The Natural, Organic Child Care Resource for Green Caring Parents and Healthy Children

I have mixed feelings about New Year’s Resolutions.  Part of me feels like I should work to improve myself on a daily basis.  This can be especially challenging while juggling my day-to-day and admittedly, rarely comes to fruition (or if it does it’s on a very small scale!).  There is definitely something to picking a specific date (like January 1) to implement positive changes in my life.  And so, I am resolving the following in order to reduce my “footprint” on the earth and hopefully improve my family’s health and well being in the process:

1. Eat Out Less, Cook More - After seeing my year end roll up from American Express, I’m horrified at how much we ate out (ordered in)!  Cooking has never come easy to me, but I do okay with a recipe.  I just need the motivation to get started in the kitchen at 5pm (witching hour) when the girls are at their worst!
2. Use Rechargeable Batteries - While I’m trying to reduce the number of toys I purchase that require batteries, it seems that I still need dozens of batteries!  I think I’ll be more conscious of turning off battery powered items if I know that I have to take the time to recharge the batteries and it makes me feel good to know that I’m reducing the waste.
3. Use Reusable tote bags REGULARLY! - I have lots of reusable totes and some are even insulated for cold items, however they never seem to make it from the kitchen pantry back to my car.  Sometimes I feel so guilty about using plastic, that I just purchase more reusable totes at the store.  Needless to say I have plenty of these bags…just need to get into the habit of using and RE-USING them!
4. Eliminate Single Serve Packaging - My girls have lunch at moms morning out/school at least once a week, so instead of single serve items, I’m buying in bulk and using reusable containers.
5. Volunteer - It became very clear to me this holiday season that my 4 year old is starting to take for granted what she has.  What better way to teach her appreciation than to have her volunteer with me at a local shelter.
6. Purchase Rain Barrels - 2008 proved to be a very dry year for my city and definitely took it’s toll on the water supply.  This year I plan to capture rain water using barrels to keep my yard green.
7. Turn Off My Computer Every Night - Guilty as charged…I leave my computer on almost every night!  It goes to sleep but I know it’s still pulling off the grid.  Time to turn her off!
8. Buy Locally Grown Produce - I’d like to make more trips to the farmer’s market for my produce and rely less on the convenience of my grocery store that ships in it’s produce from as fare away as Chile & China!
9. Replace the Carpet - I really hate carpet (it aggravates my husband’s allergies, is coated in chemicals and traps tons of dust and dirt), but our entire upstairs is covered in it and it would be costly to replace considering that our house was built less than 2 years ago.  I’d like to make 2009 the year I rip it up and replace it with FSC Certified wood or bamboo or cork…anything but carpet!  (Any ideas on how to reuse/recycle the carpet once it’s up?)
10. Continue Learning About All Things Green - I’m dedicated to continuing my education on green living, health and wellness.  I promise to share what I discover with you all in 2009!

Happy New Year!  I wish you all great things in 2009!

Bookmark:

{ 4 comments }

The Environmental News Network reports in their article, “USDA Refuses to Admit what 50 Million Americans Already Know: Organic Food is Healthier“, that it is proven through peer-reviewed studies that organic foods contain more vitamin rich content than the conventional alternatives. The University of California Davis has found that flavenoid levels in organic tomatoes are 97 percent higher than conventional tomatoes. Flavenoids are said to protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer. They also determined that organic kiwi has higher antioxidant levels and a greater amount of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) than a conventionally grown kiwi.

The article also calls into question the nutritional density of conventional foods. It states:

“In a paper he published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Bruce Ames, professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California-Berkeley, noted that vitamin and mineral deficiencies are common in the United States, and that these deficiencies may accelerate degenerative diseases.

Even our ever-expanding waistlines may be due in part to nutrient declines in our foods. Paul Hepperly, director of research at the Rodale Institute, thinks we may be responding like cattle do.

“Cattle will eat more of hay that’s been rained on and had most of its nutrients leach out than they normally would,” he says. “The animals get these big bellies, and they’re unhealthy, but they’re just trying to get their nutrients. Ranchers know that if they have animals with hay belly, they have poor quality food. What we’ve done with the erosion of nutrient content in our foods - what we’ve done with additives, processing and artificial agriculture production methods - is that we have basically produced a hay belly nation.”

The Food and Drug Administration however has no policy on organics and instead defers to the Department of Agriculture, who holds the position that they are not responsible for studying the benefits of organic foods as compared to conventional and instead their job is to ensure that organic labeling standards are upheld. However, it is becoming more and more clear to Americans that organic foods are better for you, as evidenced by the growing number of people choosing to eat organically and it’s increased availability in grocery stores. I wonder what it will take before our governmental standards mirror what 50 million Americans already seem to know?

Bookmark:

{ 0 comments }

As we near the end of 2008 and Babyminding’s first complete, calendar year (launched in October 2007), I’m feeling a bit nostalgic and would like to take a moment to reflect back on what I feel are the most important topics for 2008 in terms of child health and green parenting, highlight the best of Babyminding’s posts, and include some of my favorite “mommy” moments in 2008.  I also encourage you all to provide me with feedback on what you would like to see more of in 2009, using the comments section.  Thank you for reading!!

2008 Green Parenting Topics

Bisphenol-A (BPA) BPA found in some plastics was in the news quite a bit this year, and in my opinion marked a historical moment for parents everywhere!  The safety of BPA was not only questioned, but huge retailers like Wal-mart and Toys R Us went as far as pulling baby products made with BPA off of the shelves.  In addition, Canada passed legislation prohibiting the use of BPA in baby bottles and infant formula cans.  It shows that if we all work together for a common good, positive results will follow!

Lead in Toys & China We could fill a stadium with the amount of toys that were recalled this year due to lead.  These findings raised important issues related to the competence of the US Product Safety Commission and called into question the safety standards currently in place.  While we have yet to see any real progress here, it seems inevitable that changes be implemented to ensure the safety of our children.  And the fact that most of these recalled Toys were made in China, helps us to narrow the target a bit and make better consumer choices.  HealthyToys.org also expanded their searchable database to include safety ratings of many popular toys.  The Kid Safe Chemical Act was also introduced to Congress this year.

Climate Security Act: This bill was introduced to Congress in June and is a path to progress in ensuring that we leave a better world for our children and future generations.  Investing in clean energy alternatives can recharge America’s economy and lay the foundation for a stronger economic future. It will create jobs here at home, save families and businesses money, and make America more energy independent.

Artificial Food Additives: The Center for Science in the Public Interest is requesting that the Food and Drug Administration ban artificial food dyes added to many foods due to the fact that they may be linked to attention and behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, ADD and ADHD in sensitive children.  The FDA has yet to comment on this petition, but hopefully it will lead to a ban or at the very least better labeling of foods containing these artificial substances.

Top Twelve Posts of 2008

Primary Montessori Education

Healthy Green Pest Control and Lawn Care Methods

Practicing Mindful Parenting

The Business of Being Born

School Lunches - What are Your Children Really Eating?

Natural Alternatives to the Overmedicated Child

The Toxic Politics Behind Our Food

How to Tell a Child What Happens When You Die/In Memoriam

Sleep, Precious Sleep

Nature vs. Nintendo: Kids and the Outdoors

Surviving Cold & Flu Season with Kids

A Lesson in Materialism - How Not to Spoil a Child

Memorable Mommy Moments in 2008

Watching Laurel’s first steps, Britton’s early attempts to draw stick people, the girls running to the door when daddy gets home from work, planting Laurel’s birthday garden, Britton’s first flowergirl gig (I’m hoping more will follow, she was perfect!), fingerpainting, play-doughing, learning to live a greener lifestyle, Britton understanding the loss of “habitats” and crying when she witnessed trees cut down for yet another restaurant that we don’t need, breastfeeding Laurel for her first year, kisses, pile-ups on mommy, laughter, family snuggle time, playing outside, leaf hunts, bug hunts, swinging, playgrounds, lots of hugs, and best of all…we get to do it all again and more in 2009!

Bookmark:

{ 0 comments }

HealthyToys.org has just released it’s 2nd Annual Toy Guide after testing over 1,500 toys for levels of harmful chemicals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and PVC. According to a recent press release, their findings indicate that one in three toys tested contain significant levels of toxic chemicals including lead, flame retardants, and arsenic.  In fact some of these toys will be illegal to sell come February 2009. According to the HealthyToys.org website, “Because children’s bodies are growing and developing, they are more vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals. Even small amounts of a chemical can impact a child’s ability to reach his or her full potential. Children are exposed to toxic chemicals from many sources in addition to toys, and the combination of these many exposures may cause harm.”  As such, it’s important to be aware of the use of potentially harmful chemicals in some toys.  Unfortunately government entities such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Environmental Protection Agency don’t require safety testing of all chemicals, testing only for 200 of 62,000 chemicals in commerce since 1979.  Using the HealthyToys.org website, you can search their database of toys by brand name or type of toy.  They also offer an option to submit a request for a toy to be tested if you can’t find it on their website.  This information is especially helpful during this Holiday season, allowing you to check a toy for safety before purchasing.

Children’s jewelry is one of the worst offenders in terms of toxicity, and parents should be especially careful when purchasing this type of product.  I just bought a necklace and bracelet set made with water-based non toxic paints for my 4 year old from Oompa Toys.  The set is made by HABA, one of the European brands carried by Oompa Toys. My daughter loves jewelry and by purchasing a HABA product I’m confident that it is safe for my daughter due to their high safety standards (European safety standards for toys currently exceed the United States).  Oompa Toys is also a great place to shop if you’re looking for more naturally sourced toys without blinking lights and annoying sounds (especially after 20+ replays!).

Another useful guide when looking for kid’s products, courtesy of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, is the “Pass up the Poison Plastic - The PVC-free Guide for Your Family and Home” .  This guide provides a list of products in 80 product categories along with stores that are known to avoid PVC-containing products, such as IKEA.

Also if you want to know if a product contains PVC, look for the number 3 in the center of the recycle symbol or the letter “V”.  PVC containing products also usually have a distinct odor, such as vinyl shower curtains.

Luckily the information about toy toxicity is more readily available than in the past, however we still have a long way to go before the potentially toxic toys are completely eliminated!  This can only be achieved by taking action.  You can do your part by only supporting toy manufacturers who avoid the known toxins and by writing your state representative to request stricter standards.

Please share any links to safe toys by leaving a comment!

Bookmark:

{ 2 comments }

I‘ve written in previous posts about BPA found in the lining of Infant formula cans. In an article as reported by Environmental Working Group more chemicals have been found in infant baby formula including melamine and cyanuric acid.

The FDA found melamine and cyanuric acid, a related chemical, in samples of baby formula made by major U.S. manufacturers. Melamine can cause kidney and bladder stones and, in worst cases, kidney failure and death. If melamine and cyanuric acid combine, they can form round yellow crystals that can also damage kidneys and destroy renal function.

Melamine was found in Good Start Supreme Infant Formula With Iron made by Nestle, and cyanuric acid was detected in Enfamil Lipil With Iron infant formula powder made by Mead Johnson. A spokesman for Nestle did not respond to repeated calls and e-mails for comment yesterday.

This is just horrifying to me.  This is the primary source of nutrition for many babies under one year of age and these chemicals are in no way harmless!  Where is the Food and Drug Administration in all this? Well apparently they weren’t planning on releasing their findings to the American public any time soon.  It took the Associated Press filing a request under the Freedom of Information act to uncover the test results conducted by the FDA on 87 samples of infant formula in response to melamine findings in Chinese infant formula earlier this year.

“This FDA, this Bush administration, instead of protecting the public health, is protecting industry,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the FDA budget. In an interview, DeLauro said she wants the agency to disclose its findings and to develop a plan to remove melamine from formula. “We’re talking about babies, about the most vulnerable. This really makes me angry.”

And the worst part of this?  Despite their findings, the FDA still contends that infant formula is safe and encourages the public to continue the use of a tainted product.  It’s simply outrageous!

“When FDA claims there isn’t any reason to worry, that’s exactly what the consumer should do,” said Ken Cook, president of Environmental Working Group. “The once-revered public health agency has morphed into a taxpayer-funded public relations arm for the very industries it was created to oversee.”

Bookmark:

{ 0 comments }

For the sake of your children and future generations, tell the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide pollution.

Take Action!

Friday is the last day to voice your opinion on whether the EPA — the Environmental Protection Agency — should regulate carbon dioxide pollution, the primary cause of the climate crisis. This is a big deal.

The EPA is taking public comment, before making a ruling.

Of course, special interests — like the oil and coal lobbies — are working overtime to defeat a positive ruling and have already gotten thousands of comments submitted in opposition.

Most people don’t know about this opportunity for public comment, so your voice can make a real difference. And with a new president in the White House, it’s likely that someone will actually be listening. Submit your public comment to the EPA here:

http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/EPA [click to continue…]

Bookmark:

{ 0 comments }

Not to harp on the subject, but you have to listen to this phone call made to a manufacturer of a flu vaccine. I’ve written about the questionable effectiveness of the flu vaccine in previous posts, but this audio is definitely worth a quick listen if you’re considering being vaccinated against influenza this year.

Pretty sad when the actual manufacturer can’t make a sound argument for getting a flu shot…

Bookmark:

{ 3 comments }

A new documentary out, “The Disappearing Male“,