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BPA found on paper money

green generation: BPA In Paper Money

It turns out that the cash in your wallet may be contaminated with the dangerous chemical BPA.  A recent study found that BPA (a widely used chemical that causes genetic damage, miscarriages, birth defects and acts like a hormone) is present in paper money.  Water bottles, baby bottles and sippy cups just a few years ago were almost all made from BPA-containing plastic (although many are now BPA-free). The linings in food cans often contain BPA.  Now we have to deal with BPA contamination in an item that we literally touch multiple times a day.

So how did BPA, commonly used in the clear hard plastic called polycarbonate, find its way into our paper currency?  BPA is so widely used by industry that it has become ubiquitous in the environment.  One potential source in paper money is thermal paper—the kind that’s used in inkless cash register receipts.  The traces of BPA (found in the powdery film on the receipt paper) MAY rub off and transfer from receipts to our dollar bills (ie. every time a receipt is placed near the money in a cash register or wallet; or whenever we touch a receipt before touching money, etc).

Citizen-Times.com: Doctors should encourage women to have natural births

If the happiness of mothers was doctors’ main concern, they would reassure them that they have the strength, intelligence and courage to go through the most transformative event they will ever experience: giving birth to their child. Doctors would kindly and firmly focus mothers and fathers in a new life direction — that of placing more emphasis on the happiness and well-being of their child than on their own.

Perhaps it is neither the mother’s nor the child’s happiness that has contributed to the staggering statistic of one in three Americans giving birth by having major surgery. Is the doctors’ convenience also a factor? After all, who likes getting called out of bed in the middle of the night to care for someone who needs you?

Know what I mean, moms and dads?

Midwife Connection: Do You Really Know Kegels?

Each year, 200,000 US women have surgery to treat urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Eleven percent of women in this country will have this type of surgery by the time they’re 80 years old — that’s a lifetime risk of one in nine. Of those who have surgery to treat prolapse, one third will end up back in the operating room at least once.

Millions more will suffer without any treatment at all: 50% of women will experience urinary incontinence at some point in life, and 50% of mothers will have some form of POP.

Kegel exercises — when performed correctly — are a highly effective treatment for urinary incontinence and POP. The exercises are simple, promote self-care, and they’re completely safe.

Natural News: Encourage breastfeeding with baby-parent bed sharing

It seems obvious that babies who sleep with their parents are likely to breastfeed more than babies who sleep in a separate room. They will probably nurse more often and nurse for a longer duration of their lives. A study published in the November 2010 issue of Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has verified this assumption, showing that breastfeeding is more prevalent in families where babies share a bed with their parents (Blair, 2010)…

Bed sharing (or cosleeping) itself is also beneficial to babies. The close contact of parents and their babies through the night is associated with less crying, fewer apnea spells, lower stress levels, and greater daily growth (Field, 1995). Bed sharing is also protective for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). A study in South Africa showed that bed sharing babies have higher survival rates than solitary sleeping babies (Kibel, 2000). In cultures where bed sharing is the norm (Japan, Hong Kong) SIDS rates are among the lowest in the world (Fukai, 2000; Lee, 1999).

Nature Mom’s Blog: Second Hand Christmas for Kids

Christmas can be a budget breaker for many families but it really doesn’t have to be. My husband and I are so conditioned that we now scour Craiglist, eBay, and our local thrift stores before we buy just about anything these days. We have come to HATE paying full price for anything when we know we can get such good deals and we can knock out our Christmas shopping list during a good estate auction or two. Just recently we bought a NIB wrought iron canopy bed for my daughter off of Craiglist, a microscope for homeschool off a local college student, and my husband picked up a large terrarium set-up w/stand and lights at an auction, for my son (well actually for a bearded dragon).

Around the Green Parenting Web: BPA in Money, 2nd Hand Xmas, Bed Sharing, Kegels, Natural Birth is a post from: Eco Child's Play

In 2005, helpful big sister Brittney Maxson tried to enter an A&F dressing room at the Mall of America to assist her younger sibling, 14-year-old Molly, who is autistic.

She was confronted by store staff, who said that Abercrombie policy didn’t allow more than one person in a dressing room at a time in an attempt combat shoplifting. The girls had encountered the same policy at another store, but they allowed the sisters in the dressing room at that store after they understood the situation.

At Abercrombie & Fitch, Brittney explained her sister’s special needs, but was still refused. Their mom, Beth, tried to talk to management and the girls were still refused. Beth even called a customer service hotline while at the store and the request was still ignored.

Four years later, the clothing store has been ordered to pay $115,264 for discriminating against a disabled person.

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At the beginning of the lawsuit, lawyers for A&F–no joke–questioned whether the girl was even disabled. Molly Maxson was diagnosed as autistic when she was 2 years old.

The shopping trip was supposed to be a fun way to help Molly fit in better at school. But Brittney had to help her sister try on clothes. As she said to the Star-Tribune,

Because of her autism, she’s very vulnerable. In social situations, everything is new to her. It’s very unpredictable how she’ll act. … We’ve never left her alone, even at home.

After getting the cold bony hipster shoulder, Beth Maxson did what any parent would. Numerous times she tried to contact A&F about the way they were treated and was ignored. So she turned to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

Four years later, administrative law judge Kathleen D. Sheehy ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act and ordered the company to pay the girl $25,000 and cover the family’s attorney fees of $41,069. The company had to pay the state a $25,000 fine and cover other expenses totaling $24,194. In her ruling, she said,

She was singled out and required to hear her sister and mother repeatedly ask for accommodations based on her disability, in front of a long line of customers, at a store that markets itself to young people as a purveyor of a particularly desirable ‘look.

For her part, Molly said that A&F made her feel like a “misfit”.

Abercrombie & Fitch, while not appealing the ruling, is asking that the penalties be lowered. This is unlikely, as Judge Sheehy said the company had,

transformed this case from a relatively simple matter into the expensive proceeding it has become.

Image: PinkMoose on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

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Abercrombie & Fitch Ordered to Pay Big in Autism Discrimination Case is a post from: Eco Child's Play

If you’re looking for an easy, free way to raise money for your favorite environmental group, nonprofit, school, or charity, the new Freelanthropy toolbar can turn your searches into cash!

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The Freelanthropy toolbar is a collaboration with Yahoo! search which uses a customized toolbar and your choice of charitable organization to help with fundraising efforts.

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“Freelanthropy provides a customized bundle of online fundraising tools to help enhance or kick-start any nonprofit’s outreach efforts. There are tools available for Internet Explorer, Firefox, Windows and Mac so it’s simple for almost anyone to participate. Charities and their supporters will see your revenues grow every day and can start earning money today! Freelanthropy has partnered with Yahoo! to convert everyone’s Internet searches into cash for charities. Schools, churches, shelters, scouts, environmental causes and thousands of other nonprofits can benefit. It’s free for charities to sign up and there’s no registration or cost for supporters to use the service. Just search the web and your charity earns money.”

If you don’t see your favorite charity listed, you can sign them up for free and get the ball rolling.

Fundraising for Schools, Charities, and Nonprofits with Freelanthropy Toolbar is a post from: Eco Child's Play

It appears that our “New Economy” has made people take a good look at needs vs. wants.  These days, more people (as much as 1/3) feel that a dryer is no longer a necessity, rather its a luxury and an expensive one at that!

Line drying used to be the standard and we are trending toward that again (We’ve doubled the number of people who say the dryer is a luxury in the last three years).  Here’s how to fire your dryer which will result in lower energy bills (good for you and the planet) and happy clothes (the dryer is hard on clothing).

No matter the climate you live in, you can air dry clothing.  Read on to learn how to fight restrictive CC&R’s for  your right to dry and ways to circumvent such silly ordinances.

Clothing can be placed on hangers and hung from shower stalls, towel bars, doors, etc… Folding drying racks can be set up quickly in front of the washer, in the bathtub, or in a bedroom.  These options allow you to keep drying clothes out of the main living area.  During warm weather, move the racks outside or set up drying lines.  We string cord from the raised deck to the fence line.  This keeps drying clothes out of eyesight of the neighbors and was an inexpensive option.  If you live in an area where line drying is prohibited by CC&R’s, then set up the racks in a garage or under a covered patio area where they won’t be visible. If you run fans during the day (like we do instead of A/C), then set your racks up where the air will blow on them, this assists in faster drying and the motion helps to prevent too much crispness.

Drying stained clothing outside can help remove stains (works especially well for cloth diaper stains).  I’ve found that super sunny days tend to cause our towels to become a little too crisp, so I hang them out in the evening and allow to dry overnight.  If needed, I toss them in the dryer with a Mrs. Meyer’s dryer sheet and a damp washcloth for a few minutes on no heat to soften prior to folding.

Fight for your right to line dry.  Project Laundry List helps fight anti-clothesline ordinances.  Find out which cities have a “right to dry” and sign the national law petition and urge the First Family to hang clothes out on the White House lawn by visiting Right To Dry.

Tip o’ the day- hang your lines low enough for the little ones to help hang out the wash.  It’s a fun time to have a little chat with your critters and teach them a lesson they will (hopefully) carry into adulthood.

Photo Credit: Line Dry by Placid Casual on Flickr under Creative Commons License.

Cut Your Energy Bills: Fire Your Dryer is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Mama bloggers get a lot of free stuff. And that was one of the issues discussed at BlogHer ’09. There, I met many ladies who said the boxes of goodies would be piled high by the time they got home.

Companies look for cheap advertising in the form of positive reviews. And they often turn to broke mom bloggers with the promise of free stuff to lure them into a few kind words.

And as “green” has become the “new black”, many products are greenwashed, hocked to green-minded bloggers in the hopes that we’ll overlook some of the obvious faults and rebrand the crap the product for them.

Maybe you and I know to look for parabens and fragrance, but does the average blogger, who may gush over the “green”?

NPR’s All Things Considered looked at the swag issue on Monday.

One blogger, Trisha Haas of MomDot, told NPR,

We’re receiving a product for free. We’re excited it came in the mail. We’re going to possibly get traffic off of it, so by being positive, that’s the feeling we’re getting. Is it authentic? I’m not sure.

Here at Eco Child’s Play, many companies contact us looking for us to publicize their press releases or review their products. And personally, I like reviewing products…once in a while.

But while some bloggers may write sugar-sweet posts about every product they’re offered, we’re a group of writers, and each of us has the chance to ignore plenty of swag that we’re either not interested in or don’t agree with ethically. It’s easier for us. That’s why I don’t mind writing a couple cloth diaper reviews; I already liked the product and reviewed a new one.

But I understand it must be hard for those bloggers who are welcomed home by piles of crap mediocre products. Many take the “send it back!” approach. And one, Jennifer Taggart of The Smart Mama, said she mails the products back with helpful tips for the makers. I love that.

With new Federal Trade Commision regulations looming over blog writers, we all better shape up. Writers may have to be a whole lot more honest now about what they receive in exchange for their kind words, be it payment by cash or by free gear.

What do you think? If you’re a blogger, what do you do when you’re offered goodies?

Image: Rojer on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

BlogHer '09: The "Blog-Ola" Issue for Green Mamas is a post from: Eco Child's Play

My kids keep outgrowing EVERYTHING.  I hear this is normal, but sheesh… would someone slow them down so my wallet can keep up with their clothing needs?  With five children (16G, 9B, 9G, 7G, 4G) to dress, it becomes even more important that I choose clothing which will last and is cost effective.  My Fall clothing budget is around $100-$150 per child (with the older ones taking a larger chunk of the overall spending because the younger girls get lots of hand-downs).  When nine pair of undies can run $20.00 (or more!), I have to be very careful with our funds.  I also want to purchase items which will hold up well to kid wear and tear so that it can be saved for the next child (or passed on to a friend).  If you are looking for a new backpack, check out Wenona’s post. Here’s how we do it.

• Garage sales- it’s high sale time in our area.  I’ve found bargains such as Levi jeans (in harder to find slim sizes) for $1.00-$2.00 a pair.  This is especially awesome for our son because he manages to put holes through the knees of all his pants, whether purchased new or used.  I use Craigslist and our paper to determine where to garage sale and weed out sales which might have items I’m looking for.
• Thrift stores- When shopping at stores like Goodwill, I only purchase the half price color of the day.  This requires more frequent visits to check for good items, but ensures we spend the least amount possible.  We only visit stores that are close by.  I was able to purchase 3 pair of nearly new jeans and 1 pair of new cords for $11.  I’ve also found items such as a nearly new (insert three letter brand name here) dark denim jacket for $6.99.  Don’t buy something just because the price is a bargain.  If you aren’t going to use it, leave it for someone else.
• Many used clothing items are available online through eBay and Craigslist. Our friends have found like new hiking sandals (which retail for $65.00) for $15.00.  Be specific in your searches to find any brands that appeal to you.
• Search out children’s resale boutiques in your area and watch for group consignment sales (ours are usually held at fairgrounds or church basements).  Craigslist has been an excellent place to watch for these sales as well.
• Hold a clothing swap party, Amy Jussel wrote a great post on hosting a swap for the tweens/teens who are getting into brand envy.
• Hit up family members, friends, families from church or other organizations for hand downs.  Often, if people know you are looking, they are more than happy to send things your way.
• Host a remake party.  Put together some supplies (fabric paint/markers, fabric scraps, ribbons, buttons, lace, iron-on’s, etc…) and ask other participants to bring whatever they have around the house in addition to items of clothing to remake.  This is a great time to lengthen too short pants, skirts and tops by adding ribbon or fabric to the hemline.  Holes and stains can also be covered with fabric appliques. Most of this can be done with little or no sewing by using fabric glue, iron on fusing, and iron on hem tape.  If you are sewing inclined, pull out the machine (and invite others to bring theirs over) to sew on appliques, repair hems, etc…

Before you head out on your shopping adventures, go through closets and try everything on.  Make four piles: it fits, grow into, repair/remake, and discard pile.  Next, make a list of what each child needs (not what they want) and how you might be able to get those items. Save the discard pile if you have younger children, otherwise donate, trade or give them away.  When you hit the stores (or net) complete your need list before even looking at anything else.

If you do (and most of us do) need to purchase some new items, try to choose sustainable fabrics (organic cotton or bamboo) and buy from local shops or handmade artisans.  The adorable save some for me tee in the photograph can be found from CirclesAndSquares on Etsy for $20.00.

Back To School: Stock Up With Sustainable Clothing Choices is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Most people would love to buy “green” or “organic” foods, but choosing organic foods can be a pricey proposition. If you think your budget cannot afford 100% organic, here is some simple advice on making the most of your GREEN GROCERY dollar:

Eat organic at the top of the food chain: Livestock eat pesticide-laden feed and are dosed with antibiotics and hormones. This all of this ends up in the package at the super market. There is no way to remove or reduce the contaminants. Purchasing organic dairy, egg and meat products is a great place to begin.

Avoid the following unless they are organic: Pesticides levels vary in produce. The Environmental Workers Union found that you can reduce risks of pesticide exposure by as much as 90 percent by avoiding what they call “the dirty dozen”. Here is the list: Apples, Bell peppers, Celery, Cherries, Grapes (imported), Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Red Raspberries, Spinach, and Strawberries.

Buy Organic on sale: Take advantage of supermarket deals and coupons. The savings from one coupon can often equal the price difference between organic and conventional (the stuff with the pesticides) foods.

Buy Private Label: A store’s own brand is often a good deal and are on sale frequently. Many stores have their own organic brand of juices, soups, sauces and other edibles. Look for these to save $$$.

Explore the Bulk Aisles: The bulk bins are not just for hard-core hippies. Bulk foods are more affordable than the pre-packaged foods such as pastas, cereals, nuts and spices. If you shop this aisle in the supermarket, you’ll save a bunch.

About the author: Cheryl Tallman is the co-founder of Fresh Baby, creators of the award-winning So Easy Baby Food Kit, available at many fine specialty stores, BabiesRUs.com, Target.com and national chains including Whole Foods Markets. Visit Cheryl online at www.FreshBaby.com for more delicious tips.

Fresh Baby: Make the Most of Your Green Dollar is a post from: Eco Child's Play

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed into law by President Obama in February provides financial opportunities for homeowners, specifically tax credits, rebates, and loans for improving energy efficiency. The Act also provides tax credits for buying a house and for hybrid and alternative fuel car purchases. The problem is that the 400 page legislation can be tough to work your way through to find what’s available to you.

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A new free guide from Green and Save, the Federal Tax Incentive Decoder, distills the legislation down to 11 pages of easy to read information, so homeowners can focus on the next steps for them instead of wading through the official language of the ARRA.

“Green building efficiency expert Charlie Szoradi and his team spent the past several months reading and deciphering this 400-page piece of legislation to create a free resource for homeowners that decodes the Act. This Green Decoder will help homeowners uncover information regarding various energy efficiency improvement tactics they want to pursue, including reducing utility costs, producing power, financing options, buying their first home and/or buying a new car.”

If you’re interested in tax credits for weatherization of your house, investing in energy efficient appliances, help with understanding how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act helps with installing alternative energy projects, or what the green return on investment is for upgrading your house, get your free copy of the ‘Green Decoder‘ today.

Image: psyberartist at Flickr under Creative Commons

Free American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Federal Tax Decoder is a post from: Eco Child's Play

If you live in a northern climate like I do your kids are probably going stir crazy and take to the yard any day that the sun is shining. Cabin fever is probably driving you all a bit mad but maybe you don’t have much money to spend on taking the kids out for entertainment. The good news is you don’t need a lot of money if you know where to look for fun and often free events for kids.

Keep reading for tips on where to look for fun and free things to do with your kids and for a list of upcoming events in the Flint and Genesee County, Michigan area.

Free and very cheap events are all around you, if you know where to look and what to look for. Stores and shopping centers often host children’s events to lure parents in to spend money. Don’t worry you can reap the free benefits without spending a dime.

Home Depot offers free kids workshops the first Saturday of the month between 9 am and noon. Recommended for kids ages 5-12 these fun projects are absolutely free. On Saturday April 7th the kids can make a window birdhouse.

Lowes offers their Build and Grow Workshops on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10 -11am. This Saturday March 14th the kids get to build a tabletop basketball game. On March 28th they can make a yard mobile to put in the Spring garden. Their workshops are absolutely free.

Local bookstores are often a fun place for story time for little ones and special events for older kids.

If you have tween or teens into Twilight they might want to attend the Twilight DVD release party at Borders on March 20 at 10 pm. I don’t know if all Borders are hosting a party but the Flint store on Miller Road is.

The Flint Public Library offers teen movies after school, book to movie nights, and Saturday morning story time.

Genesee District Library branches offer tons of events from book clubs to author chats to movies and concerts. They also have kids book clubs, storytime, and craft times. This month they are having all day Wii try outs, KinderArt Kitchens crafts and recipes, Story times with Miss Carol, and Doug Scheer’s Laugh Factory (he’s a fun magician) just to name a few events. In April they are having gardening classes and discussions for adults and craft time for the kids. On Saturday April 25th at the Headquarters branch on Pasadena they are having crafts for kids from 3-4 pm. On April 23 at Headquarters branch they are having an adult discussion about Dirt Cheap Gardening at 7pm.

The Flint Children’s Museum offers loads of fun, hands on activities. For the month of March they are celebrating books and are having events and craft projects that coordinate with the book of the day. Admission is normally $4 a person but on March 17th they are offering $1 day admission, everyone can get in for just $1 a person.

Check with your local stores, libraries and museums to see what they have scheduled. You may be pleasantly surprised at the variety of free events your kids (and you) will enjoy.

[This post was written by Wenona Napolitano.]

Free and Cheap Things To Do In Genesee County, Michigan or In Your Town is a post from: Eco Child's Play

Saturday, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius accepted President Obama’s request to become secretary of health and human services.

She sure does have a lot on her plate, what with the proposed overhaul of the health care system.

But what you might not know is that Sebelius is a champion of a “bring your baby to work” policy.  Currently, 21 government agencies in Kansas allow babies in the boardrooms.

We live in a society where too many people make workers choose–do you want to be a good parent, or do you want to be a good worker?

Sebelius seems to think: choose both.

As a woman who parented in the workplace myself, I know what you’re thinking.  “Is it at all possible to get any work done with a mewing babe behind your desk?”

You’d be surprised. The Parenting in the Workplace Institute says that over 125 businesses and organizations have gone the child/labor route with success.  Actually, productivity is great; one of the many reasons cited for the policy.

• Parental proximity. Mom or dad can respond to baby quickly.
• Stress levels. Cheerful, chubby babies at work can relieve stress, even for those not toting a tot.
• Earlier return to work
• Baby policy attracts like-minded employees.
• It seems to delight most customers.
• Higher productivity. Employers say that parent/employees often manage their time better around the care of their child.
• Let’s not forget financial reasons. Daycare costs a bunch, and relieving this burden, even for a few months, can help relieve stress, too!

Bonus points for those who babywear and breastfeed their babes.

Back to Sebelius. In the 80s, she brought her infant sons to work when she headed her state’s trial lawyer’s association. Later, during the 8 years she was the Kansas insurance commissioner, she put the policy in place there, too.  As governor, she was truly an advocate for parenting at work, spreading the policy to 21 agencies total.

Many will talk on how she tries to reach across the aisle at an attempt at bipartisanship. But for me, it’s nice to know that someone who will head the HHS has the human side of things down.

Now you’re going, “Wait a second…why didn’t I hear about this sooner? Why am I here in Virginia?”

Ahhh, my friend.  You, too, can be a workplace parent.  I wrote a series on the matter at Nature’s Child.  Check out Babes Working It and Babies at Work: The Guide to Bosses.

Image: Center for American Progress Action Fund on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

Obama Taps "Bring Baby To Work" Sebelius to Head HHS is a post from: Eco Child's Play