This beautiful contraption, is a part of out Aquasana whole house water filtration system. We have two of them, for both of our homes water tanks.  Basically, when I was preggos I read about all of the chlorine and other toxic chemicals that would get into my baby (via his baths), were I not to take drastic measures (like getting this Cousteau like looking thing). By investing in a whole house system, I could also avoid storing his drinking water in plastic Brita like filters, which was a major plus (we also placed under sink systems in the kitchens.)

So. Every three months, just as you do with your air filters, you change the pre-filter.

Keep in mind, we are a wee family of two adults and one seven month old. It’s hardly the 6 by Design gaggle.

This week we changed out pre filters after 3 months – and I thought that I would share the images with you of a fresh filter, and the vile 3 month old filter.

I don’t even WANT to know why that looks like the largest ciggie butt in the world – or what in heavens name made it that tar color. Nor do I want to know what all the bits and crystals were that we washed out of the filter holder.

What I DO know, is that I now realize that the most beautiful gift my husband ever gave me was not my engagement ring – but this water filter. Because whatever that stuff is, it’s not on, or IN, our son.

Another photo:

I know that when women register, they want lovely togs, bits and bobs – but honestly – I think all new parents should STRONGLY consider getting a whole house water filtration system,

To help you compare filters – here is a helpful link: WATER

To check out your water (by city), click HERE and HERE.

If you are in Chicago, reading about the drugs and sex hormones in our water may be of interest – HERE.

The economy is bollocks, I realize that. But if there is one thing that you should try to scrimp and save for – it’s clean and SAFE water.

Cheers!

The chlorine in our water, and our babies bath can be dangerous. Very, very dangerous. Actually, the steam is the most dangerous bit – which was rather unwelcome news to me as I take scalding showers. And I quote:

“Expectant mothers can expose themselves to the higher risk by drinking the water, swimming in chlorinated water, taking a bath or shower, or even by standing close to a boiling kettle, say researchers.

The finding, based on an analysis of nearly 400,000 infants, is the first that links by-products of water chlorination – chemicals known as trihalomethanes, or THMs – to three specific birth defects.

Exposure to high levels of THMs substantially increased the risk of holes in the heart, cleft palate and anencephalus, which results in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp.”

Sometimes I wish I had never been taught to read.

So. Now what? Well, luckily you can buy water filter shower heads for less than a bottle of wine. Whole house filters, like the one my husband and I are placing on our water system, can be more spendy – which is again, why you should have this perhaps be a parent, in-law, or rich uncle gift.  After a month of research, I chose the Aquasana whole house filter. Here’s why: Why. If you live in an apartment, you can always buy one of many under sink systems, which hover about $100.

Either way, a great shower gift, as well as an essential part of  your baby’s bath, are chlorine balls, which I order from one of my favourite green stores www.Gaiam.com.  These balls will rid the bath water that washes your baby’s highly porous skin of 95% of the chlorine that flows from the tap. They last about a year and cost about $50. (And yes, they fit over faucet protectors.)

Learn More: Check the water quality rating in your city here

Spray On, Wipe Off

I’ve been gleefully using Mrs. Meyers (Basil scent) cleaning products for most of my cleaning for a few years now.  Honestly, I look for reasons to use her counter spray which smells like a Sunday brunch Caprese salad.  (Sadly, there isn’t a spray that smells like Mimosas.) Like most of you most likely do, I also use 7th Generation and Whole Foods 386 brands for the more mundane cleaning - like the dishwasher.  Doing so not only has saved us from exposure to the 63 hazardous chemical products in the average American household – (which is about 10 gallons a year of hazardous waste according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2004), but it allowed my husbands “allergies” to disappear, as well as the red blotches he would get on his back (which I subsequently realized was a reaction to fabric softener – one of the most dangerous household chemicals in our homes….GET RID OF IT!).

So, I was pleased as punch (which is less common than you might imagine when you are waddling about 7 months pregnant and your already large feet have grown half a size), when my best friend let me know that Mrs Meyers had come out with a yummy new baby line called Blossom, and my sister bought me a basket full of another baby line called Babyganics. Both lines smelled lovely, lacked the scary chemicals that I didn’t want near any member of my family, and were quickly becoming gifts that I would give other expectant mothers. What could be easier? How to clean the nursery seemed all taken care of.

Not so fast.

What could possibly be better than cleaning my sons room with products which contain no solvents, no petroleum distillates, no bleach, no phosphates and no ingredients that could cause harsh fumes and have a near neutral pH that makes them safe for skin contact? Well…there is ONE thing…

WATER! That’s right folks: WATER! Step right up, make room for everybody and geddaload of THIS! The Activeion spray bottle TURNS WATER INTO A GERM KILLING CLEANING AGENT!!!! WATER! That FREE stuff that POURS from your TAP!

I was gobsmacked.

Bill Nye the Science Guy explains, but basically, electricity makes the water somehow able to kill %99.9 of germs. That’s like toxic Lysol. But it’s WATER!!!!

This has all been proven by all the right sorts of independent testing (as you can read about on their site), and is just about the most exciting news any mom could have as: a) it’s water b) imagine how much $ you will save.

Whats the cost? Well. First, think about all the money you will save in a year. Then I’ll tell you.

Ready?

It’s $299.99

Which is why you have a registry.

And in-laws. Who my husband will ask to get us ours, as we have already bought everything else.

Happy cleaning!