Green on the Scene: Non-toxic Bathtub Grips for Tots!

Green on the Scene: Non-toxic Bathtub Grips for Tots!: I have been on a search for months to find a bathtub mat or grips that are not made from Vinyl also known as PVC. The toxicity from t...

Non-toxic Bathtub Grips for Tots!

I have been on a search for months to find a bathtub mat or grips that are not made from Vinyl also known as PVC. The toxicity from the offgassing of Vinyl/PVC are not something you want to inhale or have your child inhale! Read more on this from Healthy Child Healthy World. Finally I have found suitable non-toxic options from GREEN SPROUTS!!!! They have tiny whale shaped mats that are made from rubber. Depending on how long your tub is, one box of 5 should prevent your child from sliping and sliding. If you have a long tub you may want 2 boxes of 5. They are sold at diapers.com. and come with a cute bath mit! GREEN SPROUTS also makes a baby bath mat which can be found at target.com You could also use this in combination with the whale for added slip protection. Diapers.com also sells it but it is out of stock. I can't believe these are the only non-toxic bath mats on the market!!! Time to toss out your smelly vinyl mats so your children can breathe easy....even if they are shaped like your childs favorite characters!!!

Executive Summary: Eat your fruits and vegetables! | EWG's 2012 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

Executive Summary: Eat your fruits and vegetables! | EWG's 2012 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

Baby bottles and cookware..glass may be the safest option!

I happened to be looking at some of my old posts(READ BELOW) and my intuition was right!!! The latest results are in and the BPA FREE bottles still contain harmful chemicals that are endocrine disrupters. Then today I read something regarding the safety of silicone cookware. I threw out our silicone cupcake pan after reading something that had me concerned a few years ago. Granted, you do need a silicone nipple even if you use a glass baby bottle. Just be sure to replace the nipples often and hand washing is preferred. Now that my 3rd baby is coming in about 6 or 7 weeks, I am not even getting out the pump or bottles. I think I tried to use them with my second baby for a bit so hubby could help out and then Hurricane Sandy hit and all I did was breastfeed for over 10 days and she lost interest in bottle of breastmilk. Read more on Silicone. Read more on BPA free Bottles and Toxicity. Three years ago I was on the search for everything organic/non-toxic for my first baby. Now that the second baby is due in August, I see there are alot more options now which is great. One item I am still not convinced is safe, is the plastic baby bottle even though they are BPA free. I have seen the stainless steel options but still aren't sure since they are relatively new. I am going to breast feed 95 percent of the time but when I do need a bottle, I want to be sure it is safe. What other chemicals could leach out of that plastic bottle in the bottle warmer??? Intuition tells me that with further research it is bound to be something else. Think about it...you are heating plastic!!! Maybe a room temperature plastic bottle would be OK in an emergency, but I think I may opt for the glass bottles. Environmental Working Group agrees with glass bottles as well with a silcone nipple...read more of their tips. Think of using the plastic inserts...they don't recommend that. Also avoid flourinated water by using filtered tap water.

Remember when your dentist said to get flouride??? He was wrong! And if you must use formula, use powdered. This should go without saying....but never microwave bottles. I think I have tried at least 6 different types of bottles and found glass to work great. Glass bottles seem to clean the easiest as well. I have a stainless bottle that I will try and see how that works. Breast is best then you don't have to worry about bottles!!!

Organic and Non-toxic GREEN LAWNS for a safe and healthy family!

When you play outside with your dogs and children, shouldn't you feel safe?? Having a non-toxic, organic lawn will ensure that. Think of what your neighbors are putting down. Some communities are putting regulations on lawn care such as those in Connecticut.

If you haven't heard of the company Monsanto...they are the manufacturers of Roundup which is linked to a variety of health problems. This is what a lot of people reach for to kill weeds. Think again people!!! Read about the dangers and toxicity of Round-up. More on Roundup Toxicity.

It seems almost everyone wants a green, weed-free lawn but there are healthy ways to achieve this without exposing you and your family to cancer causing ingredients. There are several products on the market from Jonathan Green Organic, corn gluten formulas, and several other options. All you need to do is a little research and protect your family. The major home improvement stores now have non-toxic and organic options. All organic products are not necessarily non-toxic though. Some products sound safe and claim to be all natural but are not. For example, my husband researched something that we were told was safe...read what one of the ingredients causes and it was sold on an organic website!!! Buyer beware!
(PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS Product: it contains 7.49% Nitrate Nitrogen
Nitrate nitrogen has been much publicized in recent years in relations to the problem of "blue babies." In concentrations as low as 10 to 20 mg/1 nitrate nitrogen has caused illness and even death among infants under six months of age. If such water is used for supplemental or for complete bottle feeding, it may affect the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. This oxygen starvation is called methemoglobinemia, or more commonly, the "blue baby" condition. This serious illness in infants is caused because nitrate is converted to nitrite in the higher pH conditions existing in the stomachs and intestinal tracts of infants under six months of age. Nitrite interferes with the oxygen carrying capacity of a child's or baby animal's blood. This is an acute disease in that the symptoms can develop rapidly. In most cases, health deteriorates rapidly over a period of days. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of skin.) Other products like Calcium Hydroxide, and forms of lime can cause serious health issues for young infants, pregnant women or anyone who inhales them. These products are dangerous and unfortunately still on the market. Twenty some years ago other lawn care chemicals were outlawed and there were cancer clusters around golf courses. Some golf courses are going green. If they can so can you!!

The rise in rare cancers from environmental causes should be an eye opener to us all. Read more. Lawn care products are no joking matter. They are extremely toxic and you almost need a chemistry degree to be sure they are applied safely. Most don't disclose every ingredient either. Organic is the way to go! Don't forget your pets are even more at risk being so low to the ground as a toddler is as well. Check out an organic lawn care book from the library or look up options online. It will protect you, your family and the environment. Websites to help you decipher pesticides. More websites.

Eco-Friendly Easter!

Hard to believe this post was from 2 years ago! Brooke has her organic chocolate list for the Easter Bunny! We all know the true meaning of Easter. To make it fun for kids who are too young to grasp the meaning....Easter Egg Hunts are a fun way for them to celebrate. There are Eco-Friendly ways to do this with Bio-degradable eggs that you can fill with Organic or Fair Trade Chocolates and Dye-Free Candy. I found them at The Natural Candy Store.com. They also have them at Eco Eggs.

You can also fill your basket with Bio-degradable grass instead of the plastic grass. I found it on amazon. They also have it at Party City...who would have guessed?

If you are still wanting more treats...Try Indie Candie, Sweet Earth Chocolates, Lake Champlain Chocolates, or Green and Blacks.

Now my sweet tooth is calling and I'm waiting for my Easter treats to arrive!!! If you try to make at least one aspect of your Easter Holiday Eco-Friendly, it can make a big difference. Happy Easter!!

Arsenic in Rice! What is safe???

A few months ago there were a few articles about inorganic arsenic exposure in rice. The study was done on pregnant women. A few months later we come to find that it is also in Brown Rice Syrup which was found in an Organic Baby/Toddler Formula!!

If you are on a Gluten Free diet like we are....this is alarming due to the amount of rice products we have in our home. When the first article came out I cleared my cupboards of everything that had non-organic rice in it such as pancake mixes, pizza mixes, snack bars, cake mixes, rice milk, etc. Originally it sounded like if it was organic...it was OK, not the case. Now we are finding that since inorganic arsenic is occurring due to the way rice is grown, it is hard to avoid. Brown rice contains more than white!! Basmati and jasmine are safer options containing less arsenic. I also found an article stating that you can soak your rice before cooking to draw out the arsenic.

What is most surprising to me is that in 2009 there were articles circulating about the arsenic in rice milk and how toddlers should not be drinking it. Don't you think someone should have gotten a clue to immediately test products back then???!!?? It doesn't seem like any stores have pulled rice products from the shelves. Dr Oz stated that Brown Rice Syrup which may be in breakfast bars or other prepared foods is most worrisome due to the amount of rice required to make the syrup.

For now I am limiting rice intake to when we go out for Thai Food and that is usually Jasmine Rice. There have been no statements that I can find currently warning against not consuming other rice products like crackers, rice puffs, etc. The FDA is currently testing other rice products, but who knows how long it will take to get those results!! I have been on a mission for months to find replacements for rice crackers and pancake mixes, etc. After I read each box and label I did find options, but it was no easy For now I say better safe than sorry and limit your intake if you are pregnant or have a health issue, limit it for young children and maybe even think twice about using rice cereal as babies first food until the amount in the cereal is properly tested. There are currently NO US regulations on arsenic in rice products.

If you do consume rice products what you can do to release the heavy metal arsenic from your body is take a salt bath. Here are several articles stating its benefits. Brooke and I have been doing it weekly and see a difference...or maybe it is the limited rice consumption?