Several days back, I purged my cabinets of old grungy sippy cups, opting to replace the stash with BornFree Drinking Cups. BornFree products are free of Bisphenol-A, the chemical that is found in cups made from polycarbonate plastic. Studies have linked Bisphenol-A to reproductive health issues, among other health problems.

BornFree is not the only company to make Bisphenol-A free cups and bottles. thinkbaby offers a complete line of bottles and trainer cups.

For parents worried about toxic chemicals leaching from plastic baby products and their baby’s health, thinkbaby’s products are the answer to those worries. thinkbaby’s products are Free of Bisphenol-A, phthalates and lead. thinkbaby is also an environmentally conscious company–it uses eco-friendly packaging and even donates a portion of purchases to support the non-profit, Healthy Child Healthy World.

Baby-Wise carries a great selection of BornFree and thinkbaby products.

To learn more about growing international concerns over plastic baby bottles and sippy cups, check out this YouTube video.

In baby circles, Phthalates are the latest uh, oh. Just the look of the word sounds threatening–not to mention trying to pronounce it. And it is.

Phthalates are man-made chemicals which can potentially interfere with reproduction. A new study shows that Phthalates are showing up in children’s bodies (in urine specifically). That’s not good news for children’s health.

Wondering how children are getting exposed in the first place?

Phthalates are used in the manufacture of cosmetics and plastic products. According to the Washington Post, children are exposed to Phthalates through the skin, liquids, and even air. Shampoos, lotions, powders, diaper wipes pose potential threats.

Want to know how to protect your child?

Avoid applying lotions and powders to your child, unless of course, advised to do so by a doctor. Opt for shampoos and other products that are proven to be Phthalate free. Ultimately, keep in mind the golden rule: the less chemical exposure, the better.

It was when I bought my son’s Britax Marathon Car Seat that I first noticed Britax replacement seat covers. I remember thinking, “why on Earth would I ever buy one of those replacements?”

Well, it's pretty darn apparent to me now. Obviously, Britax must have had the toddler boy in mind when it created the line of replacement seat covers and accessories. Numerous exploded sippy cups, leaky juice boxes, and crumbled goldfish later, the car seat looks a little grungy, to say the least.

I’ve thought about washing the cover. The car seat manual advises hand washing, but I’m not so sure my hands could work enough magic to restore that cover to anywhere near its original appearance. While I know some parents disregard the hand wash recommendation and throw the cover directly into the washing machine, I’m not even sure my machine would have the muscle to rid that cover of the messy, sticky, gooey, caked on ick. This is exactly WHY replacement covers exist. Well, one of the reasons.

Britax replacement covers also allow you to change the appearance of your child’s car seat, whether it’s to better match your vehicle or simply to infuse a little excitement into your child’s ride. Cowmooflauge ranks at the top of my list for cool car seat looks. The variety in Britax covers is also a nice perk for parents who have multiples and want to give each child his or her “own” space, identified by a unique cover.

Optional replacement covers are just one more reason to outfit your vehicle with a Britax car seat–as if you really need another reason, given that Britax leads the pack when it comes to safety.

Oh, in case you had any doubts about my decision, I’m going with Cowmooflauge.

Do you have any tips for keeping the new seat cover clean?

Hey, Moms and Dads (and grandparents, too), it may be easy to come up with reasons not to “green diaper” your baby, but this YouTube video (thanks WTAE-TV Pittsburgh) may get you pumped to try your hand at it.  

Did you know that alternatives to disposable diapers can actually save you money? Maybe even lots of money over the years. Did you know that YOU single-handedly can make a dent in saving the Earth (and precious resources) for future generations by incorporating green diapering into your active lifestyle–even opting for cloth or green alternatives occasionally can make a big difference!

On your mark. Get ready. Get set. Go get eco-friendly diapering inspired!

Calling all Moms and Dads: How do you get out the door on weekday mornings with your children? Countless parents struggle with getting out the door each morning and getting to school, daycare or work on time.

What are your secrets? Do you lay out your children’s outfits the night before? Do you shave seconds off each morning by using an easy-to-buckle car seat? Do you pump while putting on your makeup?

Please, do tell. Parents everywhere will thank you.

Have you ever recognized a woman carrying the bag on her shoulder?  The tell-tale sign that she pumps breast milk.  Pumping milk is matter of necessity for women who choose to continue to breastfeed while away from their babies.  Although the pump is often associated with the 9-5 working mother, it’s a common gadget on a new mom’s checklist of baby-related gear. 

Just as the decision to breastfeed is deeply personal, so is the decision to pump.  These decisions can be riddled with anxiety.  Blogger Jennifer Lance explains that for some women, breastfeeding can create such a high degree of anxiety that they opt to feed their newborns exclusively pumped breast milk.  For some, the decision to pump has to do with support–or lack of support.  For others, the decision to exclusively pump resolves the tug-of-war between wanting to provide a newborn with milk and the psychological hurdles of breastfeeding.  Though exclusive pumping–and pumping in general–can have its own challenges, who would have thought that a pump lurking in the bag could be so empowering?

For breastfeeding support or to read more about breastfeeding, check out La Leche League and BreastFeeding.com.  

Has the pump empowered you?  

Whenever I smell Ivory soap or Johnson’s baby soap, I’m immediately brought back to my childhood.  Those soaps went together with bath time as much as the bath water.  As much as a love those product scents, times have changed.  Bathtime in my household also includes a selection of organic baby bath products.  I’m a fan of Mustela and California Baby products. 

Mustela makes a complete line of hypoallergenic baby products, including shampoo that is safe for even the youngest skin.  What I like about Mustela is the manufacturer’s keen attention to quality and safety standards and cosmetic vigiliance monitoring.  With recent news of lead in cosmetics like lipstick, the last thing I want to worry about is exposing my children to potentially harmful chemicals or hazards in shampoo.       

California Baby offers a wonderful selection of baby shampoo and bath products, all of which are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or DEA free, pure, and guaranteed free of pesticides or synthetic additives.  Shampoo evens comes in scented (like yummy lavendar) or scent-free options.   

Moms today are starting to take a close look at the ingredients in baby products, preferring natural and organic ingredients over difficult to pronounce, harsh lab created chemicals.  That’s a huge change from the days of my own childhood.  Knowing that I’m doing everything I can to limit my children’s exposure to chemicals is incredibly important–after all, I’m hoping that my own children will live long enough to tell their great-grandchildren all about the shampoos they used in childhood!

Let’s make a project!  Without fail, that’s my preschooler’s predictable response to the question, ”so, what do you want to do today?”  Give her paper, scissors, glue, and crayons, and she’s one happy crafty camper.  She made the most adorable tissue art flower poster today, using green ric-rac for a flower stem, a button for the flower center, and scrunched up tissue paper for petals, thanks to ALEX art supplies.  If you aren’t familiar with ALEX products, you don’t know what you’re missing!  ALEX makes quality art supplies and kid pleasing games, like the cool and sturdy Jungle Bean Bag Toss.  I find it hard to resist buying ALEX.  I even gravitate to ALEX products when I need affordable, guaranteed to please gifts.

When it comes to art supplies for kids, safety is key, especially in this age of recalls.  Recently, I happened to stumble upon a blogger’s post about safe craft supplies for children.  Who knew that Wikki sticks are made in the U.S. and out of food grade wax?  Thanks for that tidbit Mamanista!

Knowing craft supplies are safe for my preschooler is important to me.  While I’m not so much worried about intentional consumption, like eating a crayon or licking glue, I am concerned about what she may touch and unintentionally ingest.  Remember the huge 2003 lead-laced sidewalk chalk recall, not to mention the wave of recent recalls? 

Children can ingest lead by coming into contact with products containing lead–i.e. touching the products.  The ingestion of lead is linked to behavioral problems, potentially dangerous blood levels, and learning disabilities, among other medical issues.  To learn more about product safety, check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

Obviously, the use of safe art supplies is crucial for making project time safe.  Good hand washing as part of clean-up time is also part of the equation, if anything, as a just-in-case precaution–but, then again, if you want to rid those sticky hands of glue, you’re probably planning to hit the sink anyway!

Do you have a tip to share for making project time safer?  

If you think socks are just socks, think again.  You obviously haven’t seen Trumpette socks!  The first time I laid eyes on Trumpette socks was at a little boutique children’s shop sometime last year.  Seconds after my eyes caught sight of the sock display, my then three year old also caught a glimpse of the socks–she exclaimed, “Wow, mommy!  Those socks are so cute!”  Exactly my same thought. 

Trumpette makes baby and toddler socks that look like Maryjanes, Ballerina Slippers, Sneakers, Baby Golf Shoes, and even Baby Camoflauge! 

Also, if you’re easily sucked into buying a product because of the packaging (like me!), you definitely won’t be able to say ”no” to these socks.  They come in an adorable box.  If you have a child who digs playing with boxes, this means two gifts in one!  Gotta love that, right?

Go on, check them out here!  Trumpette socks are so darling, I bet you’ll wish they made them in adult sizes! 

Looking for an alternative to disposable diapers (a.k.a. “sposies”), but not quite ready to dive into cloth?  Well, the happy medium might just be gDiapers.  Marketed as the flushable, Earth-friendly hybrid diaper, gDiapers are actually eco-friendly.  In a nutshell, unlike traditional disposable diapers, gDiapers aren’t harmful to the Earth.  They are eco-consciously designed to break down in a way that isn’t harmful to the Earth, meaning they circumvent the landfill issue. 

Oh, in case you’re wondering what I mean by landfill issue, you should know that it’s said to take up to 500 years (yikes!!!) for a disposable diaper to break down in a landfill.  Hey, if you didn’t know this, don’t feel bad.  Now you know!

The cool thing about gDiapers is that they involve a washable outer cover and a flushable inside.  This means comfort for both baby and the Earth!  You can click here to see the gDiapers video.

Whether you opt for cloth, disposables, something in between, like gDiapers, or a combination of options, it’s important to find a diapering solution that works for your baby, your family and your lifestyle.  Keep in mind, too, that just because you start with one type of diaper doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use that same style forever.  Personally, I’ve mixed up diapering options along the way–sometimes opting for cloth, and other times opting for leading alternatives, depending on my baby, baby’s age, and household pace–e.g., if I’m swamped or behind in laundry, I’m less likely to reach for a cloth diaper.

Now, it’s your turn.  How do you diaper your baby?  What do you think of Earth-friendly diapering alternatives?