Greener Nests. Healthier Childhoods.

For some reason having to do with the Evil Eye, we Latina’s have to leave the hospital with red booties shod babies. Just as I left the hospital as an infant in mine, so too did my son leave the hospital in his. (The Evil Eye must lurk around hospitals.)

These, available at Jen Klair Kids, are the perfect “regalito” for the superstitious Latina in your life, who wouldn’t dare (sign of the cross), take her baby out of the hospital shod in anything else. Ay Dios Mio. Never!

They also make a great gift for Waspier mums who are having Christmas babies.

Feliz Weekend!

If nothing else, the Huns do know how to build a car.

I have just ordered my sons first “wheels”: this Haba (German built), auto/walker, that he can ride his favourite toys about in.

Though I considered other Haba and Plan Toys walkers, I like that this red convertible has “storage”, so that I can keep other toys out of the way in our family room. I also liked that other mums mentioned that the car doesn’t tip over when their wee ones pull themselves up on to the handles.  (And it meets EU safety standards, most importantly.)

It may not be ready for the autobahn, but I’m hoping that it gives Alden a bit of fahrvergnügen.

Tschüß!

Nothing is softer than bamboo, (which has always baffled me a bit). Bamboo is also far more absorbent than cotton (it can absorb 3x it’s weight in water), which is why so many cloth nappies are made of this favourite Panda treat.

So when Baby U R Precious contacted me and asked me to take a gander at their site, I was thrilled to see soft, yummy, organic bamboo velour blankets and hooded towels.  I haven’t seen or touched their towels, but I can tell how lush and plush they are just by the photos. I want a Snuggie made of this stuff.

All my son’s bamboo clothing has washed well, and has become softer with time (like hemp and linen).  All of his cotton towels and clothing have become more worn and pilled with washing – so bamboo seems a good bet for towels.

Baby U R Precious also has burp cloths and bibs made of this organic bamboo velour.

Oh, I wish I had known about 8 months ago!

And don’t worry about the Pandas. Bamboo is the fastest growing grass in the world, so there is enough for both the worlds cutest bears and the worlds most beautiful babies.

再见 !

I confess that I do not have an organic nappy bag (mea culpa), but – I think that as babies do nibble and chew on mums bag, that having an organic hemp one, like this one from Chicago based Lifes Other Side, is probably a good idea.  Hemp washes beautifully, which is another plus – and you will need to have a washable nappy bag.

Lifes Other Side has several other eco, greener and organic wares and gear – and I’m sure that their baby section will continue to expand.

Buy local (Chicagoans), it keeps your footprint nice and low.

Happy Thursday!

One of my dearest girlfriends is having identical twins in a few months (sleep now, my friend), and is concerned that all she sees are (toxic) plastic toys.

This post is for her (and the two wee ones).

Greener, safer toys are honestly now available everywhere, from Amazon to Giggle. But for this post, (though there is a longer list if you scroll down on my blog roll), I’ll mention my favourite sources for green toys.

The organic cotton and untreated wood Giraffe above, is available from www.Ecotimetoys.com – which has an extensive collection of wonderful green playthings.

Other fave sites are:

• http://www.hazelnutkids.com
• http://www.maukilo.com
• http://www.miyim.com
• http://www.moolka.com
• http://www.oompa.com
• http://www.rosiehippo.com
• http://www.thewoodenwagon.com
• http://www.urthchild.com
• http://www.wilddill.com

One annoying note: Melissa & Doug toys, though available at Whole Foods – are NOT, I repeat, NOT non toxic and have, in fact, had recalls for high Barium content! Their toys are Made in China, and utterly, in my opinion, greenwashed. Don’t buy them, and huff at your Whole Foods manager about it.

A good rule of thumb is to refrain from buying any toys Made in China. Which, if you read this blog, you probably already do.

MiYim and Plan Toys are my two favourite brands – though for infants anything from Under the Nile is perfect. All three brands can be found on Amazon.

Babies put EVERYTHING in their mouths, and will suck, nibble and swallow little bits of every toy. That is why natural and organic toys are just as important as organic baby food. They both end up in the same place.

As well meaning friends will buy you toxic toys – I suggest printing “organic nursery” at the bottom of your birth announcements. Your bright friends will get it, and your not so bright ones will call you for clarity, which is when you can explain to them the danger of lead, barium and chromium in toys, by referring them to HealthyChild.org (you have twins, not time.)

Not only are non-toxic toys healthier, they are more classic and well made – so you’ll actually SAVE money buying them as they’ll last longer.

And with twins, that’s especially important.

Congratulations Misha! x

Sadly, these adorable pups, made of re-cycled, re-cycled (yes, that’s squared) material, are all in Japan.

Christopher Raeburn (featured in this months Vogue), is an English designer who makes eco-friendly fashion out of , among other things, old war uniforms and parachutes – which he finishes with organic dyes. The pups above were made of fabric remnants, from these delectable, generation lasting parkas.

It’s like wearing your grandpas old coat from ’43 – which you would do, if your grandmother hadn’t cast out the moth ridden thing in ’75.

Christopher Raeburn is a designer to watch.

And he’s an ally.

I have always wanted someone to buy me a “Wine of the Month Club” gift.  Sadly, I have been denied the Bacchian pleasure.

But. That is for another blog.

The Spunky Stork, clever things, have created a “Onesie of the Month Club” gift, that will delight a new mum well after the Baby Shower cucumber sandwiches have been forgotten.

Yes, of course they are all organic.

The Spunky Stork has some delightful organic baby clothes – and particularly adorable wrapping choices.

This is the gift that will make all the other girls jealous.

Happy Friday!

Sckoon has an extensive line of organic clothing, which I have covered before. But they now, quite brilliantly, have several convertible rompers, that go from day to night.  After the “crawlable” romper look, they can be refastened at night, to become cozy sleepers. (File under: Ideas I wish I had thought of first.)

Its two for one!

In fact, just buy a set of 4, which will get you through an entire size stage, without going to the po’ house.

Which is reason enough for the happy faces.

In this economy you can’t underestimate the value of organic + clever.

Finally something to smile about!

Group gift giving can be tricky, as Mrs. Always Wears Pearls from PR, and Ms. Nose Ring and Impossibly Black Hair from Tech, can never agree on what to give Mrs. Preggos.

SAMA baby has the perfect solution. A gorgeous basket of everything that any new green mama will need that is sweet enough for Pearls, and Earth Mother enough for the angry girl from Tech.

To wit – the Deluxe basket includes:

All organic:
Basket
2 Towels
2 Blankets
Bib
Washcloth Set of 3
Cap
Knotted Hat
Romper
Gown  (Depends on the size chosen – we will ensure 3 perfect outfits for every order!)
SS Onesie
Pants

for the low, low price of $264.

Available in green, blue and pink.

For a team of 20 people that’s less than $15 each.

Surely she’s worth that.

Mon Dieu!  This week I walked into heaven. Otherwise known as Odile, here in Chicago, on Wabash. The angels sang. C’est vrai, I heard them.

As you know, I believe that “sneakers” belong on a court or field, I think Crocs belong in the Nile, and that cargo pants should only be worn by Indiana Jones or on safari.

And don’t get me started on horrible “Spider Man” or heavens knows what t-shirts. My son will never, ever, be thusly clad or shod – which means that most of his clothes have been shipped over, or brought over, from France or Italy (those that aren’t from lovely US based organic brands.)

Now. I know you probably don’t like the French – but let’s be honest. As dreadful as they are at fighting Germans, they make the most beautiful children’s clothing in the world. Followed closely by the Italians. (Who will fight anyone, once they decide which the winning team is.)

But, as Basil Fawlty advises: “Don’t mention the war” – as what IS important is that how you dress your child will help determine how he will dress as a gentleman, or lady, years from today. And when you LOOK elegantly, you act and feel likewise. (Admit it, your husband is always at his best in formal attire or a suit.)

So.

Walking into Odile (the bad swan, but the more formidable), made me almost swoon. The clothing is exquisite. Each piece is beautiful and stunning, and if had a girl, I would of left in great(er) debt. These are clothes fit for baby aristos – and Chicago babes that have mums that miss the years they lived in Paris or Florence….

And oui! They have ORGANIC lines by Victoria Christmas, Tane (US based, but looks European – images below) and Le Nouveau Ne.

How “bobo” are these Victoria Christmas pieces…

And this yummy thing that I bought for Alden…

Which is also available in a different style…

And from Tane…

and, the tres soft…

And for a jaunt to the farmers market…

Remember, EU clothing never contains formaldehyde – so even the non-organic pieces are safer than whatever you find at some other boring store.

Odile is for mums who believe that clothes are an investment, and have a big orange box in the closet where she stores her petit lapins clothes for the grandchildren.

If nothing else, this is the store where you should buy bebes “photo shoot” clothes.

You only live once…

And as Piaf sang…Non, je ne regrette rien….