Green Treehouse

Beyond the serious long-term cost savings and the “green effect” of cloth diapering, parents who use cloth diapers frequently claim that babies prefer cloth over disposables.

But can a baby who doesn’t yet know her name really have such a preference? As a mom of three, who has used both cloth and disposable diapers over the years, I say…absolutely! Wouldn’t you be able to feel the difference against your skin between wearing a comfy cotton underlayer and layers of superabsorbent polymers? That’s what I thought.

The Fuzzi Bunz Pocket Diaper is one example of an easy-to-use diaper that gently touches your baby’s skin. Use the Fuzzi Bunz diaper as you would a disposable (except reuse it!). The waterproof outer layer contains wetness and the inner microfeece pulls moisture away from your baby (think, rash-free comfort!). Plus, the stetchy leg elastic is designed to provide comfort for baby.

Still not convinced that a baby can tell the difference? Well, go ahead, check out this Fuzzi Bunz You Tube video:

Here’s yet another cool reason to love eco-friendly baby retailer BabyEarth (not that you needed another one!): Inc. Magazine ranks BabyEarth among the fastest growing companies in Texas and lists the company on its 5000 list as among the fastest growing companies in the United States.

Now, how cool is that news? Way to go BabyEarth! And, way to go moms, dads, aunties, uncles, friends, and grandmas, too, for making eco-conscious lifestyle and parenting decisions! Your little ones and their someday little ones will thank you.

September 17, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of about 600,000 Simplicity Brand Drop Side Cribs due to entrapment and suffocation hazard. Consumers are advised to immediately discontinue use, since “Due to sizing problems with the crib’s hardware, the drop side can come off the tracks. When the drop side detaches or partially detaches, it creates a hazardous gap, which can lead to infant entrapment and suffocation.” According to CPSC:

The recalled model numbers include: 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8778, 8810, and 8994. The recalled drop side cribs have a date code, which can be found on a label on the headboard under the mattress support, which ends in 05DH, 05GB, 06DH, 06GB, 07DH or 07GB (examples: 1806 DH or 0507 GB). The recalled model names include: Aspen and Crib N Changer Combo, Gabrielle, Camille, Providence and Shenandoah. Only the brand name “Simplicity” can be seen on the label on the headboard.

The cribs were sold from January 2005 through August 2008 in department stores, children’s stores and mass merchandisers nationwide.

To learn more about the recall or to determine whether your crib is involved in this recall, click here.

Two things happened recently that reminded me that life really does go by in a blink of an eye: (1) I sent my first born baby off to kindergarten; and (2) I discovered that Cabbage Patch Kids has released 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Kids, which are replicas of the original dolls.

I vividly remember the day I got Dottie, an original CPK back in 1983. I wasn’t that much older than my kindergartener is now. Dottie is still around–somewhere in storage–but she remains a very special part of me and my childhood memories. In the spirit of time and childhood memories, one of those yarn headed, dimpled cheek 25th Anniversary Kids has made a new friend–my kindergartener.

Wow. Where did time go? Who would have thought that 25 years later, I’d have a real kid of my own. When it comes to babies, motherhood and the environment, who would have thought in 1983 that…

* Smart Cars would be popping up around the United States twenty five years later;
* Parents would be concerned about the safety of baby bottle plastics in 2008;
* Michael and Jennifer, 1983’s top baby names according to the SSA, would years later be replaced by Jacob and Emily;
* Cloth Diapering could be easy, thanks to companies like bumGenius, which by the way, also makes a totally cool, tell-all-your-friends Diaper Sprayer!
* New and seasoned parents would be shopping online for baby essentials and reading blogs!

September 3, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of Action Baby Carriers, manufactured by Optave Inc. The affected baby carriers were sold from May 2008 through June 2008, “in various colors and patterns: blue, brown, green, ’so square’, ‘the larrisa’ and ’spring breeze.’”

According to CPSC, “The baby carrier’s chest strap can detach from the shoulder straps, posing a fall hazard to the baby.”

For more information about the recall or to learn whether your infant carrier may be affected by the recall, check out the CPSC news release here.

Hey there, eco-conscious mamas (and daddies, too), guess what? Sassy hopes to inspire you and stimulate your baby with its new line of Earth Brights wooden baby products!

Earth Brights are handcrafted from quality hardwoods, select fabrics and water-based finishes with packaging made from 100% recycled paperboard.

If you’re looking for a toy for your little one or a “green” baby shower gift, think Sassy. Here’s a look at Sassy’s beautifully crafted Sassy Wooden Trio:

And the Sassy Simply Natural Rattle:

Click here for additional Sassy gift ideas.

Growing up, a childhood friend’s mom used to “reuse” plastic sandwich baggies. Rather than tossing a plastic bag after school lunch, she brought it home for her mother to wash, hang dry, and reuse again and again. I remember thinking, “why, on Earth does that mother bother?”

Now, years later with eco-consciousness on the brain, I find myself thinking, “why on Earth wouldn’t I bother?” I can’t believe how many plastic baggies I use in my household, especially for Goldfish and Cheerios on-the-go snacks.

Whether you bring your lunch to work, pack a lunch bag for your preschooler or use plastic baggies for toddler snacks, have you ever added up how many plastic sandwich baggies you throw out each month in your household?

Plastic baggies may be inexpensive at the register, but they add up to huge environmental costs, especially in landfills. If you’re looking for plastic alternatives, check out these eco-friendly sandwich bags: Happy-Sacks. They are lined with coated nylon so moms and dads can easily wipe off gooey peanut butter and jelly residue.

Hey, Green Treehouse fans, what are your tips for a “green” lunchbox? We’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment below.

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Recycle your used Baby Gear at BabyEarthRenew. Click here for details.

Did you know that fragrances found in perfumes, cleaning products, beauty products, and in air fresheners usually come from petroleum-based chemicals? Did you know that there are millions of people who are highly sensitive (some more so than others) to chemicals and scents? Did you know that some places have “scent free” or “reduced” scent zones?

Chemicals in our environment can affect people in ways that we might not realize. Synthetic fragrances contained in shampoos, hair care products, and body soaps can induce headaches, mood changes or breathing difficulties. Some studies suggest that man-made fragrances are more than simply annoying–they claim that chemical fragrances can damage the body, like the nervous system, and even lead to cancers or depression, among other health problems.

New parents concerned about the safety of synthetic fragrances have options. Parents can opt for fragrance free baby products, like California Baby’s Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion (fragrance free) or TenderCare Tushies Unscented Wipes. Parents can also look for bath and body care products that are free of synthetic fragrances and are made of natural or organic ingredients like Little Twig’s line of baby skin and bath products. Parents can also switch to natural laundry detergents, such as BabyGanics Laundry Detergent that is specially formulated for babies, and choose natural air fresheners.

When it comes to health, the environment, and air quality, even small decisions, like deciding what baby shampoo or body wash to buy, just might have a big impact on future generations.

If you’re looking for sporty BPA-free water bottles, I’ve done the homework for you–so you can spend your time at the park or beach with your child instead of doing research. Here are my top three summer picks:

1. The SIGG Bottle. Swiss-engineered, this bottle is eco-friendly and reusable. My kids have already put their bottles through the test (including a serious throw down a concrete hall) and I’ve yet to see a dent.

2. The N-Gen Nalgene Bottle. Available in great colors, these newly designed (and sleek) bottles are BPA free.

3. The CamelBak Better Bottle. These BPA free bottles are so hot looking, you’re bound to find all eyes on you–well, your bottle at least–at the playground.

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At a well-child visit today, the pediatrician asked, “is your baby eating much meat?” Given that my older two children don’t eat any meat, other than bacon (hey, they love it…I buy the nitrate free kind), I just assumed my youngest would follow suit. But something about the question put me on the defensive. It seemed like the Doctor was suggesting that my baby should eat meat.

It’s not that I have any issues with meat or meat eaters, or believe that everyone should convert to strict vegetarian or vegan lifestyles. In fact, I was devoted to a vegetarian diet for years. This ended abruptly during pregnancy–I intensely craved cheeseburgers, even though I hadn’t eaten a meat burger for years. Three children later, I’m not back to the point where I can really call myself a vegetarian, but it’s rare that I do eat meat.

What troubles me, though, is that I’m not particularly fond of pediatrician-induced guilt–even if I did have to read between the lines to see it. The way I see it is, my baby may or may not eat meat, and volume shouldn’t factor into the equation. If she comes to love meat, great. If she’s not a huge fan, that’s fine, too. If she only wants bacon, well, I can work with that.

Ever wonder why non-animal product consumption is said to be an eco-friendly lifestyle? These definitions will clue you in.

Vegetarian: Broadly describes a diet that excludes meat, poulty, and fish. There are different types of vegetarians, ranging from vegans to vegetarians who consume dairy and eggs (”lacto-ovo-vegetarian”).

Veganism: Vegans choose to avoid using or eating animal products, including dairy or products tested on animals. This lifestyle is believed to benefit the environment, animals, and our health.

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