Green Kids

Something is afoot in the legislation right now. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act or CPSIA. This piece of legislation, meant to hold toy and childrens’ goods manufacturers accountable for producing safe, non-toxic items, will quite literally wipe out the mom and pop businesses that have been providing safe and healthy toys throughout the lead, magnet, and phalate crises of 2007.

The new law requires that all products be certified via third party testing. The price tag for each product or variation of a product? $4000! While large, multinational companies will survive this new act without losses this is not true for small businesses. No work at home mom selling crafts on Etsy will be able to afford to test each of her products at this extraordinary price.

All this law needs is a clause that recognizes that small, handcrafting businesses are not subject to third party testing. Already one German toy company, Selecta, has announced it’s departure from US sales as of December 31st. Please don’t let more quality companies leave our market. Visit the Handmade Toy Alliance and write to your Congresspeople and Senators. It is not too late to revise this law and save our toys and our freedom of choice. Without this clause the only toys available will be from large corporations with overseas factories.

Take action today!

Happy Writing

So the holidays are right around the corner and you want to make this season different, right? No more brightly-colored plastics toys that beep, whistle, light up, and upset the family pet. No more buying a small fortune’s worth of double A’s. No more novelty-worn-off-leave-it-in-the-corner-until-it-goes-to-GoodWill toys. That kind of different, yes? Look no further, your dreams of a refreshing, renewing, and green Christmas and beyond can all be found right here.

First, start with a list. I’m a list-lover. There’s nothing about a list that I do not like. They are neat, orderly, and creative. Come on, it doesn’t get much better than that. On your first list (sure, there’ll be more…I told you I love lists) write down everyone you’d like to give a gift to. Note, that I did not say “buy a present for” because this is about being green, being thoughtful, and possibly repurposing some things that you already have. Don’t worry, repurposing is the new black and no one will think less of you for it. It’s chic so get over any fear you have of being found out. Your next list is a list that can be kept and added to all year (an all year list you say? Sign me up!) On your second list write down gift ideas as they come to you. You may find that ideas pop into your head while shopping (it really is okay to buy some gifts too - this is not off-limits), eating breakfast, or washing your hair. Write these thoughts down as they come and it will make your gifting go so much easier.

Armed with list(s) in hand you can start your shopping, baking, repurposing efforts with gusto. For the office folks I suggest one gift meant for all such as baked goods. Or you can make or buy one gift for each person that has a work purpose to it. For example, teachers may enjoy an education themed stainless steel water bottle or eco-friendly tote bag. For other adults you can make gifts more personal but never less earth-conscious. I’m a novice seamstress (in fact, I wouldn’t even use that strong of a word for my skill level) but making curtains, a day trip bag, or something similar is easy. Even local fabric shops have sustainable fabrics such as organic bamboo. When purchasing for kids you can find a wealth of engaging, non-battery operated toys, games, books, and supplies. Buying online at the same time will also save you gas on trips to various stores. Another idea for children’s gifts is to make one large item assembled from several smaller items in one theme. Take for instance a dress-up trunk. Buying Halloween costumes the day after Halloween, adults’ outerwear and shoes from the thrift shop, and a steamer trunk to store it all will make a fabulous gift that your kids will talk about (and use) for years to come. This year my goal is to create an art space within our home for the kids to use whenever they’d like. With everything at their level and a comfortable place to create I think it could be a big hit around here!

Don’t forget to wrap green too! Use reusable cloth gift bags (there are some really pretty ones out there), making part of the gift the wrapping, or using another reusable fabric. For the kids’ smaller items I like to hand-dye 30×30 silk squares and wrap gifts with these. The kids use them for pretend play later so they serve two roles.

Have fun using your unique talents and ideas this Holiday season!

Happy Wrapping!

Jessica

Who would have thought that baby leg warmers could be so useful?

I’ve been using Babylegs (and some that I’ve sewn at home myself when funds are tight) for over a year now. I love the versatility. When the baby’s pants began to get too short to cover her ankles when I picked her up…BabyLegs. When we were lounging in the shade on a summer’s day…BabyLegs. Now that we are embarking on the journey that is using the potty…BabyLegs. what I’m trying to say here is that they are great no matter what age your child is. I know that as Kaiya gets older she can use them to cover her arms during cold morning soccer games and take them off as she warms up. I know that she can wear them as an extra warm layer during the winter and be snug.

Another great thing about BabyLegs is that they come in some organic choices too. All of the prints are trendy and fun. I also like the company’s business ethics. Moms and kids work together whenever possible. Their offics are full of laughter and peanut butter sandwiches (or I imagine it that way anyhow). I want to support a business that puts families first.

Speaking of family-friendly businesses, for a short time Inspired By Finn is offering a huge discount on BabyLegs. While you’re there don’t forget to check out their amber teething necklaces.

Happy shopping!

Jessica

Okay, it’s confession time. Sometimes, oh so rarely, we don’t cloth diaper. It probably happens, on average, once to twice per year. Typically, we go this route because Daddy is on baby duty and if I let him use the cloth I come home to used cloth diapers left in remote bathrooms with goodness-only-knows-what still in them for who-only-knows-how-long. Ech. So, we keep a spare pack of disposables around every now and then. Boy, do they last us a really long time!

When I buy disposable diapers I look for diapers that are made without a wide variety of toxins. I look for a product that hasn’t undergone the paper-bleaching process. But I also look for what is available at our local store because I need them to also be convenient. What I have found that works for us is Seventh Generation disposable diapers. My friends call them my Paper Bag Diapers due to their color. I don’t mind. The paper-bleacing process leaves behind cancer-causing chemicals that I am not willing to put on my little one.

Whew! Feels so good to be honest! I haven’t actually used a disposable diaper since February but I did buy a new pack last week. It hasn’t even been opened yet. If I had a husband who was a bit easier to train we may never buy paper diapers in the first place, but we all have our compromises.

Happy Diapering!

Since my son was ill we’ve been taking some extra precautions to keep the rest of the family healthy. My stand-by, go-to immunity booster is Oregon’s Wild Harvest Children’s Formula Echinacea. I’ve been using it for about five years now and love it for many reasons.

First, my kids like it. It has a good taste and texture. It is a non-syrupy liquid that tastes like raspberries. The amount required is small so it’s easy to get a child to take it. About 1 mL, or 30 drops of liquid. Often times I don’t even give that much because I have found it to be effective at lower doses. This leads me to explain the other reason I love this stuff.

It actually works! We are a pretty healthy family as it is but while other kids are coming down with five to seven colds per year my kids average about three. I guess you could attribute that to good food, open air, and genetics as well but I really feel that the echinacea needs some recognition in this as well.

For myself, I drink Yogi Tea’s Immunity Blend. I love tea anyway as the weather turns colder so this is perfect. Anything with echinacea in it has my vote as a necessary part of an immunity arsenal.

Happy Sniffling! (but hopefully not)

It’s the  most wonderful time of the year, right? Nope, not those eggnog filled holidays; it’s cold and flu (and bronchiolitis and pneumonia and every other lovely you can think of) season. What is a parent to do when children are congested, coughing, and running a fever? Well, read on for some helpful hints that are also easy on little ones and our environment.

Viruses and bacteria are a natural part of our everyday lives. Many types of bacteria are actually necessary for human survival. This is why the use of anti-bacterial soaps and lotions is discouraged by medical professionals in daily, family use. These products can kill off the bacteria that is keeping the bad bacteria at bay, causing you or your children to become ill. They also trick your immune system into thinking that it doesn’t need to handle and filter germs. In other words, plain soap and water will clean our hands without killing good flora and this will boost your immune system.

But what about when your child is actually sick? Well, I had to take a hiatus from the blogosphere recently because of just that. My son contracted this year’s flu bug already. With body aches he felt best in a warm bath. He drank lots of water and slept as much as he could. He did this all on his own because he has been handling his own illnesses for years. As parents we often just want to take away the illness and make our children feel better. Most symptons of illness play an important role in beating the sickness and removing these symptoms will not get rid of the underlying illness. My son didn’t need fever reducers or cough medicine for this particular virus. If he was very uncomfortable and nothing else worked then he knows we have Tylenol and natural cough syrup on hand. With just some simple water and lots of rest he beat the flu over the weekend.

If your family does fall ill (and it will happen) there are plenty of at home, natural remedies that you can try. In later posts we will cover homeopathy, teas, vitamins, and aromatherapy.

Happy Fall!

When people think of organics it’s usually limited to fruits and veggies and other food fare.  However, the benefits of roganic farming in all industries are huge.  Organic baby clothing is becoming easier to find as the demand rises.  Clothes made from organic fibers, like cotton, support a sustainable farming practice.

You can find organic baby clothing online and in some retail stores.  Even Wal-Mart (the place I love to hate) has started transitioning to organic cotton clothing for babies and children.  I point this outnot because I want anyone to shop there (shudder) but because it is a sign of the times.  If evenWal-Mart is acknowledging that organic farming practices are superior to conventional ones, than doesn’t that speak volumes?

Find soft, sustainably-grown, organic baby clothing at Kate Quinn, The Organic Baby Wearhouse, and Sage Creek Organics.  Make sure that the clothing is fair trade as this is another way to ensure that the farming is economical, sustainable, and able to support the farmer who put in the hard work.

Also look for organic bedding and organic fiber toys for babies.

Happy snuggling!

If cloth diapers are so great…well, where are they?  Yes, as a cloth diapering parent it can get pretty old trying to track them down.  Most diaper retailers or work at home moms sell diapers online.

Expensive and inexpensive; old and new; commercial and mom-made, all of these diapers can be found via our trusty friend the Internet.  For brandy-brand new, unique and especially sought-after diapers (yep, lots of people get all excited over cloth diapers) check out Hyenacart, a wahm-based online community of sellers.  Also, take a look at Etsy which is also a handmade-only community.  A few benefits to working with individuals who make their items by hand include stellar customer service (they need the great word of mouth and treat you like a queen) and customization (they can modify or construct your purchase to perfectly fit your little one).

If you are on a budget or believe that a big reason for cloth diapering is saving money than there are a few good diaper trading sites for you.  People trade diapers that are still in great shape with little to no staining to recoup their own costs and to pass on some great savings to others.  The community at Diaperswappers has an excellent selection of diapers and accessories.  A couple of other good sites are myuseddiapers, the babywearer, and spot’s corner on Hyenacart.

Whether your budget is tight or not, there is no financial reason not to cloth diaper.  It’s softer on your baby and softer on the planet too. 

This month O, The Oprah Magazine will be featuring this useful and green product in their magazine.  I’ve been using the Laptop Lunch for my first grade son and we love it.  In bento-style this little, rectangular box keeps foods from mixing while providing the consumer with completely reuseable lunch accessories.

The boxes instead vary in size and are entirely BPA-free.  My son loves it because it reminds him of a computer and I love it because there is no packaging being wasted each day at school.  I include a stainless steel water bottle and this makes his meal 100% waste-free. 

Not only are we not wasting any packaging material but because of the fun arrangement of different foods we also experience zero food waste.  There are even some foods that he will not normally eat but when we place them in the Laptop Lunch he has no problem. 

The Laptop Lunch comes with a user guide that lays out the box’s unique features and gives parents various menu-planning ideas.  The Laptop Lunch gives parents exactly enough room to provide a child with the adequate amount of calories. 

In several ways the Laptop Lunch provides a green lunchtime alternative to Ziploc baggies or throwaway plastic containers.  You’ll also see savings in your grocery bill!

While this site is all about children’s products I also like to focus on other products that impact our kids.  A major impact on our indoor environment and our children’s health is chemical cleaning products.

While I love a clean, crisp scent and downy bedsheets I can’t really enjoy them anymore.  It’s the price we pay for going green.  When you know better you can’t help but do better.  So now I go out of my way to use supplies with no fragrances or dyes.  If I can make the cleaner myself, even better.

You too can make your own glass cleaner, scrubbing paste, oven cleaner (a major toxic no-no) or disinfectant.

Combine water and vinegar in a spray bottle for washing windows.  Use a 1 and a half tablespoon to one cup water ratio.

Combine baking soda and natural liquid detergent for an excellent soft scrubber that rinses easily.  I use this on bathtubs and countertops.  Make only enough to use in one cleaning session.

Spray enough water to coat the bottom of your oven.  Sprinkle baking soda over the top until you cannot see the bottom of the oven.  Spray again with water until the baking soda is wet but not runny.  Leave overnight.  Wipe up the baking soda in the morning and use a bit of liquid detergent on a sponge to wipe up the rest of the mess.

I also use a mixture of water and vinegar to clean my wood floors.

There is nothing that you can’t make with just regular, household items.  Your family will breathe easier when you make the switch.