Eco Easter Gift Idea for Babies: Wee Gallery Art Cards

Typical Easter basket stuffers aren't particularly baby-friendly, and with a 7 month-old baby about to celebrate his first Easter, I'm on the 'hunt' for cute gift ideas for little ones. I love these Art Cards from Wee Gallery, available in a variety of collections featuring different animals. Each 5x7 inch card is printed on recycled board, and they're enjoyable, engaging and educational!

Upcycled Letter Decor for the Home

Love these letters for the nursery or any room in the house -- or even for outdoor decor near the garden. They're upcycled from misprinted soup, soda and juice cans.

via Ohdeedoh

Organic Cotton Hand-Knit Baby Hats from Beanie Designs

Rainy, chilly weather is still very much in the spring forecast in Portland, and in many other parts of the world as well. The upside is, there's still good reason to put a sweet little hat on baby's head to keep him warm and dry. I love Beanie Designs' hand-knit organic cotton hats, which come in an array of designs and colors. My top pick is this adorable organic cotton ear flap baby hat because it keeps your little one's ears and head warm, and it has ties to secure it from falling off and getting lost. It is available in the versatile colors shown below.

In addition to admiring this collection, I like the fact that Beanie Designs was started by a mom whose husband taught her how to crochet! Sounds like something that would happen in my own household. Owner Yacine designs and crochets each hat along with a talented group of artists who help her create each hat by hand. Your babe is surely getting a high-quality, one-of-a-kind hat made with love.

Hop over to Beanie Designs to find an eco-friendly topper for your tot!

Dandelion Feeding Gear is Made Out of Corn!

Spring has officially sprung this week (even though Old Man Winter seems intent on sticking around in some places)... but hopefully picnics on sunny days, beach trips, and birthday parties in the park are in everyone's near future. Kids, and packing oodles of food, go hand-in-hand with outdoor excursions and adventures, and Dandelion makes a cheery line of feeding gear for infants and tots that's perfect for toting on-the-go. The best part is, you needn't throw the plates, bowls and utensils away after use, because they are reusable. Okay, the real best part is that they are made out of corn!

Dandelion’s Corn ReUsables are made without any petroleum products and naturally contain no BPA, PVC or phthalates. Manufacturing these products from corn bioplastic requires significantly less fossil resources, and generates far fewer green house gasses than conventional plastic. Additionally, corn is a renewable and sustainable resource. Dandelion tableware is ergonomically designed for little hands, the plates feature handy dividers to keep foods separated, and the bowls are deep to help prevent spills.

I think Dandelion tableware would also be a wonderful alternative to the plastic utensils and paper plates so often used at outdoor birthday parties and at other kids' celebrations. See my post on throwing an eco-friendly first birthday party over at Inhabitots wherein I recommend doing so as a tip -- and party guests may even take their plates/bowls/utensils home as party favors to be used again. What kid wouldn't think it was totally cool to be eating with tableware made from corn?


via Inhabitots:

If possible, serve birthday cake and party food on reusable dishes with stainless steel utensils instead of opting for wasteful, one-use paper plates. If you aren’t in the position to bust out your china, give guests reusable plates and utensils that they can take home and use again long after the candle has been blown out. Dandelion serves up great tableware for tots: child-sized plates, bowls, sippy cups and utensils made from eco-friendly Corn PLA.

NEW! Method Mickey & Minnie Mouse Soap, Whistle While You Wash

Hand-washing is such an event around our house, and I've been looking for a way to make the process more fun for Miss O -- but the fun hand soaps geared toward kids are usually filled with toxic ingredients I'm not willing to let her lather up with. So when I learned Method is debuting these adorable Mickey & Minnie Mouse hand soaps April 1st at Target, I knew they would help her get "squeaky" clean while making her excited to have her very own special soap. The delicious scents are Lemonade Mickey and Strawberry Fizz Minnie, and it's amazing how the simple act of shaping a soap dispenser like the iconic mouse ears will really rev a kid up to dash to the sink after going potty.

Additionally, the soap is biodegradable and non-toxic,and it doesn't contain parabens, phthalates, triclosan, EDTA or animal-by products. And the cute packaging is recyclable and made with 25% recycled plastic -- and never tested on mice (ha ha) or other animals.

We use Method products throughout our home, and love how they work well without using toxins which compromise our health or the planet's well-being. I must note, this Method hand soap does use the ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate, which is classified as a toxic ingredient by the Skin Deep website. So I asked the folks at Method to explain their use of SLS and they gave me this informative reply I think we may all benefit from:

Method:

"Yes, we do in fact use this particular ingredient, which is derived from coconut oil and used for its lathering and efficacy properties, in a number of our products at minute levels. There has been some controversy over SLS being carcinogenic. SLS is a safe ingredient and has not been classified as a known, probable or even suspected carcinogen by either the International Agency for Research on Cancer (www.iarc.fr) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). The ACS has actually gone so far as to issue a statement to this effect. While the carcinogen concern is completely unfounded, SLS can in fact be a moderate skin and eye irritant when used in high concentrations and unbuffered. Method only uses SLS in our formulations at sufficiently low concentrations so that any irritation concern is irrelevant. When deciding to use Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in some of our formulations, Method did a complete assessment of the environmental and health aspects of this ingredient, including tests for toxicity and biodegradability. This was done in cooperation with the EPEA, an independent environmental research institute led by Dr. Michael Braungart, author of the landmark text Cradle to Cradle. Their findings showed SLS to be altogether safe in its intended usage, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and environmentally preferable."

Readers, what soap do you use for your kids for hand-washing? I've always contended that a pump soap is more sanitary than a bar soap at the bathroom sink, but I'd be curious to learn what you all use on your little ones! Please let me know in the comments!

Innovative Baby & Toddler Feeding Gear from mOmma

Given the abundance of non-toxic baby and toddler feeding gear on the market, only truly innovative products really stand apart these days. Such is the case with mOmma: Technology and Design for Today's Baby. Who knew one could get excited about a spoon? But such was the case when I first laid eyes, and hands on mOmma's soft spoon. Like all mOmma products, it features a round shape which is the most ergonomic shape for baby's hand. Additionally, the round base enables it to rock like a Weeble-Wobble, making it entertaining for babes as well. But, the thing I like MOST about this spoon (forks are also available) is the brilliant addition of a lid (seen behind the spoon above). Only a parent on-the-go can truly appreciate this ingenious, modern tweak to baby feeding gear. I can't tell you the number of times I have had to wrap a napkin around a baby spoon before putting it in my bag to keep in clean before feedings. This lid is such a refreshing addition to my mommy repertoire!

mOmma's baby/toddler cups are also adorable, spill proof and feature the same rocking base that will engage and delight little ones. I love that they can double as toys. We've all heard and perhaps said,  "Don't play with your food," but no one I know has ever said, "Don't play with your cup or spoon!" Another fabulous result of the round base on these cups is hygienic: it prevents the bottle from tipping over, and the straw or spout from coming into contact with tables and highchairs.

If you'd prefer a sippy spout, the cup shown above offers that option. *Some of the reviews by moms on Diapers.com suggested the straw was too hard to suck from for their toddlers, so the spout might be a better bet. I haven't been able to test out the straw with Mr. A yet, as he is too young.

I am in love with the entire mOmma collection, and how cool is this brush, specially designed for washing the round cups?

All mOmma products come in a variety of bright, eye-popping colors including blue, red, orange, pink and green. Most importantly, all mOmma products are BPA, PVC and Phtalate free and are made only of first-class quality materials and contain no toxic substances.

mOmma products are currently available for purchase here.

Organic Cotton Leg Warmers from Charlie Banana

From keeping baby's legs warm during diaper changes, to protecting little knees during the exploratory crawling phase, to looking smashing on your tiny dancer during ballet class -- leg warmers are a must-have accessory for childhood. And since they are one-size fits all, they're just about the only item of apparel your little one won't outgrow in what seems like minutes!

Charlie Banana offers an adorable collection of organic cotton leg warmers for boys and girls. Choose between blue stripes, purple butterflies, or pink floral designs for your babies and big kids. Just look at how precious they look on my sweet ballerina!

A Feast for the Eyes: Tastespotting Website

I'm always on the hunt for delicious, easy to prepare recipes across the blogosphere, so the Tastespotting website, which rounds-up the best homemade foods being made by real folks and posted in cyberspace, is a virtual dream come true. Of course, I am weeding through the meat and wheat based recipes to find gluten free, vegan fare- but how nice that this is a one-stop shop for delectable meal ideas! Click here for the yumminess!

The Importance of Prenatal Vitamins & My Brand of Choice

From the moment you decide to start trying to conceive a baby, it's a wise idea to start taking a prenatal vitamin to gear up for what will most likely be the biggest events your body will ever help you achieve: pregnancy, the birth of your child and breastfeeding. There are an array of prenatal vitamin options on the market, and some doctors even write prescriptions for prenatal vitamins to their patients. Navigating the choices can be confusing, and you may need to try a few brands before figuring out which ones don't make you nauseous (mostly due to iron content) once you become pregnant. I thought I'd help take the guesswork out of your search by recommending my prenatal vitamin of choice to add to your list of possibilities: 365 Everyday Value Prenatal Multi from Whole Foods.

I am currently taking this prenatal vitamin, and I took it while pregnant with Mr. A and also while I was pregnant with and nursing Miss O. Taking a prenatal vitamin is a great, easy way to make sure you're getting the essential nutrients you and your baby need, even if you're not eating well due to morning sickness. Of vital importance for pregnant women to be ingesting in proper doses are folic acid, iron and calcium -- all of which are included in one of these tablets, to help supplement a healthy diet. I have an extreme sensitivity to iron, and the iron in this brand of has never bothered me.

Another reason I opted for this brand is that these vitamins include additional benefits: raspberry extract for uterine support, and ginger extract to help combat nausea and stomach upset.

Here is a good article regarding prenatal vitamins, which lists the dosages for each mineral that should be contained in your vitamin. I checked the label of my 365 Everyday Value vitamins against the requirement list in said article, and these vitamins meet, but mostly exceed all nutritional requirements. They also live up to their name by being economical. Bottles start at $9.99

*As with any vitamin, medication, herb, supplement, etc. Always check with your care provider to make sure it is safe for you and your baby to ingest. 

Yoga for Families, A Slide House & A Serene Paper Mobile

Here are links to my recent stories at Red Tricycle & Inhabitots

For Portland Families:

Yoga Classes for Babies, Kids & Families

Explore: Sellwood

Vacation: Mount Hood & The Columbia River Gorge

Interview with Kara Larson of Grasshopper Toy Store

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House with Slide is the Ultimate Fun House


London Restaurant Serves Breast Milk Ice Cream (which has since been banned)


Hand-cut Paper House Mobile for Modern Nurseries

Baby Jives Handmade Mobiles Live on Long Past the Nursery

An obvious, but not often adhered to facet of green living has to do with the thoughtful selection of the objects in your environment -- especially when it comes to baby decor and gear that typically has a very finite lifespan in the home. One talented woman is changing the way we look at baby mobiles. The mom and artist behind Baby Jives creates gorgeous handmade mobiles for babies out of a mix of vintage and contemporary cotton fabrics, wool felt, reclaimed natural materials, and a trusty old sewing machine she inherited from her mom. But she creates with the intention of longevity -- hoping the mobile will be appreciated as art in the home long past the stage where baby lies beneath it looking up in wonder.

In the artist's own words:

"I believe that the things we surround our children with should be as wonderful and imaginative as they are. With that in mind, I am trying to make some magic that will last long after the crib is gone.  Since a mobile is often thought of as a "disposable item" my goal is to make a mobile which will grow up with a child. One that can hang in their room for years as a work of art that isn't outgrown."

From lovebirds and goldfish to butterflies and dragonflies, peruse the beautiful Baby Jives collection of handmade mobiles here.

'Children Inspire Design' Art Prints Are Sweet, Sentimental Nursery Decor

Nearly every morning of my childrens' life I greet them with a song I made up, that contains the lyrics: "Good Morning, Sunshine." So when I came across the cheery new art print seen above from Children Inspire Design, I knew I had to get that sweet chirping early bird to help me deliver my sentimental melody. Plus, living in gray Portland, we can use all the bright sunshine we can get!

I also adore the print above: A Thousand Hearts. It captures exactly how I feel about my family in a simple yet profound phrase. I'll be hanging both of these prints in our home as a reminder of the love and sunshine created in our midst.

Another huge plus is that all products created by the artist behind Children Inspire Design, Rebecca Peragine, are eco-friendly in nature. Here is information about her process:

"Creative recycling is at the heart of each design. Every image literally starts out as a pile of scrap papers from old magazines and other post-consumer paper sources. Rebecca then creates her signature art piece by piece by tearing the pieces of paper, assembling them according to their vibrant colors and drawing inspiration from her imagination and the “life” that each piece embodies.  Many of the magazines she uses are written in other languages, thereby imbuing the art with the spirit of that language and the people it represents. Through this approach, the concepts of recycling and world appreciation are ever present."

The prints seen here are created using recycled card stock and soy inks at a certified green print studio. Further, Children Inspire Design also helps support grassroots organizations by generating thousands of dollars for women and children.

Bonus: Hot off the press! A brand new addition to the Children Inspire Design collection are these gorgeous, ethereal and whimsical art cards of vintage butterflies, which were created using all recycled scraps including fabrics and coffee bag burlap. I love butterflies, and think these would look beautiful  hanging from fishing wire in a nursery.

Visit Children Inspire Design, where you're sure to fall in love with the posters, wall cards, prints and room collections!