Green Treehouse

Have you ever wanted to share your contact info with another hip mama at the playground, but couldn’t because you didn’t have a pen in the diaper bag? Well, pen and paper is now old school thanks to funky Mommy Cards. Similar to professional business cards, Mommy Cards feature your pre-printed contact information, like your name and mobile number.

While pulling out a mom card scores serious points in the coolness department, the fun and practicality doesn’t stop there. A number of card vendors produce eco-friendly Mommy Cards–some at totally affordable prices–or free!

If you’re looking for a classy, eco-chic gift idea for a new or expectant mommy, personalized mommy cards attached to a BabyEarth gift certificate will surely put a lasting smile on her face.

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One of my favorite summer activities is watching my little ones draw on concrete with sidewalk chalk. It melts my heart to see a colorful, elementary stick person figure–you know, the kind with arms coming out of the head–drawn on the ground for the world to see.

It’s not just my own children’s sidewalk art that makes me smile. Today, for instance, I walked along a concrete path through a playground which was plastered with rainbow chalk art. There’s something magical in seeing the artwork, knowing the effort that was put into it, and enjoying it–however briefly–before it disappears forever along with the next rain.

If you’re looking for an outdoor activity that will entertain little children for hours, don’t underestimate the value of sidewalk chalk. And, don’t forget, you can do more with chalk than simply draw images. Your imagination is the limit when it comes to what you can make with sidewalk chalk. Here are five ideas to get you and your children started:

1. Draw a hopscotch game and play with your children.
2. Draw a play town, including roads, bridges, and buildings. Enjoy watching your children race toy cars along the colorful streets.
3. Trace your children. Let them trace you. Trace feet and hands. Use the tracings to talk about shapes and sizes.
4. Play tic-tac-toe.
5. Take photographs of your children’s sidewalk art to remember it long after the rain washes it away.

Have other ideas? Leave a comment here and share your ideas with other parents!

May 23, 2008: The Food and Drug Administration has warned women against the use of Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream, which is marketed by MOM Enterprises Inc. According to the warning, the ingredients of the nipple cream (used to soothe dry or cracked nipples related to Breastfeeding) “may cause respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea in infants.”

To learn more about this warning and what to do if you are a parent whose child has been affected by product use, click here.

May 8, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) announced a voluntary recall of roughly 5,000 Munchkin Deluxe Bottle and Food Warmers. The recall involves the “Munchkin Deluxe Bottle and Food Warmer with Pacifier Cleaning Basket 2-in-1 Design, model #13301 and lot number TP-1487,” which sold from June 2007 through April 2008. According to CPSC, the “bottle and food warmers can overheat, posing a fire hazard.”

To determine whether your model is affected by the recall or to view the CPSC news release click here.

May 20, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of approximately 74,000 Douglas Co. Lil’ Snugglers Children’s Blankets. These blankets are 14 inches square and have an animal head attached to the blanket in the middle. According to the CPSC, “the blanket’s satin edge can come loose, posing a strangulation hazard.”

To see if your Douglas Co. Blanket is affected by this recall or to read the recall news release, click here.

A friend of mine believes the carpet in her new home is responsible for the start of her child’s allergies. She’s not the only mom concerned about flooring materials and health, or who blames carpet for respiratory problems. While carpet is great for protecting new crawlers and new walkers from bumps and bruises as they explore the world around them, there is plenty of research out there to suggest links between carpet flooring and health issues.

Air quality is the major problem. Carpet emits Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), chemicals that are used in manufacturing and preparing the carpet. Many VOCs are irritants. Some are toxic. Exposure symptoms can include headaches and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Molds and fungi that get trapped in carpet are also potential irritants.

Conscious flooring decisions can go a long way toward improving indoor air quality. If you’re thinking about that new nursery or child’s room, here are three eco-friendly alternatives to consider:

1. Bamboo. Considered a green choice when it comes to flooring. Recyclable, renewable and biodegradable.

2. Cork. Also considered a green flooring choice. Renewable, hypoallergenic and toxic free.

3. Low-VOC carpet. Read the label before you buy to confirm it has been tested by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Indoor Air Quality testing program. Look for the CRI icon imprinted inside a tiny green house, which indicates the product passes the low emissions standard. Also consider wool, cotton, camel’s hair, sisal, hemp or seagrass.

If you’ve picked an eco-friendly flooring alternative for your child’s room, leave a comment and tell us all about it!

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A lot of moms (and dads, too) have been asking this question lately. Consumerism has long had a bad rap–at least when mixed into a discussion about saving the Earth’s resources. But going green through buying green can be a good thing, especially when it comes to buying things you’d ordinarily buy. Like diapers and wipes.

Going green doesn’t have to mean throwing out everything you already own and starting new. Although you can certainly do that. For me, part of going green means making conscious choices, from now going forward, when it comes to buying for my family and growing babies. It means looking beyond a price tag and asking sometimes difficult questions, like is this really better for my baby?; Is paying a few cents more now worth the potential health and environmental benefits?; Will buying ‘x’ over ‘y’ send a message to the manufacturer about my concerns?

Moms are powerful. Maybe even more powerful than they realize. The decisions we make have the potential to have huge impacts on the planet and on future generations. So, the next time you opt to buy an organic product for your family or an eco-friendly product for your baby–or even spend a few extra seconds thinking about the consequences of a purchase, keep in mind that you are making a difference through spending money. Consumerism doesn’t have to be a bad thing, especially when you’re buying things you’d purchase anyway, like baby essentials, and buying with green in mind.

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A baby just might be the perfect excuse for jumpstarting a green lifestyle. In case you missed it, check out Austin’s KEYE-TV segment, Go Green for Your Baby, which discusses biodegradable diapers and eco-friendly baby products and features BabyEarth staff, including Founder and Baby Green Expert, Heather Bendle and Director of Communications and Green Mom, Cathy Hale. For additional eco-friendly parenting ideas, check out KEYE-TV’s Go Green Tips for parents.

As is evident from KEYE-TV’s informative video clip, parents have eco-friendly options when it comes to choosing products for their families, and it’s possible to make consumer choices that are in sync with the environment. It’s also clear from this clip that BabyEarth staff are indeed Baby Green Experts. So, if you have green product questions, they have answers! Way to go BabyEarth!

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It’s coming, it’s coming! Green child care. Parents are asking for green child care programs, and day care centers are listening.

What does a green day care center look like? Imagine organic meals, organic wool rugs, non-toxic art supplies, formaldehyde-free crib mattresses, PVC-free toys. That’s what one eco-friendly Atlanta center offers infants and toddlers. And, other centers are cropping up around the country. Some even offer preschoolers extensive exposure to environmental science education–that is, education about ecosystems, environmental issues, and sustainability.

Hey, Moms and Dads, chime in. What’s your take on green day care?

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Want another reason to shop at BabyEarth.com? I’m talking another reason besides the obvious…huge inventory, great prices, free shipping on orders over $99, cool customer service reps, and genuine commitment to the environment (check out BabyEarth’s eco-friendly baby section, if you’re not sure what I mean). Well, add supporter of the 2008 March for Babies Walk in Austin, TX to the list!

On Saturday, March 10th, BabyEarth was a Baby Boulevard sponsor at the downtown Austin March for Babies Walk. Nothing beats joining the community and over 9,000 participants to support such an important cause– babies! On this beautiful breezy afternoon, BabyEarth handed out rubber duckies and glass baby bottles. Pretty wild, eh? BabyEarth representatives were totally blown away by the sheer number of moms who knew all about the recent news surrounding plastic (bisphenol-A) bottles. Way to go moms! Besides totally lovin’ the glass bottle handouts, moms were thrilled to learn about BabyEarth’s green products–not to mention BabyEarth’s easy-to-navigate brand new site.

If you attended the Austin March for Babies Walk and had a chance to meet BabyEarth at the event, we’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and tell us about your experience at the event.

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