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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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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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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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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