [Pimpinella anisum]

Rose oil [Rosa damascene]

Vanilla [Vanilla planifolia]

Ravensara [Ravensara aromatica]

Certified organic hydrolats:

Roman chamomile hydrolats [Matricaria chamomile]

Lavender hydrolats [Lavandula officinalis]

Footnote:

the rule of thumb * The rule of thumb means a method of procedure based on experience and common sense

To be continues with: Telon Oil – the pure natural baby oil of Indonesia origin.

Sample of Telon oil.

Also Read :

Growing up Green, for Healthier Prenatal Babies.

Growing up Green, for Healthy Newborn Babies.

Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kid [2]
Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [3]