We worry about exposing our kids to numerous chemicals in our homes but what about daycare and preschool?
Most daycares and preschools have PVC sleeping mats, use toxic chemical cleaning products, pesticides and most toys are made of PVC plastics.
For special events, does your preschool encourage good eating habits with nutritional treats or snacks?
Help has arrived for parents and childcare providers who want to choose environments that are safe, healthy, and free of chemicals for our little loved ones. Read the rest of this entry »
I can’t say that I have ever REALLY enjoyed reading a cookbook like this one! Eating For the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair is positively inspiring!
Feeding the Whole Family is the bible of healthful eating! Encouraging breastfeeding, recommending starter solid foods, and then on expanding the diet of an older baby. Even answering the questions most parents have “What should I give my child to drink?” and giving solutions to “My Child Won’t Eat Vegetables.”
Not only is the book full of whole food recipes that are simple and delightfully tasty (for the ENTIRE family), but Cynthia Lair naturally plants a hungry desire in her readers to recognize their bodies natural wisdom and appreciate the “miraculous nutrients” of whole foods.
This book includes a wonderful selection of recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, desserts, dressings, condiments and soups. Vegan, veggie and meat meals too. Read the rest of this entry »
We know pesticides are in the foods we eat, and in our drinking water too. But do you know just how much, what kinds and which pesticides are the most hazardous to your child’s health? Now you can!
A new tool from the nonprofit group Pesticide Action Network sheds new science-driven light on the invisible problem of pesticide residues. This database starts with Almonds and goes all the way to Winter Squash. 89 foods in all, and many of the foods our kids eat daily are in this database.
I knew apples were high in pesticide exposure, but I didn’t know that the average number of pesticide typical found is a whopping 42! That’s right…..42 pesticide residues on the apple my toddler and I shared today! Seeing only 11 for the almonds made me feel somewhat relieved at that point. But still shocked that they both had that many pesticides detectable on/in them in the first place!
Making baby food for your baby is a wonderful gift. For a baby to receive the nourishment of whole foods, cooked from your garden or local farmer’s market to the table is the best!
But sometimes it really is a little too time consuming to make each meal fresh. Freezing your own cooked baby food is the next best thing to a freshly cooked home-cookin’ meal.
And since SAFbaby loves to stray from the norm of plastic everythings, we were really excited to hear about these stainless steel ice cube trays from the Tickle Trunk! Not only can you make ice cubes from plastic free trays, but what an invention for safely freezing your own homemade baby food and food purees!
Our exclusive interview with Ryan Zinn, from the Organic Consumer Association, answers some important question EVERY parent should know about regarding additives in the meat and dairy products we may feed our families.
This interview shows the importance in spending the extra dollars to buy organic meat, poultry and fish if you do consume these products.
Also, as Ryan says, concerned parents and citizens must become politically active, as well as make smart purchases to change laws and practices!
This Play Hat from Sunday Afternoons is just about the coolest invention in an SPF hat for children that we’ve seen!
When it comes to sun protection clothing, it is nice to know what to look for. This Sun Hat carries a 50+ UPF! If a garment has a UPF factor (Ultra Violet Protection Factor) of 50 attached to it, this means that just 1/50th of the sun’s radiation will reach the skin.
Our children have such delicate skin. My daughter’s skin is especially sensitive on her scalp, face and around her eyes. So keeping her head covered while she is playing in the great outdoors is smart and safe.
There are many reasons why this hat is topping the rest…..
Our children’s skin is so delicate and so sensitive. Especially to the powerful summer sunshine!
As parents we are always doing our best to keep our kids from the getting a sunburn, especially knowing the long term dangers that they can create. Unfortunately, we don’t always succeed. So, if your child has a moderate sunburn, try this natural approach to soothing and healing their precious skin.
Kayla Fioravanti, a certified aromatherapist, says if you get a sunburn apply some lavender essential oil to the areas.
You can either use it directly out of the bottle onto your burns, which is perfect if you have a very bad burn. Or you can drop some into a cool bath and/or you can add a few drops to some Aloe Vera gel before applying.
We have heard that lavender, used repeatedly over long periods of time may alters hormones, especially in a baby boy.
Of course this has sparked our concerns here at SAFbaby.com, especially since there are many skin care products and baby massage oils that contain lavender.
So we have researched the question until we have found a thorough answer to share with you!
With the lead from Kayla Fioravanti, Vice President and Chief Formulator, ARC Registered & Certified Aromatherapist for Essential Wholesale, we were able to get the expertise information researched from Robert Tisserand.
The answer to our question is offered with many references and we are grateful for his detailed research. Robert Tisserand is one of the most respected researchers in the aromatherapy industry.
What I love about VedaDUDE Chill, aside the fact that they are superbly formulated by a top New York pediatrician with holistic principles AND made from organic ingredients, is that they are PRACTICAL and will happily be used by Daddy!
With Father’s Day aligning right with Summer Solstice this year, why not offer daddy a gift that will nourish his skin this summer? He won’t be disappointed!
My husband is not the picky type when it comes to skin care. I am the one with more concern in those matters. However, when he tried VedaDUDE Chill, he continued to comment throughout the day on how much he liked this particular product.
Oh the uses a mommy will find for these PVC-free and lead-free wet and wet/dry bags by Planet Wise. Not only are they completely waterproof, even at the seams, but they are wonderfully crafted in the USA!
PVC or vinyl often lines bags that are meant to be waterproof (such as diaper bags.) But, not only is PVC incredibly toxic, it also can NOT be recycled, making it an environmental toxin too. Not cool.
Thanks goodness these stylish wet bags from Planet Wise are totally cool, economical, and made by a eco-conscious husband and wife team in the USA.
Also, did you know that many zippers have been pained using paint that contains lead? Yikes! Well, not here. All zippers in Planet Wise’s eco-line of bags are lead free too!
…that’s why we wanted to review a totally natural, non-toxic AND beautiful baby wearing sling. New Native is a comfortable and easy-to-wear baby carrier, that is free of harmful additives!
You won’t find a label on baby carriers indicating they contain toxic fire retardants, formaldehyde or harmful dyes. These aren’t things any parent wants near their little one’s delicate baby’s skin! But, if you don’t know what you are needing to avoid, you may unknowingly be wrapping your angel in toxins.
New Native’s certified organic cotton baby pouch-carrier is not bulky as other carriers can be because this sling is free of buckles, rings, velcro, etc. So easy to use (no wrapping or thinking of how to strap in your baby) and another great plus, can be easily folded flat and stored in your diaper bag.
Starting at birth, any family member can bond with baby by carrying baby on your body - close to mommy’s or daddy’s heart. Read the rest of this entry »
Coyuchi’s certified organic cotton crib sheets and blankets are THE softest you’ll find! They are made from 100% certified organic fair trade cotton, and grown “by hand” on family farms in India.
My 2 1/2 year old, who is still happily sleeping in her crib, seriously favors this brand of organic bedding. She tells me often how soft her sheets feel and even refused to go to bed one night because I put on her old fitted sheet and blanket (it was laundry day!).
Since our young children spend most of their time sleeping, it is nice to know their little growing bodies rest on pure and natural, formaldehyde and toxic-dye free sheets and mattress. And if you haven’t read our post on the harmful effects of insecticides and pesticides in the cotton industry, please do read!
Additionally, Coyuchi’s bedding line (including bumpers, blanket and sham) is dreamy. The embroidery is so simple and sweet that we just fell in love. The soft feel of the artwork is perfect for all babies! Read the rest of this entry »
My little girl broke out in hives on 3 different occasions after playing for quite some time in the sandbox of our local park. So, after a little research, I found out that sandbox sand may contain asbestos and other harmful particles.
My research brought up many questions AND concerns, so SafBaby went right to the experts for answers. Today’s expert:
Angkana Roy, MD, (General Academic Pediatrics Fellow, Pediatric Environmental Health Fellow) from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
There is really no excuse decent enough not to go cloth these days. Instead of dumping billions of diapers in landfills which take hundreds of years to decompose, it’s time to be part of the solution and choose an eco-friendly diaper!
Because of these challenging economic times, we wanted to test an more economical cloth diaper: bumGenius Organic One-Size Cloth Diaper Snap Closure is a great choice and we arehappy to help parents make cloth diapering economical and simple with this review.
I feel as if I want to get atop of a soap box and shout out loud, “Charlie’s detergent is amazing!” I know, kind of seems silly, but it is so true. This is really amazing and powerful stuff.
Your next thought may be something like, “No way, I have tried natural cleaners and they just never work.” But let me tell you something: my husband AND my father are even talking about this stuff! Read the rest of this entry »
This is premium footwear for babies and kids! As soon as you get a pair of these conscious shoes in your hand you will melt too. So soft to the touch, yet sturdy and crafted to perfection.
Bobux’s® (a New Zealand based company) eco-friendly, soft soled leather shoes are amazing! I wish I could fit my foot into a pair of these kickers myself.
Not only are each of their i-Walk shoes fastened with convenient Velcro, or a zipper for the stylish eco-friendly cowgirl and cowboy boots, but the sole is soft, flexible, and made of non-slip natural rubber.
Additionally, Bobux Eco-leather™ was purposely developed to produce an exceptionally soft surface that would be gentle on baby’s delicate newborn skin AND friendly on the environment. No wonder my little girl, who typically only wants to go barefoot, actually keeps these shoes on her feet!
Bobux® meets high standards when it comes to being an eco-friendly shoe…..
When my daughter was an infant she did not like taking baths and we always had to rush through it - it wasn’t pleasant for both of us, including my back. I also found out later, that the tub I’ve been using was made of toxic PVC, like practically all bath tubs on the market today.
After talking to my family members and friends in Europe about the unpleasant bathing experience, they told me I MUST use a bath bucket, which are additionally widely recommended by Pediatricians and Midwifes over there (sadly not here in the US!).
Apparently, the natural upright position and being in water up to their shoulders mimics the feeling of being in the womb which makes total sense. Even the most colicky baby stays warm, happy and relaxed, exactly what a bathing experience should be like. Another benefit is that it needs less water! Read the rest of this entry »
Happy Tiffin Stainless Steel food containers are a great alternative to plastic Ziploc and Tupperware.
They are fun to use, simple to clean, good for the environment and their 3 tiered product is also economical!
I have really been loving my 3-tiered Tiffin. Using it to pack snacks on our outings to the beach and park, and storing our leftovers in the fridge.
I felt especially kind to Mother Earth the day I brought my stainless stackers with me to get take-out. No plastic bags, no Styrofoam boxes, NO WASTE WHATSOEVER! And the staff at the Cafe thought it was really cool too!
The tiered feature makes it really nice to keep everything organized and put together. Feels much more Zen than having tons of plastic tupperwares everywhere. You know the ones…….the ones that never have a matching top. Well, not with these Tiffins! It’s all put together, very practical! Read the rest of this entry »
One Sexy Mama! That is how this amazing skin care line from Mama Mio makes me feel. Formulated to naturally elasticize skin, but I am not even pregnant and I am totally hooked!
Their Smoothie Kit is a Spa-at-Home Kit includes a miraculous threesome of: Moisturizing Shower Cream, Supersmooth Body Buff, and Supernourish O-Mega Body Oil.
Mama Mio products are primarily designed for one thing: increasing skin elasticity. Very important for expecting mothers, and essential for good skin in general.
But, along with all that goodness, I was addicted and in-love with these products the second they kissed my skin, the moment I smelled them. Read the rest of this entry »
I didn’t know anything about swaddling when I had my first baby, but after watching the Happiest Baby on the Block and trying it out, swaddling our little girl was the easiest way to get her to sleep peacefully. Not to mention, swaddling can help relieve colic and helps an infant to feel safe, as if still snug in mama’s womb.
I was not happy though with the heavy cotton receiving blankets I bought, I was constantly afraid my baby would overheat and checked on her often.
Additionally, most conventional receiving/swaddling blankets contain harmful dyes, formaldehyde, synthetics (like polyester) and fire retardants. If you choose a Certified Organic Cotton Swaddle however, you can be certain that what is blanketing your little one’s brand new skin (and nervous system) is 100% pure goodness. Read the rest of this entry »
Here is our take on this pvc-free and eco-friendly diaper bag by FleurVille. I mean, we are both moms (Sandra ready to be a mama AGAIN) so we have had our fair share of experience with diaper bags. And we never really have fallen for a diaper bag until now.
Most diaper bags are huge, and if you are a mama who carries your babe mostly in a baby carrier or sling toting a huge bag around with you too just does not work. And I know because I have been there, done that.
Hanging the huge bag on my arm wasn’t easy, it would fall down all the time and was totally inconvenient. I usually left it in the car and had to run back to get wipes and diapers.
Since I was breastfeeding, I never really needed baby bottles either, so carrying around a huge bag wasn’t necessary. And now that she is potty trained, my mega diaper bag has no practical use. But, this hip diaper bag from FleurVille doubles wonderfully as a really cool purse too.
But when I learned today of the immediate help that one child had received from a totally different kind of approach of fighting autism, I was amazed.
This is a natural approach to autism that I had never heard of before. This story is so heartwarming and encouraging that I want to shout for joy. Please, please forward this story to anyone you know that could potentially benefit from the remarkable gift of chiropractic care in helping autistic children get the most joy out of life. Read the rest of this entry »
Autism is on the rise. One in every 100 children today are being diagnosed with autism, and most of them are boys.
Being 5 months pregnant with a son, it’s a topic that concerns and worries me tremendously. In my opinion, not enough unbiased studies have been done, and the real causes still remain unknown. However, vaccines, environmental pollution and other environmental factors have not been ruled out.
I personally became ill as a teenager after receiving my HepB vaccine, for traveling purposes. The toxic overload kept me sick for a month. Needless to say, from my own personal experiences with toxic side effects, I am not convinced that vaccines are not playing a part in this autistic rise.
What seems logical to me is that injecting a child age 0-6 with 36 vaccines containing mercury, aluminum, and other toxic preservatives could easily cause a toxic overload on a baby with an immature or weak immune system.
Thankfully I found a pediatrician for my daughter who is willing to listen to all my vaccine questions, informs me about the risks/benefits and supports an alternative and more gentle vaccine schedule. Finding a pediatrician like this is a real challenge. I had to switch pediatricians twice because the first two would not listen to my concerns, refused to give me the ingredient list of the vaccines and did not support an alternative vaccine schedule. Read the rest of this entry »
One of the types of toys out there that is not easy to find as PVC-free has been sand toys. And since Spring has sprung and Summer time is right around the corner, beach days and countless hours of fun are waiting to be had playing in the sand!
I was immediately impressed by the quality of Green Toys™ Sand Play Set made from 100% recycled milk jugs. They are sturdy, with a plastic much thicker than my girl’s other sand toys. These toys are truly made to last!
Green Toys Sand Play set comes with a bucket, a sand castle mold, a shovel and a rake. All of which are PBA-Free, phthalates free, and free of lead paints too!
EcoSMART® is a non-toxic, water based and natural insecticide with active ingredients made from organic plant oils! Sound too good to be truly effective?
Well, get ready to be blown away! Because when it comes to getting rid of pesky flying and crawling insects, EcoSMART® brings forth a whole new meaning to the phrase “kill ‘em with kindness!”
When it comes to having something other that my baby crawling around on my floors, I am a little freaked out. Specifically, “things” like ants, cockroaches, centipedes and the critters!
Living in a tropical climate, I reside in a land where crawling and climbing insects thrive! The centipedes, and spiders reaching 4 inches in diameter, can tempt me to move towards extreme (and toxic) measures to get rid of them.
That’s until I am reminded of the detrimental dangers of exposing my child’s systems to the toxic chemicals that make them effective killers. Read the rest of this entry »
We worry about exposing our kids to numerous chemicals in our homes but what about daycare and preschool?
I can’t say that I have ever REALLY enjoyed reading a cookbook like this one! Eating For the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair is positively inspiring!
We know pesticides are in the foods we eat, and in our drinking water too. But do you know just how much, what kinds and which pesticides are the most hazardous to your child’s health? Now you can!
Making baby food for your baby is a wonderful gift. For a baby to receive the nourishment of whole foods, cooked from your garden or local farmer’s market to the table is the best!
Our exclusive interview with Ryan Zinn, from the Organic Consumer Association, answers some important question EVERY parent should know about regarding additives in the meat and dairy products we may feed our families.
This Play Hat from Sunday Afternoons is just about the coolest invention in an SPF hat for children that we’ve seen!
Our children’s skin is so delicate and so sensitive. Especially to the powerful summer sunshine!
We have heard that lavender, used repeatedly over long periods of time may alters hormones, especially in a baby boy.
What I love about VedaDUDE Chill, aside the fact that they are superbly formulated by a top New York pediatrician with holistic principles AND made from organic ingredients, is that they are PRACTICAL and will happily be used by Daddy!
Oh the uses a mommy will find for these PVC-free and lead-free wet and wet/dry bags by Planet Wise. Not only are they completely waterproof, even at the seams, but they are wonderfully crafted in the USA!
Coyuchi’s
My little girl broke out in hives on 3 different occasions after playing for quite some time in the sandbox of our local park. So, after a little research, I found out that sandbox sand may contain asbestos and other harmful particles.
This is premium footwear for babies and kids! As soon as you get a pair of these conscious shoes in your hand you will melt too. So soft to the touch, yet sturdy and crafted to perfection.
When my daughter was an infant she did not like taking baths and we always had to rush through it - it wasn’t pleasant for both of us, including my back. I also found out later, that the tub I’ve been using was made of toxic 
Happy Tiffin Stainless Steel food containers are a great alternative to plastic Ziploc and Tupperware.
One Sexy Mama! That is how this amazing skin care line from Mama Mio makes me feel. Formulated to naturally elasticize skin, but I am not even pregnant and I am totally hooked!
I didn’t know anything about swaddling when I had my first baby, but after watching the 
Here is our take on this pvc-free and eco-friendly diaper bag by FleurVille. I mean, we are both moms (Sandra ready to be a mama AGAIN) so we have had our fair share of experience with diaper bags. And we never really have fallen for a diaper bag until now.
Autism is on the rise. One in every 100 children today are being diagnosed with autism, and most of them are boys.
EcoSMART® is a non-toxic, water based and natural insecticide with active ingredients made from organic plant oils! Sound too good to be truly effective?