Published on September 5th, 2008
How would you like to win a $350 shopping spree on Etsy? Imagine this, 14 people will win a $350 Etsy shopping spree. Really, I detest a contest where I know I don’t stand a chance of winning. This one has some really good odds. 14 winners? I’m one of them (yeah, that’s my mantra).
All you need to do is go on over to Etsy and vote for your favorite item(s) in the Handmade Kids Challenge. What could be greener than handmade crafts sold by their respective craftsmen online? There is a Handmade Kids Eco Friendly category with some great looking stuff.
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Published on September 4th, 2008
We really love our Haba Toys. They are safe, fun, and out of the ordinary. The brainchild from Germany creates the most delightful and engaging toys for infants and children. I can tell we are going to have a long love affair with Haba. After our resounding success with the Haba Stroller Chain; we decided to purchase another Haba Toy. We bought this little delightful Haba Baby Bear Ankle and Wrist Rattler. It attaches like a bracelet so you won’t lose it and it won’t fall to the dirty ground. The rattle makes a pleasant noise, and not jarring; the problem I had with toys nowadays. It’s plush which is great for teething. The smiling bear seems to incite a smile even from the fussiest baby. We love rattling it ourselves when our little one won’t settle down. It seems to work, because she stops fussing and starts laughing.
This infant toy is appropriate toy for newborn but is probably best when babies can reach and grab on his or her own. According to Oompa Toy; The Baby Bear Ben rattling bracelet nurtures
these developments
- Creative Expression
- Early Motor
- Sensory
- Social/Emotional
- Independent Play
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Published on August 21st, 2008
HolyMolyToysRUs I’m super dee duper excited that you are now marketing to my child’s eco conscious side.
Cuz, ya know, kids need new stuff all the time.
Sorry folks, I’ll try and regain my composure now. I just wanted to start this post off with an appropriate amount of ridiculousness. I get that Toys R Us is trying to get on the green bandwagon. They’ve sent out a press release that includes this:
Toys”R”Us stores nationwide are now offering customers another way to go “green” with a new line of “R”Us branded reusable bags in a variety of eye-catching styles and colors.
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Published on August 16th, 2008
Bwah hah. Made you look.
Okay, folks it’s been 8 years of me apologizing. Really, I’m sorry about the whole W thing. We’ll do better next time. In the interim, our President has signed a really important bill into law.
Lead is now banned from children’s toys. Can we all do a happy dance?
Guess what?
The bill also bans a chemical called phthalates that is widely used to make plastic products softer and more flexible. I am positively swooning. Then I did a little research and stood still.
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Published on August 13th, 2008
When it seemed like other countries *cough* CANADA *cough* were leading the way in banning unsafe chemicals from toys and baby products, the US Congress finally joined the 21st Century and banned phthalates, with state bills being credited for leading the way.
As my Cool Mom Picks co-founder Liz Gumbinner stated last year, 2007 was definitely the “Year of the Recall,” as too many toys to count were taken down from shelves (well, at least they were supposed to be) due to high lead levels. But the improbable has now happened and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act has passed “with a veto-proof majority.”
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Published on August 13th, 2008
We’ve always had quite a collection of stuffed animals which I, from time to time, peer at suspiciously and wonder what toxic chemicals lurk within. Now parents have fewer worries. Organic and safe alternatives exist.
Aurora Naturally, a new line of organic plush from a well established player in the gift industry, offers a sustainable, healthy choice for stuffed animal lovers…and their parents. Handmade in Indonesia (I may be wrong but, I believe that most plush made in Asia is “handmade”…that’s why they make them in Asia, right?) each cute and fuzzy creature features a soft and fluffy exterior made from soy fiber.
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Published on August 3rd, 2008
Toys nowadays seem to be so self-explanatory and automatic that the toys need toys to keep company. (Not sure if that made sense) Filled with blinking lights which I am strongly opposed to and a buttons that need power (i.e. costly batteries) to just function; I long for the good old days when a toy can simply be a toy. That means no buttons to push, no lights to blind your children with, and better yet, it can be a craft project that could be the next opportunity to simply be with your child. The crafty Socktopus is here to be the answer for those parents who long for the much simpler days (and toys).
Friends of Socktopus are taking the concept of sock animals to a new level. Made out of old sweaters like the one your grandmother used to have; The DIY Socktopus kits turns them into a stuffed animal for your children to play with. However, it is recommended for children three and over since it does have buttons. A choking hazard for the wee ones. Friends of Socktopus are Eco-friendly because it recycles old sweaters and best of all, it’s made in the USA which guarantees that it’s Fair Trade. My only caveat is that its filled with polyester; I feel they could have used another fill that’s a bit more natural like hemp or even Eco-friendly bamboo; but I still love the concept regardless.
I also really love the concept of building something together. It can be a memorable for you to sew a Socktopus or one of his friends with your child. When time is a commodity and everything rushes by in a blur; taking the time to craft something together could be something you two can enjoy. I wish Layla was old enough so we can do this together. For the DIY kit, it is recommended for older children of ages 8 and up.
And in celebration of Mother’s Milk Series, Eco Child’s Play is having a second giveaway. Two DIY Socktopus Kits. To read more about the Mother’s Milk Series Giveaway, just click on the link. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on July 31st, 2008
I have the unnatural love for my California Baby Diaper Rash Cream; any hint of redness on my baby’s bum; I slather on the cream and viola! It’s gone. It’s also used under the chin because my little one has folds of chin and moisture seems to get trapped under there. The funky smell and the irritation is supposedly common in chunky babies; My pediatrician recommended vaseline and hydrocortisol cream, but I am not a fan of petroleum made products. I read the back of California baby which claimed its anti-fungal ingredients so I tried it. Totally worked. I also loved how it’s food grade so I felt it was safe enough to use around my baby’s face. I wouldn’t recommend putting it on where your little one can wipe it off and put it in ones mouth; but the triple chin on my little one did come in handy.
*** The Evidence of Triple Chin and how easily moisture collects there.
Other reasons to love California Baby Diaper Rash Cream
- Made in the USA
- Contains Organic and sustainably grown ingredients
- Eco-friendly and Biodegradable
- Cruelty Free meaning not tested on animals
- Contains Calendula and Arnica; both are which used homeopathically
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Published on July 21st, 2008
I dislike electronic toys for children, such as so-called “educational” toys made by LeapFrog. As I have stated before, I think that children learn more from playing with wooden blocks than any battery operated gizmo can teach them, but what about other tech devices, such as iPods and digital cameras? At what is it appropriate for a child have these “grown up” toys?
Ever since my daughter could hold our camera, we have shared it with her. Last year, her grandmother decided to buy her a digital camera for her birthday. At first, we looked at several digital cameras designed for children; however, in the end, we decided to buy her a real camera that would last her many years. The quality of children’s digital cameras is poor, and we have made a commitment to giving gifts that last our children as many years as possible. As an eco mom, I won’t buy junky toy emulations of technology designed for children that will only break and end up in a landfill. As an artist and a photographer, I felt a good camera would help my young child develop her artistic expression. Her compositions amaze me, and her photographs help me view the world through her “lens”. I can see what is important or interesting to her by what she photographs. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on July 16th, 2008
I am not a fan of plastic toys, as they often end up in landfills after a very short play life, and plastic is derived from oil. The number of plastic toys in my household could be counted on one hand, yet I fear I have derived my children of the creativity and spatial relations Legos can teach children. Then I discovered Uberstix, which are compatible with other building toys, such as Legos, K’Nex and Erector.
The Uberstix Scavenger Series utilizes recycled materials, such as straws, water bottles, and cups, to create working models. This is a unique idea in children’s toys to use upcycling, the process of using something of waste to create a product of greater value. My only concern is that Uberstix uses name brands, such as Starbucks or McDonald’s, in its list of suggested waste materials to use. Considering I try to raise my children as commercial-free as possible, this is concerning to me. I also think that Uberstix could much farther towards greening its product by making the products from recycled plastic. Read the rest of this entry »
How would you like to win a $350 shopping spree on Etsy? Imagine this, 14 people will win a $350 Etsy shopping spree. Really, I detest a contest where I know I don’t stand a chance of winning. This one has some really good odds. 14 winners? I’m one of them (yeah, that’s my mantra).
