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The newborn collection is designed for babies with sensitive skin. The organic cottons come in subtle pastels and natural cream colors. Baby nursery rhymes come to life with her signature embroidery. You can choose the rhyme that suits your little one best.

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Meet Jennifer Murphy. She is a Chicago resident who lives with her husband, daughter, and son. They hold a family passion for farm animals and the future of our environment. Jennifer’s mission is to improve the lives of others through her talents, creativity, intuition and knowledge. She produces modern fun baby and toddler clothes from sustainable fabrics.

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Diane Reznik, Nowali’s Sales Manager and co-designer, describes these great slipper socks:

Our feature product is our famous Swedish moccasin.  This item is a unique combination of a sock and a shoe: knit sock upper with a leather sole and color coordinated foxing. The moccasins are still stitched together by hand in the traditional Swedish way.

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Sprout Shell is a 3-in-1 cover for baby. It can be used as a 1) infant car seat cover for cold weather, 2) a nursing cover for moms who want extra privacy (never a problem for me), and 3) a shopping cart cover.  It can also be used as a high chair cover when dining out.  “The Sprout Shell is the only infant carrier cover that is multiple products all rolled into one to save parents time, money and space.”

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One such new company is NewBornMom, which features many cute, eco-friendly goods, as well as 100% eco-friendly gift wrap! Plus, they are offering our readers 10% off all purchases until March 31, 2008 (promo code: ecoplay).

NewBornMom was founded by Aliette Fenton-Sharp and Fernanda Pinzon, both new moms. After having difficulty finding elegant, trendy and environmentally safe essentials for their newborn daughters, they founded the store. This online store features goods meticulously selected by Aliette and Fernanda that they would use with their own babies.

The company supports Fair Labor Trade regulations, and every item offered is made in proper working environments. NewBornMom uses only recycled office, shipping and gift-wrap supplies; “we pride-ourselves in being a relatively paper-free company as most of our business is conducted via e-mail”, states Aliette.

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Happy Green Bee clothing comes in bright, colorful patterns. Not only is their clothing line cheerful, comfortable, and playful, but it is also ecologically responsible. Founder Roxanne Quimby explains,

We created Happy Green Bee so that a child can be a child, first and foremost. By using organic cotton, a comfortable and practical fabric, and simple bee-striped patterns, children feel as comfortable as they look, while their parents take a small step in making a big difference in the environment their children will live in.

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As a new parent, I was very concerned about swaddling my newborn in synthetic, petroleum-based polyester blankets. Conventionally grown cotton baby blankets are not much better, as they are grown and produced with pesticides and chemicals. The solution: organically grown baby blankets. Unfortunately, six years ago the only organic fiber blanket I could find was a dull green color and unattractive. Today, babies can be swaddled in stylish, luxurious organic baby blankets by Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics, the perfect gift for baby.

After the recent barrage of recalls, many parents are looking for items made in the USA. Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics baby blankets are not only made in the USA, but the cotton used to make the fleece is also organically grown in the USA. The demand for non-food organic products is growing (27.5% in 2006), as people realize that it is not only the food we eat that comes into contact with our bodies. Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics are optimistic about this trend. Cofounder Susan Doris explains, “Part of our goal … is to help educate people about the impact on the environment from purchasing different fibers, and how they can really make a difference with what they buy.”

Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics baby blankets are very beautiful and soft to the touch. The organically grown fleece is lined with silk, and worry-free for green parents. As cofounder Robbie Mahlman states, “Our blankets make green gorgeous.” I can’t wait to give one to my new niece Tessa! All this green luxury comes at a price though, but as I have said before, sustainability is expensive in comparison to superstore shopping. The demand for cheap goods is one reason our environment is in its current condition.

What do you get for buying a sustainable company’s beautiful baby blanket? The company is honest in describing the green strengths and weakness of their product. They call this “baby steps” as they “try to run our business as sustainably as we can.” The blankets are made of 100% certified organic cotton, grown in Texas, milled in South Carolina, and trimmed with natural silk. They are colored with low-impact, azo-free, non-heavy metal dyes. The company’s receipts are printed on seeded lotka paper, and all other paper products, such as hang-tags and stationary, are 100% post consumer fiber. The decorative tissue is handmade from kozo fiber. Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics uses plastic bags in packaging only when the destination expects wet weather. That is an awful lot of “baby steps,” in my opinion!

There are a few areas the company identifies as needing sustainability improvement. Their labels are made from polyester fibers, because there are no US sources for woven cotton labels. The shipping boxes contain 55% recycled fiber content, rather than 100%. Furthermore, Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics would like to move from natural silk to “peace” silk. I have to admit, I had never heard of peace silk, even though I have taken many fiber arts classes. During conventional silk production, the silkworm is killed as it is boiled and the fiber unwound. Alternately, peace silk lets the moths emerge from their cocoons and complete their full life cycle before the silk fiber is removed. This product is rarely available for commercial uses.

You may not care about the life cycle of a silkworm, but Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics does, as they take “baby steps” towards combining sustainability, elegance, and beauty in their baby blankets. The company also cares about 15 pesticides used on cotton crops and their ecological impact. They care about providing green babies luxury, comfort, and health, something CEO Robbie Mahlman calls, “earth friendly elegance for discerning parents and their babies.”

According to EcoMall, “Breastfeeding is probably the most overlooked means of contributing to the health of our planet” and parentingweb states, “Breastmilk is actually the most ecological food available to humans.” Wow, those are pretty strong statements. Mother’s milk is completely natural (minus the toxins present from environmental contaminants), is produced without using resources (except for the resources used to produce the food the mother eats), and it creates no pollution. Breast milk comes from the mother’s body and bottles are not required, unless a mother is pumping because of work schedules, etc. There is never any waste with breast milk, as healthy mothers produce the right amount of milk a child needs based on the principle of supply and demand.

In contrast, the production and packaging of infant formulas uses natural resources and takes up landfill space, all of which contribute to climate change. According to Dia Michels, author of Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk, “If every child in America were bottle-fed, almost 86,000 tons of tin would be needed to produce 550 million cans for one year’s worth of formula.” Furthermore, these tin cans can leach BPA into the formula. The Environmental Working Group tested infant formula and found, “For 1 in 10 cans of all food tested, and 1 in 3 cans of infant formula, a single serving contained enough BPA to expose a woman or infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government’s traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals.”

Most infant formulas are dairy or soy-based. The dairy business uses tremendous amounts of resources and land, as well as creates pollution. Cow flatulence produces 100 million tons of methane every year, approximately 20% of the earth’s total emissions. Chemical fertilizers used to grow feed pollute soil and ground water. Deforestation occurs to create grazing land for cows. Soy-based formulas aren’t much better. Soybeans require high amounts of fertilizers and water, as well as are responsible for deforestation for cropland in countries like Brazil.

Preparing infant formula uses water and energy. Bottles must be sterilized and formulas must be heated to the proper temperature. Breastmilk comes from the mother’s body safe for consumption already at the perfect temperature with the perfect mix of nutritients for the child. In contrast, there have been about two dozen recalls of infant formula for health and safety issues, including seven recalls that were classified as potentially “life threatening”.

It is true that some breastfeeding women use plastic baby bottles; however, typically formula fed babies use far more plastic bottles than their breastfed counterparts. The production of such bottles uses vast quantities of energy and natural resources, as well as contributes to pollution. Plastic baby bottles are made from nonrenewable petroleum resources and are part of the larger plastic industry. According to the Green Guide, “Toxic releases from the plastics industry represent 7% of the 5.7 billion pounds of toxic chemicals released or transferred by all manufacturers each year.” Furthermore, plastic feeding bottles, nipples, and pacifiers in our landfills can take 200 to 450 years to break down. Your child’s baby bottle will outlive your child!

There is also the issue of a breastfed versus formula-fed baby’s excrement and the environment. If you have ever changed a diaper, especially a cloth diaper, you know the difference! Breastfed baby’s waste is much easier to wash from a cloth diaper, as well as the odor is less offensive. When considering the energy and water involved in washing cloth diapers, breast is definitely best!

There is overwhelming evidence that breastfeeding benefits children, in fact the American Academy of Pediatrics urges mothers to breastfeed for at least a year and beyond, “for as long as mutually desired.” For my children, this was about two and half years. Not only does breastfeeding benefit children and mothers, but the environment wins as well. As Mothering Magazine states, “Breastfeeding is not just a lifestyle choice; it is a health issue for mother and infant, a social issue, and an environmental issue…Because of the far-reaching positive ecological, health, and social impact breastfeeding can make on our planet, it is imperative for anyone interested in protecting our children and our environment to do whatever possible to support, protect, and promote breastfeeding.” Celebrate Breast Fest today and view The Great Breast Fest Montage!

“There is no better name for our brand than Tea. Tea, the drink, is shared in nearly every culture around the world—offering inspiration, warmth and mindfulness…We want to bring the beauty found in cultures around the world into the lives and homes of families in our own backyard. We believe that if the foreign is familiar – it is no longer foreign. It helps us remember that we all more alike than we are different. We design beautiful lifestyle collections that introduce a subtle, but important global perspective: colors, textiles, or silhouettes that are undeniably beautiful. In that beauty, we can all find a common ground of respect, awe and inspiration. ”

Tea Collection graciously sent us two sample products, a beautiful sweater (Llama Jacquard Zip Sweater) and pair of cargo pants (Tacna Ticking Stripe Cargo Pants). The fabrics are luxurious and I truly wish they came in my size. After washing these items, they felt soft and durable, like they would still look new after many, many launderings. Tea Collection clothing is well made and truly worth the investment. As I wasn’t sure on the sizing, I requested sizes too large for my son, or else you would see him pictured here in the beautiful outfit they sent. The sweater has a classic design, including elbow patches reminiscent of college professors. The fabric of the pants is so beautiful, with fine pin striping juxtaposed with cargo pockets. I covet this fabric and wish these pants were mine!

Tea Collection is a socially responsible company, supporting many organizations. They have teamed up with the Global Fund For Children in creating the Little Citizens collection. 40-50% of all profits from the Little Citizen’s Collection are donated to the Global Fund For Children! That is a high percentage demonstrating Tea Collection’s commitment to their “goal to reflect warmth and a generosity of spirit in our products, actions and interactions.”

My favorite items currently offered by Tea Collection are the Inca Hooded Pullover for boys and the Journey Canvas Jumper for girls. Although Tea Collection’s prices are more than I am used to paying for children’s clothings, they are so well made, I am convinced they will last through several children’s hand me downs and still look good! The website does offer sale items too.

One thing I have become aware of recently is that cheap prices create the concept of fast fashion in this country, which is not good for our environment. According to the Daily Grist,

“A globalization-fueled glut of cut-price clothing has inspired many consumers to think of their duds as disposable. It’s a phenomenon some are calling “fast fashion” — the apparel equivalent of fast food. Most fast fashionistas are oblivious to the downsides of the trend, including the energy-intensive, polluting process of creating synthetic fabrics; the fact that cotton fields are heavily water- and pesticide-dependent; the emissions implications of sourcing labor overseas; and the health effects on workers of processes such as blue-jean distressing. The average American throws away more than 68 pounds of clothing a year, and castoffs that aren’t tossed often end up in developing countries, where some worry they interfere with local textile economies.”

For more information about fast fashion, its environmental effects, and some graphic images, visit “Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry“.

Bamboo is a soft fiber, softer than cotton, which makes it perfect for young, tender skin. It is breathable, absorbent, and fast drying. The compressed bamboo towelettes are very small, about the size of a silver dollar, and they would fit nicely in a small purse or diaper bag. When placed in water, the towelettes expand to 14″ x 23″. It is truly amazing to watch! The compressed bamboo towelettes would be perfect for spills, babies, eyeglasses, camping, etc. and last for approximately one to three weeks before disintegrating. This may be a disposable product, but it is not a one time use disposable. The only drawback to the compressed bamboo towelettes is that they are made in China, because that is where the bamboo is grown.

Bamboo reaches maturity after only three years, and it is grown without pesticides. Cotton crops use about 25% of the pesticides applied worldwide! Bamboo also releases 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of of trees. Shirts of Bamboo states that all of their bamboo is grown on family-owned farms and is not harvested from tropical forest. They use Moso bamboo in the production, which is a species panda bears do not eat and covers 7.4 million acres of China. No wonder the eco community has embraced bamboo.

The Carrot Seed has just celebrated its 60th anniversary! This simple, almost Zen-like story tells of a young boy’s determination to grow a carrot, despite his family’s doubts and opposition. The little boy tends the seed, ever patient, keeping his expectations high. In the end, he is rewarded with a carrot so large, it has to be hauled with a wheelbarrow. Not only does this book teach the basics of growing a plant from seed to harvest, but also children learn how to persist in the face of opposition. It is unfortunate that the boy’s parents are not supportive of his efforts, but the boy triumphs in the end. Crockett Johnson’s simple illustrations, reminiscent of his other famous work Harold and the Purple Crayon, match this minimalist tale of gardening and positive attitude. Planting carrot seeds, especially in a root viewer, is a great extension of the story in the classroom.

For more great children’s literature reviews on gardening books, please visit Green Family Values: Children’s Literature on Gardening/Green Options.

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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is also known as “crib death”, and 1 in 1000 children die from it, according to a SIDS Foundation of Washington. The causes vary, and one researcher in New Zealand claims toxic nerve gases in crib mattresses are to blame. Other studies claim an abnormality in the brains of children that prevent oxygen release is to blame. No matter what the cause, it is definitely advisable to place babies on their backs and to remove bedding, pillows, etc. that can cause suffocation.

Cosleeping is not to blame for children’s deaths, but unsafe bedding practices, whether in cribs or adult beds pose a threat. In fact according to Healthy Child, “The benefits of co-sleeping are enormous as co-sleeping positively affects a baby’s emotional and physical health. When safe co-sleeping guidelines are followed, SIDS rates for co-sleeping infants are actually lower than for crib-sleeping infants. Breastfeeding is known to reduce the risk of SIDS, and co-sleeping definitely allows for more frequent breastfeeding. Some doctors and researchers believe that during co-sleeping, the physiological regulation of the baby’s breathing and heartbeat with the mother’s makes co-sleeping safer regarding SIDS. Mothers who sleep directly next to their babies can sense the proximity of their babies in order to avoid smothering them. The sleep studies done in the laboratory of James J. McKenna, Ph.D. of cosleeping/bed-sharing mother and infant pairs (2 to 4 month olds) reveal that both breastfeeding mothers and their infants are extremely sensitive throughout the night - across all sleep stages - to the movements and physical condition of the other. Mothers who sleep with their babies can readily respond to changes in the baby’s status - such as if it were choking or struggling to breathe.” They also provide Guidelines for Sleeping Safely With Your Baby.

I cannot imagine the tragedy of losing a child to a preventable situation families experience; however, I believe that the media should not place blame where blame is not due. Cosleeping does not cause death. Unsafe conditions that may exist in adult beds and cribs can cause death, especially if the child is prone to lack of oxygen release.

Although I do not have any experience with DVDs or classes on the subject, I do have some personal experience. After taking a two week break from labor, I gently began my yoga practice. Mostly, I would try to practice yoga when the baby was asleep, but with two children, there was always one around. I allowed the children to find ways to play while I practiced. During downward facing dog, they would crawl under my inverted body. During bridge pose, they would sit on my belly and enjoy the lift up. Sometimes this was very challenging and required me to let go of my previous notions of yoga as a quiet and peaceful time; however, I still felt the benefits afterwards in my body and mind. In addition, as my children grow, they love to imitate my asanas, and I encourage their practice. My three-year old son lying next to me in corpse pose is very sweet. There are times when they try to play that are not appropriate, such as when I am doing a difficult pose and fear I may fall on them or I need all my concentration to stay balanced. They have learned there are times they can play with me when I am doing yoga, and there are times when they need to give me space. It does get easier as your children grow.

I did a little research for Cathy, and some communities offer classes for mommies and their children, usually up to age five. One class I read about consists of 2/3 of the poses include children with their mommies/daddies. In addition, the children are allowed to explore the childproof room and socialize with one another. According to Dr. Feldman of Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital, “When you do yoga with children, what you are doing is introducing them to the language of the body, the structure of a class and to space in general and how the child fits in that space. It’s giving them a sense of pleasure and doing it through accomplishments of the body.” There are even mother and baby yoga retreats!

I found the following titles on Amazon that may help, although I do not have personal experience with any of them:
Yoga Mom, Buddha Baby
Baby Om: Yoga for Mothers and Babies
Yoga Mommies: Mommy and Baby Yoga DVD
The New Method: Baby and Mom: Postnatal Yoga DVD

If you are interested in learning how to save money while doing the laundry, please visit Green Options Tip o’ the Day: Clean the Lint Trap on Your Dryer and Save Energy!

To read more, please visit Green Options: Green Family Values: Natural, Wooden Toys by Plan Toys.

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Bean bags are great fun for young children and are perfect for learning to catch. We practiced throwing our Whiffy Bean Bags high into the air and catching them as they fell. We practiced repeating the words “up” and “down” for my son, who is a late talker, as we played with our Whiffy Bean Bags.

Whiffy Bean Bags cost $4.50, and you can custom choose your fabric and herbal blends. The fabrics we sampled were made of some synthetic fibers; however, I think you could request natural blends for your custom herbal bean bag. Whiffy Bean Bags also makes a variety of other products, such as key chains and a See It filled with scented beads that helps children’s manual dexterity.