Oct

31

Happy Halloween from SafeMama

Filed Under Website News | Comments Off

We just wanted to wish everyone a happy, spooky, creepy, fun and of course, a safe Halloween this year.  We’re busy with our own trick-or-treaters today… my son Reilly is dressing as Spiderman and Statia’s mini-man is dressing as a Dragon!

Remember to dress safely, bring flashlights, check all candy before allowing young kids to eat it and check toys for choke-ability.  But most of all, have a spook-tacular night!

We’ll be back next week with some giveaways and an extra special Anniversary Giveaway (SafeMama will be turning ONE YEAR OLD next Thursday November 6th!)  that we’re doing with The Soft Landing.  Stay tuned, but in the mean time…. Boo Safe!!!

Oct

29

FDA Ignored Evidence of Harm Regarding BPA Ruling

Filed Under Articles, Bisphenol-A | Comments Off

From the Washington Post today:

In a highly critical report to be released today, the panel of scientists from government and academia said the FDA did not take into consideration scores of studies that have linked bisphenol A (BPA) to prostate cancer, diabetes and other health problems in animals when it completed a draft risk assessment of the chemical last month. The panel said the FDA didn’t use enough infant formula samples and didn’t adequately account for variations among the samples.

Taking those studies into consideration, the panel concluded, the FDA’s margin of safety is “inadequate”. The panel is part of the Science Board, a committee of advisers to the FDA commissioner, and was set up to review the FDA’s risk assessment of BPA.

I can’t even begin to express my utter frustration with the current state of Bisphenol-a in food packaging and baby products and this just solidifies the fact that this chemical has no business being near our food and that the FDA didn’t take real scientific evidence into consideration when they carelessly said it was safe.

Canada just recently declared BPA a dangerous toxin and has banned its use in childrens products.

Read the article on WashingtonPost.com

Oct

28

Alternative to PVC Stroller Rain Covers: Plum Tots GO Blankie

Filed Under PVC Free, product finds | Comments Off

A few of us have been looking for PVC free rain covers for baby strollers and have come up with a whole lot of “not much”.  Our friend Kristen from Trying to be Greener went on a hunt and I think she’s still working on finding out more information, but she did find some good news.  We’ll be sure to let you know when she posts that but in the meantime, I stumbled on a nice little alternative and thought I’d share it.

Check out the GO Blankie from Plum Tots…  I thought this was a really cute idea and multipurpose, which is always a mommy must.  GO Blankie was created by mom Ami Roberts of Plum Tots when she had her son and put her crafty nature to work.  GO Blankie is an outdoor blanket with a softie soft inside and a water resistant nylon outer layer that can be tied on to car seats, strollers or whatever!  It can be used as an outdoor play mat, stroller blanket, diaper changer, infant seat cover, baby cozy, front pack blanket, and nursing cover… whatever you can think of and is machine washable.

I just stumbled on these one night and thought they were such a great product.  They come in 4 tasteful colors and she sells other cute items like bibs and hoodie towels.  So in stead of covering your stroller with PVC, try a GO Blankie instead.  Ahhhh.. that’s better.

Get one: You can order a GO Blankie right from Plum Tots website.  Let them know we sent you!

Oct

27

All Natural Hand Wash: For My Kids

Filed Under Green Mama, Product Reviews | Comments Off

In our anti-sanitizer camp here at SafeMama, we turn our cheeks to the bottles of Purell that litter the world. But we aren’t completely ridiculous in that sometimes you just need something after your kids been somewhere totally filthy and a sink is nowhere in sight.  For those times, there are a few products we’ve recommended. We have a new one to add to the list.  I had the chance to check out For My Kids All Natural Hand Wash.

This is a great product made by a mom who wanted to create products that were safe for her kids, her home and the planet and we love nothing more to find these products since we all want the same things.  This natural spray is made of Witch Hazel, grain alcohol and essential oils to create a soothing hand wash which is perfect for tossing in your diaper bag or purse.  It’s packaged in a wee blue glass bottle (she has larger sizes available too).  I’ve been toting mine around for a few weeks and found it to be a nice alternative.  We don’t advocate antiseptic and this formula doesn’t do that, but it will clean and soften little and big hands in a pinch.

For My Kids also offers a bevy of other great products like Vegan Lip Balm, Herbal Insect Repellent, and her Vinegar of the Four Thieves for cleaning which also look fabulous.  For My Kids gets a hearty thumbs up from us!

Get Some: Buy direct from their website For My Kids LLC

Oct

23

We’ve Moved Hosts! Bear With Us!

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Hi there!  SafeMama Kathy here letting you all know that we’re in the midst of moving SafeMama.com and LovelySafeMama.com over to our new home at ThinkHost.com.  After some deliberation we decided that in order to really make our site contribute to the wellness of the planet, that moving to a more eco-conscious host was a worthwhile task.  ThinkHost, if you aren’t familiar with them are a web hosting company that is completely wind and solar powered!  We will feel better knowing our resourceful website isn’t contributing to wasting nonrenewable resources.

So please bear with us while we work out the kinks, and if you see something redirecting to a weird thinkhost url don’t sweat it, we’re busy ironing that all out.  Thanks for sticking with us while we make this change!

Oct

23

SafeMama Pocket Diaper Comparison

Filed Under Cloth Diapering, Eco-Mama, Green Mama, Safe Mama Tips | Comments Off

When my son was first born, there was no way on earth you would even have gotten me to consider cloth diapering. And in my mind, cloth diapering was something that was done in the “olden” days. It seemed like a big hassle and I couldn’t see the costs outweighing the benefits.

But as my son started to get chronic eczema, I started to look for an alternative. And I realized that there are so many options aside of your standard prefold diaper. Although, a lot of people still swear by them. But for me, it just seemed to be a bit more hassle than I had the patience for. Since I got into the cloth diapering scene when my son was a little older, I settled on experimenting with pocket diapers.

Pocket diapers are pretty easy to use. You have an outer layer consisting of a water resistant fabric, with an inner layer resting against your babys skin that is usually microfleece (which wicks moisture away from the skin), however, there’s also velour and other fabrics that are used. Imagine having a nice organic velour next to your butt? Yes, please. In between these layers is a pocket that fits what’s called an insert. Inserts are generally made out of microterry, hemp, or a french terry. Inserts generally contain many layers for absorbency. It takes a little while to find a system that works for you, but once you do, it’s pretty efficient. And you become fond of baby bubble butt. I’ve given quite a few diapers a whirl, so I figured I’d share my thoughts with you.

Fuzzi Bunz: This was the first diaper that I tried. To be fair, I used the old style, which has since been replaced by a one size diaper, so I’m not sure how the new one stands up, but the original one I think, was one that you either loved or you hated. The insert, a microterry fleece, wasn’t overly absorbent, the snaps to adjust the legs and waist didn’t work for my son. They either made the diaper too tight or too loose. I know that there are people who swear by their Fuzzi Bunz, but I wasn’t overly impressed with them. Again, the newer version might be completely different.

Swaddlebees: Because I was still experimenting, I purchased both aplix (velcro) and snap versions of Swaddlebees. After Fuzzi Bunz and I decided we weren’t friends, I was dead set against snaps. After using aplix, I was dead set against velcro. Swaddlebees are a great, well made diaper. They fit my son well. The microterry inserts are more than absorbent enough to last through about 2-2.5 hours. There are two things that I don’t like about these: They’re very thick and bulky and while I like the feel of the velour, it’s also heavy and doesn’t wick away moisture. It’s luxurious, though.

Bum Genius 3.0: Bum Genius is one of the most popular one size pocket diapers. And I can see why. They’re well made. They come with an adjustable insert as well, and the insert is actually pretty absorbent. We had one of those moments the other day where we looked at each other and said “did you change him recently?” I was surprised that he didn’t leak through. And yet the diaper is still trimmer than most pocket diapers. As with most one size diapers, you can adjust the rise on the diaper via snaps, so you can use this diaper on your itty bitty newborn, as well as on your linebacker toddler. I held off on trying this one for so long for a multitude of reasons. But I have to say, I’m impressed. I can understand why Bum Genius fans push people to drink the Kool-Aid. The only thing I will say, is that I wish they came with a side snap option for people who prefer snaps.

Drybees: Drybees are the last diaper in the stash that I reach for. It’s not a bad diaper, it’s just the design, though standard looking, is a bit bulky and puffy. And one thing about cloth diapering, is that you’re going to be hard pressed to find something as slim as a disposable. That’s just the way it goes for cloth. These seem as though there’s a lot of excess fabric (i.e. these are probably really good if you have a meaty baby). For these, we use a thirsties insert, and they work fine, but I have to size up my son’s pants when using these. And the velcro hasn’t held up as well as other velcro diapers. I usually save these for the hot days where I don’t have to put pants on my son, and a diaper will suffice just fine.

Green Acre Designs: Green Acre Designs are one of my favorite diapers. A lot of people raved about these diapers, and in the underground diapering world, they seem to have a big following, but otherwise, not that many people know about them. They’re well constructed and while they’re not one size (a drawback if you’re looking to only have to make one big purchase and not have to buy more everytime your child outgrows them), they do have a decent amount of stretch, so you will be able to use the larger sizes for much longer. The snaps are on the side, which is good if you have a kid who has a fondness for ripping their diaper off. I’m not a fan of the inserts she makes, so we use a knickernappies “loopy-do” insert, which I absolutely love. It’s trim and yet it holds a lot.

Whamies: I really like the concept of this diaper. I think we’ve established that I’m not a fan of velcro. I will use it, but they create a big mess if you forget to fasten the tabs down before you put them in the wash. So when I saw a diaper that had hooks, I was all for trying it out. The concept of the diaper is pretty much the same as the rest. It’s one size, which again, is nice if you’re trying to save money and resources. It has four hooks and loops all around to find the perfect adjustment for your baby. The diaper isn’t going anywhere once it’s fastened. The one caveat to this is that it’s sort of tricky to get the hang of. This is a diaper that I’d probably try out in the beginning when your baby is an infant and isn’t going to be going anywhere. I tried this out on my toddler a few times and he got rather impatient with me for taking so long on getting the hooks fastened. His impatience brought my anxiety levels up, which made it more difficult to use. Again. There is nothing wrong with this diaper, I love it, but I’ll leave this one to my husband to take care of.

Blueberry Diapers: Blueberry diapers are similar in style to Swaddlebees in my opinion. This isn’t a bad thing. I do like the insert flap a little better on these over most as they tend to not bunch up like a lot of them do. There’s nothing more embarrassing to a toddler than having an insert hanging out of their pants, now is there? These are easy to use, and come in a lot of fun and cute designs, including minky, which is apparently the holy grail of pocket diapers. My son personally doesn’t own any minky in his stash, but I hear they’re very nice. The insert it comes with is a split insert, which is also really nice, because they seem to be more absorbent and also dry much faster. The other thing I like is that they also come in one size AND have a snap option as well as velcro. I like when there are more options.

Knickernappies: The knickernappies “Disposanot” diaper may have a funny name, but it’s another one of my choice diapers. It’s trimmer than a lot, and it’s also got side snaps which is a nice thing if your child has a knack for undoing diapers. When I first purchased one of these, they were a little bigger in the leg, so I had to wait to start using them, but once I was able to use one, I really liked the way it looked under pants. That’s my biggest test when buying a diaper, how will my son’s pants fit? These are similar in style to my favorite Green Acre Designs, but again, a little trimmer. They also run a little big bigger, which might be good if you’re looking to get a little longer use out of them.

So there’s my very lengthy rundown of all of the pocket diapers I’ve tried. It’s not every single brand out there, but it’s quite a few. If you’re looking to switch to cloth diapers, here are a few tips that might help you make the switch easier.

  • Purchase a few different brands and styles. If you have a hundred bucks or so, research what might work best for you and purchase one of each. You can also look on sites like diaperpin.com to see if anyone has diapers you’re looking for for sale or for trade. Some are gently used, but this can be a good thing. They still have plenty of use left in them, you save money, AND they’re most likely already primed.
  • Prime your diapers. Technically your inserts. Most diapers only need a wash or two before use, but the inserts might need to be primed (sometimes 5 or 6 times depending on the insert) in hot water and dried repeatedly before they’re absorbent enough. And subsequent washings makes them continually more absorbent. You can also boil them depending on the type of insert to help speed up the process.
  • Always read the care instructions of your diapers. Cloth diapers are an investment, and if you want them to last, you need to take care of them properly. Most pocket diapers are made with the same material, but there are many other types of diapers and if you take care of them properly, they should last you through multiple children.
  • Use a proper detergent. Now that you’ve read the care instructions, simple Tide won’t do. Not to mention, Tide, ew. Even detergents like Dreft, can cause a build up on diapers. My personal preference is Charlie’s Soap, but there are quite a few natural and eco-friendly brands that work great on diapers.

Got any other tips? Contact us and we’ll be happy to add them.

Oct

21

Only Treats, Please: A Safer Halloween

Filed Under Green Mama, allergies | Comments Off

My little guy is still too young to really “get” Halloween and fortunately is also too young to be aware of candy.  But next year, I probably won’t be as lucky, leaving me with the worry about how to handle Halloween with a kid who has food allergies.

I found some good advice here from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAI).   What I founds most interesting is that the AAAI’s website claims that those cute “fun-size” candies used at Halloween don’t always contain the same ingredients as their larger-sized counterparts and the “fun-size” usually aren’t individually labeled.  This means that a candy that is normally “safe” may not be in the smaller size.   I imagine this may be of particular concern for those children with a nut allergy.

I also came across the website for Green Halloween, a grassroots movement for healthier and more “green” holidays.  With advice on how to make your own Halloween costume, there’s also tips on providing treat-or-treaters with non-candy treats on the big day.  Frankly, I’d rather my kid get a bunch of stickers or juice boxes rather than candy.

No one wants to rain on Halloween’s parade, but there are ways to modify the overindulgence on candy.  And whether you’re dealing with an allergy or just want to set a good example for healthy eating, looking into some alternatives to candy may not be such a bad idea.  Plus, you might not have to deal with the kids bouncing off the ceiling in a perpetual sugar rush for days on end.

Oct

20

State Attorney Generals Call for BPA Ban

Filed Under Articles, Bisphenol-A, Product Safety | Comments Off

The attorney generals in New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware are urging makers of plastic bottles to eliminate the use of BPA in their production.  Letters were sent to 11 manufacturers.

“I am alarmed by recent studies confirming that BPA leaches from these products into the foods they hold,” Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said in the letters.

The request for a voluntary recall may not be as strong an action as some states have tried, but with more and more companies starting to phase out products that contain BPA, every bit of pressure helps.  You can find the full article here.

Source: Associated Press

Oct

17

Friday Link Roundup:The Kathy’s Sick Edition

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I am still sick as a dog and behind on so many things I want to post about but this is about all I can muster.  I love flu season!

  • Alicia Voorhees on Baby Products Packaged in PVC on the Healthy Child Healthy World Blog:
    I know we’ve gotten this question before but our good friend and colleague Alicia Voorhees from The Soft Landing has written a very interesting article about products packaged in PVC and whether PVC can migrate to a toy or product inside.  Excellent reading…
  • Canada banning BPA on Saturday
    On Saturday Canada will be placing Bisphenol-A on their list of toxic chemicals making them the first country to declare the plastic bottle component bisphenol A hazardous to human health. (National Post)
  • EWG Bottled Water Report
    Tests done on brands of bottled water were found to contain fertilizers, disinfection byproducts, pain medications, at levels greater than is acceptable by Industry and California State standards.  This proving that bottled water is not much better than tap.  Your best bet? Get a filter for your tap.  Read the full EWG Report or check out their Tips Sheet for a crash course on whats a better course of action.
  • LovelyMama John Masters Organics Giveaway
    And finally, something fun… we’re giving away a HUGE pile of John Masters Organics products and a reusable canvas tote retailing over $140.  Hop on over to LovelyMama to enter!

Enjoy!  I’m crawling back to bed now…

Oct

16

FDA Investigating Donation to Scientist Heading BPA Advisory Panel

Filed Under Articles, Bisphenol-A | Comments Off

I’ve come down with another miserable cold so I am really behind on a couple things I meant to post this week.  This might not be new news for some because I’ve seen it around but I thought it was worthy of mentioning here too.  And then I’m going back to the couch to wallow in my stuffed up achiness.

The FDA Wouldn’t Take Bribes Would They? HA

I got an alert in my email a few days about a possible “scandal” involving the FDA and An Bisphenol-a advocate Charles Gelman, a medical supply manufacturer.  Apparently Mr Gelman made a sizable donation to the University of Michigan’s Risk Science Center in the sum of $5 Million.  The acting director of The Universtiy of Michigan’s Risk Science Center is Martin Philbert who also happens to be the head of the FDA advisory panel that is supposed to deliver an independent risk assessment of BPA.  Interesting!

Gelman says that Bisphenol-a is perfectly safe and is only being questioned “because worries about the chemical were being exaggerated by ‘mothers’ groups and others who don’t know the science.“  Does that include the National Toxicology Program, The Universtiy of Cincinnati, and the Journal of the American Medical Asoociation too?  They’re a bunch of moms who don’t know the science?  Ok.

Federal officials are investigating.  We’ll see…

Sources: JS Online, Associated Press

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