Baby Blog – News & Tips on Organic Parenting

Keeping Your Baby Healthy Using Organic Crib Bedding

March 1st, 2010

When you have your first child, you are probably worried about everything that they interact with and how it will affect their health.  One common thing that many parents do not consider is how the bedding that they choose for their baby can make a difference in one’s health, but the truth is that using organic crib bedding is an important step to maintaining your child’s health and well being.  We go to the store expecting the materials there to be of the highest quality and to be safe for our children, especially where babies are concerned.

The truth is that this may not necessarily be the case because baby bedding and even mattresses are commonly treated with a flame retardant that has been known to have links to cancer and sudden infant death syndrome.  These chemicals are known as polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), and they have caused so many problems that they are outlawed in Europe because continuous studies have shown how dangerous they can be to children.  However, they are not outlawed in the United States, which means that your children are exposed to these chemicals every single night while they sleep.

By relying on organic crib bedding instead of the common bedding materials that you can buy at the store you are making sure that your child is sleeping on materials that are one hundred percent organic.  This means that they are free of the pesticides that are used in large farms to treat cotton as well as the PBDEs, so you will not have to sit up at night worrying about whether or not your baby is being unnecessarily exposed to dangerous substances that could cause them problems later in life.

On top of this, organic crib bedding does not rely on harsh dyes to color treat their material.  This is important because many babies have difficulty with chemical dyes and they can have allergic reactions like rashes, as well as other side effects from prolonged exposure to these dyes.  The organic crib bedding is also hypo-allergenic and extremely soft against your baby’s skin, so it will be extremely comfortable to them, and this means that it will help both of you to sleep easier.

Tags: bedding, crib, organic
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Using Organic Crib Sheets

November 17th, 2009

Want to keep your babies safe from the chemicals and other artificial materials found in crib sheets?  If so, then you need to purchase organic crib sheets.  These types of sheets are so soft and warm that you’ll not be able to tell them apart from any other type of crib sheets.  However, they are made out of completely organic cotton.  There is nothing artificial or unnatural in them, meaning there’s nothing that will cause your baby to have any sort of allergic reaction.

You may think that natural, organic crib sheets would only come in one dull color since no artificial dyes can be used, but that’s not true.  In fact, organic cotton crib sheets can actually come in a number of different colors because they’re dyed using allergen-free, non-toxic pigments.  You’ll find these organic crib sheets come in four great colors: rose, sage green, bamboo yellow, and cornflower blue.  You’re sure to find one of these colors looks just perfect in your baby’s nursery.

While some people think that organic sheets in your crib are just not necessary, others would disagree.  Organic sheets protect your child from breathing in many different things, including the chemicals used to dye the sheets and the various chemicals used to create the artificial fibers that the sheets are made out of.  Being exposed to these allergens and chemicals can actually cause many different problems for your child years later, so it’s much better to protect them while they are young.  Give your children the best sleeping area you can—give them organic crib sheets.

Tags: crib, organic, sheets
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Organic Mattresses and Crib Sheets Protect Your Baby

September 22nd, 2009

Babies can be very susceptible to dust and other small particles, plus chemicals are always a danger to newborns.  This leads many parents to wondering what they can do to protect their babies from the various chemicals, dyes, and other things used in the creation of baby mattresses, blankets, and sheets.  The answer is to purchase organic baby bedding.  These various organic crib sheets, blankets, and other items are all made with completely natural, organic materials that are guaranteed to contain nothing that will harm your child.  Even organic products that are dyed specific colors use only dyes that are all natural and will not cause any type of allergic reaction.

One of the worst chemicals that babies are often around is a type of flame retardant that is known as polybrominated diphenyl ether.  This PBDE is often used in baby mattresses and other baby bedding products in the United States and other countries.  However, it has been completely outlawed in Europe because studies have shown that it can be linked to SIDS and certain types of cancer.  It’s unknown why U.S. manufacturers still use the chemicals in their products, but why risk your baby’s health?

Purchasing an organic mattress, organic crib sheets, and other organic products will not only protect your baby from horrible chemicals but they will also help your child sleep better.  Organic products are naturally hypoallergenic so they won’t hold in so much dust, plus they’re incredibly soft.  These organic fibers also tend to be stronger than artificial ones, so organic materials often last much longer than others.

Tags: baby, bedding, crib, mattresses
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Why should you Buy Organic Baby Bedding?

September 10th, 2009

Everyone seems to want to buy organic these days, but is there any reason to really go about buying organic baby bedding?  In some cases, it may be more expensive, and it doesn’t really seem to be any different from other types of baby bedding.  However, that’s just on the surface.  If you dive into the details of organic baby bedding, you’d see that there is certainly a purpose to it.

There are several different items needed in your baby bed, and all of them are available in organic forms.  Organic baby bedding includes sheets, mattress pads, crib bumpers, blankets, and pillow cases.  All of these items are made from purely organic materials, even the ones that have been dyed different colors or feature patterns on them.  Organic baby bedding is all hypo-allergenic, meaning it won’t hold in dust or other particles that can give your baby difficulty breathing.

In fact, that’s the entire reason of outfitting your baby bed in organic sheets and the like.  Standard bedding uses dyes and other materials that both hold in dirt and dust and can trigger allergies.  These allergies can make it difficult for your baby to get a good night’s sleep.  While purchasing organic baby bedding is a good idea, especially if your baby doesn’t seem to sleep well, there is one thing you need to remember.  Buying just one part of the organic baby bedding set, such as an organic blanket, won’t be as effective as replacing your entire baby bedding with organic bedding.

Tags: baby, bedding, organic
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Using Organic Baby Mattresses

August 28th, 2009

When it comes to sleeping, many people do not expect their babies to sleep through the night.  It’s just a part of being a baby, they believe.  However, that’s not entirely true.  Have you ever found yourself awake at night because you’re coughing or having other breathing issues?  If so, you may be allergic to something in your mattress.  The same can be true for babies—some are allergic to materials found inside their baby bed’s mattress.  To combat this, you may wish to outfit your baby bed or crib with an organic baby mattress.

Organic baby mattresses are made from all natural, all organic ingredients.  This means there’s nothing there that will cause your baby to have an allergic reaction to the mattress.  Even if it looks like a dye was used, that dye will have been made using organic materials.  Most of these organic baby mattresses are made out of cotton.  This makes the mattress nice and plush in addition to making it hypoallergenic.  Many of these organic baby mattresses are also flame retardant and water proof, making them even more useful and safe for your child.  However, they do not use harmful flame retardants, so there’s no fear of chemicals damaging your baby.

One of the great things about organic baby mattresses is that they aren’t really that much more expensive than standard baby mattresses.  Likewise, since green products are becoming more and more popular, you can now find organic baby mattresses in more furniture and department stores.  In the past, this wasn’t true, but now it is much easier to outfit your baby’s bed with an organic mattress.

Tags: baby, bedding, organic
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Buying Baby Bedding

August 20th, 2009

There are so many options for expecting parents as to what type of baby bedding to buy.  You can easily spend a little of a lot, go for simple or go for luxury.  A lot of new or expecting mommies and daddies could certainly use a few pointers to help with picking out the baby’s cozy new bedding.  In that light here you go:

1. Buy Extra Sheets

During their first year newborn babies can create many messes and it is always prudent to be prepared to deal with them as they happen.  One of the best ways to be prepared is to have anywhere from 1 to 4 extra sheets ready to go when messes occur, and they well.

2. Make Sure Everything Fits

Although most baby bedding is made to a standardized crib size it is still a good idea to go ahead and make sure that everything fits before the baby is born, this will give you time to make any changes if necessary.  You really want to aim for a snug fit from the crib bedding to the mattress for the most safety conscience setting.  Once you have a good snug fit then go ahead and wash all the bedding both for hygiene and also that washing will help make the materials soft for your child’s comfort.  Remember that baby’s skin is much more sensitive then ours.

3. Planning for the Future

Here are some thoughts on budgeting.  There are many purchases that you can really skimp on when baby planning and others that it is wise to invest a little more.  Baby bedding falls into the later category.  Most standard sized baby bedding will seamlessly transfer from cribs to toddler beds, this means you really can get much more use out of it then just the infant stage.

Tags: baby, bedding, crib, cribs, mattresses, organic, safety
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How to Buy Baby Clothes

June 30th, 2009

So you would think that with all of the crazy super important decisions that you are called to make while having a baby that buying baby clothes would be a piece of cake, well guess what, it’s not. Buying the wrong baby clothes can potentially stunt your child’s growth, lead to difficult teenage years, and cause diabetes. Now, while none of those things are true it is still an important part of preparing for your child’s  time in this world. As a father I can honestly say that when Ruby (daughter) came into this world I had no idea how the respective sizes of baby clothes worked. It was a sphere of knowledge somewhat akin to women’s shoe sizes, by that I mean that it is different then my sizes, probably important to someone else, and something I don’t care about at all. That being said, I wanted to take a moment to write some tips on buying baby clothes to save you from some of the bumbling mistakes and eventual research I had to do to figure it out for myself.

1. Function is King

There are some pretty awesome outfits out there for your newborn or toddler and many of them are completely ridiculous when it comes to actual utility. I don’t care how awesome that baby biker or cowboy outfit is, if you cannot get in there quickly to defuse whatever diaper bomb is cooking they are not real baby clothes. Look for clothes with a snap-crotch for easy access; you will be glad you did. As for the top half of things weight your choices towards necks that are stretchy and or have buttons to widen the opening. Your baby will love you more for not trying to forcibly squeeze their head through anything more then is necessary, and you want your baby to love you, don’t you?

2. Think Season Appropriate

When purchasing baby clothes before the child’s birth, spare a moment to figure out what the general temperature will be when that kid meets the world and shop accordingly. How would you feel if you went to visit some family in January and you lost your bags, and as chance would have it  also happened to be naked when you got there. It would be pretty great if your hosts had some nice warm clothes for you to wear.

3. Sizes

For most new parents this is where things get a bit weird. Baby clothes sizes are by age, so for example 0-3 months, 1 year, 2 year, etc. Of course, this system is insane, but it is the best that we have come up with so far. I mean can you imagine if we stuck with the baby clothes model of sizing throughout life? Shopping for a size 34 year could be wacky and potentially embarrassing. Anyway, the rule of thumb with baby clothes is to aim for a little big at the start (babies grow) and then once you get to know the baby, assuming you like him or her, and feel like buying them more things, you will know where they fit in relation to the universal age size scale.

And so to sum things up, the best way to buy baby clothes is to use common sense. Think of the weather, remember that babies grow so aim for bigger rather then smaller, and the most important thing is function.

Tags: baby, clothing, how to
Posted in Baby Product Safety, General, Organic Baby Clothes, Organic Baby Skin Care, Organic Baby Yoga, Organic Crib Mattresses | 2 Comments »

The Benefits of Organic Cotton

June 21st, 2009

Organic cotton is cotton that is grown and processed without chemical pesticides or fertilizers from plants that are not genetically modified.  The organic cotton industry is one that has been growing by leaps and bounds the last several years.  But what are some of the reasons to choose organic cotton over traditional produced cotton products?  I mean you don’t eat it right so what is the big deal.  As it turns out there are many reasons to go with organic cotton starting with the effects the industry has long before it ever reaches the consumer.

Cotton farming is among the most intensive with the use of toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides, some of which were originally designed as chemical weapons.  We are talking about 2.6 billion pounds of pesticides a year released into the environment.  These chemicals make up around 16% of the worlds pesticides. For pair of jeans and t-shirt produced there is an associated one pound of toxic chemicals added to our environment, yikes.  The cotton industry is also heavily reliant on forced child labor, which is bad in and of itself, but when you add these toxic chemicals into the work environment it is just awful.   So, after the cotton is harvested it obviously must undergo rigorous processing to become the cotton products we use.  Traditional cotton is also treated with many other toxic chemicals at this stage, residuals from these chemicals can irritate the skin and are potentially bad for your health.  The risks from the toxins used on cotton are especially bad for babies whose skin is thinner and more porous then adults.

There are many companies now that manufacture and sell quality organic cotton products.  After doing the research the choice is clear, choosing organic cotton is choosing better health for your family as well as the workers on the farm, it is choosing a cleaner environment for all of us, and due to the general higher quality and resilience of the cotton it is choosing to save money.

Tags: Cotton, organic
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Baby Crib and Bedding Safety

May 4th, 2009

The first three things new or expecting parents think of when arranging the space that their baby will be sleeping in are comfort, aesthetics, and above all else, safety.  A newborn baby’s crib and bedding easily conjure cozy images of duck-dappled or teddy bear adorned bedding, lining cribs that may be or may someday become a family heirloom.  Infants can spend anywhere from eleven to sixteen hours a day sleeping; this alone places their crib and bedding among the most important aspects of their new life.  Disturbingly however, the crib is also host to the leading cause of infant death in the country, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. When combined with the fact that well over a million cribs have been recalled in the last few years, it is paramount for new parents to have a strong understanding of baby crib and bedding safety.  Here are some safe bedding guidelines laid out by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

•    Lay baby on his or her back on a firm mattress that fits tightly into a crib that meets current safety standards.

•    Take out any excess comforters, stuffed toys, and pillows.

•    Look into using sleep clothing as an alternative to blankets.

•    If using a blanket be sure to tuck it in under around the crib mattress and reaching up only as high as the infant’s chest.

•    Room temperature should be comfortable for an adult in light clothing.

•    Make sure child’s head remains uncovered during sleep.

Although the cause of SIDS is still a topic of debate, some experts maintain that off-gassing by chemicals used in baby bedding is the culprit.  One way to sidestep this possible problem is to avoid potentially toxic chemicals in your baby’s crib and bedding.  It is advised when budgeting for your child’s sleep setup that you consider organic bedding options.  It is also a good idea to occasionally check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for any recalls.  Knowledge is the most effective tool in ensuring that the choices you make regarding your baby’s crib and bedding are the right choices to preserve your baby’s safe and happy development.

Tags: baby, bedding, crib, safety, SIDS
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Organic Baby Bedding

March 13th, 2009

If you’re having a baby or already have a little one in your home, you’ll need to have a number of supplies. These include baby bedding-sheet, pillows, blankets, and other items for the crib. You want to make sure that these crib sheets and blankets are safe for your children, however. One of the newest crazes in baby bedding is to purchase blankets and sheets made out of organic cotton. These sheet and baby blankets do not include any harsh metals, dyes, or other fabrics.

Just because something is made from organic cotton, though, does not mean it won’t be soft and cozy. On the other hand, these sheets and blankets are incredibly soft and cuddly, and your child will love being tucked in under these blankets. Even though they do not include harsh dyes, these sheets and blankets are still available in multiple colors. They simply use all natural dyes for the coloring. In fact, some of them even include patterns or animal prints.

In addition to crib sheets, you’ll also find swaddling blankets made out of organic cotton flannel. These blankets are very nice and warm, keeping your child protected from the cold no matter where you are.

Sheets, blankets, and swaddling blankets made from 100% natural cotton provide numerous benefits. This includes providing relief from some allergies and chemical sensitivity. In fact, it’s possible that organic baby bedding may even help make your children healthier. They can also help relieve your allergies, too, plus they help save the environment.

Tags: bedding
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