1. Yamamotoyama Seaweed Snack Chips Teriyaki

We discovered these seaweed snacks at a health food store in Mt. Shasta, CA. My kids love to just snack on full sheets of nori, but these small snack size bites are perfect for munching in the car and packing in school lunches.

Nori has traditionally been eaten in Asian cultures.  It can be used for Sushi, rice balls, topping on noodles, salads, pasta, and rice dishes.  Nori is a valuable nutrition source filled with proteins, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, and zinc which are necessary components for maintaining good health.

These “chips” just kind of melt in your mouth, and the teriyaki flavoring is not too strong for my kids. 

Would I buy this product? Yes.  I wish I could find them in a local health food store, and I will be stocking up on our next ski trip to Shasta.

2. Pediped Originals Infant/ Toddler Ella Cork Sandal Ella

Pediped makes adorable shoes for little walkers. Considered “the next best thing to bare feet”, flexible soles and uppers are recommended by pediatricians.

COMFORT: pediped footwear are made with premium, non-toxic, ECO grade leather throughout. Foam insoles & cushions provide for a comfortable fit and the heels are padded to absorb shock. pediped simply offer the ultimate in comfort and protection……QUALITY : pediped footwear’s unsurpassed quality and craftsmanship have earned them a loyal following. Premium grade leather, distinctive styling and remarkable attention to detail have resulted in a truly exceptional shoe. pediped footwear have caught the attention of parents, grandparents and celebrities alike…. pediped footwear is recommended by podiatrists The American Podiatric Medical Association says, “Allowing the youngster to go barefoot or to wear just socks helps the foot to grow normally and to develop its musculature and strength as well as the grasping action of the toes” .

I don’t know what “ECO grade leather” is, and I could not find information on the company’s website. I do know these shoes smelled strongly when I took them out of the box, which I do find concerning.  They say they are nontoxic, but I am not sure what is outgassing.

Would I buy this product? Maybe. They cost $32, which I do not think is too much for toddler shoes that are good for little feet.  Toddlers don’t need many pairs of shoes. What does concern me is the odor…I would be sure to let these shoes sit in fresh air for quite sometime before putting on little feet.

3.  “Surf Ace of the Sun” iStoryTime by Joe Mohr

Joe Mohr’s Hank D and the Bee cartoons are a regular Thursday feature here on Eco Child’s Play. “Surf Ace of the Sun” features three original Joe Mohr cartoons with an environmental theme:  “Surf Ace of the Sun”, ‘The Newt on my Boot Asked Me not to Pollute”, and “Wouldn’t it be Nice?”  I don’t want to give away the stories, but you will enjoy their cadence, narration, and illustrations.  MusicBoatGuy’s review states:

I love the enviornmental [sic] message. My daughter loves it – and i love what it is teaching her. A steal at 0.99. great drawings, great narration. Perfect for the car. And it includes surfing to boot.

My daughter really liked these poems, and I think she felt a little inspired. I wonder if kids can create stories for iPhones?

Would I buy this product? Yes. This is a great deal at $0.99, and I am a big fan Joe Mohr!  Of course, there is some concern about cell phone radiation with children and iPhones; however, children don’t hold the gadget by their heads to view/listen/read the poems, and the phone is not transmitting as it would be when talking.  Viewing this app probably falls near the low end of radiation on an iPhone, and it doesn’t take that long to go through all of the poems.

4.  staSAFE All Natural Hand Sanitizer and Protector

The flu is rampant right now in our school because one irresponsible parent brought her sick child to school (101.2 fever) when she had to work. My son topped out at 102.8 today, and I have been accused of being a “germaphobe” this week.

We’ve reviewed a lot of natural hand sanitizers in the past, but staSAFE is the first all natural, alcohol free hand sanitizer advertising “ongoing” protection for hours.

staSAFE is made with Argenius,™ a unique formulation of natural ingredients proven to kill 99.9% of common germs.

Our formula requires no environmental or health warnings on the label. The ingredients in staSAFE are safe, long acting, non-toxic and moisturizing. Our products are never tested on animals and don’t contain parabens, phthalates, formaldehydes, or steroids.

staSafe works by using a silver-zinc complex to “coat” your hands. After rubbing in for 30 seconds, your hands smell good and feel soft.  My concern is with the silver. I could not find any info on if this was indeed silver nanoparticles as I suspect.

Would I buy this product? Maybe. I just don’t know about the silver, I don’t know the price, but I like that it offers lasting protection from bacteria.

5. New Jammies Fruits & Veggies Peas PJ’s

Organic jammies are the best!  My kids spend more time in their pajamas than any other item of clothing, so we try to buy organic whenever possible.

Imagine as a parent having the tools to make your child happy and healthy.  New Jammies provides these tools by making bed time fun, healthy, and educational.   Each time your child steps into a pair of New Jammies, the colorful patterns will teach your child about the things that are good for them such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

What could be sweeter for a bedtime snack than a delicious apple treat for the “apple of your eye”.  Your child will happily march off to bed with dreams of bananas, blueberries & peas in their head.   New Jammies are good for your child, made of 100% natural organic cotton, and hey they look darn cute in them too!!!

New Jammies make delightfully soft sleepwear, and our set came with a book.  Although I found the story annoying, as each fruit or vegetable in the story competes to the best, I do like the pretty peas please jammies.

Would I buy this product? Maybe.  I hate to say no, but I think they are overpriced at $30, but I love organic jammies.

Disclosure: The products described above were sent to us as free samples, unless noted differently in the review. Prior assurances as to the nature of the reviews, whether positive or negative, were not given. No financial payments were accepted in exchange for the reviews. The reviews reflect our honest, authentic opinions.