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Baby & Kids

Trailerbikes: A 2008 Review and Buying Guide

June 21, 2008

A trailerbike is a one-wheeled bike extension that attaches to the back of your bike. They are an efficient way to bring your child on a longer bike ride. Your smaller companion can assist you with pedaling, while you control the steering and speed. This allows your child to become familiar with the process of [...]

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Optimal: Natural Rubber Pacifiers

December 18, 2007

Pacifiers that do not contain toxic materials are efficient. Infants are much more susceptible to chemical contamination that adults. A company from Denmark, Natursutten, makes 100% rubber pacifiers using natural latex from the tree Hevea brasiliensi. These pacifiers have no artificial colors, chemical softeners, parabens, PVC, or phthalates. They are softer than pacifiers made of silicone [...]

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Optimal: European Toys

November 19, 2007

Toys that are well-designed and made with renewable materials are optimal. European toys often fit this description. This durable block set, for example, is made in Germany by Haba using solid, natural, untreated beech wood that is harvested from sustainable forests. Toys like this are known for their longevity — they can be enjoyed by [...]

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Non-Toxic Stainless Steel Sippy Cups

August 25, 2006

Klean Kanteen has just introduced this non-toxic Sippy Cup for toddlers. It is made with stainless steel, and it does not have epoxy coating in the inside. It’s coupled with a non-leaching #5 polypropylene adaptor and #5 polypropylene sippy spout. This cup does not contain the Bishphenol-A chemical, a potent hormone disruptor found to leach [...]

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Crayons Made With Soybean Oil

August 16, 2006

Today, virtually all crayons are made with petroleum wax. An optimal alternative, however, is to make crayons with pure soybean oil. One company, Prang, manufactures the soy crayons seen here. They are much less toxic, and they also write smoother and brighter without waxy flaking.
Available from Blick Art Materials or eBay

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A Non-Toxic Stainless Steel Lunchbox

August 11, 2006

Here’s an interesting alternative to those regular old vinyl lunchboxes which have a tendency to leach phlatates and lead into your food. It’s a stainless steel lunchbox that will probably garner attention from your co-workers, fellow students or curious passers-by. Based on the idea of the Japanese Bento Box, the lightweight “To Go Ware” has [...]

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Reusable Aluminum Lunch Boxes by Sigg

April 20, 2006

Sigg is a Swiss company with a reputation for producing quality, non-toxic containers. They makes these lightweight, durable boxes out of anodized aluminium. They have snap lock to keep the lid securely in place, and a rubber seal provides a leakproof closure.
They are available from Amazon.

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A Tofu Bear: Efficient

February 22, 2006

It’s a bear made out of tofu, and it feels like cashmere. Most bears are made with synthetic, petroleum-based materials. This one is spun with Soysilk, a by-product of tofu production. The bear has a home page and it’s available from Biltmore World Trade for $39.
Story via Treehugger.

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Efficient Clothes For Babies: Non-Toxic Newborn Gift Sets

February 16, 2006

Want a non-toxic gift set for a baby? Organic Wear USA sells organic gifts sets for babies. The product line tailored for newborns — the age when children are most susceptible to toxic additives.

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Egglings: Crack Open a Plant

December 20, 2005

These ceramic “Egglings” look and feel like real eggs. But if you crack one open, and add water, you’ll soon have plant growing. Each Eggling comes with a terra cotta tray and seed pack. The plants will grow for months in their shell and can be replanted in soil.
Available for $8.95 from Elsewares. Found via [...]

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Rock It Chair by Offi

December 14, 2005

This modern rocking chair is built of out of sustainable, non-toxic mateirals (Baltic birch veneer and non-toxic painted wood). It’s part of the new “Built-By-Me” collection from OFFI, and it’s designed by Jennifer Carpenter. Available from Velocity for $109.

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Minimalist LED Headlamp For Kids

December 8, 2005

This is a nice children’s headlamp for about $18. We like it because it uses three bright, energy-efficient LEDs. So the batteries will last hundreds of hours. It has three settings: high, low and flash. Available at Amazon.
See also this similar headlamp from Amazon.

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Handmade Toys

November 30, 2005

This Baby Elephant toy is handmade by artisans in rural Kenya. The octopus is created with natural wool yarn treated with natural vegetable-based dyes. It’s filled with acrylic (kapok would haven been better). The price is $22 from Branch.
The also have a number of other non-toxic toys available.

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LIKEaBIKE: A Cool and Efficient Learning Bike

November 10, 2005

The LIKEaBIKE is a unique toy vehicle for children between the ages of two and five. It’s a learning bike with no pedals — children can push themselves along with their feet. It allows them to gain the confidence and coordination to ride a real bike. It can be used indoors and out. With its [...]

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The World’s First Flushable Diapers: gDiapers

November 7, 2005

gDiapers are innovative diapers invented by a husband and wife team from Australia. They are being billed as the first flushable diapers, and will soon be available in the U.S. The system consists of an outer shell (similar to a diaper wrap), an absorbent flushable insert, and a nylon snap-in liner. The whole ensemble comes [...]

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New Bamboo Fiber Goods

October 8, 2005

We’ve detailed the benefits of bamboo fiber previously, noting the excellent softness and anti-bacterial qualities of this fiber. For those who wanted to try out bamboo fiber, you can do so inexpensively, since bamboo washcloths are being sold for $2 each on eBay in white and pink. Also, Bamboosa, a major bamboo clothing manufacturer in [...]

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Recycled “Spaceframe” by Modernseed

August 4, 2005

This little fellow is hiding under a Spaceframe, which is made from 100% recycled plastic soda bottles. It’s soft to the touch while still strong enough to build a grand sculptural statement. Kids can configure these into whatever arrangement they can dream up. Available at Modernseed for $169.

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Non-Toxic Sippy Cups

July 8, 2005

These cups by SIGG are Swiss designed and are a bit different from regular sippy cups. They have a totally inert inner lining that won’t leach chemicals. This is important because kid’s cups receive a lot of washing and wear and tear, thus the plastic inside degrades quite a bit.
The cups are extruded from a [...]

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Eco-Disposable Diapers

May 9, 2005

Nobody makes eco-disposable diapers in the U.S. — Seventh Generation diapers come close, but according to a company representative, they are not fully biodegradable. The trouble is the outer liner of disposables is always some kind of plastic. The only commercially available, fully biodegradable, disposable diaper is the Swedish "Nature Boy & Girl" diaper which, [...]

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Organic Baby Clothing

November 8, 2004

Infants are more susceptible to chemical irritants in clothing. So clothing them in undyed organic cotton reduces the chances of irritation and exposure to chemicals which are used to manufacture conventional baby clothing.
These retailers have selections of organic clothing for babies: NutureMama, The Nuture Center, Ecobaby, BlueCanoe, Pangaya
Nordic Natural Woollens specializes in baby clothing made [...]

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