Why Natural Cleaning Products Matter During Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & Toddlerhood

Why Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & Toddlers Are Extra Sensitive

• During Pregnancy: Certain chemicals can cross the placenta and affect hormone balance.
• While Breastfeeding: Trace toxins can accumulate in fatty tissue and pass into breast milk.
• For Toddlers: Their immune and gut systems are still developing, making them more vulnerable to chemicals that strip good bacteria or irritate skin.

What “Paraben-Free, SLS-Free & Sulphate-Free” Really Means

NuEco products proudly carry these labels, and here’s why that matters:

• Paraben-Free: Synthetic preservatives that mimic estrogen, interfering with hormone balance. Being paraben-free means reducing “hormone noise” in your environment.
• SLS-Free: Harsh foaming agent that irritates skin, eyes, and lungs. Going SLS-free makes products gentler for pregnancy and safer for toddlers’ hands and mouths.
• Sulphate-Free: Sulphates strip away protective oils and can disrupt the gut microbiome if ingested in traces. Without them, products clean effectively while staying kinder to skin and health.

In summary, paraben-free, SLS-free, and sulphate-free means fewer hormone disruptors, fewer skin irritants, and fewer microbiome risks - a healthier, safer choice for both mom and child.

My Natural Cleaning Journey

I first came across NuEco at Gwahumbe, the game lodge where I got married. I instantly fell in love with their fresh, botanical scents - it was the first time cleaning products felt like a wellness ritual rather than a chemical storm.

Back home, I researched and found I could order directly from them, but I spotted a great deal on Faithful to Nature and placed my first order there. To cut down on plastic, I invested in amber glass bottles and a label maker, so I could refill again and again without unnecessary packaging. It felt like a small but powerful way to live my values: protecting my family’s health and reducing waste at the same time.

Budget-Friendly Natural Cleaning

Switching to natural doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, cleaning products are often one of the biggest surprises at grocery checkout - they add up fast. But here’s the secret:

• Buy in bulk. Natural products like NuEco often come in concentrated refills, which cost less per litre.
• Dilute at home. Most surfaces don’t need heavy concentrations of cleaner. A small amount mixed with water in a spray bottle goes a long way.
• Refill, don’t rebuy. Once you have a set of amber glass bottles, you’re only paying for the product itself (not new packaging every time).
• Less is more. Natural products tend to be versatile. One good all-purpose cleaner can replace three or four specialty sprays, saving money and cupboard space.

Over time, these habits don’t just make your home healthier - they also lighten the load on your wallet. Take a look at what I spent two months ago and we are still going strong (not even half the bottles used). I plan to switch my laundry detergent and fabric softeners next!

How to Start Switching

• Read labels. Avoid “fragrance/parfum,” triclosan, chlorine bleach, and ammonia.
• Swap your most-used product first. Start with an all-purpose cleaner.
• Choose refillable packaging. Amber glass bottles look beautiful and cut waste.
• Lean on trusted brands. Faithful to Nature is a great place to start - NuEco is my personal go-to. 
• Notice the shift. Your home will smell fresher, feel lighter, and be kinder to little lungs and hands.

Pregnancy and the early years are about protecting and nourishing life in its most delicate stages. Choosing natural cleaning products isn’t just about “being green”, it’s about reducing unnecessary risks and supporting healthy development for your child’s body, mind, and immune system.

It’s one of those everyday swaps that brings peace of mind: safer surfaces for curious hands, cleaner air for little lungs, and a healthier home for everyone.