Mommy Goes Green

 Joo Joo Baby- created on non-toxic EVA foam, this modern take on children’s decor features over 400 designs. They are removable so there is no damage on your walls and you can move them around the room as needed.  The personalized panels allow you to add an image or your child’s name.   They come in 2 sizes: 8.5 inches and 10.5 inches ranging from $18 – $22.50 apiece.  If you don’t have the time or creativity to put together your own design, you can pick from a collection of packages, all pre-selected to go together.

Mae Gallery – most wall decals are made from vinyl (the “poison plastic”) so I was excited to stumble upon these vinyl-free decals.  They are made of adhesive fabric and are completely removable and reusable (again, unlike most vinyl wall decals).   They are even washable – perfect for when your little ones decide to ‘enhance’ them with their favorite crayon! 

Children Inspire Design – I just can’t pick my favorite item, there are so many cute posters, wall cards and art.  I can see these numbered wall cards in French in my play room or this world map posterin my son’s room – all printed on 100% recycled cardstock. The prints and canvases are printed on 100% paper printed with soy ink.

Zoe B Organic – these great biodegradeable chalkboard stickersthat are made with a bioplymer derived from potato starch, a 100% bio-degradable plastic. You can compost them to return nutrients to the soil, or put them in the trash knowing that in about 6 months, 90% of the material will have biodegraded (unlike vinyl stickers). The inks and glue are also eco-friendly.

Olli and Lime – modern alphabet and number wall art looks great framed and comes in several different color palettes.  They are printed on 100% recycled paper.  They also have these in wall murals- large scale versions of the wall prints and tailored to fit your space.  I would love this in my play room!  They are made with Wallsmart paper, it’s washable and VINYL-FREE.

Children’s birthdays can get overwhelming with too many gifts – ECHOage is a great alternative to traditional gift giving. It’s is a charity-driven, online birthday party service where children learn the value of giving and receiving while celebrating.

Step #1. Choose an invitation, select a charity and invite your guests.  Charities include both U.S. and Canadian organizations such as Healthy Child, Healthy World, Autism Speaks, Reading Is Fundamental, WWF and Free the Children.

Step #2. Guests RSVP and contribute online and you get to watch the giving grow on your ECHOage Tracker.

Step #3. When your party is over, ECHOage will send half of the money collected to buy a dream gift for your child and the other half to the charity your child has chosen.

This is a great way for the birthday child to learn how to not only receive gifts but to give them, too.  It’s also the perfect opportunity to talk with your children about charity work and to let them choose which cause to donate their gift money to.

Stubby Pencil Studio is one of our favorite resources for unique, eco-friendly gifts for children.  It’s also a great place to pick up quality choices for your Easter baskets.  Here are a few fun finds:

Washable Markers – I know Kate, the owner of Stubby Pencil Studio, has searched high and low for eco-friendly markers.  So far, these are the best she’s found.  They are non-toxic, made in the USA, and manufactured with 25% recycled plastic.

Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops – we tried these out months ago and totally agree, they are YUMMY!

Sparkle Star Crayons – These multi-colored, star shaped crayons are made from 100% recycled crayons. 

Wooden Bead Necklace – I’m always leary of buying cheap jewelry for my daughter as it’s often found to be tainted with lead.  This wooden necklace relieves my fears as it’s painted with non-toxic nitro-cellulose paint tested and found to be safe for children and non-polluting in natural water sources.

Envirosax Animal Planet Bird – I love Envirosax and this bird bag for kids is adorable!  It would make a great reusable Easter basket.

Wooden Harmonica – every child loves playing the harmonica.  This wooden one is painted with non-toxic nitro-cellulose paint tested and found to be safe for children and non-polluting in natural water sources.

WIN IT!

1 lucky winner will get an Eco Easter Basket from Stubby Pencil Studio with over $60 worth of fun finds:

• Reusable rattan basket
• 6×9 Frogs Ecojot Sketchbook
• E-color-gy Washable markers
• Forest Choice Color Pencils
• 4 recycled cedar Pencils
• Soy Crayons
• Mary’s Softdough Rainbow Tub
• Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops
• Wooden Wind-up Bunny
• Wooden Dragonfly Spinner
• Pack of Color ‘n Kids Easter cards

You can enter to win in any of the following ways:

• Leave a comment telling us what your favorite Stubby Pencil Studio product is!
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen.
• Retweet this contest.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

Leave your comment by Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Contest open to all U.S. and Canadian residents, ages 18+. We will choose 1 winner, at random, and notify them by email. Privacy Policy.

Occasionally, I have needed to supplement nursing with formula and have been researching organic options.  Surprisingly, there are several manufacturers of organic baby formula and it is not necessarily more expensive than conventional formula.

When picking out any formula – organic or conventional, here are some things to consider:

• can lining – some infant formula cans are known to be lined with metal that contains BPA 
• sweeteners – does it contain corn syrup or sugar?
• palm olein oil – studieshave shown infants absorb less fat and calcium from a formula containing palm olein oil
• hexane processed DHA/ARA – there is some concern that the processing of DHA/ARA may cause adverse reactions in infants – more details at The Smart Mama
• avoid liquid formula in metal cans – the cans are lined with an epoxy containing BPA and have tested to leach BPA

Nature’s One Baby’s Only Organic – In soy, dairy or lactose-free versions, Baby’s Only was the first organic formula on the market and is certified organic by OneCert.  It is labeled as a ‘toddler formula’ but that is because the company wants to encourage breastfeeding as it does meet the FDA nutrition requirements for infant formula. It does not contain DHA and ARA but does contain Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) and Linoleic Acid (LA) which are two essential fatty acids used by the body to make DHA and ARA.  Baby’s Only does not contain any sweeteners, palm olein oil or hexane processed DHA.  The canisters and lids are uncoated so they are BPA free however the metal top contains an epoxy-based interior coating that may contain trace amounts of unreacted BPA.   $9.92 per 12.7 oz can.

Similac Organic - Similac Organic is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It doescontain organic sugar and hexane processed DHA but is free of palm olein oil.  Similac has both the traditional can of formula and the SimplePac, a plastic tub made with polypropylene which is BPA Free (although SafeMamareports that Similac couldn’t confirm that ALL parts of the container are BPA free, the powdered formula itself tested BPA free).  $29.99 per 23.2 oz SimplePac or $24.99 per 25.7 oz can.

I’ve confirmed that the following 4 organic infant formulas are all manufactured by PBM products.  According to Joan, a nutritional support specialist with PBM, “Each one is made for a specific retailer and while they are nutrientionally comparable, there may be slight differences in there formulations.”  In a separate email, “bisphenol-A (BPA) is a known functional component in the manufacturing process of the current packaging used for PBM infant formula products.”  They added that they are currently researching alternative packaging.

Earth’s Best Organic - In soy or dairy, Earth’s Best is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It does not contain any sweeteners but doescontain palm olein oil and hexane processed DHA/ARA. $27.79 per 25.7 oz can.

Parent’s Choice Organic -  Sold at Wal-Mart, Parent’s Choice is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It does not contain any sweeteners but doescontain palm olein oil.

Vermont Organics – In dairy or soy, Vermont Organics is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA. $24.99 per 25.7 oz can.

Bright Beginnings Organic – Bright Beginnings Organic is USDA certified organic and contains both DHA and ARA.  It does not contain any sweeteners but doescontain palm olein oil and hexane processed DHA/ARA.    $24.99 per 25.7 oz can.

If you use formula several times a week or more regularly, it may be a good idea to buy formula in 6 or 12 packs.  All of these formulas come in bulk and most with some cost savings over purchasing individual cans. 

NOTE: All the formulas listed above meet the FDA Nutrition requirements for infant formula.

Read more…

VOC free paint isn’t cheap but it is worth it as the chemicals in paint can off gas in your house for over 3 years!   That’s over 1000 days of breathing in chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, and perchloroethylene – not so good for the body and particularly not good for our little children’s bodies.  In the past couple years, several children’s furniture and decor companies have partnered with paint companies to design VOC free paint lines specifically for children’s areas.  The next time you need to paint, check out these safe, non-toxic options.

The Land of Nod and Mythic Paint – Mythic Paint is a VOC free, solvent free and carcinogen free latex paint.  In 55 colors with names like ‘Grass Stain’ and ‘Tutu’, your child can have fun picking out their next room color!  You can purchase online or at some Land of Nod locations.  4oz samples are available for $6.99 and 1 gallon cans are $44.99.

Pottery Barn Kids and Benjamin Moore Paint – Benjamin Moore’s line of VOC free paint is called ‘Natura’.  Natura is a waterborne acrylic paint that is VOC free both in the base paint and the colorant.  Natura is very low odor – I used it to paint my son’s nursery and with the window open for a day or two, the smell was gone (unlike other “low odor” paints I’ve used).  Pottern Barn Kids comes out with a new paint palette 2 times a year and you can pick up the current paint deck in their stores.  Their current spring/summer line has 15 cheery colors. You can purchase online or at Benjamin Moore stores.  8oz samples are $7.99 and 1 gallon cans are $49.99.

Restoration Hardware Baby & Child - The RH Baby & Child line of latex paint is VOC free and low odor.  Available in 6 signature colors, they perfectly match any of the bedding and decor items from Restoration Hardware.  Available in satin sheen and sold online only. 4oz samples are $4.25 and 1 gallon cans are $29.00.

School lunches are one of those places where it can be easy to “go green”.  Trade in plastic baggies for reusable cloth bags, pack cloth napkins, reusable utensils and bring along a stainless steel drink bottle.

There is one more step you can take to make your child’s lunch extra eco-friendly – choose a stainless steel lunch box.  Unlike many plastics, stainless steel is non-toxic and doesn’t leach, it can also be recycled.

The PlanetBox lunch box is the modern kid’s lunch box.  It has five individual compartments, one large enough for a sandwich and the others easily accommodate fruits and vegetables.  The smallest compartment is perfect for a small handful of your child’s favorite treat.  For messy foods like cottage cheese, you can put them in the Little or Big Dipper stainless steel container.  The lid is made with food-grade silicone rubber.

Sports Magnet Theme

One of my favorite features, and the most unique, is the magnet themes you can attach to the front of the PlanetBox.  This allows the lunch box to grow with your child – no more replacing it each year to go with your child’s latest whims.  With seven themes, you’re bound to find one that your child will dig.  I’m sure you can expect PlanetBox to add more themes each year.

If you’re looking for more padding, you can pick up a carry bag.  Made with recycled polyester, it has a pouch on the front that is perfect for a cloth napkin and utensils.  It also has a drink holder, great for a stainless steel bottle.

It’s obvious that PlanetBox was designed by parents and tested by kids because nothing was left out!

WHERE TO BUY: You can buy PlanetBox lunch boxes online.

WIN IT!

CONTEST CLOSED – Congratulations to Anne from British Columbia, Canada for winning!

1 lucky winner will get a PlanetBox lunch box with Retro Kitty magnets and a red carry bag! You can enter to win in any of the following ways:

• Leave a comment telling us what your favorite PlanetBox magnet theme is!
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen.
• Retweet this contest.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

Leave your comment by Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Contest open to all U.S. and Canadian residents, ages 18+. We will choose 1 winner, at random, and notify them by email. Privacy Policy.

Lucky or not, my daughter inherited her curly hair from both her father and I.  On bad days, I (internally) swear about her unruly curly hair and dream of days with hair that is straight, shiny and easy to comb.  On the good days, I gush over her sweet curls that totally match her fun and charming personality. If  you have a curly headed child, you can probably empathize with me.

I’ve tried three different children’s detanglers and finally found one that is chemical-free AND works.   My first go was with Noodle and Boo Conditioning Hair Polish.  It worked okay as a detangler but was not heavy enough to hold any curl through out the day.  When I found out that the parabens in it weren’t safe, I tossed it in the garbage.

My second go around was with Kiss My Face Kid’s Detangler.  Kiss My Face is a great line of natural body care products for both adults and children.  While the detangler worked to loosen the knots in my daughter’s hair, it has a bold orange smell that lasts ALL day that I just couldn’t get over.  It also left her hair fairly greasy with more than one day’s use. 

Finally, I picked up Tru Kid’s Dancing Detanglerand TA-DA.  Not only does it detangle but it adds just enough hold to curls to last the day without any greasy left over.  I LOVE this product!  Since then, I’ve used other Tru Kid products including their shampoo, conditioner and bubble bath and have been happy with their entire line.  You can find Tru Kid products online or at your local natural foods store.

Have you ever found a sippy cup stuffed in a corner somewhere with old milk in it?  I have and it wasn’t pretty.  I ended up tossing it because I couldn’t get it clean.  

Instead of tossing her cups, mom Jennifer Reyes decided to do something about it. The Sippy Straw Cleaner is made with nylon bristles and a flexible stainless steel rod.  Not only does it fit all sippy cup straws, you can use it for ANY straw cleaning – it works great on the straws used in our stainless steel water bottles. 

The pack comes with one cleaner with a polypropylene handle (BPA free) and one without a handle, depending on your needs.  At $3.98, it’s totally affordable and a great gift for new moms.

Three plus years ago, when my daughter was born, bisphenol-A (BPA) didn’t have quite the notoriety it does now.  I used plastic bottles then and you can bet they had BPA in them.  Flash forward several years and BPA has been removed from most plastic bottles.   In addition, many of the bottle manufacturers have come out with glass bottles.

In the last year, we switched from using plastic to using glass in as many areas as we can and bottles was one of them.  I was a little wary of using glass for the baby bottles, but for the last 8 weeks, we’ve used them with great success.  One of the best things about using glass is that I feel safe warming the milk or water in the bottle directly as I don’t put any plastic in the microwave. 

You don’t have to worry about breakage – I dropped a bottle on my hard wood floors and it practically bounced.  No breaking, no cracks.  Once our son can hold the bottle himself, I will use a “bottle cozy”, a cover for the bottle that will be just one more layer of protection against breakage.   I have a silicon bottle “cozy” but you can find other bottle covers like this pink damask cloth cover from CoozyCo’s etsy shop or if you’re crafty, you can crochet bottle covers.

A couple weeks before I had my baby in November, I was looking at all of my options for a post pregnancy belly wrap.  At the same time, Amon Maternity asked if I was interested in testing out any of their products and I gave them a resounding YES! 

I have worn the Body Shaper almost every day since I had my son.  It’s stretchy so it has a lot of give as your belly shrinks after having the baby.  I was between sizes but found that the smaller size fit from the beginning.  The microfiber material is great because it’s thin and doesn’t show through your clothing.  It’s also lightweight so you aren’t sweating from having the extra material on your body.

Personally, I found that I could fit back into my pre-pregnancy jeans much quicker than with my first baby.  In full disclosure, I did gain less weight this time so I’m not sure if the weight and/or the Body Shaper was the bigger influence.  I do know that I feel much more comfortable (and confident!) wearing fitted clothing with the Body Shaper on.  It keeps any ‘mummy tummy’ and ‘muffin top’ in check and makes my figure smooth and shapely.  I plan on wearing it for weeks to come!  Compared to similar products, the Body Shaper is a great value at $25.

Amon Maternity has other maternity support products like maternity underwear and a belly band.  I wish I’d had the belly band while I was pregnant.  I had to wear a maternity support belt for the belly stretching pain I was having and it always bunched up under my clothing.  The Amon Maternity Belly Band is microfiber and looks smooth under clothing.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or recently had a baby, I highly recommend that you check out the Amon Maternity products.  Now is a great time to purchase because Amon Maternity is having a fantastic SALE where everything is 50% OFF THRU JAN 15!   Make sure to use code: SUPERSALE. 

 They are also generously giving away a $50 shopping spree to 1 lucky Mommy Goes Green reader.  Check out the details below!

CONTEST CLOSED

FREE STUFF: 1 lucky winner will get a $50 shopping spree at Amon Maternity!   You can enter to win in any of the following ways:

• Leave a comment telling us what your favorite part of pregnancy is!
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen.
• Retweet this contest.
• Follow Amon Maternity on twitter.
• Become a Facebook fan of Amon Maternity.

Leave your comment by Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Contest open to all U.S. and Canadian residents, ages 18+. We will choose 1 winner, at random, and notify them by email. Privacy Policy.

Congratulations to SARAH C for winning!