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.

Earth Day Giveaway!

See what others are saying about the products we have to offer here at Grow Green Baby!
Follow the latest post on sage&savy.com. Leave a comment on their blog site and enter to win our generous Earth Day Giveaway of a SwaddleDesigns Organic Blanket in Kiwi!! Contest ends April 21.

Toxic Tub Time?

The Green Community is already buzzing about a new report that came out regarding toxic chemicals in childrens' and baby skin care products. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics published a press release outlining their findings from independent studies and some tips on what to do.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested dozens of mainstream baby care products ranging from Johnson & Johnson, Baby Magic, Suave and Mustela and found cancer-causing formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane in many of them. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics commissioned an independent laboratory to test 48 products for 1,4-dioxane; 28 of those products were also tested for formaldehyde. The lab found that:
-17 out of 28 products tested – 61 percent – contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.
- 23 out of 28 products – 82 percent – contained formaldehyde at levels ranging from 54 to 610 parts per million (ppm).
- 32 out of 48 products – 67 percent – contained 1,4-dioxane at levels ranging from 0.27 to 35 ppm.

From The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Formaldehyde contaminates personal care products when common preservatives release formaldehyde over time in the container. Common ingredients likely to contaminate products with formaldehyde include; quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea. Formaldehyde is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the EPA and is known to cause allergic reactions and rashed in some people.
1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of a chemical processing technique called ethoxylation, in which cosmetic ingredients are processed with ethylene oxide. Manufacturers can easily remove the toxic byproduct, but are not required by law to do so. Common ingredients likely to be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane include: PEG-100 stearate, sodium laureth sulfate, polyethylene and ceteareth-20.
How do you keep your baby safe?
Buy natural! TruKid products contain certified organic and natural ingredients. All products are non-toxic and Gluten-free! This means it contains non of the bad stuff!The Environmental Working Group has given TruKid's entire line the safety rating of 0-4! That is THE BEST RATING out of any kids' line on the market. Trukid encourages kids to form healthy habits that last a lifetime. By combining all natural skincare with fun and education, TruKid cultivates a relationship between healthy habits and being a kid. In turn, their goal is that kids will grow up taking care of themselves, each other and their environment. Shop at http://www.growgreenbaby.com/ for all your natural and organic skincare needs.