Category Archives: Products

Jelly Beans

My four year old has the best logic. “Hey mom- did you know that jelly beans are good for you, because they are jelly on top of a bean. So it’s good for you to eat.”

Aaah, sweetness. If only that were the case. I love the idea of jelly beans as a food group. In fact, I remember getting through many a doctor’s appointment as a child with the promise of pectin jelly beans from the local Hallmark store when it was over.

As for those who say never reward/bribe children with food, I don’t agree. My child was completely out of diapers -even nighttime ones- by his 2nd birthday, and I have the promise of “3 chocolate chips” to thank for that.

But back to the beans.

Fall is here and beans are abundant in many autumn recipes. They make a great base for soups, are the star of chili, and are the perfect finger food for toddlers. Canned beans are very convenient, since soaking and cooking dried beans takes time and planning. But the BPA that lines cans is not worth the convenience.

According to studies, even at very low doses, BPA is linked to breast cancer, early onset of puberty, obesity, hyperactivity, lowered sperm count, miscarriage, diabetes, and altered immune system. Makes me want to soak my beans.

The good news:

There are some great alternatives that are still just as convenient!

Beans in Tetra Paks- I’ve used both the Fig Food kind and Whole Foods‘ 365 brand. (please note: I’m not convinced any food or drink in a box is completely safe, as something has to be applied to make them leak proof.)
Eden Organics– they use no BPA in their bean packaging, and use glass for acidic foods that leach more toxins from their containers
Beans in glass jars- the best option

Now that I think about it, maybe my 4 year old is right. Jelly beans- no canning required- might be the healthiest beans of all.

Products, Recommendations, Reviews

Honest Diapers Review

Holly 1 Comment

I absolutely love when a celebrity uses his or her power for good.

I’m sure Jessica Alba never in a million years thought she’d be in the diaper business. But when she had a baby and didn’t like the diapering options available to her, she started The Honest Company and made her own.

From the website: ”

About The Honest Company

The Honest Company provides effective, safe, eco-friendly, beautiful, convenient, and affordable products to families looking for a better solution that’s safe for their kids and the planet.

One of the core goals of The Honest Company is to create a happy, healthy future for today’s children and families. We are very proud be an active member of the B Corp community of like-minded organizations who are dedicated to making a profound difference in community, safeguarding people & the planet, and making efforts to be better businesses.

The Honest Company was started by a mom and a dad who, like many modern parents, had become increasingly concerned about poorly regulated products laden with questionable chemical ingredients. But, the alternatives they found were often expensive, inaccessible, bland, or ineffective.

In response to this clear need for something better, they created The Honest Company to ensure that parents have access to non-toxic, eco- friendly, beautiful family products that don’t break the bank.”

I ordered the sample pack and was instantly sold. THESE are the disposable diapers I have been in search of since my first baby. Completely non-toxic and safe for baby, yet totally soft and comfortable.

And they work- we experienced no leaks whatsoever. The fact that they are super cute is a bonus.

After I received my sample pack, I was automatically enrolled in the subscription service.

At first glance I thought it seemed a little pricey, but then I added up what I currently spend on diapers and wipes and realized it is the same amount.

And I don’t have to think about it now- because every month I’ll be receiving this shipment which is packaged so well it makes me happy just opening it:

I have tried over 9 different brands of disposable diapers, 5 different types of cloth and one hybrid design and I can honestly say these are my favorite diapers.

Natural Skincare, Products

Johnson & Johnson

Holly 1 Comment

Johnson & Johnson announced this week that they will be removing harmful chemicals from their personal care products, thanks to the Environmental Working Group.

“Our advocacy for safe cosmetics paid off big time today.

Together with our partners in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, we convinced Johnson & Johnson—one of the largest cosmetics companies in the world— to agree to phase out chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems from its baby AND adult products in 57 countries around the world.

J&J’s announcement today includes all of the company’s brands and products, including Aveeno, Neutrogena, Clean & Clear and, of course, the iconic Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. The commitment builds on the company’s November 2011 pledge to remove two chemicals linked to cancer from baby products sold worldwide.”

Most parents don’t even realize the shampoo they use to tenderly wash their baby’s hair contains at least two chemicals that cause cancer- formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane. Neither toxin is listed on the back of the shampoos or lotions because neither is technically an ingredient.

Why not?

Formaldehyde is released over time by the preservatives that do appear on labels and 1,4 dioxane is created during a process used to make the other ingredients gentler on the skin. Potential cancer for softer skin? Not a great trade-off, in my opinion.

This is GREAT news and a huge step forward in the battle against toxic chemicals in our environment. Except that the new formulas will not be available until 2015.

Until then opt for one of the many baby care products already on the market made by companies committed to the health of its consumers. Anything by Earth Mama, Angel Baby or Weleda gets my vote.

Here are some other tips for choosing the right products:

How to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy

Best sun screen for babies and children

Safe bug spray

Look Mama, no scar

Test your products in the Skin Deep database

Products

Smart Use of a Smart Phone?

Holly 3 Comments

We all have thoughts on screen time for kids- how much is appropriate, when to allow it, whether or not to buy your three year old an iPad, etc. Even the AAP has weighed in and recommended that children under the age of 2 should not watch any TV at all.

I realize this recommendation is because babies and toddlers need human interaction, and many small children are just plopped in front of the television all day, every day. So in stead of saying any is ok, they take the position that none is.
Most of us have also resorted to handing our kids smart phones to prevent scenes in public places- on an airplane, in a super long line at the grocery store, at a restaurant that had to go to a restaurant next door to track down a high chair for your 14 month old (i.e. they were so un-used to accommodating babies, they didn’t have one), when your 3 year old cut his foot on glass at the pool and is otherwise non-distractable.
But this?

It’s a good idea to keep the phone protected, and I’m sure many many phones have been ruined by little hands. But I shudder to think about how often a child must be on a smart phone to warrant the purchase of a phone protector that snaps onto a stroller.

I also believe it’s OK to have things that are off limits to our kids. The problem is that they are wired to be interested in whatever we are doing, and they see us looking at our phones a lot throughout the day, so that’s generally what they want to play with. “If it is so interesting to mommy, then I must get my hands on it!”

My baby also really loves unloading the dishwasher and sorting laundry, and my 3 year old has had a full on tantrum because I wouldn’t let him mop, so yes, as it turns out they love to do what they see us do regularly no matter how “fun” it may or may not be.

Thoughts on babies needing a smart phone protector?

Natural Treatment, Prevention, Products, Recommendations

Noz-eez

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It’s that time of year again. As vigilant as we try to be in reducing our exposure to viruses, inevitably there will be a few runny noses around the house.

When we hear that first sniffle, the routine starts: Ginger lemon tea, warm chicken broth, healing soup, herbs, homeopathic remedies, and more. We also avoid any inflammation causing foods such as sugar, refined grains and dairy.

Three years and four months in, we’ve managed to avoid any secondary bacterial infections such as ear infection or acute bronchitis. Here’s what we do, which we really believe helps!

But no matter what, there is always one thing that has to be done. Wipe runny noses. I prefer to use a moisturized wipe as a gentle alternative to tissue, and we’ve been using a very popular brand of nose wipes with a catchy name. But I never felt great about using them because the ingredients listed many things I steer clear of such as Polysorbate 20, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (a preservative which is acutely toxic by inhalation and should not be used in products that can inhaled- not something I want in my child’s nose!) and Propylbutyl Isobutylparaben.

I used them anyway hoping the benefit outweighed the risk of exposure to these potential toxins. Well recently as I was perusing my local baby store, I discovered I no longer need to compromise.

We now only use Noz-Eez– a moisturizing wipe containing an herbal blend with antioxidants echinacea, elderberry, and Vitamin C. When applied topically, these nose friendly herbs go to work right away.