Yes to Swaddling!

I am a proud mother of a new baby boy, Camden! He was born July 5 and weighing the average 7.9 lbs. I remember the first time I was able to hold him was shortly after my C-section. He was brought to me in those generic hospital receiving blankets. You know what I am talking about. The small white blankets with blue and pink stripes. Well, it's the perfect swaddle blanket the first few weeks. In my case two weeks at the most. My son was very active and by the second week if not sooner he was able to wiggle his way out of the blanket. Needless to say he would wake up because his arms would startle him.
I am a huge fan of Swaddling. I do believe it helps to calm babies into sleep and sleep longer periods at a time. I found the best swaddle blanket. Made by SwaddleDesigns, these swaddle blankets are large enough so that after many attempts of trying to "esacape" my son was not able to get out. Therefore, he sleeps longer which makes for a happier baby and a happier mother. SwaddleDesigns now offers swaddle blankets in organic cotton and organic flannel. The blanket designs are fun and stylish which is hard to find when you're looking for organic! The company has even ventured into organic bibs and burps, towels and washcloths and the ZipMe Sacks for those babies ready to transition out of the swaddle blanket!! To see their selection go to www.growgreenbaby.com! You will say Yes to Swaddling when you do!

Plastics-The Hormone Disrupter

Plastic is the number one substance used in our society for the storage of food and beverages for consumption. Plastic is easy and cost efficient to make, it is nice and clear so we can see through it, and it is quite durable. However, hiding out inside most plastics are substances that are harmful to you and your children. Bisphenol A, better known as BPA, is a key building block in plastics. In the United States alone more than 2.3 billion pounds of BPA is manufactured annually. BPA is used in polycarbonate plastics to help with the strength, clearness, and yes for anti-corroding purposes. In fact many tin cans, such as soup cans and baby formula cans are coated on the inside with BPA to prevent corrosion. The problem is BPA is leaking into our beverages and food and corroding our bodies.
Bisphenol A is a substance that mimics the hormone estrogen when it is in our bodies. Although all of us produce estrogen, yes including males, too much or too little of the substance can cause significant health problems. Some of the more common side effects of increased/decreased estrogen are an increase in body fat and weight gain, depression, anxiety, cyclical migraines, impairs blood sugar control, interferes with thyroid hormone function, and neural and behavioral problems in children. Currently much research is being done on the affects of BPA on the body and we will definitely be hearing more and more about the negative impact it has on our society. In fact some states are looking into outlawing its use in containers that are used to store food and beverages, especially baby bottles and formula cans. Babies are more susceptible to having a higher concentration because their systems are slower to break BPA down. Another reason that babies face the highest exposure is because BPA leaches out 55 times faster when exposed to hot liquids or heat in general. Baby bottles are routinely placed in hot water to warm up the formula, which itself contains BPA from the container it is stored in. However drinking from plastic water bottles can also increase a person’s exposure to BPA. Researchers from Harvard found that people who drank from clear plastic polycarbonate bottles for a week increased concentrations of BPA in their urine by 69 %( WOW!)
The good news is that we can greatly reduce our babies and children’s exposure by using products that are BPA free, especially bottles. You also want to take it further and look at plastic utensils and plates. Plastic plates are commonly used for infants and easy to put in the microwave, which causes an increased leaching of BPA and phthalates, another hormone disrupter. Do not forget plastic toys that babies and toddlers like to put in their mouth as well as teething devices. There are currently 7 different kinds of plastics on the market that are identified with a number 1-7 that is placed on the packaging or container for identification. Remember #3, #6, and #7 as the ones to avoid. #3 is pvc plastics that can leach out phthalates, which is also considered a hormone disrupter. #6 is polystyrene or Styrofoam plastics that leach carcinogenic toxins when heated. #7 is polycarbonate plastics that most baby bottles and reusable water bottles are made from. There are some BPA free #7 plastics that incorporate recycled material that are safe. However read the fine print to make sure that all parts of the container are made with the BPA free material. Lastly, all plastics are recyclable. Please be kind to our environment and recycle them. However, invest in products that you can reuse over and over to help reduce the carbon foot print even further.
Please check out our BPA free products at www.growgreenbaby.com!! Use coupon code: BPA to recieve 10% off our selected BPA free products. Products include; Green to Grow Bottles, Plan Toys, Safe Sippy, Bambu and Green Toys!!!

Teach Our Children Well

As I eagerly await the arrival of my second son Camden, I can't help but think about how different things are the second time around (seasoned mom) some would call it.
Knowing everything I have learned the past 3 years about chemicals and toxins in baby skincare, toys, mattresses, bottles, etc...I still worry about all the other "hidden dangers" we aren't even aware about.
Everyday I come across new eco-friendly companies dedicated to making our world and children a little greener and ultimately healthier. This makes me very excited and hopeful for Camden and my older son, Bryan's future.
As a 'seasoned mom' I feel it's my responsibility to teach my children the importance of taking care of mother earth and to never take her for granted.
The other day my husband and I were out to lunch with our 3year old son, Bryan. The waitress brought out his kids menu and crayons to occupy his time. On the inside of the menu was a picture of a recycling bin and the recycling symbol. My son says, "look mommy that is a recycle." Needless to say this brought a smile to my face and a small since of accomplishment.

Why Organic Cotton?

If you haven't already made the switch to organic cotton I promise all it takes is just one purchase of an organic onesie for your baby and you are hooked! Organic cotton is soooo soft! When my first son was born I never even heard of organic cotton. But as I have become more Eco-conscious and green minded, organic cotton is the way to go (especially for newborns.)
It is grown without the use of chemicals, pesticides or genetically modified organisms that may disagree with the delicate skin of babies. Conventional cotton uses 25% of all pesticides amounting to 50 million pounds on US fields alone! According to WHO, 20,000 deaths occur each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries. In fact, just one tee shirt made from conventional cotton takes 1/4 pound of chemicals!
Extra softness is an added bonus considering all the benefits for the planet and its people. Yes, organic cotton is a little more expensive but isn't your babies health and future worth the extra cost? This is why Grow Green Baby only offers organic clothing, bedding, blankets, mattresses, towels, plush toys and more. How could we not? To learn more about why organic cotton go to www.ota.com. To shop our entire line of organic clothing, bedding, blankets and more visit www.growgreenbaby.com.

Shoo bugs! Don't bother me.

Insects, they love me. Especially the kind that bite! Every year before my son was born I was the first in line to purchase insect repellent at the start of bug season. Living in the south bug season starts in April and ends in October (if I'm lucky.) I never thought once of reading the ingredients in insect repellent. My main concern was did it work! Then my son Bryan was born. Unfortunately those nasty pests love him too. But with him being a baby I wasn't sure what to use on his sensitive skin and of course I worried about all those ingredients and their effects on him.
I started researching bug sprays and the chemicals found in them. I was shocked with what I found! At present, DEET is used in more than 230 products with concentrations up to 100 percent. It is the most common ingredient found in insect repellents. Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia has spent 30 years researching the effects of pesticides. He has found that prolonged exposure to DEET can impair functioning in parts of the brain. "Damage to these areas could result in problems with muscle coordination, muscle weakness, walking or even memory and cognition." Abou-Donia also warns to never put a product containing DEET on an infant's or child's skin. The side-effects could be even more serious.
So, my next mission was to find a bug spray that was not only deet free but all natural and most importantly protected my son from those harmful pests. Let me tell you, I have tried several sprays. It wasn’t until recently that I came across the #1 deet free, all natural bug spray, Bite Blocker. They even make herbal wipes for easier applications to infants. This all natural, deet free herbal bug spray is perfect for little ones with sensitive skin. You can even spray on their cloths. If you re-apply every 2-3 hours, studies have shown it to be as effective as Deet 7%! This is the best of it's kind. Made with Soybean Oil, Purified Water, Coconut Oil, Glycerin, Geranium Oil, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Sodium Bicarbonate and Vanilla.
To get your little one ready for bug season, shop our store for Bite Blockers All Natural, Deet Free Bug Spray. Happy day for baby, sad day for bugs!

Grow Green Baby's Earth Day Giveaways!

Congratulations to two lucky winners of our Earth Day Giveaway! Pamela Shockley from Carmel, IN received an organic swaddle blanket in sage from SwaddleDesigns. The winner of the VedaMama Relax Body Cream went to Mrs. Wahlberg from Scituate, MA. Congratulations again ladies! If you too want to take advantage of our giveaways, sales and promotions then go to http://www.growgreenbaby.com/ and sign up to receive our monthly newsletters!

Earth Day, Everyday.

Earth Day is April 22! The offical day to celebrate the environment. The first Earth Day was organized in 1970 to promote the ideas of ecology, encourage respect for life on earth, and highlight growing concerns over pollution of the soil, air, and water. Earth Day is now observed in 140 nations with outdoor performances, exhibits, street fairs, and television programs that focus on environmental issues. Need any ideas to help you celebrate this day with your kids?

• Reduce Electricity

Explain to your children that lights, computers and televisions use energy and that energy is in short supply. Teach your child to “turn it off!” when they leave the room.

• Take Small Steps

There are lots of “baby steps” your kids can take every day to save energy and keep the world cleaner and greener. Your kids can:
· Shut off the water when they brush their teeth
· Walk, ride a bike or take the bus instead of traveling by car
· Take faster showers or baths in just a small amount of water
· Help hang clothes on the line instead of putting them in the dryer
· Choose products that are not over packaged

• Recycle

Explain to your kids that every bottle and can they use is waste that just sits in a big pile at the local dump if we don’t recycle. Get them involved by making it their job to sort recyclables and take them out for pickup depending on their age. Consider recycled craft activities too!

• Compost

Buy a composter, fill it with kitchen scraps and garden waste on a daily basis and even help stir it to get things breaking down. Trust me, your child will love this. And, in a few months when you’ve got compost, they can take part in spreading it over the garden and seeing how “garbage” can become rich dark dirt to make a garden grow.

• Donate Gently Used Items.

If your children have old clothing, toys, shoes, or other items in reusable condition, make a family trip down to the donation center so they can see how their trash is someone else's treasure.

• Make A Reusable Bag

Plastic shopping bas are a big garbage problem -- it takes 1,000 years for a bag to break down! Have your kids help you choose some heavy fabric and sew it into simple rectangular bags with handles. Or, buy some canvas bags at a craft or environmentally friendly gift shop. Then use fabric pens to draw pictures on them. Take the bags out with you every time you shop.

• Enjoy The Earth

Kids have to love the world to want to protect it. So take nature walks and look at the trees, flowers and sky. Encourage them to take pictures, draw pictures, read books and write stories about the world and its beauty.