Logical Life

How to Get Rid of Lice: 10 Things Every Mom Needs To Know About Safe & Effective Head Lice Treatment

How to Get Rid of Lice: 10 Things Every Mom Needs To Know About Safe & Effective Head Lice Treatment

Nobody wants to hear this four letter word:

L – I –C – E!

So if your kids bring home some unwanted guests from camp or school, here is what every mom needs to know on how to get rid of lice safely and effectively.

10 things every mom needs to know about safe & effective head lice treatment

1) Don’t’ panic. Lice is a common occurrence. One out of three kids between the ages of 3 and 12 will contract head lice. So chances are high that your child or kids will get lice at least once during childhood and need lice treatment.

2) Lice is very contagious so all members of the family need to be checked for lice. If you do not inspect all heads, you may get rid of head lice on one person, only to find the next family member has an active lice infestation. Lice has a tendency to infest groups of people such as families, camps, and school classrooms.

getting rid of lice

3) Not all lice treatment products are created equal so do not grab the first lice treatment shampoo you find. Here is the key: Avoid pesticide laden lice treatment products. Typically pesticide based lice treatment shampoos and lotions are not only toxic and dangerous, but many are ineffective due to the pesticide resistance lice have built up over decades. Lice and lice eggs, also known as nits, have now become immune to many of these pesticides commonly found in OTC and prescription based lice treatment shampoos and anti lice lotions .

4) The best way to get rid of lice is to find a natural enzyme based shampoo that is pesticide free and safe for repeat and daily use like LiceLogic Clear & Free Shampoo or LiceLogic Clear & Free Mousse. Lice cannot become immune to natural enzyme based lice treatment shampoos.

5.) A sturdy metal nit or lice comb is mandatory to get rid of lice efficiently and effectively. Look for a lice and nit comb with metal teeth very close together. Learn how to do a lice comb out, as there is a method to removing all lice and nits, which are lice eggs, from the hair. Lice and nits do not wash away, and must be removed either by nit combing or manually by sliding the nits down the hair shaft and disposing carefully down the drain.

lice life cycle

6) Inspect each treated head to ensure you are now rid of lice and nits, and continue to inspect all family members on a daily basis for the next 7-10 days and then on a weekly basis.

7) It is a good idea to continue to use a natural and safe enzyme based Lice treatment shampoo for the next several days to avoid re-infestation until the entire family, classroom, peer group, or camp is rid of lice.

8) It is important to tell the other parents that your children have been in contact with, that you are treating head lice. This helps stop the spread of lice and decreases the chance of getting lice again from family, friends, and classmates. It only takes on person to start the spread of lice all over again.

9) Do not feel embarrassed or ashamed that your family has head lice. Lice is very common, and it does not mean you are a “dirty” family or a “bad parent.” Lice can happen to anyone at anytime. Once you know what to do and how to get rid of lice, it is not as difficult or overwhelming as it seems.

For more info, click here, read Jill's lice story here or view our lice logic collection here.

Read more

The Fragrance Loophole: Synthetic vs. Natural. Which To Choose & Why?

The Fragrance Loophole: Synthetic vs. Natural. Which To Choose & Why?

Personal care products, baby products, dog grooming and household cleaning products may smell amazing, but did you ever wonder where some of those scents come from and what is actually in them?

Synthetic Fragrances

Traditional CPG companies have been very successful at creating products that have extremely pleasant and memorable fragrances. Their scents can conjure up the experience of running through fields of wild flowers to the aromatic scent of the ocean waves wrapped in a warm summer's breeze. Often, people believe the more natural a fragrance appears to the nose, the healthier it must be.

The Truth

This could not be further from the truth. Artificial scents are created in laboratories, not nature, and these fragrances are often comprised of numerous hidden chemicals. Many companies will simply say "fragrance" or "natural fragrance" and will not disclose what is actually in the scent. A company is legally able to guard this information as a trade secret, and therefore is not required to disclose its ingredients to consumers. Currently even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), charged with regulating the safety of personal-care products, cannot ask companies about fragrance chemicals and allows them to guard them as trade secrets.

What Is In A Synthetic Fragrance?

A synthetic fragrance is comprised of artificial ingredients and can be a toxic stew of hundreds, or even thousands, of man-made chemicals. A Company may use two hundred or more of the approximately 3,000 known artificial fragrance chemicals to create a signature aroma with strong staying power. And although the scent may smell amazing, some of these individual ingredients have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, neurotoxicity, asthma, allergies, and other health concerns; And many haven't even been tested in the first place, nor are they required to be.

Where Are They Found?

Today, synthetic scents are tough to avoid. They are found in almost everything and are part of the air most of us breathe, unless we are living in isolation on a mountain top. They are included in air fresheners, perfumed candles, and artificially fragranced products of all kinds including laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, body lotion, shampoo, make up, tampons, diapers, perfumes, shaving creams, kids toys, baby gear, and beverages and foods to name a few.

Does "Natural Fragrance" or "Organic Fragrance" mean it is natural and safe?

The simple answer is no. Some products might boast claims of "natural fragrance" or "organic fragrance," but those designations have no legal definition, and there is still no regulation surrounding those claims. Therefore there is no guarantee that the fragrance does not contain toxic and artificial ingredients or isn't a blend of natural and man-made fragrances.

Why Do People Choose To Use Products With Artificial Scents?

Simply put: They can smell pretty great, and the scents are designed to last and linger for a very long time. Also, the companies making these products have become experts at marketing them and have conditioned the general public to accept the notion "if it smells good, it is good." Often people associate the potency of the scent with the efficacy of the product. Many people simply do not realize that having their home smell like a freshly baked apple pie year round through a device they plugged into an outlet is not a healthy choice; Or that spraying their favorite air freshener to eliminate unwanted odors also infuses the air they breathe with a potent cocktail of dangerous and carcinogenic chemicals which are harmful to people of all ages, pets, and the atmosphere.

3 Big Questions:

The 3 questions we should all be asking are:
  1. Why are we choosing to subject ourselves and our families to artificial fragrances if we do not know what is in their ingredients?
  2. Why do the companies making these products refuse to share this information, and is this fair to their customers?
  3. And is the risk of using these products on our selves, in our homes, on our kids, and on our pets worth it if we are not allowed to know what is really in the products we are choosing to use anyway? 

Make The Healthy Choice:

Even if we do manage to avoid or eliminate exposure to synthetic fragrances at home, we are frequently ambushed by them when we are out and about in places such as stores, hotels, airports, schools, elevators, hospitals, taxis, cars, buses, subways, and anywhere there are other people wearing perfumes, hair sprays, and deodorants. So it is important to limit excessive exposure to artificially scented products whenever possible, given their known health risks and the inevitability of daily exposure to them in places beyond our control. Choose brands that fully disclose all of their ingredients, including what is in their fragrances, and choose cleaning products, baby, and personal care products that are scented with natural, plant based, pure essential oils that also provide aroma-therapeutic benefits. Logic Products makes four eco friendly phthalate free product lines: TotLogic – for gentle & sulfate free baby, bath, skin and haircare. Natural HomeLogic – for safe and non- toxic household cleaning BarkLogic – for natural dog grooming and non-toxic clean up products LiceLogic – Pesticide free, enzyme based head lice treatment, lice repel, and headlice prevention products that are safe for daily use. All Logic Products are naturally scented with essential oils. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog about my favorite essential oils and their aroma therapeutic benefits, and why I chose them for our eco friendly and non-toxic products.

Read more

5 Safety Tips for Bath Time with Baby

5 Safety Tips for Bath Time with Baby

A bath is a great way to connect and play with your little one! This ritual should be free of anxiety and filled with bubbly fun for both you and your baby. Bath time stimulates your baby's senses: warm water, a gentle washcloth, a squishy bath toy, the smell of soap, and the gentle sounds of water.

If your infant has recently graduated from baths in the kitchen sink, the bathroom contains new curiosities that will catch your child's eye. We would like to suggest a few safety precautions you can take so both you and your child can enjoy a stress free bath time.

Bath Time Safety Tips for New Parents

1. Bathroom Storage

You may not think twice about leaving a bar of soap at the edge of the tub, but bathrooms are filled with new items your child will want to grab and explore. Items such as razors, bath salts, or bottles of soap. If your child is toddler, they might be able to reach items at the edge of the bathroom sink. The first safety measure you can take is clearing the bathroom of clutter. Storing non-essential items in cabinets that are out of reach, or behind a child-proof lock, will ensure your child has a safe place to bathe.

2. Water Temperature and Depth

The correct temperature for an infant bath is no more than 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A higher temperature could scald your baby's skin and cause burns. Test the water with your wrist or forearm before putting your baby in the bath. If the water feels lukewarm on these sensitive areas, the temperature is correct. NOTE: Set your home's hot water heater below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to protect against accidental scalding.

For infants, fill the tub with two to three inches of water. That is all the water the baby needs to get clean, play, and stay safe. For children who are old enough to sit up on their own, fill the tub no higher than their navel. Swirl the water with your hands to ensure there are no hot spots.

3. Supervision

The most important safety guideline for bath time is proper supervision. Every parent occasionally forgets baby's pajamas or a diaper back in the nursery. Wait until bath time is over to wrap baby up and take them with you in search of the missing items. Always stay within arm's reach of your baby when they are in the tub.

4. Slip and Fall Prevention

For mobile babies, slipping and falling in the tub is another danger. Babies who are beginning to lift themselves to stand may pull themselves up on the edge of the tub. Teach your child to stay seated in the tub. Line the tub with a slip-proof shower mat. Cover the tub spout with a cushioned guard to protect your baby's head in the event she accidentally bumps it. Keep a bath mat outside of the tub to give your child a safe place to sit or stand while you dry her off.

5. Baby-Safe Bath Products

Small babies do not need a tub full of products each time they bathe. Unless they are dirty, infants do not need daily head-to-toe bathing. When they do need a more thorough bath, water and a small amount of mild soap are all your infant needs. 

Babies are exposed to toxic chemicals via personal care products including lotions, shampoos and soaps. These products are easily absorbed through the skin, and babies are ten times more vulnerable to the chemicals in these products than adults. Read labels closely to find safe alternatives. Avoid products that contain:

  • 1, 4-Dioxane
  • Formaldehyde
  • Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
  • Sulfates
  • Phthalates
  • Parabens
  • Octinoxate
  • Benzophenones
  • Ethanolamines
  • Nitrosamines
  • Petrolatum
  • Isothiazolinones
  • Triclosan

Try to eliminate or reduce the use of products with added synthetic fragrances. Although they may smell heavenly, they are not healthy or safe. Instead search for products that are naturally scented.

All TotLogic products are plant based and scented with natural essential oils, and free of harmful chemicals and toxins commonly found in popular baby bath products, and do not contain artificial fragrances or dyes.

By following these basic guidelines, both you and your baby can look forward to a relaxing and stress free bath time. Learn more about Logic Products here or visit us at Logical Life: The Green Lifestyle Magazine for Families.

Read more