Green Treehouse

My two preschoolers are bicycle obsessed. As proof, for the past two weeks, one child has routinely insisted on wearing his bike helmet in the car. If I didn’t know him better–that all he really wants to do is ride a bike–I might take this in the car helmet wearing as some form of protest against my driving.

Biking is cool for kids–and as a parent, there are many fun bike related activities you can do to get kids psyched about riding them, training wheels and all. On May 15th or 16th (depending on your community), biking is also uber cool for grown-ups. That’s Bike to Work Day. In fact, this month is Bike Month!

Why bike to work? Besides the obvious fitness perk of biking, Bike to Work Day is a day that commuters can make a statement about bicycling. Biking is about energy-efficient transportation. It’s about eco-friendly lifestyles. It’s about having fun–like a kid again–on two wheels. Biking also provides an opportunity to make memories with your children–and teach them about the environment and health and fitness.

Have a biking with children story or advice to share? If so, leave a comment and tell us all about it!

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Want to make Diaper Duty a little sweeter on Mother’s Day? The gift of a designer diaper bag might just do the trick. Check out these fabulous finds:

Bumble Bags. Imagine a stylish looking bag that converts to a shoulder bag, backpack, or messenger (across the chest) bag. That’s what you’ll find with Bumble Bags Diaper Bags. These popular bags also fit over stroller handle bars, so mom can finally get the rest she’s been dreaming about!

Skip Hop Duo Double Diaper Bag. The perfect bag for a busy mom of multiples. Everything fits! This bag is designed to easily hang on a double stroller. Want something smaller? Check out the Skip Hop Duo.

Fleurville Escape Pod. The name says it all. What mom doesn’t need a simple, compact designer bag for that quick little escape? Easily fits a small stash of diapers and wipes. Fleurville is now offering a line of green diaper bags, too.

If you can’t get your hands on tickets to those hot celebrity style, kid-friendly dance parties–like Baby Loves Disco, which transforms popular night clubs into kid-proof dance playgrounds–or you live too far away from the club scene, why not throw your own party at home?

While you’re rockin’ out to your favorite tunes, don’t forget about baby. Save the classic lullabies for bedtime. Check out these hot kid tunes:

1. Rockabye Baby! Rockabye Baby has won iParenting Media awards and offers kid-approved renditions of Green Day, U2, Led Zeppelin, among other artists. Rockabye Baby renditions were recently listed as one of new celeb baby Harlow’s (Nicole Richie) favorite things in People.

2. Baby Jamz. Solange Knowles’ voice transforms traditional nursery rhymes into “jump up and down” and get “wiggly” hip-hop songs. My toddler LOVES his Baby Jamz CD! This is one of those rare CDs that just doesn’t ever seem to get annoying.

3. Mother Goose Rocks! Mother Goose Rocks transforms Top 20 hits into totally entertaining kid music, like Mulberry Bush by Gwen Stuffunny (a.k.a. Gwen Stefani). I’ve yet to meet a kid–or parent–who doesn’t love these songs.

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On Earth Day 2008, baby-Wise officially relaunched as BabyEarth! BabyEarth offers one of the largest selections of baby products on the planet. BabyEarth is the only site you need to visit for everything baby. Plus, the site is eye candy–filled with beautiful images and thoughtful descriptions for new and expecting parents. Check it out here.

Got five minutes? If you’re crunched for time on Earth Day or simply forgot until now about Earth Day, don’t worry. Here’s a cheat sheet to teaching your kids about Earth Day in FIVE minutes.

1. Explain What Earth Day is All About? Earth Day is a day dedicated to thinking about the Earth and related issues, like global warming, recycling, and gas consumption. The first Earth Day was in 1970.

2. Give ‘Em Facts. Let your kids know why we should care about the Earth. For example, you could start by explaining that it can take 500 years for plastic to break down in a landfill.

3. Quiz ‘Em. Ask them what you do (as a family or individual) to take care of the Earth. Ask them what they do.

4. Get ‘Em Involved. Ask them to think of one thing you (as a family) or they could do to help take care of the Earth. Even a small gesture goes a long way toward greening the planet. Hints: using cloth grocery bags instead of plastic, re-using a towel to save on water and energy, shutting off lights when not in use.

5. Follow Through. However you get your kids involved on Earth Day, figure out a way to sustain their interest (and yours), even if it means throwing in an incentive (e.g., letting them stay up a few extra minutes at night).

Happy Earth Day!

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You’ve asked, you’ve begged, you’ve whined, and at least one of you wished upon a star….And thanks to Maxine Wolf, CEO & Publisher of KIWI Magazine, you now have another chance to win a one year KIWI Magazine subscription!

Wondering what’s the big deal? It’s just a magazine, right? Uh, no. Not just a magazine. KIWI is the ultimate read for jump-starting an eco-friendly lifestyle and supporting your family’s (and the planet’s) health. I like to think of it as a Parenting or Parents magazine gone green–but all year round. The articles and tips on parenting and healthy living are hip and cutting-edge. For instance, the latest edition offers a how-to feature on making your own baby food and a feature on deciphering food labels. Oh, in case you’re thinking it, you don’t have to be a tree hugging, save the whales kind of person to fall in love with KIWI. Of course, if you are that kind of person, you’re bound to fall in love, too.

KIWI is all about giving you eco-friendly information and resources to help you grow responsible, caring, healthy, thinking children. It’s about helping us, as parents and individuals, do our part in making the world around us just a little bit better.

Here’s the scoop: To enter this free contest, you’ll need to leave a comment below in the comments section and briefly state what you do (or would like to do) to make the world greener. The contest ends at midnight on May 9th. The winner will be chosen at random and will need a U.S. mailing address to receive the subscription. The winner’s name will be announced on the blog. Of course, if you can’t wait for the contest to end, you can always click on over to KIWI and subscribe today!

Good luck!

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Looking for a creative nursery theme? What about bugs? That’s the theme I would have picked for my little guy had I known just a wee bit earlier that he would come to love bugs. He loved bugs so much as a baby and toddler that he used to fall asleep with Margaret Wise Brown’s book I Like Bugs tucked in next to him.

The bug theme is simply adorable for a boy or girl. Plus, you can spin off so many cute nicknames for baby-to-be–hmmm…buggy, snuggle-bug, ladybug. If you’re looking for baby bug nursery paraphernalia or theme inspiration, check out these luscious bug washcloths by Little Twig to get your creative juices flowing.

Have a creative theme to share with other readers who are seeking nursery theme inspiration?

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As many of you have probably guessed by now, I’m an avid Washington Post reader. One of my favorite places to read the newspaper is in the car, while I wait for preschool pick up. Since my last post mentioned the preliminary federal report about the chemical bisphenol-A (”BPA”) in plastic containers, like water bottles, sippy cups and baby bottles, I just had to write about the highlighted news in today’s Business section. Box store giant, Wal-Mart plans to stop selling baby bottles and other products containing bisphenol-A early next year.

Wonder why a chemical that is suspected of posing cancer risks to babies is even used in the first place? Well, the chemical is known for giving plastic containers those rugged, hard and practically unbreakable characteristics. If you’ve ever seen a Nalgene Water Bottle, you probably know what I’m talking about. By the way, in case you’re wondering, Nalgene plans to stop using the chemical.

In light of recent findings about bisphenol-A, if you’re concerned about your child’s safety (or your own), check out these awesome bisphenol-free products:

SIGG Bottles. Made in Switzerland, apparently completely free of leaching risks posed by plastic bottles.

Thinkbaby bottles. Thinkbaby offers a line of bottles and sippy cups free of Bisphenol-A, phthalates and lead.

BornFree Drinking Cups and Bottles. BornFree offers baby cups and bottles free of Bisphenol-A.

If you’re in need of a baby shower gift, children’s bottles and sippy cups free of potentially dangerous chemicals make great gifts to show you really care–not to mention that you’re totally up on environmental (eco-friendly) news!

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It won’t be long before bicycle fever strikes, if it hasn’t already in your area. Here a bike, there a trike, everywhere a bike or bicycle trailer. If you’re hoping to join the biking crowd this season, with or without your child in tow, you probably know what purpose bike helmets serve. But do you know how to properly wear a helmet or how to ensure one is properly positioned on a child?

Many people think they know how a helmet should fit, but it’s surprising how many people wear them or place them on a child’s head incorrectly. Thanks to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, here is what a correct fit looks like. Helmets should fit snugly and shouldn’t obstruct vision. Even if you’re pulling a little one around in a trailer, you’ll want to ensure the helmet is snug and doesn’t flop around (back and forth or side to side) on the child’s head–a matter of safety and comfort for both child and parent.

Have any tips for biking with children in tow? If so, leave a comment and let other parents know how you do it!

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If you thought glass baby bottles were old school, think again. Glass baby bottles are making a comeback. Babylife is just one company to reintroduce glass baby bottles, only with a modern safety sleeve that helps prevents breakage. BornFree and Dr. Brown’s make glass bottles, too.

Why the glass craze? In light of recent concerns about exposure to chemicals in plastic bottles (leaching), manufacturers are responding to the growing demand for plastic alternatives by offering glass bottles that are bisphenol A, phthalate, PVC and polycarbonate-free. Now, parents have more choices than ever when it comes to baby bottles. Even fashionable and totally funky glass bottles!

If you’re looking for a baby shower gift that has eco-chic mama written all over it, glass bottles are it!

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