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 riding a bike, and they can relax if they feel tired. The original trailerbikes were introduced into the market by the Adams company in 1986. They were marketed under the name “trail-a-bike”, and this is now their trademarked term. Most trailerbikes also include adjustable handlebars and seats that accommodate a growing child. See a our roundup of trailerbikes on Optimal Ride.

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 or plastic. (more…)

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 multiple generations of children. (more…)

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 from hard, plastic (particularly #7 polycarbonate plastic). The adaptor works with the Avent sippy spouts, and it can also fit a sports cap or stainless steel flat cap.

It’s available for $15.95 from Greenfeet.

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

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 two stainless bowls that sit on top of each other with a stainless plate separating them. The plate keeps the compartments sealed from each other, and hold the individual components of your meal. The To-Go Ware can be warmed on a stovetop or cooled in a fridge. It’s available from Amazon for around $24. See also this steel “lunchjar” from Amazon.

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

Available from Amazon for $30 or from eBay for $18.99.

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.

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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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 Inhabitat.

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.

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.

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.

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 inflated tires, it can be used for trips off the beaten track. A rear-wheel mudguard catches dirt.

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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 with a “swishstick” for breaking up the disposable insert in the toilet.

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These hand-made infant costumes, from Harrion’s Halloween, are made with 100% cotton. They are a great alternative to toxic PVC costumes. For infants up to 6 months.

Each costume comes with little pants, booties, hats and several pieces that can be mixed and matched with other clothes. Priced at $18 each plus shipping.

Available from: Harrion’s Halloween

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 the U.S., has released bamboo fiber crib sheets, seen here. They are available for $25 from Bamboosa.

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.

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 single piece of pure (99.5%) aluminum. The liner is a food grade, water-based resin that is sprayed and baked on to the bottle.

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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, instead of a using plastic liner, uses a GM free corn starch-based film. This means the diapers are compostable — they are sold online at Nurture Center.

There are also several brands of non-fully biodegradable, eco-disposable diapers available from Europe, such as Tushies, Moltex and Bambo.

Moltex are bleach free, with no lotions, perfumes or deodorants, and Tushies are a gel-free disposable with a cotton and wood pulp padding of high natural absorbency and again, no perfumes or lotions. Bambo is the new and more affordable eco-disposable diaper (pictured here) — a pack of 30 costs about £4.59 ($8.60). Bambo diapers have a starch based absorbent core (less gel), they are oxygen bleached, free from lotions and perfumes, have latex free waist band and cuffs, and have a Nordic Swan eco certification. They are available from Beaming Baby.