Dr. Robin for Kids Gluten-Free, Chemical-Free Sunscreen

If you've got a baby or toddler with sensitive skin, or perhaps you have sensitive skin yourself, then this chemical-free sunscreen formulated to minimize allergic reaction, and created by a pediatric dermatologist, is just what the doctor ordered.

Dr. Robin for Kids sunscreen has an SPF 30+ and provides broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Did you know that 80% of lifetime damage to skin occurs before age 18? Help your children learn the sanctity of sunscreen early on!

I love that this sunscreen, which is made in California, is gluten-free and water resistant, and that it boasts natural ingredients including organic quinoa and oat, and green tea extract to protect delicate skin. Also as important is what's not in the bottle: chemicals, phthalates, parabens, nanotechnology or fragrance. 

When I applied Dr. Robin for Kids to Miss O and Mr. A, it initially left a white residue due to its mineral base, but when I rubbed it into their skin using a circular motion, it was quickly absorbed and not at all greasy. I'll be using it on the backs of my hands as well, because in addition to sun protection, it is moisturizing -- and I need to shield my hands during all of our sunny stroller jaunts!

Purchase here.

Non-Toxic, Colorful Glass Sippy Cap Bottles from Lifefactory

One would typically think that glass and toddlers aren't exactly a match made in heaven... but Lifefactory makes it safe, and even stylish for your tot to tote the fragile material to and fro with their Lifefactory Glass Sippy Cap Bottles.

Since the news broke that BPA is harmful and many reusable stainless steel bottles contain aluminum and other potentially damaging liners, glass baby bottles have been touted as the most non-toxic feeding gear for infants. You really can't beat glass when it comes to delivering a clean taste, and it's easy to clean and eco-friendly in nature.

There are few glass sippy cup options for kids once they are past the bottle-feeding stage, so I was thrilled to see that Lifefactory enables the transition with their innovative bottles which feature a protective silicone sleeve made of 100% medical grade silicone to not only prevent breakage, but to provide tots with a firm, easy grip. Their glass bottles are completely free of BPA, phthalates, PVC and latex, and they come in fun, colorful hues of: raspberry, spring green, royal purple and ocean blue.

The glass that comprises Lifefactory bottles is thermal shock resistant, so it can go from boiling to freezing without breaking, and it's dishwasher safe. And you needn't worry about any leaching like concerned parents always tend to with plastics, even when they say they are 'BPA-free.'

The sippy cap lids are leak resistant and have steady flow control, and they fit Lifefactory 4 ounce and 9 ounce bottles, thus extending the life of the baby bottles you may already own.

I can't say enough great things about these bottles! On a side note, I think glass is the best vessel for serving milk to kids, because I feel like when I give Miss O milk in a plastic or stainless steel cup it never really gets clean enough, always leaving a residue or a sour milk smell after use.

If you end up falling in love with these bottles like I have, you'll be pleased to learn that Lifefactory also makes 16 and 22 ounce glass beverage bottles for adults -- in an array of bright, cheery hues! Cheers!

What is Your Cause? What Would it Be?

Have you ever thought about what your "cause" would be? We often see affluent people who don't have day jobs, generously giving of their time and resources to charitable causes. If you had all the time in the world to be an advocate for a people or issue, what would you do?

I would spend my time trying to change the American vaccination schedule. I know whenever I write about this, it makes *so* many people uncomfortable. I lose subscribers, I get rude comments and emails. But this fuels me even more. WHY are we as parents tolerating the fact that:

According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, one in 91 American children has an autism spectrum disorder. Thirty years ago, it was one in 2,500.

WHY does the AAP see it fit to pummel our childrens' delicate bodies with toxins when they are at their most vulnerable stages of development?

Did you know that:

American infants and children are recommended to receive 14 different vaccines, administered in a whopping 49 doses, all before age six. Forty-nine! Compare this to Japan, where children receive just six vaccines in 12 doses by age five. Or to the US just a generation ago—today’s kids get four times more vaccines than those born in the 1970s.

PLEASE, no matter where you stand on this issue- whether you give your child every shot the schedule recommends, or whether you question the current vaccination schedule, please read this VITAL and COMPELLING article on the topic. This should be a mandatory read for every parent before taking their baby home from the hospital.

Especially since Autism and environmental toxins are clearly linked -- this is no longer something we can pass off as genetic.

THE TRUTH ABOUT VACCINATIONS by Julian Whitaker, MD

I Love This Inspiring Poster

There are so many things I love about the simplicity of this poster. I mostly appreciate that it is self-confidence in a sentence. We can tell our children how amazing they are ten times a day, but they must believe it themselves to truly prosper. I think this "note to self" type of artwork would benefit everyone in the family, and anyone who has the opportunity to see it. Pick one up for $5 at the Enlighten Education shop.

The Little Known Dangers of Play Sand

Who would have thought that finding sand for my kids' new sand and water activity table would result in shock at the fact that most play sand is carcinogenic and may cause fatal lung conditions?

I wanted to warn other parents with this regard, so please read the article here which warns:

The State of California requires a cancer warning label on bags of sand containing crystalline silica. That is because most of the sand found in hardware stores is not natural sand, but actually derived from quarried quartz rocks. The dust from such sand is regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protections Agency) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and known to cause fatal lung conditions.

In my research I also discovered that some parents purchased sand that did not have a warning label on the bag, but the website for the sand said to beware of the sand's cancer-causing properties, so they were stuck with a useless, dangerous product.

Do your kids play in a sandbox or with a sand table? Where did you get the sand? Please leave answers and enlighten us all in the comments section!

My Playhouse Adventures Converts the Kitchen Table to a Personal Paradise

Many hours of my childhood were spent "under the table and dreaming." You may recall a post I wrote about how one mom crafted a felt slipcover to put over her kitchen table for her child to have an instant playhouse. For those of us who are craft- and sewing- challenged (self included!), I just came across a fabric cubby house you can purchase to drape over your table to create a child's personal paradise!


My Playhouse Adventures offers these sweet, instant dwelling places, which are "dreamed, designed and sewn in Australia." Learn more about them here!

via Babyology

New! Organic Canvas Lunch Totes from Graze Organic

We all know the "brown bag" is decidedly drab and bad for the earth. If you have yet to ditch the disposable dud, here's the perfect opportunity to upgrade to a reusable option -- Graze Organic has just debuted two adorable organic canvas lunch totes! Perhaps you recall my previous post on Graze Organic's super sweet snack bags and cloth napkins. Well, the fabulous duo behind this mom made company is at it again with a product that parents will truly appreciate.

In addition to being made in the USA from 100% organic canvas, their sturdy lunch totes are printed with water-based inks, they have no plastic lining, and you can machine wash and tumble or line dry them! Each bag has been pre-washed to ensure minimal shrinkage. What a bonus to be able to easily say goodbye to the goo that seems to inevitably build up on other lunch boxes and bags.

You may choose between flowers, robots, or a "because every bag matters" design. Note: the flowers bag may easily do double duty as mom's lunch sack of choice too!

And if you haven't yet purchased a collection of organic, reusable snack bags, they'll fit perfectly in your child's new lunch tote.

Babble Names Petite Planet One of Their Top 50 Shopping Sites for Moms!

One of my favorite websites of all time has named Petite Planet one of their Top 50 Shopping Sites for Moms! I am so thrilled and flattered! Take a gander at what they had to say about Petite Planet here. Thanks, Babble!

Color Me Green with Crayola Markers Made from Recycled Plastic

Is anyone else confounded by the dizzying array of options available in the art supply aisle these days? So many colors and varieties! I remember when there was just one box of crayons and one box of markers to choose between. I am a huge fan of eco-friendly art supplies, and I recommend buying them to support small businesses whenever possible, but I also realize there are times when you need to purchase mainstream coloring tools on the fly.

I was delighted to see Crayola is now making their markers with recycled plastic. We've all known about crayon recycling for quite some time, and it's great to see that such a large corporation, which can really make a huge impact by taking baby steps to be more eco-friendly, has made plastic markers greener. So narrow your search next time you're choosing your tot's markers, by opting for the ones made with recycled plastic!

Modern Twist Kidz Placemat Makes a Masterpiece Out of Mealtime

Mealtime. It summons an array of emotions from delight to dread. Will your tot actually eat what you put in front of her? Will baby throw all of the expensive, organic produce you chopped into finger-sized bits directly onto the floor? While sitting down with wee ones to dine can be dicey, you now have one surefire way to make the experience entertaining at the very least...

Stick a Modern-twist Kidz placemat at the helm of your babe's booster seat and let her learn her ABC's and hone her coloring skills while you work on sneaking eggplant into her quesadilla.  Made of hand silk-screened food-grade silicone, these stylish placemats may be colored time and again with washable or dry erase markers, and they are free of BPA, latex, lead, phthalates and PVC. Additionally, they are non-porous and germ-free.

Modern Twist offers so many adorable designs atop their kidz placemats, which may all be viewed here. I love that they are eco-friendly, will easily fit in with the aesthetic of any home, and may be handed down to multiple children so all may feed the appetite of their inner artist.