Baby Blog – News & Tips on Organic Parenting

Choosing Green and Choosing a Better Future

April 12th, 2010

America, being the most unhealthy country in the world, is now learning that the ways we have always done things are killing not only our planet, but our irresponsibility is killing us.

In the past humans have practiced some extremely horrible customs such as, taking arsenic in small doses in the 16-19 centuries to make our skin pale, bleeding or leaching the sick to get rid of the infected blood, and burying meat in salt to preserve it for later consumption. All of these are easily identifiable as unhealthy and impractical ways of treating our bodies now, but at the time seemed not only sound but innovative.

Future generations, I’m sure, will look back and things like steroids in livestock, harsh chemical dyes used on fabrics, hormones in milk and even the harmful fillings used in adult and baby crib mattresses, and wonder how we could ever have thought such things were OK for us. They will read stories of wide spread obesity, growing numbers in types of cancer and cancer patients as well as other disease related deaths and think “Why didn’t they see that what they were doing was killing them?”.

If you take only one of these items listed, let’s say steroids in milk, and amplify it to list the possible health links you would find:

• Little girls bodies maturing to menstruate as early as age 7 and 8
• Early Sexual Maturity
• Early breast growth

These are but a few of the phenomenon that could very likely be linked to the hormones in milk and milk products. Are we robbing our little girls of being little girls?

So how to we proceed? Now that we are clued in as to the consequences our everyday choices have on our bodies, we can begin to change and see a decline in the what has been a rapid incline of unhealthy living. One way to go about that is to live organically.

Organic living is more than simply buying organic foods at the supermarket. Growing and eating only foods without chemical fertilizer’s and pesticides is the beginning of healthy living, but we need to realize the many areas where we can choose organic. Ways likes purchasing:

1. Organic kids clothing
2. Dye free toys
3. Non lead based paints
4. and even local organic fruits and vegetables.

Making those choices even when they are more expensive shows a great shift in our thinking. This thinking is moving us toward being a healthier country. Of course there are several more changes that need to be made (two words fast food) but if we start in the grocery store, move on to clothing and bedding and then shift into the other details of our lives, we can see a brighter future for generations to come.

Tags: crib, mattresses, 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
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More Crib Recals In The News

January 14th, 2009

According to Fox News, a Canadian company (Stork Craft Line) is recalling over 500k baby cribs because of several instances of the cribs collapsing, which could lead to suffocation.  Walmart and J.C. Penney are some of the main distributors of their cribs. According to Fox, the metal support brackets that keep the crib together are cracking and breaking.

It amazes me how little testing and thought is put into  products these days, regardless of the potential ramifications. The almighty dollar and penny pinching on every area of manufacturing seems to be the only concern. We need to hold companies like these accountable instead of just slapping their wrists.

When baby clothing, bedding, and other baby products arecreated, serious testing should be done before the products are sold in stores.

Tags: cribs
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Sleeping Safely and SIDS

October 8th, 2008

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. 

Tags: SIDS
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Sleep and Safety, Why to Use Organic Baby Mattresses

September 9th, 2008

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.

Tags: baby, bedding, mattresses, organic
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What’s The Deal With Organic Mattresses Anyway?

March 30th, 2008

I find most people react to that with skepticism when we suggest that you should only buy organic baby bedding. I did at one point too. But you might not sleep so well at night if you knew what was really inside there. That comfy spot where you spend 1/3rd of your life is actually full of non organic materials, some of which are possibly toxic.

Most mattresses are made with polyurethane, a type of material that gives off a nasty mix of organic compounds believed to cause breathing and skin problems. Also studies show formaldehyde, used to hold the mattress together, is linked with lung and throat cancers, as well as asthma. Dr. Jim Sprott of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry stated that the huge increase in SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrom) over the past 40 years is mostly likely caused from the toxic gases emitted from our bedding. You can read his article here.

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Tags: bedding, mattresses, organic
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