Safe Alternatives for Baby and Child

This French-made all-in-one blender, steamer, defroster and reheater all-in-one is genius!  My little boy is 7 months young and he eats only freshly made babyfood from organic fruits, vegetables and grains prepared by his super-busy mama and babycook® . Things have gotten less complicated and messy at our home thanks to this little machine, so I had to share this with our readers.  Especially those who believe there is not enough time to cook  your own healthy organic baby food.

I was skeptical when I first saw it in stores and wanted to find out more, since it’s made with clear plastic (a usual suspect for BPA). The US distributor Scandinavian Child assured me that the Beaba Babycook has been BPA-Safety Tested by a third party certified test lab, which found no detectable BPA (within the detectable rate of 0.02 mg/microgram). I also received the BPA Migration Lab Test Report 2009 to confirm their statement. The new packaging will now include a BPA-Free label. Read the rest of this entry »

LEAD IS A FACT OF LIFE.  And you need a plan to deal with it.  Thanks to Joanna Cerazy and Sandra Cottingham, authors of Lead Babies, our exclusive interview below will give parents more insight on the dangers of lead exposure for our children, and what we can do to reduce exposure.

Lead plays a causal role in a broad spectrum of cognitive and neuromuscular disorders ranging from mild irritability to autism to severe mental disabilities. Lead can adversely affect nearly every organ in the body. In children, exposure to lead causes irreversible brain damage which in turn results in learning disabilities, ADHD, behavior problems, lowered IQ, as well as delays in speech and language development. Exposure to lead is also known to cause damage to the kidneys and central nervous system. It is responsible for anemia, hearing damage and problems with digestion. Children exposed to lead often experience inhibited bone and muscle growth. Adults who are exposed to excessive amounts of lead are prone to developing high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, damage to their reproductive systems as well as cataracts and muscle and joint pain. Lead is a cause for extreme concern for pregnant women as it has been proven to cause miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm delivery.

Learn much more in our continued interview below. Read the rest of this entry »

Put your noisy colorful toys away and bring out this creative unpretentious toy.  This natural wooden block set is a childhood classic and it keeps many kids engaged in creative play for hours.  If your looking for a sweet safe alternative toy (to those flashy noisy games that overstimulate our nervous systems)  maybe it’s time for some quite play with CitiBlocs.

Many wooden blocks are painted (unfortunately, sometimes with toxic paints or finishes) and some even contain glues that press the wood.  The frightening concern about some glues in our children’s toys is that they may contain formaldehyde.  Yep, formaldehyde.  One of the top 3 toxins that Margie Kelly (Communications Director from Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families) personally picked as being in the top 3 most dangerous toxins our children are readily exposed to, and one of our picks for the top 12 toxins to keep away from our kids in 2010.

Find out more on why Citiblocs is a winner of our EXCELLENCE AWARD! Read the rest of this entry »

We received lots of emails from confused parents wondering about Bisphenol A (BPA) in  the packaging of Infant Formula and decided to do a short post about this topic.

We contacted all major US Baby Formula makers to figure out which ones are safe and which aren’t. What we found out is that  almost all liquid formula is still packaged in cans lined with Bisphenol A (BPA), a toxic chemical linked to reproductive disorders and neurobehavioral problems in lab animals according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).¹

All manufacturers except Nestlé Good Start Formula, claimed in their emails to us or via press release, that their Powdered Formula containers Read the rest of this entry »

Fresh Organics pulls through again, with flying colors, with their organic Conditioning Shampoo and Body Wash for baby, child (and adults even love it too)!  Fresh Organic’s organic bubble bath was just recently awarded our Green Award, and this shampoo/body wash has been awarded our Green Award too!

One of our readers commented on that bubble bath post that she learned some good info on how to keep her child’s sensitive skin protected.  This post will elaborate on that a bit more.

All baby and children have sensitive skin.  Their skin is so new and delicate.  What we put on their skin is just as important as what we put into their bodies we believe.  I also have to mention that a baby’s delicate skin is even MORE ABSORBENT to dangerous toxins than us adults. They are just so vulnerable to all of the harmful ingredients that are hiding in many of the skin care products we believe to be safe to use everyday on our children. Read the rest of this entry »

This is a must read book for all parents who desire to make an educated choice about how to (or not to) vaccinate their child.  A Parents’ Conscious Guide To Childhood Vaccinations is wonderfully written by Lauren Feder, M.D., a nationally recognized physician who specializes in holistic health and is board certified in homeopathic medicine.  This is an easy-to-read book that offers practical medical AND natural ways to protect your child.

Dr. Feder says it best when she wrote, “Whatever your decision regarding vaccinations, the goal is always the same:  to raise happy and healthy children who are able to blossom and reach their potential in life.”  That is the truth!  And, now thanks to this book, parents have a tool to help them look at their child as an individual, not a number.  The information in this book eases the confusion and frustration as to how to wisely choose a safe approach in vaccinating or not.  The “pro-informed-choice” is the best choice when it comes to all of the parenting choices we make, Childhood Vaccinations educates parents on the topic of vaccinations with wisdom and expertise.

If your wondering, “What’s right for my child?” this book is for you! Read the rest of this entry »

What feels better in the winter time than a warm, sudsy bubble bath?  They are so much fun, but sadly enough many bubble baths on the market for our kids are full of toxic chemicals.  Doesn’t put such a smile on my face to steep my child in a tub full of preservatives, synthetic fragrances and bubbling agents that are known to damage the immune system.

So, what’s a conscious parent to do?  NOT give up on the luxury of bubble bath time!

We love Fresh Organics Calming Bubble Bath, free of sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, parabens, petroleum, phthalates, artificial fragrances and colors and free of nut oils, gluten, soy and dairy!  And if all of that doesn’t make you bubble up inside with joy, wait till you hear how affordable this stuff is.

First, lets dissect a few of the harmful ingredients that are in most bubble bath products that you find in a big box store….

Read the rest of this entry »

We live on an island, so it’s no surprise that it is VERY important to me that my child knows how to swim.  Regardless of where we live, having the freedom to enjoy water and be SAFE around it is something that every parent wishes for their children.  True?

So, when we heard of Schlori Swim Cushions, a 100% pure cotton “floaty” recommended by Germany’s foremost swimming schools we were interested.  Most swim floaties here in the USA are made of PVC.  Yuck!  Knowing that  “phthalates leach from PVC toys like water from a wet sponge,” doesn’t make the typical arm floaties so appealing.  Also, this product uses Oko-Tex certified fabric, so no nasty formaldehydes or other harmful substances in this cotton.

Not only that, but arm swimmies, life vests and tubes are truly more of a crutch than a tool for learning how to swim properly.  As opposed to offering a false sense of security in the pool or ocean, Schlori’s PVC-Free swim cushions place the body into a natural position for swimming while giving the greatest possible freedom of movement.  This makes the practicing of the unhindered swimming motion possible, and fun! Read the rest of this entry »

On February 4, 2009 we posted our first version of this article regarding which clothing companies do and do NOT treat their clothing with formaldehyde.  We have received quite a few emails from parents on this one, and even some who have shared helpful information with us!   Additionally, some companies who did not respond in the past to us have finally answered our questions, so we are re-posting this today with many updates and clarifications.

Companies who do not answer with a clear “NO, we don’t use formaldehyde” and say “we are compliant with all CPSC regulations” (for your information there are NONE for formaldehyde!) most likely use Formaldehyde in their children’s clothing.

Please let us know of any other children’s clothing company who possibly uses chemicals in their clothing!

Formaldehyde is a popular “cheap” chemical used  in clothing, shoes, furniture, fertilizer paper, toys, cosmetics and food.

Our recent article on formaldehyde in children’s clothing gave details on how long-term exposure and high concentrations of formaldehyde can lead to cancer.  And to think we cloak our children in this daily!

In our article, we reported about our concern with the USA not having any safety standards in place when it comes to formaldehyde limits in textiles.  Unlike other countries like Japan, Austria, Finland, Germany, Norway, Netherlands and others who are already ahead of us on this issue.

So, in order to help parents make wise shopping choices, we have contacted many of the most popular clothing stores, and manufacturers, to find out if they use formaldehyde in their clothing. Read the rest of this entry »

Most parents are making the switch to from questionably safe plastics made with BPA, to ones that are BPA-free.  Really, it seems to be the craze, but not without reason.  BPA is a  hormone disrupting chemical, it acts like an estrogen in the body and is toxic at even low doses.  A very sensitive time to be exposed to this toxic chemical is during pregnancy and very early in life..

So, if you are looking for the safest alternative in a plastic baby bottle, we think we have found it.  All thinkbaby™ products are free of Bisphenol-A (BPA), PVC, Phthalates, Lead, Melamine, Nitrosamines, and toxic chemicals.

thinkbaby™ has a product line of polypropylene and PES baby bottles, a sippy cup and a wonderful “conversion kit” product that allows parents to easily transform their thinkbaby bottles into trainer cups to continue to the next stage of feeding.  Furthermore, their nipples are made of a high grade silicone and have been specially designed to reduce colic, reduce the risk of mid-ear infections and prevents leaking!  So, let us tell you what the moms and babies who tested these bottles thought….. Read the rest of this entry »

The dangers of BPA, especially for infants, toddlers and fetuses isn’t new news for concerned and conscious parents these days.  It gets real interesting though to see why parents must consistently be on the search for finding the truth and the safest alternatives possible to keep our families healthy.

Elizabeth Borelli, from the online retail store Nubius Organics, submitted this post to us for our readers.  Important New FDA Position on BPA – What you Need to Know to Make Safer Health Choices.  The controversial “baby bottle chemical” is officially deemed unsafe, and the information below will help you and your family make wiser choices in choosing plastics if that is your only option. Read the rest of this entry »

Bummis Organic Cloth Diaper Kit offers a parent everything you need to get started diapering their baby in a more eco-friendly way!   This kit is supreme, stupendous, ingenious and darn right put together with the finest of materials and durability.  The kits come in 2 sizes and includes prefold inserts, 2 different types of diaper covers, flushable diaper liners, fleece liners to wick away moisture, a wet bag for storage of dirty diapers and a user guide!

I personally chose cloth diapers for my baby girl when she was one, and I am so happy I did.  I didn’t do it when she was an infant because I failed miserably my first few attempts and didn’t think I could handle.  The real problem was that I just needed to know a few BASIC things to make diapering in this invaluable way successful.  If I would have had this Bummis Kit, I would have had all the tools I needed. Read the rest of this entry »

Indoor air can be more toxic during the winter months since we don’t get as much fresh airflow through the house with all the windows and doors shut most of the day.

Since young children are most vulnerable to toxic indoor chemicals like formaldehyde, we wanted to find out more about the air purifying benefits of indoor plants.  Investing in a few house plants is probably the most affordable and effective way to improve indoor air, especially in our children’s bedroom, where they spend at least 10 and more hours every night.

As parents of young children, who like to put things in their mouths, we also wanted to know which indoor plants were dangerous if accidentally ingested.

The expert on this topic is Dr. Bill Wolverton, a retired NASA scientist, he has published more than seventy technical papers, has lectured throughout the world and has authored three books. His newest book is called ‘Plants: Why you can’t live without them’.

We are excited to have Dr. Wolverton answer our questions and share the information in this post. Read the rest of this entry »

My son is little over 4 months old and he’s sucking and chewing anything he can get his hands on. I bought him a bunch of wooden rings, cloth toys and safe plastic teethers, but all he wants is his Sophie the Giraffe.

He usually drops toys a few seconds after he chews on them but not Sophie, it is the only toy that stays in his hands for more than 5 minutes!

Mommy also appreciates Sophie’s help to keep  little guy happy in the car, crib and even in the bath tub!

Below are my top 10 reason, why Sophie the Giraffe is so fabulous and simply irresistible! Read the rest of this entry »

We live in a time where it seems that kindness to planet earth and safe surroundings for our children take second priority to money in the pocket for most retailers/manufacturers.  But, thank goodness this is not true 100% of the time!   Every now and then there comes along an online retail store that absolutely blows us away with an integrity that stands alone.  With a huge smiles on our faces and with leaping hearts, we want to lift these businesses up so that parents and all conscious consumers know they are a SAFE ALTERNATIVE when it comes to spending hard earned money responsibly.

We want to know that where we put our money is creating a better environment, and supporting people/families who have a bigger agenda then making money.  We want to purchase QUALITY products that are SAFE and surround our families with beauty that lasts.  Plato said it so poetically in this quote,  “The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.”

Read the rest of this entry »

It can be overwhelming when you begin to learn about all the toxins that surround your child on a daily basis.   We truly believe that making a few small changes will make a profound impact on the short AND long term health and well being of our babies and kids.

If you are looking to make 2010 an even healthier year for you and your family, stick with us!   We are making resolute choices to do just that ourselves.  Our motto here is, “There is always a safer alternative!” We are here to offer those to you today, for a healthier and more vibrant tomorrow!

We totally understand that it isn’t easy, and not even 100%possible, to live completely free of toxins in this day in age.  I mean, we don’t wanna miss out on living and confine ourselves to bubbles, right? As a parent, we just have to make the best choices possible and allow those efforts to settle a sense of peace in our hearts and homes.

We highlight here our personal top 12 picks that your entire family should try to avoid when choosing what to bring into your homes.  Our little ones are especially vulnerable to these toxins because they are so small and their systems are still growing.  Avoiding these 12 toxins will greatly nurture your child’s immune systems, nervous systems, respiratory systems, digestive track and much more.

Read the rest of this entry »

It is insanely mind boggling how many dangerous toxins readily make up many of the mainstream skin care products targeted for our children.  Seriously, if the mass public knew the dangers of rubbing these neuro-toxins and hormone disruptors into the bodies of those we love and cherish the most, major companies would be going out of business fast.  Using a non-toxic moisturizer on our children is incredibly important.  Unfortunately not always affordable.  Not anymore!

Many children these days also suffer from serious skin conditions such as eczema.  So it is so wonderful to find skin care that is safe for the whole family, organic, hydrating, and INCREDIBLY AFFORDABLE!

Not only that, but Fresh Organics uses such amazing green practices in their manufacturing process that we are truly blown away!  We love this product, their Velvety Soft Babee Lotion!

When our skin feels healthy, we feel healthy!  Dry winter air can cause the moisture in the top layer of your skin to evaporate quickly.  Hence, this may be a time you are beginning to look for a rich, organic lotion for you AND your baby.

Read the rest of this entry »

The federal law that should protect us from health-harming chemicals just doesn’t work. Since 1976, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required safety testing on only 200 of the more than 80,000 chemicals on the market. We need a stronger chemical law to keep our families safe and healthy.

We have been cautioning our readers for quite some time now of the unregulated terms that many companies use to wrongly influence buyers to purchase their product, thinking it is safe and non-toxic.   This “greenwashing” in happens when advertisers use words like “natural”, “safe”, “eco-friendly” etc., listed right on the labels of cleaning products, and even foods.

My Uncle came home one day thinking he had a safe dish soap for me because it was marketed as being “green.”  But, sodium laurel sulfate was one of the major ingredients listed!  Beware readers, we must really know what we are being sold and what we are being lead to falsely believe.

Have you heard about the Million Baby Crawl?  It is an opportunity for ALL PEOPLE to become PROACTIVE and DEMAND CHANGE, reforming the toxic chemical policy that is negatively impacting our children and their future!  Babies everywhere are crawling to Washington and saying “no” to toxic chemicals found in household products. Join the crawl and help Seventh Generation, maker of naturally safe and effective household products, demand change!

We are so excited to have Margie Kelly, Communications Director from Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families answer our questions about Million Baby Craw, and the dangers of all these unregulated chemicals that surround our babies.  She gives us hope for a healthier future, and we are happy to share our interview with her today! Read the rest of this entry »

Is holiday crafting making your home feel a little more creative and festive right about now?  It is in our home.  One of my favorite crafts that me and my 3 year old daughter are working on is a JOY JAR.  A very special and heart felt gift idea that we were inspired to create from Amanda Blake Soule’s AMAZING book, The Creative Family.

The Creative Family has 100% encouraged heightened imagination and craftier bonding time between me and my little darling.  This book is so amazing that you will NOT be able to put it down once you have opened it.  Not only are there sweet, simple projects and activities for you and your children (of all ages), but Amanda’s gift of being an inspirationally creative earth mama literally jumps off of the pages.  I have read the book twice, and I am just as inspired the second time around to have more fun with fewer toys and look at life with my young girl with new eyes. Read the rest of this entry »

Every single person I know with an Ergo Baby Carrier absolutely LOVES it, me included!   Do you have a baby/toddler?  Do you support an organic lifestyle?  If you are on our site, you probably do, or at least know someone who does.  Today we are happy to highlight a really unique and organic line of baby carriers from Ergo Baby.

Not only does Ergobaby Organic baby wearer fit absolutely comfortably for adult and baby, but this organic line helps families personally contribute to the shift in awareness for strong environmental responsibility.   From material to dyes, this baby carrier is supporting our babies, our active lifestyles AND mama earth with loving kindness!

Ergobaby Organics does come in a few simple colors for those mamas or daddys who wish to keep in basic.  But, our personal favorites are the organic carriers that are styled out sweetly with w/embroidery and applique .  The feel of the 100% organic cotton twill with 100% organic cotton sateen lining is absolutely luxurious.  Soft and delicious to the touch!  The inside cotton batting is 100% conventional cotton. Read the rest of this entry »