GUEST POST FROM ABBY&FINN

Ingredients matter, particularly when it comes to our children.  Here are some tips from the experts at ABBY&FINN about ingredients and what you need to know when shopping for non-toxic diapers & baby wipes for the little ones in your life.

Like My Mother Always Used to Say… 

“Wear sunscreen, don’t touch your face, drink lots of water, eating chocolate will give you acne!” So many of us remember tidbits that our parents told us along the way, about tips and tricks that have been passed on from generation to generation. 



However, with each generation we learn more about the importance of clean products and what we should put on our skin and why. Maybe more importantly though, is what’s not included in a list of ingredients and understanding what to avoid using on our skin and in our bodies. 

As we do the research to perfect our skincare routine, we also know the value of choosing safe products for our children, especially when it comes to baby’s sensitive skin. Ingredients like dyes, fragrances, latex, heavy metals or harmful chemicals can commonly irritate the skin, cause an allergic reaction and be considered toxic. Many conventional brands use these items in their products and it’s important to try to avoid these additives when possible. 

Ingredients to Avoid in Diapers and Wipes

Totally Chlorine Free (TCF)  Vs. Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF)

Diapers that are marked using TCF pulp means that the bleaching process does not use chlorine or chlorine derivatives. It is a much safer process because it uses oxygen, peroxide, or ozone-based bleaching systems. These methods are safer than using chlorine because they do not generate dioxins. This is the safest bleaching method you’ll find being used in diapers at this time.

Diapers that are marketed using ECF pulp means that elemental chlorine is not used. However, the pulp is bleached with chlorine dioxide, which is a chlorine derivative and itself is a hazardous substance. This process reduces dioxins, but it is believed that it doesn’t fully eliminate them.

Dyes and Dye-based Ink

Look for products that use natural, water-based pigment inks instead of dye-based inks for diaper designs. Pigments are finely ground particles of color, whereas dyes are chemicals. Pigments are painted onto the surface of the material, while dyes bind to the material via a chemical reaction. Pigment-based inks are more water resistant, less prone to smudging and are more UV resistant. 

Keep in mind that some diapers that appear “natural” in color are created to look this way by using a combination of pigments that result in a light brown color versus white or patterned.

In addition, the standard wetness indicator used in diapers is an adhesive that turns color when wet. Depending on the specific ingredients used, this may not be the most natural and clean option for baby’s skin.

Fragrances, Lotions and Parabens

The average number of ingredients in the most popular wipe brands is 9, some of which are unrecognizable and hard to pronounce. Avoiding added fragrances, soaps, alcohols and parabens in wipes can help to eliminate a potential skin reaction. 

That said, fewer ingredients may not always be better. There is a lot of talk about “clean” wipes. Here’s the thing though, if a wipe used just water, as some encourage, it could irritate the skin and dry it out. In addition, if a product contains water, preservatives are necessary to eliminate the breeding of mold and bacteria. 

When selecting your wipe of choice, find one that uses as few ingredients as possible while being safe and useful. For example, ABBY&FINN baby wipes are made with 99.7% triple purified water plus just three other purposeful ingredients, all of which you can pronounce: 

• Water - triple purified to remove heavy metals and minerals
• Natural Soybean Amino Acid - antibacterial agent
• Organic Aloe Vera - provides healing and anti-inflammatory properties
• Natural Vitamin E- helps support immune system, cell function and skin health 

There are many choices one has to make as a parent and it can often feel overwhelming. Trust your instincts, ask your pediatrician and get advice from fellow moms - but a good rule of thumb is to choose products that are transparent and have a clean ingredient list, while being effective and purposeful. These choices don’t have to break the bank either! 

Just as Intelligent Elixirs is a great option for mama, ABBY&FINN is a company committed to making everyday eco-friendly products for baby at an affordable price.

Who Is ABBY&FINN?
A company started by parents, for parents, ABBY&FINN is dedicated to making high quality, eco-friendly products that are free of harmful chemicals and gentle on kids’ sensitive skin. From the changing table to the bathtub, they offer a flexible subscription model, allowing parents to customize their box with a mix of baby’s everyday essentials, and pause or edit shipping at any time. 

The diapers are on average 20% more affordable than other Totally Chlorine Free brands and with every bundle purchased, the company donates diapers to families in need across the U.S. ABBY&FINN was founded with a mission of helping eliminate diaper need.  To solidify their commitment, they included the give back in their name (FINN stands for Families IN Need). 

ABBY&FINN products are Totally Chlorine free and free of fragrances, lotions, dyes, latex and heavy metals.

Meet Amanda Little, Co-founder ABBY&FINN:

Amanda is a Colorado native, a mother of two girls and is the co-founder of the diaper subscription company ABBY&FINN. ABBY&FINN started when she and her husband realized they were spending over $180 a month to diaper their two girls, which they thought was nuts! They wanted to use high quality products that were free of harmful chemicals and gentle on their kids’ sensitive skin, but didn’t think it needed to be so expensive. The "by parent for parent" brand strives to provide families with a convenient, affordable and high quality solution for delivering baby’s everyday essentials while helping to save time and money.

Never tried ABBY&FINN? They were kind enough to share a special promotion!

Promo code: FRIENDSANDFAMILY for $10 off First Diapers and Wipes Bundle.