Filed under: eco-friendly, green, organic, parenting, sustainable | Tags: babies, baby, california, carbon footprint, children, eco, eco-friendly, ecostiletto, environment, environmental, family, global warming, green, greener, infants, kids, los angeles, mom, mommy, mother, organic, parent, parenting, parents, plush, recycled, recycling, sarnoff, siblings, sustainable, teddy
Most of the time I look the other way when The Barnacle (read: baby) receives another unapproved toy. There was that little incident when I killed Baby Ava mere hours after she opened her VOC-emitting box on Christmas morning. (She was off-gassing! So sue me!) But typically I let her play with pretty much anything for a few days until she gets tired of it and then follow the time-tested, mother-approved means of disposal: I give it to Good Will.
And since those off-gassing toys are few and far between heaps of unneeded stuffed animals, baby dolls, party favors and general plastic crap that kids adore, my guilt over giving toys that I won’t let my child play with away so other people’s children can play with them is somewhat (though not completely) abated.
Although I’m not a fan of petroleum-based plastic, acrylic, nylon or polyester, it’s mainly because I don’t want to support the manufacturers who depend on these materials to make inexpensive toys and giant profit margins, rather than because I think they’re truly harmful to my daughter’s health. (Although they do make her sneeze.)
But here’s a manufacturer that I will support—and would be proud to add to the zoo of stuffed animals that haven’t yet met my wrecking ball. Made of organic cotton and natural burlap, the FEED Bear may look like a run-of-the-mill teddy, but its sales support Plumpy’nut, whose mission is to feed severely malnourished children ages five and under in sub-Saharan Africa, where more children die of malnutrition than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
Endorsed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF for its ability to treat severe acute malnutrition with a 95% success rate in the home, rather than a hospital, and revolutionary because it requires no refrigeration or water to prepare, Plumpy’nut is more than just food—it’s medicine.
The FEED Bear is the brainchild of Lauren Bush, whose FEED Bags provided food for hungry children in Rwanda, and the formula here is the same: Buy a FEED 5 Bear for $60 and you provide Plumpy’nut to five severely malnourished children in the region of East Africa; buy a FEED 3 Bear for $35 and you nourish three. And FEED Bears begin shipping next month, just in time for birthday party season!
Have you ever bought a toy that donated to charity? Did you explain to your kids how it worked? Tell me about it!
Filed under: EcoStiletto Kids Archives | Tags: beach, california, children, eco, ecostiletto, family, green, infants, kids, los angeles, mom, organic, parent, pool, sarnoff, siblings, summer, sunscreen, sustainable
’Tis the season to slather on sunscreen, so make sure you’ve got the good stuff. My top picks in eco-friendly sunscreens are gentle enough for little ones and strong enough for the whole family, with a bushelful of organic and natural ingredients to boot.
The Environmental Working Group gives high marks to titanium-dioxide-based Sunny Days from kids’ natural-body-care-products-maker TruKid, and I do, too. Ranked among the top five sunscreens out of almost 1,000 brands EWG tested for safety and effectiveness, Sunny Days is free of parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate and synthetic fragrance. I absolutely love the creamy texture and yummy citrus scent—courtesy of natural grapefruit and yuzu oils. Plus, Sunny Days’ vitamin-packed formula includes organic aloe, organic pomegranate juice, and organic cucumber and green-tea extracts. With its 30+ SPF broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, USA-made Sunny Days stood up to the midday-rays test even while the tots splashed in the way-too-chilly-for-grownups surf. Cool.
Totally free of chemical UV-absorbers, zinc-oxide-based Soleo Organics is another EWG top pick, and another of my faves. Grapeseed, sunflower and vegetable oils give SPF 30+ Soleo a super-smooth texture, while macadamia oil gives it a sweet, mellow fragrance that doesn’t leave little ones with an unpleasant syntho-stink. Soleo is a great sunscreen for active families since its 22.3% zinc-oxide formula makes it super- protective and ultra-water-resistant. Maybe that’s because it was developed by an Australian naturopath and is made in Australia, where ozone depletion means UV exposure is a major problem for young and old alike. Whatever the inspiration behind Soleo’s super-natural cream screen, I’m inspired to use it throughout the long, sun-soaked days ahead.
So here’s the deal: It’s not a mineral sunscreen, but SPF 30 KINeSYS Kids spray is free of PABA, parabens, preservatives, alcohol, sulphites and nano-particles. It’s also free of common allergens like nuts, eggs, gluten, soy and dairy. Plus, its no-mess, dry-on-contact formula means I don’t have to pin my little squirmers down for a shmearing. I respect that carbon-neutral company KINeSYS is committed to the environment, just like me: Its product packaging is fully recyclable and its products come in a pump spray instead of pressurized aerosol containers. And while some green moms among us may choose to avoid UV absorbers like octinoxate and avobenzone, which are among KINeSYS’s active ingredients, EWG does rank KINeSYS Kids spray sunscreen in its lowest-hazard category, 0-2. To spray or not to spray? I’ll let you make the call.
This article was written and contributed to Mommy Greenest by Natasha Garber, the former editor of Los Angeles Family magazine. Currently, Natasha is a freelance contributing editor for Special Events Magazine and a contributor to numerous lifestyle publications across the country, where she covers green events and event planning, sustainable catering and cuisine, fashion and design trends. A mother of two and passionate proponent of eco-conscious family living, Natasha lives, writes, parents, plays and makes fresh, organic, totally delicious baby food (just ask her 6-month-old) in Los Angeles.
Filed under: EcoStiletto Kids Archives | Tags: california, children, eco, ecostiletto, family, green, infants, kids, los angeles, mom, organic, parent, sarnoff, siblings, sustainable, toys
A friend of the Earth is a friend of mine. So, naturally, my wee ones and I are BFFs with The Earth Friends—a delightful collection of nine heirloom-quality rag dolls crafted entirely from eco-friendly materials. I love The Earth Friends’ smooth hemp skin, thick organic cotton yarn hair and adorable outfits—made from blends of organic and recycled cotton, of course. I’m equally impressed with The Earth Friends’ 100% post-consumer-waste-recycled cardboard packaging.
The Earth Friends aren’t just green on the outside, either. Each doll—pick from a selection of boys and girls including Jax, Lily and Raji, not to mention the certain-to-be popular Obama-offspring namesake Malia, among others—contains soft stuffing made from recycled plastic containers. Most refreshing in a sea of toys that beep and holler are these dolls’ simplicity, from sweetly stitched facial features to attached cloth “shoes.” More than anything, I can’t wait to head outdoors and plant the ethically wild-crafted Douglas Fir seeds the Jayden doll is hauling in her “planting kit.” Each Earth Friends dolls comes with his or her own backpack complete with seeds, coconut coir and instructions—but they’re more than happy to share.
Whenever I want to see my preschooler’s imaginations in full bloom, I whip out a few play silks and watch what happens. Suddenly my tot is transformed into fairies or dragonflies, princes or puppies, bows and knots nestle petals in silky pouches, and silken puppets spring to life. And that’s just the beginning.
For this kind of wild-mind play, I love Natural Pod’s 36-inch-square plant-dyed silks. The Canadian company’s Lilac silk is hand dyed with sustainably harvested brazil wood and cochineal, its Soft Green silk hand dyed with goldenrod flowers wild-harvested on its property. Additional Natural Pod silks get their brilliant hues from good stuff like sustainably harvested cutch and ancient indigo. Light enough to float and swirl, but durable enough to withstand even a four-year-old’s rambunctious frolicking, Natural Pod silks are fast becoming a go-to for indoor rainy days, sunny garden afternoons, playdates and even parties. And for my littlest pea, there’s Natural Pod’s 12-inch-square baby play silk—snuggable, suckable and almost as silky as baby’s skin itself.
Organic cotton favorite Under the Nile garners kudos for its super cute crate o’ veggies. These soft, stuffed versions of garden-fresh vegetables are made with 100% organic Egyptian cotton and are totally machine washable— with cold water and biodegradable detergent, please! I dig the grinning carrot, ditto the baby-face tomato. And I’m glad to know these fair-wage-produced fabric veggies are not just safe for babies—absolutely no pesticides or chemicals are used in Under the Nile’s growing or production process–but they’re also great for teething. With so many veggies in one crate, I’m glad I don’t have to chews just one. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
This article was written and contributed to Mommy Greenest by Natasha Garber, the former editor of Los Angeles Family magazine. Currently, Natasha is a freelance contributing editor for Special Events Magazine and a contributor to numerous lifestyle publications across the country, where she covers green events and event planning, sustainable catering and cuisine, fashion and design trends. A mother of two and passionate proponent of eco-conscious family living, Natasha lives, writes, parents, plays and makes fresh, organic, totally delicious baby food (just ask her 6-month-old) in Los Angeles.
Filed under: EcoStiletto Kids Archives | Tags: california, children, eat, eco, ecostiletto, family, feed, food, green, high chair, infants, kids, los angeles, mom, organic, parent, sarnoff, siblings, sustainable
It may be modeled on the classic wood high chairs of yesteryear, but the Peek.A.Boost from Van Beek Kids has the planet’s future—and your little one’s health and comfort—squarely in its sights. Non-toxic, lead-free finish on its solid birch body? Check! Five-point safety strap? Check! Highest-level safety certification from ASTM International and the ability to convert from high chair to junior chair as our little sprout grows? Check and check!
But it’s not just our wee ones’ well-being that Van Beek Kids cares about. The company donates $50 from the sale of each Peek.A.Boost high chair toward supporting victims of abuse (as well as women and children in need) across the globe, with the ultimate goal of donating 50% of profits to charity once the company has become profitable. Van Beek Kids estimates that the sale of each Peek.A.Boost can help two women survivors of war for a month or feed a family of 10 for two months. We like the sound of those numbers.
My toddler, meanwhile, just likes the sound of her cereal bowl banging down on the Peek.A.Boost’s phthalate-free, dishwasher-safe plastic tray cover.
I’m beginning to suspect that Scandinavians possess a unique ingenious-design gene as yet undiscovered by modern science. Just check out the sleek, stylish and gratifyingly green Svan Chair from celebrity-favorite Svan of Sweden. Not only is it just about the most fashionable guest at any table—a choice of 13 cushion colors includes chocolate, orange, turquoise and oatmeal—but the ergonomically designed Svan Chair is also exceptionally baby-, toddler- and eco-friendly. Those cushions, for instance, are PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)-free, meaning babies won’t be exposed to the hormone-disrupting and nervous-system-harming effects of these toxic flame-retardants while they chomp their organic O’s. There’s also the Svan Chair’s selection of non-toxic wood finishes, from whitewash to espresso to mahogany. I’m comforted to know that the Svan Chair’s tray cover is phthalate-free—another sign of the company’s commitment to kids’ health and safety.
The Svan Chair gets props for versatility, too, with an adjustable seat height and depth, and adjustable footrest, which can be securely adjusted with the provided Allen key (that handy little zig-zag thingamajig without which stuff from Ikea—another superstar of Scandinavian design–would remain forever unassembled in pieces all over the floor). And now the lower-priced Anka by Svan packs in all same green goodness as the full-featured Svan Chair into a smaller, foldable model that sidles right up to the family table.
Bon appetit!
This article was written and contributed to Mommy Greenest by Natasha Garber, the former editor of Los Angeles Family magazine. Currently, Natasha is a freelance contributing editor for Special Events Magazine and a contributor to numerous lifestyle publications across the country, where she covers green events and event planning, sustainable catering and cuisine, fashion and design trends. A mother of two and passionate proponent of eco-conscious family living, Natasha lives, writes, parents, plays and makes fresh, organic, totally delicious baby food (just ask her 6-month-old) in Los Angeles.
Filed under: EcoStiletto Kids Archives | Tags: california, children, diaper, eco, ecostiletto, family, green, infants, kids, los angeles, mom, organic, parent, sarnoff, siblings, sustainable
Methylparaben. Propylparaben. Cyclomethicone. Are these really the kinds of unpronounceables you want coming in contact with your baby’s most sensitive parts? If you’re using conventional big-brand diaper creams, these and other potentially harmful (to both infant and ecosystem) chemicals are exactly what you’re getting. And many of them have been linked to cancer and reproductive disorders. I found three creams that eschew harmful chemicals, but still do the trick to clear up diaper rash.
Actress Melanie Mayron of “thirtysomething” fame knew the dirty little secret about commercial diaper creams when she set out 12 years ago to create a line of natural baby skin-care products with the help of her chemist dad. The resulting Mayron’s Good Baby Barrier and Diaper Cream is made with zinc, essential oils of almond, chamomile and lavender, plus moisturizing shea butter and protective beeswax, not to mention more health-promoting vitamins than we’ve got in our entire medicine cabinet. I love the smooth texture, gentle herbal scent and just-right thickness, which protects my tiny one’s tushie and keeps him soft and rash–free even overnight. But perhaps my favorite Good Baby feature is its convenient list of suggested “adult uses,” which include treatment of chafing due to such common causes as “spring cleaning calluses,” “new shoe blisters” and (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) “honeymoons.”
California moms have sworn by California Baby Diaper Rash Cream for over a decade; now, the line is in stores like Whole Foods nationwide. The all-natural, food-grade cream contains organic and sustainably-grown ingredients (though it’s not a certified organic product) and delivers a rich anti-bacterial cream in a one-hand friendly, flip-top package. The Cream depends on ultra-purified lanolin, vitamin-grade zinc and vitamin E, in addition to organic tea tree and aloe vera, plus the company’s signature Calming aromatherapy blend that includes French lavender, known for its soothing, antibacterial, and healing properties. And again, a clever adult option from CalBaby’s founder, Jessica Iclisoy: When used overnight on blemishes, the Cream dries them up and decreases redness. Bonus!
Created by a pair of pediatrician mothers, MD Moms Baby Silk is a company that continually astounds us with its ability to create innovative products in traditional categories. Case in point is their Diaper Rash Cream, which is based on a patented “liquid glove” formulation of marine silk, vitamins E and B5, zinc oxide, aloe, licorice, shea butter, ginger root extract, chamomile and a natural antibacterial agent. The cream smooths on white so you can see what you’ve covered, then turns clear to provide an invisible moisture barrier that protects, soothes and heals. The result? No more rash, and no more white jammies or fingers, either. Genius! And while I’m on the subject, I’ve just gotta shout out their Silky Liquid Powder, which is so mind-bogglingly phenomenal it elicits a “why didn’t I think of that?” slap to the forehead. Made with a base of cornstarch, the stuff smoothes on like a lotion, then transforms into a silky powder to keep crevices dry and cool. No more worrying about talc in the lungs and powder on your pants from where you stood next to the changing table.
With this kind of innovation, these moms have definitely been there, done that.
This article was written and contributed to Mommy Greenest by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff and Natasha Garber, the former editor of Los Angeles Family magazine. Currently, Natasha is a freelance contributing editor for Special Events Magazine and a contributor to numerous lifestyle publications across the country, where she covers green events and event planning, sustainable catering and cuisine, fashion and design trends. A mother of two and passionate proponent of eco-conscious family living, Natasha lives, writes, parents, plays and makes fresh, organic, totally delicious baby food (just ask her 6-month-old) in Los Angeles.
Filed under: EcoStiletto Kids Archives | Tags: bottles, california, children, eco, ecostiletto, family, green, infants, kids, los angeles, mom, organic, parent, sarnoff, siblings, sippy, sustainable
Face it—your wee one is going to put lots of unhealthy things in her mouth over the course of her childhood. But her bottle or sippy cup doesn’t have to be one of them. A growing number of bottles and sippies are free of BPA and the estrogen-mimicking chemical’s potentially devastating effects. Whether you choose plastic, glass or stainless steel is up to you–and your ever-so-discerning baby, of course.
Among my faves in the eco-bottle garden is Green to Grow. The company’s contoured bottles are made from BPA-free Polyethersulfone (PES) which is known for its durability—a plus for the hurlers, whappers and bangers out there—and its ability to remain stable over a wide range of temperatures. Along with FDA-approved PES bodies, Green to Grow bottles feature BPA-free Polypropylene plastic caps and rings, and medical-grade silicone nipples. I love Green to Grow’s colorful bottle designs—available in 5- and 10-ounce versions—and 100% recycled packaging and print materials. I’m also a big fan of the company’s chock-full-of-eco-info Web site, which includes tips and resources on greening your home and nursery, infant nutrition and safe toys. Green to Grow doesn’t just hand out information, it also provides bottles and nipples to families in need, and has created Bottles to Babies, which connects customers to organizations in their own communities so that they can share the love, too.
One of the pioneers of BPA-free bottles, Born Free offers bottles, trainers, sippies and pacifiers that are 100% free of BPA and phthalates. For babies, Born Free has PES wide-neck bottles that feature the manufacturer’s signature colic-reduction venting system. All you old-schoolers out there will be pleased to know that Born Free also carries vented natural glass bottles along with anti-slip silicone sleeves to prevent breakage in the event of an altogether likely bottle-tossing incident. Toddlers, meanwhile, benefit from Born Free’s easy-grip, no-drip, soft-spout and hard-spout training cups. As for the rest of us? Well, since Born Free’s drinking products are also totally free of dioxin-leaching, nonrecyclable PVC, we get to enjoy an environment that’s just a little lovelier to live in.
Lifefactory’s WeeGo glass baby bottles and components (nipples, caps, rings, plugs) are completely bisphenol A, phthalate, PVC, and polycarbonate-free. Baby’s eyes light up at the brightly colored silicone sleeve that protect WeeGo bottles from breakage and provide a great gripping surface and tactile experience during feeding. Both the silicone sleeve and nipples are free of plastics and 100% non-toxic. And both bottle and sleeve can survive boiling, dishwashing or freezing—making breast milk storage just that much simpler.
For on-the-go grommets, there are Innate’s Me-Me Sippy—a super-safe, super-stylish alternative to the zillions of plastic sippy cups that dominate the drinking-product market. Nothing but sleek, food-grade stainless steel and #5 polypropylene in a variety of fashionable hues, the Me-Me gets a Yeah! Yeah! from even the most selective green moms. Who, after all, can resist a sippy that is independently tested to FDA, California Proposition 65 and European Norm standards for food safety?
Certainly not me. Cheers!
This article was written and contributed to Mommy Greenest by Natasha Garber, the former editor of Los Angeles Family magazine. Currently, Natasha is a freelance contributing editor for Special Events Magazine and a contributor to numerous lifestyle publications across the country, where she covers green events and event planning, sustainable catering and cuisine, fashion and design trends. A mother of two and passionate proponent of eco-conscious family living, Natasha lives, writes, parents, plays and makes fresh, organic, totally delicious baby food (just ask her 6-month-old) in Los Angeles.
Filed under: EcoStiletto Kids Archives | Tags: beauty, california, children, cosmetics, eco, ecostiletto, family, green, infants, kids, lipstick, los angeles, mom, organic, parent, perfume, sarnoff, siblings, sustainable, teen, tween
With 10-year-old Malia and eight-year-old Sasha Obama currently our Washington tweens-in-residence, all eyes are upon this 20 million strong generation of eight-to-12-year-olds. Especially beauty marketers.
These girls aren’t yet “putting on their faces,” but they’ve developed a serious penchant for perfume. The marketing experts who work with these companies that sell perfume to tweens prey on two factors: first, that these girls are incredibly insecure about how they smell as their body chemistries shift and change, and second, the fact that, to them, makeup is typically verboten, while fragrance is an acceptable step towards womanhood that won’t raise eyebrows among their parents.
But perfume is just the tip of the iceberg. According to the Environmental Working Group, once makeup is in the approved category, teen girls typically use more personal care products than women—an average of 17 as opposed to 12—because they’re experimenting with what they do and don’t like. And because they’re on limited budgets, typically these products are the least inexpensive in the category, manufactured from the cheapest chemical ingredients.
In fact, the EWG found that most American girls typically have 13 different hormone-altering chemicals in their bodies at any given time. Overwhelmingly, tests of a small sample of girls detected paraben preservatives—typically “methylparaben” and “propylparaben”—in their blood and urine. And although each product might have a low level of these potentially dangerous chemicals, those in the 17 mixed together can pack a potent toxic punch. Parabens have been linked to an increase in prostate and breast cancer, genital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men and early onset of puberty in girls. But because the American beauty industry is completely unregulated—manufacturers are not required to test products or ingredients for safety before they’re sold, nor are they required to disclose their ingredients—the chemicals stay in.
But fear not, moms of girls! With chemical-free, tween- and teen-focused lines, two companies are taking a stand against toxins in our beauty products. Formulated without offenders like synthetics, parabens, petrochemicals, dyes or irritants, Good For You Girls’ three-step process—Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer—is designed to teach tweens about healthy skin care without chemicals. Teens Turning Green takes it one step further, manufacturing a nine-skew chem-free line—from aluminum-free deodorant to pomegranate cleansing bar—that’s sold at Whole Foods, and advocating activism through clever initiatives like Green Prom and a clever Lips Against Lead petition that you actually kiss.
Talk to your tween or teen about what’s in her beauty products. She can look just as pretty without chemicals—you’re living proof!
Filed under: EcoStiletto Kids Archives
Remember pick-up sticks? That game with the multicolored straws that your brother always cheated at? Now Beyond Learning, which manufactured the world’s first eco-friendly games back in 2006, has transformed this family favorite into a reading readiness game for preschoolers.
Created from eco-friendly, sustainable bamboo, the Pick-Up Words sticks are veggie-ink printed with rainbow colors and basic, non-phonetic sight words like “write,” “friend” and “these” that kids need to master in order to read. Easy to stow in a backpack or bag, the game comes in a tube made from recycled and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper and formaldehyde-free glue, which is printed with vegetable inks.
The game is perfect to play with parents or older siblings, providing they stay honest.
Filed under: EcoStiletto Kids Archives | Tags: california, children, cooking, dinner, eco, ecostiletto, family, food, green, infants, kids, los angeles, meal, mom, organic, parent, sarnoff, siblings, sustainable
I’m all for creating healthy meals from locally-sourced foods found at the farmer’s market. My vision of happiness is toting home a big bag of organic peas to shell on the porch while my kids play tag on the lawn. But most days, dinnertime involves finding the fastest way I can get healthy food on the table and into my kids’ mouths before I jump back onto the Habitrail of baths, books and bed.
And because said kids are a wee bit tired of the organic whole-wheat pasta, organic whole-wheat pizza, free-range chicken-and-broccoli rotation rut I seem to be stuck in, I was overjoyed to see my favorite organic baby food company’s new foray into the realm of packaged meals for kids—giving me an extra option in the freezer when I’ve run out of time or inspiration.
Do not mistake Plum Organics Kids meals for the TV dinners Grandma served up when you were a child. The tray is biodegradeable and compostable, packaged in carbon-neutral boxes created from 100% recycled materials and using 100% clean energy to produce. Puzzles and facts on the boxes are designed to inspire kids to make the connection between good food and good health. But most importantly, these are organic, healthy meals, heavy on the vegetables and low in sodium and fat, but yummy enough to have your kids asking for seconds.
In which case, you can open another box.
Filed under: EcoStiletto Kids Archives | Tags: bath, bubble, california, children, eco, ecostiletto, family, green, infants, kids, los angeles, mom, organic, parent, sarnoff, siblings, soap, sustainable, wash
Anything that gets kids into the bath is a boon for parents. And these fizzers don’t disappoint. Packaged in a recycled-paper faux egg carton decorated with hilarious retro-cowboy inspired graphics—the Udderly Lavender scent gets a cow, the petal-scented Farmer Girl tips her hat—these round little balls of fun fizz up when they hit the water, infusing it with fair trade-sourced shea butter and essential oils.
With no animal testing or parabens in the mix, Anti-Body is committed to fair trade manufacturing of shea butter and coconut oil from Togo, Africa, marula oil from South Africa, green tea from China and sugar from Paraguay and Costa Rica, providing workers in these developing countries a living wage so they can have sustainable jobs. Each product in the line contains one or more fair trade ingredient, and the company is working with TransFair towards certification.
But all good intentions aside, these fizzers let you clean up your kids stealth-style while they’re busy having fun chasing the bubbles around the bath. What’s more fair than that?
