BPA Free Baby: Plastic Bottles and Pacifiers by BornFree

BornFree was one of the first companies to offer BPA-free baby products when news broke about this hazardous chemical. Not only are their products free from BPA, they are also free from PVC and phthalates. Two of our favorite BPA-free BornFree products are:

• BornFree 9-Ounce Wide Neck BornFree Bottles


• Born Free Pacifier

Babies need to be protected from chemicals; we all do:

Exposure to Bisphenol A is Widespread

• Bisphenol A is most commonly used to make clear polycarbonate plastic for consumer products, such as baby bottles. Through use, this plastic breaks down and leaches bisphenol A into liquids and food to which it comes into contact.


• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found bisphenol A in the urine of over 95% of people they tested.


• Alarmingly, the median level of bi-sphenol A in humans is higher than the level that causes adverse effects in animal studies.

With my first child, I never used a pacifier and only used a bottle to try to feed her water when she was older. My son had health problems that required a bottle and pacifier while he was in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery, and unfortunately the hospital did not have BPA-free bottles or pacifiers. After his release, he was back to the breast only for his nourishment and comfort.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

Organic Crib Mattresses and Bedding by Natural Mat

When I became pregnant with my first child over eight years ago, I searched high and low for a natural mattress. I feared flame retardants, and even though I planned to cosleep, I needed a crib for naps. Natural Mat makes organic, natural bedding and mattresses for cribs I wish would have been available back then.

• Natural Mat Coco Mat:

The Coco Mat is the most breathable and natural organic crib mattress. It is filled with coir from the only certified organic coir plantation in the world. Coir is made from coconut husks which are coated in natural latex to make a supportive and breathable fibrous layer. The coir is then wrapped in our unique lambswool which is bathed in a mixture made from extracts of lavender, lemon and eucalyptus making it completely anti-dust mite as well as maintaining the excellant [sic] thermal insulating properties of natural wool.

• Natural Mat Organic Cotton Percale Fitted Sheet:

Our organic cotton crib sheets are made from crisp 100% cotton percale.

The are unbleached and undyed. They are machine washable and dryable.

Both of these products are truly wonderful and every baby deserves such natural goodness for their restful times. It's worth the expense, considering how much time an infant spends sleeping. The quality of Natural Mat products is high, so you will be sure to use these products for several children and pass on to your friends.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

BPA-Free Silicone "Skinned" Glass Makes Little Kids Feel Big

Glass is truly the safest material to drink from, but often parents are worried young children will break glass and be injured. Silikids has a solution with its food grade silicone-sleeved glass cup for young children. Silikids Siliskin Glass provides a non-slip surface for little hands to grasp and feel like big kids drinking out of a real glass.

The Siliskin Glass is a clean alternative to plastic drink-ware. For toddlers who want to drink from a "big kid" cup. Silikids makes this easy to do with a small BPA free silicone covered glass. This Siliskin glass helps prevent slipping and adds extra protection to the glass inside. Glass is the cleanest option for drinking and it lasts because it's reusable, and recyclable. The Siliskin is hypo- allergenic, has no open pores to harbor bacteria and is dishwasher safe. Two simple ideas have come together to make the perfect drink ware better for your family and the environment.

Even though there are a lot of BPA-free plastic cup products on the market, I still feel safest with real glass, and I don't have to worry about placing them in the dishwasher.

Silikids also makes Silibibs. These bibs are easy to put on and easy to clean. They are even safe for the dishwasher. I personally prefer cloth bibs, but many parents prefer silicone for the ease of cleaning.

If you visit www.silikids.com, you can use the discount code OHBABY to receive a 15% off any order through 12/31/2009

Disclosure: I was sent a free sample of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative

Safely Relieve Common Pregnancy Skin Problems of Acne and Itchy Skin with Belli Pregnancy

Two problems I remember being plagued by during both of my pregnancies was acne caused by hormonal changes and itchy skin caused by the big belly stretch. Belli Pregnancy has safe solutions to these problems.

• BELLI Acne Clearing Facial Wash: This product uses lactic acid to treat blemished skin, as well as cucumber and green tea. This is not a soapy wash, but a smooth, lemony scented cleansing wash. It is important to note that most acne treatments are not recommended during pregnancy, except for Belli's product.

• BELLI All Day Moisture Body Lotion: This is a wonderful lotion that uses lemon oil, chamomile, and shea butter to provide lasting relief for itchy skin. When I was pregnant, I was plagued with an itchy back from my growing, stretching skin, and no lotion could provide relief. I am not pregnant now, but this lotion did a wonderful job on my dry fall/winter hands. This product received a score of three out of ten for toxicity by the Environmental Working Group.

Belli Pregnancy is safe during those pregnancy months because:

Belli Pregnancy has set a higher standard for prenatal safety, as the only skin care line in the world that is teratology screened. We search through over 16 million medical research articles in over 5000 international journals, and use this information to exclude ingredients with even remote links to birth defects or other problems with pregnancy. Belli Motherhood is LactMed screened to avoid ingredients linked to harmful effects during breastfeeding. Belli Baby is screened for xenoestrogens--chemicals which can act like hormones that interfere with normal development of the reproductive system.

Of course, you don't have to be pregnant to enjoy these products.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of the above products in order to write an authentic review. I did not guarantee a positive or negative review in exchange for the samples.

Handmade Himalayan Wool Baby Booties by JelliBee Baby

One of my favorite baby items, which I have kept as a memento of those tender years, was a pair of felted wool baby booties. JelliBee Baby offers a very similar product to the ones I have.

Cheerfully bright, perfectly warm, and beautifully formed, these felted wool booties make a fitting baby gift. All natural, organic materials, handmade in the foothills of the Himalayas. Made in accordance with Fair Trade practices and green processes, these booties have little tootsies feeling good, while you are doing good.

Although I don't have a baby to try the JelliBee booties on, my recollection of the pair I had was that they were difficult to keep on those wiggly little feet. These may be different, as they do go a little higher up the ankle.

JelliBee is a mother-run company:

We are homegrown and homespun. We are spunky, sassy, and smart.

We marvel as our babies become their own little people, and our idea of love grows...

We celebrate Motherhood in style with whimsical yet practical design that's never too far from the woman we used to be, and always in step with the woman we are right now.

I do love these baby booties and wish they came in my size. I have actually made felted wool slippers for adults, which are fun to make and size on the actual foot!

Disclosure:  I received a free pair of wool booties in order to write this review authentically. No promises were made as to whether the review would be positive or negative.

Sweet Organic Baby Clothes by Hessnatur

We've been fortunate enough to review beautiful natural fiber clothing by Hessnatur before, now we have discovered their organic baby apparel line! Super sweet, soft, and adorable, Hessnatur's organic baby line means everyone in the family can dress in eco-fashion. Hessnatur is always fair trade, organic, and sustainable, which is exactly what baby deserves against their fresh, delicate skin.

What our clothes are made of and with

• Pure, natural fibers- organic whenever possible. Made from renewable resources: Vegetable (cotton, linen, hemp, ramie); Animal (wool, specialty wools such as angora, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, yak; silk).

• No PVC or Teflon, anywhere.

• Natural materials for buttons, like ivory nut, wood, horn, or mother-of-pearl

• Trims and linings are made from natural fibers, usually 100% organic cotton or 100% natural silk

• Any metals used for zippers, buckles and buttons are nickel- and chrome-free.  Other materials are only used for these accessories in the rare cases when natural materials or metals are not functional enough.

• Our only exceptions: we sometimes use up to 8% of elastane/spandex for the stretch in some lingerie and socks. All the spandex we use is covered in cotton so no synthetic touches your skin.

What our clothes aren't made of or with

• Synthetic fibers: made from chemical substances derived from petroleum, like nylon, polyester or acrylic

• Regenerated fibers: chemically treated and re-processed fibers made from natural materials that cannot be used for textiles in their original form, like viscose, modal and acetate. Their manufacturing causes significant water and power usage.

• Azo dyes which can give off dangerous, carcinogenic and mutagenic amines

• Dyes and dye procedures that include toxic heavy metals, which are known carcinogens

• Optical brighteners, which are probable allergens

• Chemical finishes, such as moth-proofing, anti-microbial, easy-care, wrinkle-free finishes, made with synthetic resins

• Chlorine bleach, which harms the environment

Hessnatur also offers maternity clothes from moms to be! I wish I would have had these organic maternity clothes during my pregnancies!  Unborn babies deserve the best against mommy's skin too! 

Cool Green Attitude: Organic Clothing with a Positive Message

"I am creative", "I am unique", and "I am infinite potential" are examples of the positive messages on Cool Green Attitude's Learning and Confidence T-shirts. Each shirt comes with a Buddy Bookmark which describes and reinforces positive behavior: All Cool Green Attitude designs are printed with organic water-based inks on 100% certified organic cotton. The company was started by three mothers, and the line is not just for children. Women and men's designs are also available.

Baby Earth Helps Parents Go Green With Baby

Baby Earth is more than just an eco-friendly online shopping site for young children. It is a resource for parents wishing to go green with baby! From blogs to ideas, such as throwing a green grandmother shower, this site has an impressive amount of information and products.

One of my favorite products is the Sassy Cuddle Doll.

Inspire baby's senses with the soft, aromatic cuddle doll. Doll is lightly scented with calming lavender to stimulate baby's sense of smell. Wooden rings softly clack together, while bright colors and textured fabrics including velour, corduroy, fleece and sateen offer visual and tactile stimulation.

When playtime is over, put the cuddle doll in baby's hands and encourage them to smell the soft lavender scent. Lavender is commonly used as an aid to sleep and relaxation.

Sassy Earth Brights are handcrafted from quality hardwoods, select fabrics and water-based finishes with packaging made from 100% recycled paperboard.

My niece has this doll and loves it! It is safe for the youngest child, even newborns. The only negative aspects of this product is it is made in China and contains polyester.

Baby Earth also hosts a baby gear recycling program called Baby RENEW. Just send your old car seat, stroller or high chair to Baby Earth, and they will disassemble it and send it to recycling centers. If the gear is still in good shape, it will be donated to a needy family.

ikookie Organic Cotton Baby Clothes

Organic cotton is good for your baby and the environment! ikookie features 100% organic cotton baby clothes that "Nuture your baby in nature". The short sleeved lap bodysuit (onesie) and yoga pants are super soft, and I think even babies need yoga pants! I live in organic yoga pants at home, even when not doing yoga, because they are so comfortable. I have always dressed my babes in the most comfortable clothes, and of course, organic grown cotton ensures their skin will be comforted too. ikookie explains:

Natures purest fiber. Organic Cotton is grown and harvested without the use of agrichemicals. Strict testing ensures the absence of contaminants like nickel, lead, heavy metals and pesticides.

By choosing organic cotton you decrease the number of toxic chemicals to you, your infant and the environment. Our babies benefit from the softness and quality that organic cotton provides.

Super soft, good for you baby, and good for the environment, you can't go wrong with ikookie baby clothes.

The Zah Collection: Go Organic with Go Natural Baby

Certified organic, fair trade, low impact dyes: what could be better? Go Natural Baby offers such eco-goodness in its Zah Collection of children's clothing. I got the Paloma dress for my niece. The simple design and silk-like organic jersey cotton fabric is perfect for warm temperatures, as well as can be layered with a long sleeve onesie or t-shirt for cooler Fall temperatures. Since my children are growing up too quickly, I am glad to see that Zah Collection will soon offer select styles in sizes up to eight.

Go Natural Baby espouses corporate social responsibility:

Go Natural Baby™ will only put our name on products that are made with Fair Trade values, including providing a healthy work environment for its workers, paying a fair wage, and ensuring that children are not in the work environment. Each year a portion of our profits will be given to the people that work in the factory, fields, and/or the school in our factory's village.

Eco-friendly and corporate social responsibility must go hand-in-hand for green companies. I am proud to support Go Natural Baby.

BPA-Free Adiri Natural Nurser Baby Bottles

Even breastfeeding parents find the need to use a bottle at times, whether filled with formula or pumped breastmilk. Nipple confusion and BPA is a concern, as parents don't want their child to forget how to breastfeed or be exposed to harmful chemicals. The Adiri Natural Nurser Bottle Set solves these problems by providing parents with BPA-free peace of mind, in addition to unique nipple design that mimics a mother's breast. Designed with the help of doctors, moms and lactation consultants,

The Adiri™ Natural Nurser™ Ultimate Baby Bottle is soft, safe and simple. With an easy to use and dishwasher safe Fill, Twist and Feed™ system, the only nipple truly shaped like a mother's breast, soft polycarbonate-free and bisphenol-A free materials, and a unique Petal™ vent that helps reduce colic, the Adiri Natural Nurser enables the ultimate safe bottlefeeding experience.

The Adiri Natural Nurser Bottle Set has even won the 2008 Medical Design Excellence Award!
Via: Eco Child's Play

Toby + Rei: Eco-Friendly Clothes and Accessories for You and Your Baby

Toby and Rei is a company out of Massachusetts featuring eco-friendly clothes and accessories for you and your baby. Toby and Rei's Baby Blanket is made of super soft bamboo fleece (70%) and organic cotton (30%). This thick blanket is aesthetically pleasing with Toby and Rei's signature mother bird and baby bird satin stitch embroidery on the center patch. This blanket is sure to become a comfort object of any young child. Designers Alanna Mallon and Kate Browning explain their inspiration:

as fashion designers, we are aware of the impact that standard growing and harvesting practices have on our natural environment, and want to provide an alternative to concerned consumers. as young mothers, we want to leave a positive legacy for our own children and the planet that they will inhabit.

To learn more, visit Toby and Rei's blog!

Avoid Hot Beverages in Plastic Bottles

The harmful effects of Bisphenol-A (BPA) have been known for some time now. A study released last month by the University of Cincinnati released states that BPA leaching from plastic containers increases greatly with hot liquids. According to Globe and Mail,

The finding suggests that parents sterilizing polycarbonate baby bottles by heating them in water or in a microwave may be inadvertently increasing the amount of the estrogen-mimicking chemical leaching from the containers. It also indicates hikers who use the bottles as a thermos to store hot tea or liquids may be doing the same. The addition of boiling water increased BPA migration rates by up to 55-fold compared with water at room temperature...

If you are a coffee or tea drinker, try using a stainless steel travel mug. This is a great option to use instead of wasteful, paper/styrofoam cups and is a safer alternative to reusable plastic mugs and bottles. This mug is made with fair labor practices, including paying fair wages.

For children and babies, try the Klean Kanteen Sippy Cup and the Born Free Baby Bottles.

More:
Treehugger- "Hot Water + Polycarbonate Bottles = More Gender-Benders"
Z Recommends- "Breaking News: Boiling Water Increases BPA Leaching by Factor of 55"
Z Recommends- "The Z Report on BPA in Children's Feeding Products, Third Edition"

Astrotot: Organic with a Sense of Humor

Gone are the days when organic cotton meant hippy dippy. There are A LOT of folks using organic cotton for their baby clothes these days. So a parent can be discerning.

Astrotot now makes an organic line of baby clothes and kids t-shirts with a sense of humor. According to the press release for the new organic baby gear,

Astrotot prides itself on providing uniquely funny, insightful and expressive infant and toddler gift wear while supporting sustainable cotton farming practices and ecologically responsible printing methods....All designs are printed in-house using a revolutionary eco-friendly digital printing process and packaged in distinctive gift boxes made of recycled cardboard.

We haven't seen the shirts in-person, but on the website they look to be high quality. And "I Have a Wedgie" and "Fo'Shizzle" are pretty darn funny.

Be sure to select from the organic line, if that's what you're after; other shirts are sweat-shop-free American Apparel, but not organic.

Now through December 15th, Astrotot is offering free shipping on orders over $40.

At Astrotot.