Product Review: Britax Frontier 85 SICT

The BRITAX FRONTIER 85 SICT Combination Harness-2-Booster Seat offers excellent safety features, multifunction capability, and an adaptable design to keep your child safe and comfortable for years to come. The seat serves as a forward-facing harnessed seat for children up to 85 pounds, and as a belt-positioning booster seat for children up to 120 pounds.  The Frontier 85 SICT is designed to provide the ultimate in safety for high capacity car seats. Loaded with comfort and convenience features, such as an easy-remove cover, comfort foam, integrated cup holders and fixed armrests, the Frontier 85 SICT is the ideal seat for your child graduating from their convertible car seat without compromising safety.

In my opinion: the Cadillac of booster seats!  This seat has all the safety features of a convertible seat but can hold a child of just about any size after 25 lbs.  In fact, this seat can hold ME!  So it’s PERFECT for car pool, sharing rides with kids of varying ages and sizes.

The features I always recommend people look for when shopping for a car seat, whether infant, convertible, or booster, are 1) safety, 2) ease of installation and use and 3) car compatibility. The safest car seats are not the most expensive, they are the seats that are installed correctly in your car. However, not all car seats are made the same, and Britax has been making car seats for over 70 years and is the leader in safety.  A trusted name for sure!

You may ask, “When do I move my child to a Booster seat?”  Good question!  A booster seat is a type of child restraint that does not typically have a five-point harness system, but rather rely on the vehicle seat belt system to keep your child restrained. The booster seat elevates your child so that the vehicle seat belt is positioned properly over your child. Booster seats should be used in the rear vehicle seat with a lap and shoulder seat belt system, never a lap belt-only.


However, the Frontier 85 and Frontier 85 SICT  are a combination seat that starts out as a forward facing seat with a 5-point harness, and then transforms into a belt-positioning seat.  You should keep your child in a 5-point harness as long as possible, as it is much safer than a lap belt alone.

Designed with advanced technology to keep children protected and in a five-point harness for as long as possible, the FRONTIER 85 SICT Combination Harness-2-Booster Seat helps safely graduate children who are at least two years old and weigh at least 25 pounds from their convertible car seats. By removing the harness, the FRONTIER 85 SICT is easily converted to a booster seat for older children who are at least 4 years old and 40 pounds.

Some other features of the Frontier 85 sict:

• Side Impact Cushion Technology features energy-absorbing cushions on the exterior of the child seat to reduce side impact crash energy by 45 percent
• True Side Impact Protection distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, and keeps the head, neck, and spine aligned to limit injury
• Versa-Tether features a staged-release tether webbing that minimizes forward movement in a crash by anchoring the top of the child seat at two points
• Adjustable five-point harness ensures a safe, snug fit for children up to 85 pounds
• Tangle Free, Five-Point Harness with 10 harness height positions (up to 20") and three buckle positions for a snug and secure fit as your child grows
• Compatible with SecureGuard which works with the vehicle safety belt in booster mode to prevent the child from sliding under the lap-belt portion of the safety belt during impact, thus minimizing the risk of abdominal injury (accessory sold separately)
• Quick-Adjust, No-Rethread Harness repositions the harness shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps

Age/Weight Requirements:
Two years and 25 to 85 pounds in harness mode; 40 to 120 pounds in booster mode

I received the Frontier 85 sict for review and I can tell you that my almost four year old son likes riding in it as much as I love the safety features of it!  It’s a big seat, no doubt, but sometimes bigger does mean better (when safety is concerned).

Beyond BPA – The 5 Toxics You Might Be Missing

from Stroller Traffic

As the former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World and co-founder (with Jessica Alba) of The Honest Company, Christopher Gavigan knows a thing or two about hidden toxics. In honor of Earth Day, we've asked him to shed some light on the potential dangers new parents might be missing—right in our own homes.


"I’ve spent my entire career educating and inspiring people to question and research the products they bring into their homes," says Gavigan. "It’s especially important for parents of young children because babies are SO much more vulnerable to toxic chemicals. And, while BPA and phthalates have been on the media radar for the past five years, there are other exposures that are just as serious. Here are five important ones, along with simple ways to reduce your family's exposure.


1. Tris and Penta-BDE. In a recent study of 101 commonly used baby products, researchers found that 80 contained flame retardant additives—chemicals linked to cancer, loss of fertility, and other deleterious health effects in animal studies. Flame retardants like the ones found in this study can migrate out of products, latch on to household dust, and then end up in our bodies.


What you can do: Try to avoid cushions, couch pillows, and anything with foam labeled as meeting California TB 117 (the regulation requiring the addition of flame retardants). Instead, look for foam and cushions made with polyester, down, wool, or cotton as they are unlikely to contain these toxic flame retardants. Also, dust regularly with a damp cloth since these chemicals typically end up in dust around your home and on floors.


2. Cell phone radiation. There is growing biological evidence that microwave radiation from cell phones has deleterious impacts, and epidemiologic studies are finding increased risks of brain cancer after a decade of heavy use. Because children's skulls, brains, and bodies are thinner and more vulnerable, we should take steps to protect them from the potential impact of microwave radiation from cell phones.


What you can do: It’s simple: keep cell phones away from children. If your child likes to play with your smart phone, put it on airplane mode (reception turned OFF).


3. Lead. Many parents think they don’t have to worry about lead unless they live in an old house and their child eats paint chips. Not true. Lead poisoning is still a serious issue; children can suffer lifelong impacts from extremely minute exposures.


What you can do: Have your home tested (especially if your home has paint in poor condition and was built before 1978). You can also test your water for lead, and even test your child’s blood level for lead (ask your pediatrician). Beyond testing, be sure your family and guests remove their shoes before entering your home, to avoid tracking in lead from soil outside; 80 percent of lead in the home can be reduced by simply taking off your shoes. And of course be sure to wash your children's hands often, especially before they eat, and before nap time and bed time, as well.


4. BHA, Acesulfame-K, Dextrose, and other food contaminants. Whether it’s something leaching from packaging (like BPA), or  arsenic in rice, or pink slime in beef, it’s becoming abundantly clear that we need to know more about our food.


What you can do: Opt for organic whenever possible and choose whole, fresh foods instead of processed, packaged ones. Shop more at your farmers' market, and do your best to avoid the following five additives (as recommended by pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene): artificial colors (anything that begins with FD&C—e.g., FD&C Blue #1); chemical preservatives (Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Sodium Nitrate ); artificial sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame-K, Saccharin); added sugar (High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Dextrose, etc.); added salt (look at the sodium content and choose foods with the lowest amounts).


5. VOCs. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are fumes and gases released from sources like paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials, and furnishings. Unfortunately, not much is currently known about what health effects result from the levels of VOCs usually found in homes, but the US Environmental Protection Agency does know that indoor levels are typically much higher than outdoor levels.


What you can do: Open your windows for at least a few minutes every day; opt for non-toxic floor finishes, formaldehyde-free plywood and dry-wall, and carpeting without stain-treatments."
For more tips, visit The Honest Company for some non-toxic and safer product choices and pick up a copy of Gavigan's book, Healthy Child Healthy World.

5 Ways Organic Can Save Your Life & Bank Account

from Rodale.com

30 Years of Research Prove You Should Be Eating Organic

Virtually every problem we face today—from obesity and chronic diseases to climate chaos and unstable food prices—relates to the source of the food on your fork. Although organic farming has long been heralded by environmentalists, the health benefits of organic foodare overwhelmingly clear. Today, everyone from physicians to fitness buffs like Jillian Michaels say we need to eat organic so our bodies won't suffer the ill effects of food grown with toxic pesticides.
Not only is the food better for us, it's also better for the planet. For 30 years, the Rodale Institute has been conducting side-by-side field trials of organic and chemically grown produce to see which mode of farming can produce the highest yields for the best return on investment. Time and again, organic has won out. Here's a look at everything these trials have uncovered.

Organic Feeds Us When Weird Weather Strikes

No doubt, nature is one mad mother. And as we continue to see wild swings in weather due toclimate change, it's organic farming that will continue to keep supper on the table.
The facts: Rodale Institute data show that, during normal weather, organic and conventional farming produce about the same amount of food. But when weather starts to act up, organic wins out, producing 30 percent more in years of drought. That's notable considering that the biotechnology firms that produce genetically modified (GM) seeds are always bragging that biotech, not organic agriculture, is what farmers need to adapt to climate change. When the Institute introduced GM crops into the trials, it found that so-called "drought-tolerant" GM varieties only saw 7 to 13 percent improvement in crop yields during a drought.

Organic Can Help Stabilize a Wild Climate

Scientists overwhelmingly agree that human-generated greenhouse-gas emissions are causing climate change, which itself is causing stronger, deadlier storms, a rise in tropical diseases like dengue fever, increased insect-related illnesses like Lyme disease and West Nile virus, along with out-of-control allergies.
The facts: The Rodale Institute's Farming Systems Trial has shown that organic farming uses 45 percent less energy and is more efficient than chemical agriculture. Beyond that, chemical farming produces 40 percent more climate-altering greenhouse gases. Organic soil also holds more carbon in the ground and keeps it out of the atmosphere, where it leads to climate change.

Organic Farms Could Save You Money

One dollar hamburgers and 50-cent bottles of soda—America's cheap food addiction is made possible by chemical agriculture that relies on genetically modified crops and petroleum-based pesticides. But that cheap food comes with high costs that aren't accounted for in the dollar value you pay at the supermarket. .
The facts: It's true that pesticides have been linked to a variety of health problems, from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children to Parkinson's disease in adults. But they aren't the only toxic chemicals on farms. Pollution of drinking water supplies from the nitrogen and nitrates that seep out of fertilizers has been linked to reproductive problems, cancers, and spontaneous abortion. Based on Farming System Trial data, water leaching from the chemical farms was more likely to exceed the legal limit for nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in drinking water compared to the organic systems. You pay for these diseases and health problems at the doctor's office, and taxpayers wind up footing the bill for drinking water contamination.
Organic farming nixes the use of these chemicals, and organic soil is acts like a sponge and retains more nutrients, like nitrates, in times of flooding, reducing damage to neighbors downstream.

Organic Is Good For the Economy

Earlier this year, the nonprofit research firm Union of Concerned Scientists estimated that shifting a small amount of government subsidies from chemical systems that sicken us to to farmer's market programs could result in tens of thousands of new jobs. And the Rodale Institute has uncovered even more impressive numbers.
The facts: The Institute's 30-year trial revealed that organic systems were nearly three times more profitable than the chemical agriculture systems. Organic systems saw net returns of $558 per acre per year, versus just $190 per acre per year for chemical systems. Research from the United Nations and others has also shown that organic farms provide 30 percent more jobs per hectare than nonorganic farms, and that organic farmers net $45,697 in profit, compared with just $25,448 for nonorganic farmers.

What Baby’s Playing With That Isn’t Safe

from thebump.com

You know the drill: When you’re out running errands with baby, you give him your keys or your cell phone to keep him from going nuts in the grocery store (we’ve all done it!). But is it really safe to give baby certain everyday objects? We had experts give us the inside scoop.

Keys
Babies love the shininess and sounds of keys -- and the real deal are way more fun than those plastic keys -- but are they really okay? Jeffrey Berkowitz, MD, a pediatrician at Pediatric Specialists of Plano in Texas, says nope. “Keys are made of brass, which may contain small amounts of lead,” says Berkowitz. “Additionally, keys can cause injury to the mouth if the child falls while he’s sucking on them.” Instead, stick to the plastic ones. They might not be as shiny, but at least he can put them in his mouth without harming himself. Or if baby likes the cold feel of the metal in his mouth, we love the teething jewelry from Momma’s Jewels. Baby grabs at your necklace when you’re holding him anyway, so why not splurge for a sterling-silver one that’s specifically designed so baby can chomp away safely?

TV Remote
Baby might be intrigued by the remote, especially because he sees how much the grown-ups grab for it. But you’ll want to keep it away from him. “Remotes aren’t safe to play with,” says Berkowitz. “Remote controls contain batteries, which can be dangerous if ingested. Also, remote controls may have other small parts, which could break off and become a choking hazard.” When baby’s over 18 months, it’s okay for him to play with a remote-control toy, like the Fisher-Price Sesame Street Silly Sounds Remote ($35, Amazon.com).

iPad or other Tablets
It’s pretty common to let babies play with iPads, especially since now there are plenty of kid-friendly apps. But the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under two years old shouldn’t be exposed to screens, like the ones on tablets, smartphones and televisions. That’s because research has found that kids under two aren’t able to understand the educational content, and they learn best from unstructured, unplugged playtime and learn more from live presentations than from video. Monica Vila, founder of TheOnlineMom.com, a website that helps parents protect their kids when it comes to exposing them to technology, says, “Even though manufacturers come out with great, colorful apps for kids, they’re not designed for a baby or a small child to play with on his own; they’re designed for parents and babies to play with together.” Plus, electronic tablets have glass screens and batteries with electrical charges. “It won’t take a lot for a baby to bite it or drop it, and batteries or liquids inside of the tablet can come out,” says Vila. “Those aren’t safe for eating.”

Cell Phones
Have you seen those 10 o’clock news reports that say cell phones have traces of poop on them? Gross! Knowing that cell phones are riddled with germs is probably enough reason not to let baby touch yours or put it in his mouth. “These phones that might be covered with germs could cause serious illness,” says Berkowitz. Also, like remotes and iPads, cell phones have small pieces and batteries, which won’t be safe for baby if he puts them in his mouth. Instead, get baby a toy cell phone -- there are plenty that are much more kid-friendly and a lot more fun than a grown-up phone. Try the Sesame Street Elmo Cell Phone ($12, Amazon.com).

Coins
Your baby might come across your coin purse or jar and want to rattle it or play with the shiny things inside, but don’t let him. “Coins are a choking hazard and can cause tracheal, esophageal or intestinal obstruction,” says Berkowitz. So not worth the risk.

Pens, Markers and Crayons
Maybe you and baby are doing a crafts project or you’re showing baby how to draw. “Most markers and pens are nontoxic but can cause injury if the child pokes themselves with it,” says Berkowitz. If baby puts the pen cap or crayon in his mouth, he could choke. Also, for the sake of your home decor, keep baby away from them. Marker, crayon and pen marks all over your walls and floor won’t be a pretty sight. You should hold off on letting baby use crayons and markers until he’s a toddler, and you should supervise him even then. When it’s time for your tot to use markers and crayons, look for nontoxic and washable ones.

Baby Wipes
While baby’s on the changing table, maybe he grabs at the wipes and even stuffs them in his mouth (sound familiar?). While it’s tempting to just let him -- especially if that’s the only way he’ll quit wiggling -- don’t. Most baby wipes are nontoxic, but Berkowitz says, “It’s not wise to allow baby to suck on wipes, because he could ingest the chemicals in them. Also, if baby chews or tears pieces of the wipes off, it could result in a choking hazard.” To distract baby while he’s getting his diaper changed, keep a teething ring or other age-appropriate toys nearby.

Laundry Basket
Baby might love climbing in and out of the laundry basket, but is it a safe toy? “It’s not unsafe, but parental supervision is needed to prevent baby from falling or chewing on the plastic,” says Berkowitz. So feel free to let baby make a fort with the baskets, but make sure you’re keeping a close watch the whole time he’s doing it.

Product Review: Green Your Air plants for nursery

We often worry about the smog outside, but did you know that research shows the enclosed space indoors (in our own homes) can be as much as ten times more polluted than outdoors? And considering we spend about 90% of our day inside, that’s a big ol’ reason to keep the air in your home as healthy and clean as possible.

The mission behind the company Green Your Air is to help you do just that. 

How can my own home be so polluted?  Chemicals are emitted from every day items in our homes, such as formaldehydes and alcohols from carpets, ceiling tiles, grocery bags, cleaning supplies, and even cosmetics.  Plants help clean the air in indoor environments by ridding it of pollutants and toxins, counteracting outgassing and contributing to balanced internal humidity.


Green Your Air chooses fresh plants from a locally owned nursery that you can purchase for your home.  They use non-toxic, biodegradable pots made of bamboo fiber, rice husks, wheat straw, and corn stalks.  I was drawn to their website because they have a specific plant just for baby’s nursery!

The Mini Fortis is the perfect little size for any nursery and has the super power to filter formaldehyde from the air.  New nurseries can be packed with chemicals like formaldehyde from new paint, upholstery, carpeting and furniture (the particle board, adhesives and glues holding the furniture pieces together).  This cute little plant comes in a cute little blue or pink pot just right for decorating your baby’s space! (you can also add decorative stones for an extra $3.50)


Best of all?  They ship anywhere in the US!  Mine arrived perfectly packaged and ready to use.  Even better yet, this plant requires no light and very little watering – so you can give all your attention to baby instead.

I ordered the Mini Fortis with the pink vase for my new baby girl’s room, and I absolutely love it.  I have pretty much the opposite of a green thumb, and I previously sadly did not have a single plant in my home!  I have had the Mini Fortis for about three weeks now and it still looks as perfect as the day it arrived.  I specifically wanted a plant for my baby’s nursery and Green Your Air was the perfect solution.  I think this would make such an awesome gift for a baby shower!

Check out Green Your Air and help green your baby’s nursery!

Testing Reveals Secret Toxic Chemicals in Brand-name Household Cleaners

from The Soft Landing

Guest Post by Cassidy Randall, Women’s Voices for the Earth

Have you ever wondered why, when you look at the back of your favorite laundry detergent or all-purpose cleaner, you only find a few ingredients on the label? That’s because cleaning product companies are legally allowed to keep chemicals a secret from you, even the toxic ones—and they do.

At Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), we believe you have a right to know what chemicals you’re being exposed to when you clean your home, which is why we tested 20 top brand-name cleaners for undercover ingredients. Guess what? We found secret toxic chemicals in every product we tested.
Here’s the dirt:

• Tide Free & Gentle® and Bounce Free & Sensitive® contained 1,4-dioxane, a known cancer-causing chemical. These products are marketed to moms for their infants’ laundry!
• Simple Green Naturals® also contained 1,4-dioxane as well as phthalates, linked to reproductive harm. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner® contained toluene, linked to pregnancy complications. Simple Green advertises their products as “non-toxic,” by the way.
• Glade Tough Odor Solutions® contained phthalates, even though the company said they removed them a couple years ago, and galaxolide, linked to hormone disruption.
• Clorox Clean-Up® contained chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, both linked to cancer. Clorox advertises that you should use this cleaner on multiple surfaces throughout the day – so you can get an even bigger dose of these chemicals!
• High levels of allergens appeared in fragranced air fresheners, but there were no warning labels. Allergens were also found in products marketed as “fragrance-free.”
• None of these chemicals are listed on the product’s label, so you have no way of knowing they’re in there, let alone avoiding them.

You’ll be shocked at what else we found. Read the report Dirty Secrets to find out.

Here’s the good news. The Cleaning Product Right to Know Act has been introduced in Congress and will require companies to list all ingredients on the product label – right where they should be, so that you can make your own decisions about which chemicals you want to avoid. Ask your Representative to support this bill so that companies can’t keep toxic chemicals a secret from you!



So, you’re asking, what am I supposed to use to clean my home? Until you know what’s in products you buy off the shelf, you can mix your own cleaners with safe ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. This is a non-toxic, economical (and fun!) way to make sure you’re not exposing yourself to harmful chemicals hiding out in cleaners.

But the bottom line is that companies should be telling you what’s in their products, and cleaning products shouldn’t contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer and reproductive harm. Join me in demanding no more dirty secrets from cleaning product companies.

WVE seeks to reduce and ultimately eliminate environmental pollutants that cause health problems for women, their families and communities. To this end, WVE creates opportunities for women to influence environmental decision-making.

Johnson and Johnson to Finally Clean Up Their Shampoo

The whole reason I got into this business (baby planning) was when I learned about the cancer causing carcinogens in J&J baby shampoo and products.  I wanted everyone to learn that there are better options for your baby’s skincare and safer products for our children.  How can this company, that has been around forever, use these harmful chemicals on BABIES??  Finally, FINALLY, they are changing their products, and it’s all over the news:

From Fit Pregnancy:

Safety of Baby Shampoo Questioned



11.03.11 Environmental groups blast signature brand for use of chemicals in popular product.
Johnson's Baby Shampoo, one of the world's most widely used baby care products, is being targeted by environmental health groups, The Associated Press reports.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics says that the signature baby shampoo still contains known carcinogens, even though the company has removed the chemicals in question in other countries. The group is calling on Johnson & Johnson to remove the chemicals from all products worldwide, the AP reports.
 
The two chemicals—formaldehyde-releasing quaternium-15 and 1,4-dioxane—are known carcinogens. Johnson & Johnson said it is "reducing or gradually phasing out the chemicals," according to the AP article, but that the "preservatives are safe and approved by U.S. regulators." The company does list a Johnson's Natural Baby Shampoo on its website, which says its ingredients are 98 percent naturally derived.

The group is also urging consumers to boycott these baby products until the company responds. The campaign has reached out to Johnson & Johnson, insisting that the manufacturer publicly commit by Nov. 15 to the removal of these chemicals, the AP reports.

As a consumer, one of the most important things to do is read product labels. It can be difficult to make informed choices if you don't know what's in the stuff that you're using on yourself and your baby.

Remember, it's never too late or too early to create a healthy environment for you and your growing family. Check out our Going Green page for a one-stop resource for making your pregnancy greener and more eco-conscious. Plus, browse our Toxic 10 to Avoid page for a list of ingredients to try to avoid in your everyday products.

From BUSINESS WEEK:

Groups push J&J on baby shampoo chemicals

By LINDA A. JOHNSON
Two chemicals considered harmful to babies remain in Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo sold in the U.S., even though the company already makes versions without them, according to a coalition of health and environmental groups.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has unsuccessfully been urging the world's largest health care company for 2 1/2 years to remove the trace amounts of potentially cancer-causing chemicals -- dioxane and a substance called quaternium-15 that releases formaldehyde -- from Johnson's Baby Shampoo, one of its signature products.

Johnson & Johnson said it is reducing or gradually phasing out the chemicals, but did not respond directly to the campaign's demands.

Now the group is ratcheting up the pressure and urging consumers to boycott Johnson & Johnson baby products until the company agrees to remove the chemicals from its baby products sold around the world.
"Johnson & Johnson clearly can make safer baby shampoo in all the markets around the world, but it's not doing it," said Lisa Archer, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. "It's clearly a double standard, something they can easily fix."

The campaign's new report, "Baby's Tub is Still Toxic," is set to be released Tuesday, when the group was launching the boycott via its Web site, http://www.safecosmetics.org.

Archer said her group has met with Johnson & Johnson representatives three times since spring 2009, and is disappointed the company is not making safer baby shampoo and other products in the U.S. when it does elsewhere.

On Monday, the campaign sent Johnson & Johnson a letter, signed by about 25 environmental, medical and other groups representing about 3.5 million people in the U.S. and other countries. It urges the company to publicly commit by Nov. 15 to removing the chemicals from all personal care products worldwide.
In response, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are safe and approved by regulators in the U.S. and other countries, but that it is gradually phasing them out of its baby products. It said it is also reformulating baby products to reduce the level of dioxane below detectable levels. But it did not say whether it would respond to or meet the campaign's full demands.
The letter, addressed to CEO William Weldon, was signed by groups including the Breast Cancer Fund, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, American Nurses Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Green America.

"Even though the chemicals may be low-level, why risk it?" said Tracey J. Woodruff, an associate professor and director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at University of California-San Francisco.

Woodruff, who is not involved in the campaign, noted that the chemical levels in the baby products add to other chemicals infants are exposed to every day.

According to the report, obtained by The Associated Press, one of the suspect chemicals, quaternium-15, is a preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde. Formaldehyde, used as a disinfectant and embalming fluid, was declared a known human carcinogen this past June by the U.S. National Toxicology Program. Formaldehyde also is a skin, eye and respiratory irritant.

Quaternium-15 is still an ingredient on Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo sold in the U.S., Canada, China, Indonesia and Australia, but the campaign's research this summer found it's not in the same product sold in at least eight other countries, from the U.K. and Denmark to Japan and South Africa.

The second chemical, 1,4-dioxane, is considered a likely carcinogen. It's a byproduct of a process for making chemicals more soluble and gentler on the skin.

The campaign's May 2009 report, called "No More Toxic Tub," stated that studies by an independent laboratory it hired, Analytical Sciences LLC of Petaluma, Calif., found that 1,4-dioxane was contained in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Oatmeal Baby Wash, Moisture Care Baby Wash and Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash.

According to the report, the company has since launched a baby shampoo called Johnson's Naturals, sold in the U.S., that does not include 1,4-dioxane. But original Johnson's baby shampoo, which costs about half as much, has not been reformulated for the U.S. market, according to the campaign.

Analytical Sciences tested multiple J&J baby product samples from the U.S. for the first report, finding low levels of the chemicals. After that, according to Archer, consumer groups in South Africa, Sweden and Japan contacted her group to note that quaternium-15 was not being used in products in their countries. The updated report was based on an examination of label ingredients for Johnson & Johnson baby products in 13 countries.

Archer noted that some of the countries where the products did not contain the harsh chemicals had bans on them in personal care products, but others didn't.

Woodruff, who researches health effects of chemicals, said there is evidence that formaldehyde is associated with nose, lung and blood cancers such as leukemia. She said an infant's scalp is more permeable than and adult's, so exposure to the chemicals could cause more harm for babies than adults.

"You're exposing a child during a very vulnerable period of development, when the effect may be worse," Woodruff said.