Kids' products

We've covered products for babies, but what about kids? There are plenty of natural, eco-friendly personal care products that are designed just for kids.

To keep kids' teeth clean, try Snappy Jaws toothpaste, $5 for 100g, from Health 2000 and Commonsense Organics. It's free from fluoride, sugar, and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, and it comes in three different flavours: Punchy Pineapple, Awesome Orange, and Strawberry. Another kids' toothpaste is Weleda Children Tooth Gel, 50ml for $6.80, available from Health 2000 and Commonsense Organics. It is designed especially for milk teeth.

To protect your kids from the sun, slather them in a kids' sunblock, like Dr Hauschka Sunscreen Cream for Children SPF 30, $40.20 for 100ml. This is quite an expensive option; a cheaper one is Alba Botanica Kids' Sunscreen, SPF 30+, $19.95 for 118ml. Both are available from Health 2000, and the Dr Hauschka one from Farmers, Hardy's, and Commonsense Organics as well.

Headlice is often a problem when children are young (it sure was for me!), and there are many natural products to treat and prevent lice. Ecokid is an Australian brand of hair care products for kids, designed to prevent and treat headlice. The range consists of:

Prevent (Shampoo) 250ml $25.95

Prevent Sensitive (Shampoo) 250ml $25.95

Nourish (Hydrating Conditioner) 250ml $25.95

Daily Leave in Tonic (Leave in Conditioner) 500ml $29.95

Tuff Stuff (Leave in Clay) 100g $25.95

Bubbalicious (Shaping Paste) 100g $25.95

Lice Bomb (Nasty to Lice, not kids) 50ml $32.50

I have used Bubbalicious, and while I'm not a kid, I really liked it. I think it smells great, but apparantely lice don't agree, and it helps keep them away. Stockists can be found on the Ecokid website. New Zealand brand Botanica also has some products to treat head lice: Mr Nits 50ml and 100ml ($27.90) sprays, and Mr Nits Once-a-Week 100ml bottle ($19.90). Nature's Nurse has Lice Lather Treatment Shampoo, $18.95 for 100ml, Lice Lather Preventative Spray, $15.95 for 100ml, and Head Lice & Nit Removal Comb, $11.95. Check out their website for stockists.

For kids who like to paint their nails, there are some safer options out there. SHE Australia Nail Varnishes come in fourteen colours, and are free from formaldehyde and toulene. $14.90 each from selected pharmacies. Sparitual nail polishes are free from formaldehyde, toulene, and dibutyl phthlate. They come in heaps and heaps of different shades, although I've only seen a small selection available. I've seen them at Nature Unplugged, and Bodyscape Beauty Therapy Day Spa (New Zealand's only Aveda concept spa), both in Wellington, although I'm sure they're available in other parts of the country. The nail polishes are $25 each.

For bubble baths, Unearthed has four kids' bubble baths: Planet Bubbles, Bubbles Me Hearty, Sea Bubbles, and Bubble Magic, each $7 for 375ml. They are free from parabens, SLES, artificial colours, and artificial fragrances. They do, however, contain Ammonium Laureth (or Lauryl, can't remember which) Sulphate, so if you want to avoid sulphates altogether, you could go for Bod for Bubs Bubble and Squeakie Clean, $24.90 for 300ml. I mentioned it previously here. It is intended for babies, but it would be fine for anyone to use. Unearthed bubble baths can be bought at Hardy's and selected pharmacies, and Bubble and Squeakie Clean from Nature Unplugged, and Hardy's.

Baby products

There are heaps of great natural products available for babies. The most affordable range available in New Zealand (that I know of) is Ecostore. The range consists of:

Baby Shampoo 200ml $10.95
Baby Body Wash 200ml $9.95
Baby Sleepytime Bath 200ml $10.95
Baby Soap 80g $3.65
Baby Nappy Balm 60ml $11.95
Baby Moisturiser 125ml $13.95
Baby Massage Oil 200ml $13.95

These are the prices according to their websites, but they are quite a bit cheaper in supermarkets. I used to use the Baby Soap and Baby Moisturiser (on myself), and I like to use the Nappy Balm for moisturising my cuticles, dry bits between my fingers, rough heels, etc. I don't have a baby myself, so I can't tell you how well it works at preventing nappy rash!

Another affordable New-Zealand made range is Made 4 Baby. Their products are available in Fragrance Free, or the yummy-smelling Organic Citrus. They have some gift packs, which would be great to give to new parents. Check out their list of stockists on their website.

GAIA Natural Baby has a great gift pack called Baby Starter Kit. For $34.99 you get Baby Bath & Body Wash, Baby Shampoo, Baby Moisturiser, Skin Soothing Lotion, and Baby Massage Oil, each in a 50ml bottle. I have seen the GAIA baby products at Babycity, and at a pharmacy (can't remember which one, sorry).

Living Nature's 'Kekebaby and 'Kekemama range also has a couple of gift packs. I blogged about them previously, check it out here. They have some products for mums, as do several other baby ranges, like Weleda's baby range, which has a Nipple Care Cream, $11.

I spotted a very cute range of baby body care products in a gift shop recently - Peter Rabbit Baby Care! The packaging has pictures of Peter Rabbit on it, the ingredients are all natural, and some are organic. There are six products, all $26.90 each. Bod for Bubs also has a nice range of baby products.

For babies six months and over, a good sunblock is UV Natural Sunscreen Baby SPF30, $18.50 for 50g, and $35.90 for 150g.

Bath products

I don't take baths very often, I tend to be too lazy to wait for the water to run, and just have a shower instead. Actually, I don't think I've had a bath in about a year and a half. But I realise that many of you probably do take baths a bit more regularly than that, so here's a bit of a run-down on what natural bath products are available.

Australian brand Bod has bath salts, available in The Princess Blend, the Goddess Blend, and The White Lotus Blend. They come in 125g sachets (13.20), and 275g jars ($24.90). Bod products can be bought at Hardy's and Nature Unplugged.

New Zealand brand Kereru also sells bath salts. They are available in Body Revive (Pine, Lemon, Majoram and Rosemary), Pamper (Rose Geranium), Passion (Orange, Patchouli and Ylang Ylang), Sweet Dreams (Lavender and Mandarin), and Vitalise (Lemon and Lime). They cost $4.50 for 125g, and $8 for 300g. Kereru products are available at Commonsense Organics.

If you prefer a bath milk, you could try one of Weleda's. There is Citrus Bath Milk, Lavender Relaxing Bath Milk, Pine Reviving Bath Milk, and Rosemary Invigorating Bath Milk, all $26.90 for 200ml. Weleda also has a Wild Rose Cream Bath, $31.40 for 100ml.

If you want a bubble bath, there's Bod for Bubs Bubble and Squeakie Clean. Yes, it's intended for babies, but there's no reason why adults can't use it, I guess! Another baby bath product is Ecostore Sleepytime Bath, $10.95 for 200ml, available at Commonsense Organics, Health 2000, Woolworths, Foodtown, Pak N Save, New World, Homestead Health, and Hardy's.

For bath oils, you could try one of Living Nature's body oils. These can be used for moisturising or massage, but can be also added to a bath. They have Body Form Oil, Energy Body Oil, and Tranquility Body Oil, all $23 for 100ml.

If you're after a moisturising bath treatment in solid form, you could try one of Lush's Luxury Bath Melts, like Ceridwen's Cauldron, $10.90.