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Green Baby Gifts

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Creating a Green Environment for Your Baby

Babies are so precious. They are tiny and helpless. It is our job to nurture them so they can grow up in a wholesome and healthy environment.

How better to create this environment, than to teach our children to live a green life from the start. This article is a resource for finding green baby tips, green baby products, green baby clothes, green baby bedding, and green baby ideas to help yourself or your loved ones create a green, earth friendly environment for children from birth on.

For information on how to have a Fit and Healthy Pregnancy, click here.

Green Baby Gifts Guide

Tiny Carbon Footprints

from Carbon Offset Review



It's a bit ironic that the same generation that has grown up celebrating Earth Day has also seen some of the most disposable, consumer products yet. They started their lives with their bottoms wrapped in disposable diapers. Their Geranimals outfits were made out of easy to wash polyester blends. The juice boxes they sipped on as children littered playgrounds and filled landfills. And all their toys were made out of plastic.

But now that these children have grown up and they are having children of their own, they are shunning the wasteful, excessive habits of their parents. But are they giving up convenience? Not necessarily. Many companies offer carbon neutral, eco-friendly alternatives. According to gDiapers website, over 50 million disposable diapers enter the landfill each year. Their solution is a diaper that is disposable, but contains no plastics and can be flushed or composted instead. Their diapers consist of a cloth outer cover with a flushable liner inside.

Instead of running out to purchase the latest in matching children's outfits, more and more new parents are seeking out recycled baby clothing. And why shouldn't they? Most baby clothing is outgrown before it's worn out. Sometimes items like sweaters are worn only once. Many environmentally conscious families now throw green baby showers where the new mother-to-be is gifted with a fabulous amount of handed down loot. Resale baby stores are even popping up online. Cutting down on several cycles of clothing production is not only carbon neutral but frugal as well. So is the way we dry clothing. Wooden drying racks make even more sense for children's items than adults. Because children soil their clothing often, the need to wash becomes more frequent. By substituting drying rack for small loads instead of tossing a few items in the dryer energy is no longer wasted. Also, air dried clothing is less likely to set in stains so the clothes have the opportunity to be saved in a second wash before stains become permanent.

Juice carried in boxes and plastic toys that seem to lose a child's interest as soon as the package is opened are being replaces by items that get a year's worth of use. Reusable plastic juice boxes can be used, cleaned and reused to conveniently carry juice anywhere. Suggestions for long lasting children's items like books and wooden toys top the lists of gift suggestions for eco friendly families.

With the need for information, green baby sites are popping up all over the place. Enter the words carbon, neutral or green and baby into Google's search engine and several excellent choices top the lists. Books like Organic Baby by Kimberly Rider offer up even more suggestions. As always, education is necessary and the options for carbon neutrality are growing and in the right direction. Soon Illinois babies will even be able to take their first breaths in a more eco-friendly hospital when Elgin's new hospital completes its geothermal heating and cooling system offering up the opportunity to be carbon neutral from birth.

Green Baby Guide

Down-to-earth ways to save time, money, and the planet.
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Wildflower Organics

Bedding, Cribs, Mattresses

Wildflower Organics is an organic company for children and adults. They offer clothing, toys, and accessories, but one of their best offerings is their organic baby bedding.

Here is what they have to say about it:

"Babies spend a lot of time in bed. HUGE amount of time actually.

Probably one of the most important things we sell at Wildflower are our organic crib mattresses. Closely followed by our organic sheets, luscious organic merino wool baby blankets and wool puddle pads. Do a roaring trade in puddle pads actually. Very smart thing to get for your baby and for the life of your new mattress.

Organic mattresses are good. Conventional mattresses are yukky. The law says they must have fire retardants to make them 'safe'. Sure, they may not burst into flames but your child will spend the first few years if it's life inhaling toxic fumes as those fire retardants and synthetic mattress materials off-gas. Our organic mattresses are made from materials that are inherently fire resistant, so no need for nasty chemicals and no toxic fumes. They are safe and strong and sweet and will last through lots of kids.

A clean start is one of the best gifts you can ever give your child."

Wildflower Organics Catalog

The Great Green Book Baby Shower

by Christi R. Suzanne

I went back to Arizona for my sister's first baby shower over three years ago. At the time it was the first one I'd been to, and I didn't know what to bring or what to expect. My sister had registered at two stores and I just needed to pick something from her list, but instead I wanted to buy her a book, something that my niece would keep for years and remember throughout her life. One of my favorite books was The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, so I opted for that.

That was almost four years ago and since then, I've been to my fair share of baby showers. I hate to admit it; I'm getting to that age. It's the same drill: show up with a present, play funny games, eat too much, and go home hours later wondering what the mother-to-be is going to do with all that stuff.

One of the best, and least wasteful baby showers I've been to was a shower for one of my book group members. The book group's brilliant idea for a baby shower was a book-themed one. What better way to invite someone into the world than give him or her books-the gift of knowledge and imagination.

Books are treasured forever. That's precisely why this kind of baby shower is considered green. Although books are material objects, they're also tools to stimulate imagination, thought, and best of all, cognitive learning skills. Books teach kids basic skills such as counting, colors, and object recognition. Later, they are a fantastic way to introduce more complex ideas. Since books can be bought used, passed on to the next child, and later recycled, this is a great green baby gift!

Lily's love for reading began in the womb, at her very own book baby shower.

The gifts at the shower were exclusively books--no clothes, no diapers, and no toys. We were all expected to bring a beloved book from our childhoods. Each person gave a little story or anecdote on why they loved the book they had given.

One person remembered reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst and liked it because it showed that it was okay to have a bad day. Another person talked about how Ramona by Beverly Cleary was her favorite because she loved how imaginative the Ramona books were. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle prompted me to go outside and study the bugs in our flowerbeds. I also loved Serendipity by Stephen Cosgrove and other Cosgrove books because they involved animals or magical creatures. These books always have a good moral at the end of the story. Some other favorites included Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell, Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson, and Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl.

Since baby showers always include some sort of game, the host created a booklet with blank pages in it. In a similar fashion as the game "exquisite corpse," the book was passed around a circle. The first person that started the game wrote a sentence, the next person drew a picture of the sentence and then turned the page to write a new sentence, and so on. After the book was finished, the mother-to-be read it aloud and displayed the pictures. At the end of the shower she got to take the book home with her and had some great memories (and not so great drawings) to show for it!

Other ideas for games for a book baby shower are creating your own Madlibs story to fill in, making bookmarks, creating a crossword puzzle or find-a-word game with a book theme for the guests to fill out or find. Most of these ideas do not take long to make or play, but all of them are fun. You could even have book-related prizes for the person who finishes the crossword first or finds all the hidden words first.

The Great Green Book Baby Shower

(continued)

I've bought my fair share of books for my niece, Zoi, and other friends' kids. Most of the books I buy are books I remember from childhood or they are based on recommendations from friends. Here is a list of my classic top ten books for children:



Classic Top 10 Book List for Children:

1. Beatrix Potter Collection by Beatrix Potter

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

3. Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry

4. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

5. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

6. Where the Wild Things Are Are by Maurice Sendak

7. Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell

8. Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

9. Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

10. The Complete Adventures of Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey

The last time I was in Arizona, Zoi, now three and a half, asked to be read to before her naps and when she went to bed at night. Besides the lessons books can teach a child, it's a great way to slip in some quality time. I hope that she will grow up remembering those times I spent reading to her when I was in town. I know I will. So as a service to the environment and to mental growth, I think books are the perfect green baby gift. Happy reading!

Christi R. Suzanne resides in Portland, OR. She is currently revising her first novel and publishing short articles on a free website called HubPages. Her articles are focused on books, animals, and general things she likes to research.

Know Your ABC's of Green Living



When you're considering organic alternatives or specifically seeking eco-friendly products, let this green terminology be your guide:

Bisphenol-A (BPA). A chemical compound sometimes found in plastic products, cosmetics, and foods. Recent studies suggest links between Bisphenol-A and developmental toxicity (e.g., reproductive consequences) and carcinogenic effects (e.g., cancers). Bispenol-A has been found to leach from plastic into food and liquids. Go green tip: Look for "Bisphenol-A free" or "BPA free" on the label.

Fair Trade Manufactured or Certified. Products featuring fair trade labels usually means that they were manufactured or produced in a way that meets certain environmental, labor and developmental standards. Think no child labor.

Lead. Lead is a metal that if ingested or inhaled (think lead dust) can cause lead poisoning, which may result in developmental or behavioral problems, or possibly worse. Given that young children tend to put toys and their hands in their mouths after handling toys, reports of lead in toys makes the threat of lead a growing concern among parents. Go green tip: Look for lead free or lead tested on the label.

Non-toxic. Products marked non-toxic are generally believed to be free of harmful toxins or poisons. For example, toys labeled as having non-toxic finishes should, in theory, be safe for children to chew on, without posing health risks.

Organic. Products or ingredients marked organic usually means that they are grown or processed free of pesticides, artificial fertilizers, radiation, genetic modification, or synthetic additives.

Phthalates. Chemical compounds sometimes found in vinyls, fragrances and beauty products. Studies suggest possible links between exposure to phthalates and effects on human health. Go green tip: Look for Phthalate-free on the label.

PVCs. Polyvinyl chlorides ("PVCs") are chemical polymers used in plastics to make them soft and flexible. There is growing concern that toys made with PVCs can pose health risks to children, such as when children chew on toys, resulting in chemicals leaching out of toys into children's mouths. Go green tip: Look for PVC-free on the label.

Sustainable. A product that is made via sustainable processes or materials means that those processes or materials can last indefinitely. In other words, if managed responsibly, the materials won't run out. That's good news for the Earth and for future generations. Go green tip: toys made from sustainable, solid woods are generally given green thumbs up.

VOCs. Volatile Organic Compounds ("VOCs") are chemical compounds which when emitted have potential consequences on health. Go green tip: Look for VOC-free on the label.

Are You Raising a Green Baby?

Books to Give You Green Guidance

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Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care by Alan Greene

Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care by Alan Greene

In this illustrated and easy-to-use guide, noted p more...1 point

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The Petit Appetit Cookbook: Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler by Lisa Barnes

The Petit Appetit Cookbook: Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler by Lisa Barnes

Fresh, wholesome meals that give little mouths something more...0 points

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Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook (Organic) by Lizzie Vann, Daphne Razazan

Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook (Organic) by Lizzie Vann, Daphne Razazan

Fresh, additive-free natural foods are essential f more...0 points

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Green Babies, Sage Moms: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby by Lynda Fassa

Green Babies, Sage Moms: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby by Lynda Fassa

From the trailblazing founder of Green Babies orga more...0 points

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Natural Knits for Babies and Moms: Beautiful Designs Using Organic Yarns by Louisa Harding

Natural Knits for Babies and Moms: Beautiful Designs Using Organic Yarns by Louisa Harding

This inspired collection of patterns for mother a more...0 points

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Organic Baby: Simple Steps for Healthy Living by Kimberly Rider

Organic Baby: Simple Steps for Healthy Living by Kimberly Rider

Record numbers of parents are choosing organic foods more...0 points

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The Everything Organic Cooking for Baby and Toddler Book: 300 naturally delicious recipes to get your child off to a healthy start (Everything Series) by Angela Buck

The Everything Organic Cooking for Baby and Toddler Book: 300 naturally delicious recipes to get your child off to a healthy start (Everything Series) by Angela Buck

Parents want the best for their children, starting more...0 points

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Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home by Christopher Gavigan

Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home by Christopher Gavigan

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Eco Babies Wear Green by Michelle Sinclair Colman

Eco Babies Wear Green by Michelle Sinclair Colman

The urban babies have gone green! Whether living l more...0 points

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Green Baby by DK Publishing

Green Baby by DK Publishing

Millions of diapers are thrown away every day, and more...0 points

Haven't Had the Baby Yet?

Five Things to Do While You Are Pregnant



from Positively Green

FOOD - While you're feasting on fresh fruits and veggies, make sure you're not also overloading on pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals. By consistently choosing organic food, you keep your meals - and junior's - healthy. If you eat meat, choose lean meat that is hormone and antibiotic free.

WATER - Filter your drinking water and drink from glass, not plastic, as much as possible. Don't reuse plastic water bottles. When they degrade, either from heat or cold, they leach chemicals that you never get from drinking from a glass.

BEAUTY PRODUCTS - When you're pregnant, it's best to avoid nail polish and nail polish remover, as well as products with alphahydroxy. Choose make-up with more organic ingredients. Also, if you color your hair, a weave is a better choice as the color never touches your scalp. Always avoid hair colors with coal tar.

CLEANING PRODUCTS - Replace your non-organic products with ones that don't contain bleach, ammonia and other harmful chemicals. By choosing biodegradable products that avoid these harsh chemicals you keep the indoor air quality of your home as clean as possible while waiting for baby's arrival. Some eco-friendly brands are Method (available at Target) and Bene Life Green. Even better, hire a housekeeper to clean occasionally (using your new eco-friendly products) and you can take a load off your feet.

SHOWERING - Your skin is porous. The same pores that emit sweat also absorb liquids that are on your skin. Most municipal water contains chlorine. In addition to drying your skin and hair, chlorine also vaporizes with hot water so it is inhaled into the lungs while you shower. By installing a filter in your shower head, you can keep the water that cleans you free of chlorine and other additives. Check out the Premium Shower Filter. The filter is easily installed and it costs $49.99. You can purchase recyclable replacement cartridges for $24.99.

Also, if you have a shower curtain, replace it with one that is free of PVC. Ikea sells a great PVC free shower curtain.

Protecting baby's world in more ways than one

Earth Friendly Baby Gifts from babyearth.com



Going Green 101: Is Green Your Family Color?

Going green is ultra hip these days. But if you've ever wondered what it really means to go green, or what's behind those "eco-friendly," "organic" and "environmentally conscious" buzz words, or why parents everywhere (celebrities, included) are going gaga for green baby products, you've come to the right place. We will cut through the clutter and help you navigate the sometimes bumpy road towards more natural living.

More than a color

Going green is about making conscious decisions about how you live. It's about choosing a lifestyle that fits your own, unique family and reflects responsibility for the world around us. It means making informed decisions and thinking about the impact those decisions make on future generations. It means asking questions about the products we buy and recognizing how those products, from start-to-finish, may impact our environment or our children's health. Going green is about becoming mindful and sensitive about the choices you ultimately make. BabyEarth Green and Organic Baby Gifts

Green Baby Links

Find eco-friendly baby advice and gifts

The Green Parent
Lots of good green tips here for parents.
Best Organic Baby Clothes
Places to shop for organic baby clothes.
Green Baby Gifts
Organic clothing made from bamboo.
Our Greenhouse
A great site for green and organic gifts including baby gifts.
Having an Eco-Baby
A great article on raising an eco-baby, including wall coverings, toys, and feeding.
Bowbelle
A very interesting site for green baby shower gifts, and other baby gifts.
Tree Hugging Family
Green your baby experience--green tips for baby care.
Gdiapers
Earth friendly diapers without plastic.
2 Modern
100% recycled, formaldehyde-free furniture.
Gaiam
Sheets made from organic cotton.
Mother Earth and Baby
"Home of the best for your belly, baby and growing new family, our website has you covered with everything from clothing to cribs, blankies to bags, strollers to baby shoes. This isn't the stuff you'll find everywhere else, because we research and discover only the most stylish, most sensible, most smile-inducing products on the planet.

We do the shopping for you, so you have more time to focus on the important stuff. Like naps."

The Green Parent

green tips for parents

Lots of great green tips in general geared for parenting.
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A Child's Introduction to the Environment

Uses easy to understand language and kid-friendly topics to show kids how the evironment works.
A Child's Introduction to the Environment: The Air, Earth, and Sea Around Us- Plus Experiments, Projects, and Activities YOU Can Do to Help Our Planet!

A Child's Introduction to the Environment: The Air, Earth, and Sea Around Us- Plus Experiments, Projects, and Activities YOU Can Do to Help Our Planet!

by: Michael Driscoll, Dennis Driscoll Professor of Meteorology

Amazon Price: $1.99 (as of 02/17/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $19.95
Used Price: $0.01

Release Date: 12/31/1969

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

How Long Does It Take to Decompose?

If the item entered the ocean in 1986, then:

A tin can will still be decomposing in 2036.
A plastic bottle will still be decomposing in 2436.
A glass bottle will still be decomposing in 1,001,986 years.

Growing Up Green

Growing Up Green: Baby and Child Care: Volume 2 in the Bestselling Green This! Series

Growing Up Green: Baby and Child Care: Volume 2 in the Bestselling Green This! Series

by: Deirdre Imus

Amazon Price: $0.01 (as of 02/17/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $15.95
Used Price: $0.01

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More Unique Baby Gifts and Maternity Gifts

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