Organic Baby Wearhouse

Holiday times are closing in fast and parents are scrambling to figure out what to spend their hard earned dollars on for children. What to buy though?

While considering toys for the holidays remember that most manufacturing for children’s toys are not ecologically friendly and the toys contain varied chemicals in the make up of the product.How about organic and natural toys… they are out there and parents can feel good about gifting these environmentally and ecologically friendly toys.

Babies explore the world using all of sorts of senses, especially their mouths… Everything ends up in their mouth given the opportunity. Toys are included in this, and recently with the number of chemicals being found in Chinese manufactured toys, it makes us wonder, is there really a reason to worry about lead paint being found in a simple toy.

These toys are not as flashy but stimulate imagination and thinking in children. The educational system is not longer as focused on creativity, so start early at home. These are fabulous toys for interaction between mom and child or between child and child, with out the worry they will break the first time they are dropped.  The toys have a substance to them that withstands lots of hard play for long-term fun.

Helping children to appreciate the difference between environmentally and ecologically friendly items is an important lesson in this rapidly changing time. 

Now that Obama is on his way to the Oval Office, we can expect a few changes to the organic industry as a whole. Overall Obama is promising to do some great things that will make raising your baby organically and living healthy, easier on your pocket cook.

•  Obama supports the 2008 farm bill (which Bush vetoed)  which in my opinion, has more good provisions in it such as support for conservation and hunger programs, then bad.
• Obama is going to make disaster assistant programs permanent in nature so farmers will not have to wait for the red tape of Congress approval in the wake of a natural disaster. This will positively impact prices and overall production.
• The President elect also supports country of origin labels that would require meat and perishable farm products to indicate where they came from.  I believe consumers will make a conscious decision to choose organic and or local foods when they see how much of their food comes from China.
• Obama says he will increase funding programs for cost sharing on organic certification services. This will help farmers afford the cost of complying with national standards for organic food and help bring down the cost of organic food and clothing.
• Also, Obama will promote the use of new technologies that produce power from animal waste, and farming methods that help soil maintain health and reduce energy waste.  He has also pledged to grow federally funding energy efficiency programs and conservation project in support for industries that provide new value driven agricultural products.

If Obama comes true on a lot of his pledges, I believe we will see a positive impact with organic production and healthy living on the rise with lowered costs to the consumers.

Organic materials are created with out the chemical process that traditional baby clothes are made out of this includes the inks that are used in the labeling processes. Carters baby clothes for their 2007 fall line of clothing causing rashes in babies with allergies to chemical composed inks used in the non-label labeling process.

The newest trend in baby clothes is to stamp the information normally contained on a label directly onto the fabric. This decreases in the tags irritating the babies wearing them, but for Carter the ink used has been linked to over 400 cases of rashes. http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/10/24/baby.clothing.rashes.ap/index.html

The degree of the reaction has not been reported and it is being assumed that the cause is a rare allergy to the ink some children have. But there are 110 million items on the shelves now and until the child has a reaction it is unknown if these will be safe to the wearer.

To stay safe, why not purchase organic clothing in the first place, the cost is not too much greater and the peace of mind is worth the extra pennies. 

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is most parents’ worst nightmare, the worry that keeps moms and dads alike waking in the middle of the night, not because the baby is crying, but to make sure they are still sleeping. Findings denote the syndrome to be accounted by carbon dioxide the baby has breathed out being re-inhaled and becoming trapped in their airway. The baby has to breath though so how to increase the circulation and decrease the likelihood of the this not occurring seems to be the first steps to slowing down this terrifying syndrome and allowing parents a little rest. Different studies through out the last 20 years have provided different advise on prevention. The most recent findings list a few simple precautions that can be taken to help decrease the chances. First understanding there are babies more likely to suffer from SIDS. Boys, African American and American Indian children, premature birth weight and living with cigarette smokers are all factors that increase the chances for the baby. Only one of these can be controlled and that is cigarette smoking. The most common preventive steps include: Firm bedding with very little blanketing, soft bedding allows the baby to sink into the mattress and creates a higher likelihood of them re-inhaling the carbon dioxide they just exhaled. Lots of blankets and covers again increases their mouths being covered forcing them to breathe back in the dispelled air. Keeping a fan circulating in the room of the baby is a way to help to ensure the air moves and the carbon dioxide mixes with in the room. This decreases the amount of carbon dioxide that is concentrated around the baby and they can breathe in. There is 72% less chance of SIDS with babies with a fan in their room moving the air. IF a fan is not possible, an open window is an acceptable way to increase fresh air and release the stale air. Placing babies on their back to sleep helps to decrease the chances of them smothering themselves into the mattress and breathing their expelled air. SIDS is a terrifying worry for parents but it can be reduced if you are careful about environment and the set up of the babies sleeping quarters. 

As the weather turns chilly and the temperature raises and lowers a difference of 30 degrees a day, parents start to worry about their children and the vicious cold and flu strands that in the past few years have become more and more difficult to treat. Traditionally in the United States the common remedy can be found on all pharmacy and grocery store shelve, over the counter medications to treat said symptoms.

In 2007 the FDA announced that these over the counter multi-symptom medications were not safe for children under the age of 2. Now in 2008 there is debate over whether this should be extended to ages 6 and under. The FDA has documented the multiple medications mixed into these easy to administer remedies can cause easy over dose and complications.

After the initial announcement and change in directions on medications based on age, the number of calls to poison control for children dropped 40%. These medicines are not designed for the changing and growing body of young children because they are based on age not weight.

This year there are more and more parents seeking out manners to help deliver relief to children dealing with the cold and flu in more homeopathic and natural manners. The “old time” medicines such as sleep, a dehumidifier, and honey are stand-by long-term natural manners of dealing with illness. The many herbs when taken correctly are as effective and less traumatic to the growing systems of children.

The recent recall on baby formula distributed through out several provinces in China through the Sanlu Group, one of the larger producers of baby formula, has re-introduced the questions on the standards set by the Chinese government on product safety.

Three babies have passed due to the chemical melamine addition to the formula. The chemical is added to create a higher protein levels in milk that does not meet the standards for protein consistency. Melamine, which is found in plastics and fertilizers, has created over 1000 cases of severe kidney stones in infants.

The Sanlu Group partners with a New Zealand company, Fonterra, alerted New Zealand government officials early last week of the repetitive complaints and findings of the chemical addition. The New Zealand contacted the Chinese officials who then called for a full recall. This includes over 10,000 tons of formula, as well as a question of what other dairy products could be tainted with the chemical, Fonterra is currently testing all items with Chinese ingredients.

There have been six arrests made and twenty-two people are currently being questioned. The perpetrators include the chairwoman/General manager of the Sanlu Group and officials connected to the Hebei province where the company is based.

The first reports of problems were filed as early as March, but in early August several infants were admitted with the problem. Unfortunately there was not a public statement and recall until the second week of September. This leads people to wonder when the Chinese government was going to make this public, if it was not prompted by the New Zealand Government.

The general public is disgusted by the consequences and actions of these companies it also resurrects the argument that breast milk is the wisest solution for infant feeding. The female body produces a high protein, rich in antibody food for infants and there are not worries about strange chemical additions to increase the vitality of the milk.

China currently is recalling a baby formula milk substitute due to the toxin melamine positively testing in the powder. As early as March cases of kidney stones in infants were reported. When more than a dozen cases were reported recently action had to be taken by the government. The Shijiazhuang Sanlu Group who is the manufacturing company of this product has issued 8,000 tons of powder be recalled. Last year, this brand was the 7th top selling formula by revenue for China. It is currently illegal to sell in the United States, although there is concern by US officials that ethnic grocery stores in larger cities with Chinese populations carrying it with out governmental approval. The toxin is commonly used combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a durable plastic. Melamine is used in the make up of fertilizers and cleaning products. Between the late 1950s and mid-70s there was testing done on the affects of ingesting the chemical and the results were it caused reproductive changes, bladder and kidney stones. Again, this was the primary symptom that alerted health officials of the common problem with the infants, kidney stones. In recent years, the use of melamine has been connected to artificially increasing protein levels in pet foods, but after several reports of animal fatality all pet food with the chemical was recalled. This is not the first, just the most recent, example of the standards set by the Chinese government on product requirements and testing procedures prior to release for commercial use. This also serves as a reminder why the healthiest solution for baby’s nutrition is good, ole fashion mothers’ milk. Breast milk is the ideal source for baby’s, it contains the vitamins, anti-bodies and nutrients to nurture and foster healthy growth.

Sleep, what is that? New parents all over are deprived of sleep during the first year of their children’s lives, but it shouldn’t be due to worry over the bedding and materials their angels are sleeping on. An easy way help increase sleep and decrease worry for parents when their little one’s will actually sleep, buy organic.

The media is increasingly making us aware of the harmful effects man-made materials have on the environment and on individuals, toxins seep into the ground and into our very bodies emitted from the manufacturing and use of daily products.  So why buy items full of poison when there are alternatives.

The baby’s bed, the place where they will spend 12- 16 hours of everyday is a perfect place to start.

Mattresses made of man-made materials have chemicals in their make up that can create allergen problems and issues with immunity development and reproductive systems.  These mattresses are also covered in secondary chemicals to decrease their flammability. These chemicals have been linked to the increase in hyperactivity and neurobehavioral alterations in children. Babies spend hours with lying on there, breathing in these poisons and increasing the chances of permanent problems.

Organic baby mattresses are a slight bit more expensive but the initial increase in cost is buying peace of mind that your child is sleeping on materials that will not hurt them further on down the road. The use of organic cotton and wool work to decrease dust mites, contain a resistance to bacteria and are more flame retardant.

The drawback to organic: they are not as pretty. Due to the lack of dyes and added chemicals there are less options in visual appeal when buying organic baby bedding. This can be easily fixed by keeping the bedding simple and adding colorful wall hangings and decorations.

Keep the items your baby will touch natural, there will be plenty of time for the rest.

The whole point of the “green movement” is to save the world for future generations. Expectant parents can start with organic baby products.

Organic baby products make a lot of sense. They are composed of materials made without toxins, fertilizers or pesticides, making them healthier for the entire household. If a baby or a family member is at risk from allergies, organic products can greatly reduce that risk.

Many people find that organic baby products are much softer than competing products. Who wouldn’t want to give their baby the softest baby clothing and bedding? Organic baby fabrics are hand-sewn, so baby won’t be scratched by rough edges.

Babies are often hard on their clothes, so it’s a relief to learn that clothing made from organic cotton can be much more durable. If there are multiple children in the family, organic clothes can help save the family budget by ensuring that hand-me-downs are attractive and have plenty of wear left.

Did you know that the world’s cotton crop accounts for a full 25 percent of the world’s pesticide use? Of course, much of that cotton crop is used in baby products. By choosing organic baby items, parents really are doing a great deal to save the earth for future generations.

Some critics say that it is too expensive to use organic baby items. However, it is well worth a slightly greater expense to buy an organic cotton T-shirt; it did not cost the environment to create it either.

Buying organic baby items is a great way to set an example for babies and the rest of the world. By getting baby started on organic problems, they may choose to go green for life.

Choosing baby bedding is a fun venture for any expectant parent. There are so many choices out there though, that it makes it hard to know which one is best for baby.

Organic baby bedding is easily the best option. Organic fabrics, such as cotton and bamboo, are produced without using pesticides or other harmful chemicals. These chemicals not only harm the environment, they can also potentially harm babies and others who use products made from them.

The youngest infants only need a few items of baby bedding: a fitted sheet and a light blanket for cool evenings. Both of these items are available in organic cotton, wool or silk and these fabrics are amazingly soft and will go a long way toward comforting baby.

While it is very tempting to give baby a soft pillow or a stuffed animal to snuggle against in the crib, do not succumb to the temptation. Newborn babies can easily smother against these items because they do not yet know how to roll away from them or to push them away.

In addition do not use a crib bumper pad for the same reason. Many experts believe that some cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) actually occurred as the baby became entangled in the bumper pad and could not free themselves.

Some new parents, already frightened at the cost of baby supplies, balk at the price of organically made baby clothes and bedding. However, when they consider that using organic products lessens the risk of allergies and other illnesses later in life, they could consider the money well spent. Buying organic bedding is a great investment in the future.