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I’m at the point where I started wondering when it was appropriate and safe to graduate my 3 1/2 year old to a booster seat.  Turns out, not yet.  I started to think about it because it’s become increasingly difficult for him to climb in an out of the Britax Advocate he’s using.  While I’m content with his comfort and safety in it, I thought the time was approaching to move up.  But he doesn’t fit the requirements just yet in weight so we’ll have to wait.  However, not that long.

With booster seats you need to pay close attention to the weight/height/age requirements set forth on the seats instructions.  In the new Britax Parkway SG‘s case its a minimum of 40 lbs and 38 inches tall.  The nice thing about the Parkway is it accommodates our child up to 120lbs and 63 inches tall which in most cases will cover your booster seat needs until your child is large enough to be in a regular seat belt.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children should stay in a booster seat until adult belts fit correctly (usually when a child reaches about 4′ 9″ in height, 57 inches tall, and is between 8 and 12 years of age).

When choosing any booster seat, make sure to select one that works with a shoulder AND lap belt for optimum safety.  A while back, a study revealed that booster seats may be potentially unsafe due to putting comfort over proper belt positioning.  The IIHS named 13 booster seats as “Best Bets” when it comes to choosing a seat and Britax Parkway made that list.  The Parkway features True Side Impact Protection with an easily adjustable head piece to ensure comfort and fit.  (The top of the child’s ears are below the top of the head restraint.) It also has SecureGuard clip which works with the lap belt to make sure the child doesn’t slip through under the lap belt risking abdominal injury during a crash.  The SecureGuard clip and its strap connect the seat base to the lap-belt portion of the vehicle’s lap-shoulder belt between the child’s legs to effectively create a four-point harness.

Britax provided a seat for us to check out and I was greatly impressed as I am with their other seats.  The narrow width allows for fitting 3 across the backseat.  What I also loved is that the back restraint is removable to convert the seat into a backless booster when you need to while keeping the safety of the lap and shoulder belt in tact.

Just a refresher on booster safety:

Your child needs to be in a proper height/weight restraint.  PERIOD. The government recommends car seats for children up to 40 pounds and booster seats for children over 40 pounds until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. All children should ride in the back seat until age 13. It’s about the fit with a booster seat.  Boosters act as a way to safely position seat belts on your child’s body and should abide by the following:

• The seat belt is meant to be routed across a child’s lower hips and mid-shoulders instead of the abdomen because the liver and spleen are more vulnerable to injuries.
• Seat should be properly installed.  Call your local Fire Department or log on to SeatCheck.org to find out how to have the installation checked. by a certified car seat technician.

We loved the Britax Parkway and we think you will too.  Find Britax Parkway on Amazon.com!

It’s come to light that some older models of SIGG reusable aluminum water bottles contain BPA in the epoxy lining inside the bottle.  As you may already know, the lining on the interior of SIGG’s has been questioned for some time and many skeptics thought that the epoxy may contain BPA… turns out they were right.  The SIGG company “took to heart” the controversy over BPA and went to work on a new lining that was BPA free.  However there were many SIGG bottles on the market since they developed their new lining, called EcoCare. 

Any SIGG Bottle on the market prior to August 2008 has the old epoxy lining, and should BPA be a concern to you then you should replace it with an alternative or a new SIGG with their new EcoCare lining. This inclides the kiddies!   SIGG still maintains that their older models are still “safe” but they spent a lot of money on changing it.  I’d advise anyone with an older SIGG to check it against their website and contact them about a replacement.  They aren’t doing a voluntary recall but we saw a letter from the company on The Consumerist stating they would be handling replacements.

Needless to say, we’re disappointed after having supported them in the past that they weren’t forthcoming in the beginning about their materials.  We recommend you try some other alternatives to SIGG reusable bottles as there are many great ones on the market.  We adore the ThinkSport, Thermos Intak and the Klean Kanteen but there are a ton to choose from.  Check out The Soft Landing for a huge selection of reusable water bottles.

A SafeMama reader actually wrote in to us about CareBags a while ago.  We as eco-conscious shoppers go through the trouble to bring our own bags to the grocery store but then get to the produce aisle and are faced with plastic produce bags.  I was just skipping them but to be honest I hated having all my produce rolling around loose on the belt.  Another problem is that buying fresh and/or organic produce can get expensive.  It’s worth the cost for us to enjoy fresh produce all the time but it would be great if I didn’t have to end up tossing some of it.  You can only eat so much produce that fast you know?

Carebags are a great solution to these problems.  Carebags were created by two young mothers in Mission, B.C., back in the early 1990’s. They had 5 kids under the age 5 between them and they launched Carebags to be used for buying produce and bulk foods. They wanted to eliminate that unnecessary waste while making their food stretch just a tad longer.

Based on the rave reviews these got from our reader, I had to see for myself.  I ordered some and started using them right away.  They are thin, light weight bags in various sizes that are large enough to fit lettuce and other large items as well as smaller bunches of fruit and veggies.  I toss them in my Envirosax (my re-usies of choice) in the car and have them on hand all the time.  You fill them with your produce and when you get home, wash them right in the bag, shake them off and put the whole bag in your crisper.  The slight dampness of the carebags along with the atmosphere in your crisper to help keep produce fresh.  I have to say, I have been throwing out a lot less produce since I’ve started using these. 

They’re convenient and easy (washing stuff right in the bags makes my busy life simpler while allowing me to avoid plastic).  I’d have to say I love these! 

Get Some For Yourself! You can order your own Carebags on their website CarebagsOnline.com.  Let them know we sent you

If you’ve been reading here long enough, you know that we never shut up about Bubble and Bee, or Stephanie.  We love that woman for so many reasons.  One is her lengthy knowledge of chemicals.  I never hesitate to bug her when I have a question about an ingredient.  She’s even guest posted for us on occasion, and has started her own Chemical of the Day, blog.

I’ve been meaning to post this for awhile now, but certain babies are taking up our time (thankfully, they’re cute or else they’d be grounded for life), but Stephanie has taken it one step further and created a Q&A section of the Chemical of the Day blog.  I’m totally excited about this because I can’t tell you how many questions we get about certain ingredients and we don’t always have all the answers, but you know who does?  Stephanie.   And while you’re at it, you should really sign up for Bubble and Bee’s mailing list, and get all sorts of discounts for Bubble and Bee’s awesome products.   In fact, I’m running kinda low.  Maybe I’ll treat myself to some new lime coconut lip balm………

With my new addition to the family I’ve been reconsidering a lot of things I used the first time around, including our baby tub.  I had a basic blue baby tub with the infant sling attachment and my son always screamed through baths as a little baby.  Only did he start liking being bathed when I put him in a bigger tub with more water.  I’ve since recycled my old baby tub to someone else who needed one so when I went looking for a new tub I wanted something better.

I discovered Spa Baby in one of my late night Internet searches and was in awe of this genius idea.  The Spa Baby tub is basically a European style bathing tub that allows the baby to sit in an upright position as opposed to laying down so the baby is somewhat submerged up to their shoulders.  This keeps the baby warm and comfy, whereas in traditional tubs the baby is wet and can get cold easier -hence all that crying!

You can set the tub on a low flat surface, or in a regular tub – anywhere safe and sturdy so you can bathe and rinse easily.  The nice part about this is it’s made of #5 plastic (is totally recyclable once you’re done with it) and doesn’t contain anything like BPA, PVC, phthalates, lead or flame retardant foam inserts or slings.  The tub is much larger than I imagined and can fit a baby up to 6+ months old.  You could also use this later to keep toys (in or out of the tub) organized, or use it to store extra towels in the bathroom when baby gets too big for it.

I’m really quite smitten with this tub and I think it would make a great baby shower gift for that mom-to-be.   I always seem to struggle finding a unique gift and this is definitely perfect for that.  I gave it a go and I have to admit, there is a bit of a learning curve with this tub as I felt pretty awkward and nervous about using it with a newborn who can’t hold his head up.  He wasn’t too happy about it but I think it was mostly because it was one of his first bath experiences and he felt my awkwardness.  With a little practice this is a great tub, although I think I’ll wait until he’s a little bit bigger before I try it again.  Once you get yourself comfortable with this tub I think it would be a great alternative. 

Get A Spa Baby: You can purchase Spa Baby tubs on their website SpaBabyTubs.com!

Welcome to the SafeMama Diaper Rash Cheat Sheet!  We got this request a dozen times so here we go. One of the inevitable things about having kids, is diaper rash. I’ve been lucky so far with my son never really getting diaper rash, though he’s had his fair share of weird patches, oozing eczema on the behind and some of other things, so I always kept diaper rash cream on hand.  And I know some kids are more prone to it than others.  One of my friend’s kids seems to get diaper rash from the slightest thing.  Others only get it when they start solids. Who knows.  But I do know that even if kids only ever got it once, I’d rather slather it with something safer than paraben cream plus.

So we compiled a short list of diaper rash creams that are better for your baby.  Granted, this is not every single safe cream that’s out there, just some that we’ve tried or are from brands that we know and trust, or that we’ve tried personally.  It doesn’t mean that your preferred brand is bad if it’s not included on here.

We’ve divided this list into two categories:  zinc based balms and zinc free balms that are safe to use with cloth diapers.  Zinc based balms can cause build up on cloth diapers, preventing them from doing their job, and really, you want your diaper to do its job.

Zinc Based Balms

California Baby

Kathy says: Love it! Cures all my diaper rash issues but has a strong scent. I would spot test before using in case some babies have sensitivity to it.  I have used this is conjuction with the California Diaper Wash spray (use at each poop change) and I have had very little diaper rash problems if any to speak of. 

Statia says: My son is one of those who has sensitivity to it. It worked OK for awhile, but one day, I put it on and he screamed bloody murder. I haven’t used it since.

Price: $9.99  Skin Deep: 3  | Buy it on Amazon, or find it at many local stores including grocery stores, Target and Whole Foods.

Nature’s Baby Organics

Kathy says: This diaper cream is unscented which is nice since many creams have a strong smell, but it seperates in the tube between uses quickly and you get an oil oozing out of the tube.  So when you’re trying to cream up a wiggly baby, it gets chucked back into the drawer and I grab for something else.  Goes on a little thin for my taste too.

Price: $12.00 Skin Deep: 1  | Buy it on Amazon

Love Me Baby Me

 Statia Says: I love the way this stuff smells. Love Me Baby Me all has a really nice floral scent to it, but not so overpowering that it’s off putting.

Price: $19.95  Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on Love Me baby Me’s website

Weleda Diaper Care

 Neither of us has tried this one yet, but we love a lot of Weleda’s products and with calendula, the zinc not only forms a barrier to protect rashes, but the calendula helps heal the rash.  Kathy has a sample of this in her diaper bag so she’ll inevitably have some thoughts on it soon.

Price: $11.00 Skin Deep: 3  | Buy it on Amazon, or find it at many local stores including grocery stores, Target and Whole Foods.

Burts Bees Baby Bee Diaper Ointment

Statia says: I actually like the Burts Bees diaper rash cream. It’s really thick and covers well. The price point is nice and it’s readily available just about everywhere.  Kathy says: I can’t stand the smell of this or any other burts bees baby stuff (except the bar soap) so I don’t care for it but I’ll use it if there’s nothing else around. 

Price: $8.99  Skin Deep: 3  | Buy it on Amazon, or find it at many local stores including grocery stores, Target and Whole Foods.

Fresh Organics Baby Bottom Balm

 Statia Says: This is actually new to the market, so I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet (read our review!), but the ingredients list is pretty good and it’s not over priced. Kathy says: I can’t wait to try this… I loved the rest of their products!

Price: $7.99  Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on Fresh Organics’ website

Little Twig Diaper Cream

 We like a lot of Little Twig’s products, and while we haven’t tried this one, we know that Little Twig puts out paraben and phthalate free products. Sign up for their mailing list, they’re always sending out coupons.

Price: $12.00   Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on Amazon.

Zinc Free Formulas

The great thing about zinc free balms is that you can use them on cloth diapers and not have to worry about build up. They allow the skin to breathe and they’re multi purpose. I use my zinc free balms on scrapes, cuts, bug bites and more.

Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm

 Statia says: I really like this one. It’s soft enough in the container and it melts onto baby’s skin. It helps heal nicely and there’s no real scent to it, which is also nice. The other nice thing is that while it’s a little pricey, a small container will fit nicely in a diaper bag, so I’m not lugging around a giant tube of diaper cream.  Kathy says: I’ve used many other EMAB products and I LOVE the ingredients… they all rate a ZERO in Skin Deep too. 

Price: $7.00+   Skin Deep: 0  | Buy it on Amazon.

Dimpleskins Bum Bum Balm

 Statia Says: I really like Bum Bum Balm. We used this a lot in the early days, along with Earth Mama on my daughter, who seemed to poop with every diaper change, making her poor little hiney chapped and raw. This stuff worked like a charm. It’s a little tough to get it going at first, but once you get it out of the container, it goes on nicely.

Price: $9.95   Skin Deep: 0  | Buy it on Amazon.

Lusa Organics Booty Balm

 Statia says: I keep a tin of this in my son’s room, who as of late, can’t be bothered to come around for a post poop diaper change. Because of this, he gets rogue breakouts and this stuff seems to heal them nearly in the same day. I also put it on his cuts too and it helps keep them moisturized.

Price: $5.25 – 7.50  Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on LuSa Organics’ website (comes in travel sizes too)

Dr Bronners Organic Baby Balm

 This is another one that neither one of us has tried, but we personally use a lot of Dr Bronners in this house. My husband uses the soap for shampoo. We use it for hand soap and I use the bar soap to wash my face. So I trust that this would work rather well.

Price: ~ $4.00 Skin Deep: 1  | Buy it on Amazon.

Edens Kiss Calendula Balm

 We had done a review of this awhile back and both of us confessed we actually stole it for ourselves for our dry winter chapped skin. It makes a great healing balm. Kathy says “I used this on my newborn to help with those early days of peeling hands and feet… worked like a charm.”

Price: ~ $18.00 Skin Deep: 0  | Buy it on Eden’s Kiss website

Mama Rose’s Magic Touch Baby Balm

 Mama Rose has quite a line up of products that have healthy ingredients. We haven’t tried this one, but it’s safe to use with cloth diapers. Quite a few SafeMama readers have emailed us telling us how much they like this line.

Price: ~ $3.00 and up   Skin Deep: N/A  | Buy it on Mama Rose’s website

We were lucky to get a preview of the new product called Fresh Organics for baby.   Fresh Organics has quite a line of products for adults, that are all natural.   And I’m always a sucker for a new baby product.

The shampoo conditioner combo lathers nicely and has a very subtle smell to it, which I like.  A lot of natural products are still pretty pungent and I’ve noticed that my nose can’t handle strong smells anymore.  But this leaves a nice light scent on my little girl that I’ve come to grow fond of during one of the many billions of times I sniff her sweet smelling baby head during a day (seriously, if I could bottle that smell up, I’d wear it all the time).   The lotion also smells nice and light, spreads nicely without being greasy.

The bubble bath, like many other natural and organic bubble baths doesn’t produce the mounds of bubbles I was used to as a kid, but this is one of the pitfalls of any natural bubble bath.  But it’s enough for my son, who doesn’t seem to mind, or know any different.   I do wish it came in a bigger container though, as it seems to go pretty fast.

One of the good things about Fresh Organics is the price.  It’s not overly expensive and it works well for the price.  Can’t beat that during tough economic times.

Get it: You can order any of the Fresh Organics products directly from Fresh Organics website.  They have products for Mamas and Daddys too!

While we all know that breast is best, there are just times when you can’t breastfeed.  My son was strictly formula fed.   I really wanted it to work out with my daughter, but she is just not a good nurser.  She loves the comfort of it, and I do what I can, but there was a lot of problems in the beginning, that just never helped her learn properly.  So while she gets what she’s willing to take, she does still get formula supplementation and this time around, I felt that if I had to give my baby formula, I wanted to go the organic route.

There are a few organic formulas on the market.   I chose Earth’s Best because it’s comparable to conventional.    I want to say that it makes me feel better knowing that it’s FDA certified, but my feelings about the FDA aren’t exactly warm and fuzzy.    It meets the needs of what I need it to do, and eases the guilt by a fraction knowing that I’m not giving her added pesticides or growth hormones.

The price is pretty steep.  I order it from Amazon through their subscription service to save a little bit of cash, but overall, if you’re needing to formula feed and want to choose organic, you’re going to pay for it.   They say it’s easily digestible and I don’t know if that’s true.  My daughter “goes”, but I prefer the breastmilk variety poop (yes, I just said poop) over the formula variety.  It smells like DHA and, and she doesn’t exactly look comfortable when she does go.   The taste (and yes, I did taste it), to me is pretty disgusting, again, I can taste the DHA in it, which I don’t really find appealing, especially knowing that breastmilk does not taste the same, but my daughter doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.   I noticed that she does take her time eating it, unlike her need to inhale a pumped bottle.  Go figure.

Overall, it’s not a bad formula.  It comparable nutritionally to the big brands out there, and is a nice option for those that don’t have a choice in the matter, but want to feed their baby organic formula.   The other plus is that there’s no sucrose in it, like there is with other brands.  The con is that it’s expensive.   A 25.5 ounce can runs about $29, so if you’re full time formula feeding, you’ll be blowing through these in a matter of days.

Get it: You can order Earths Best organic formula through Amazon.com.  Sign up for their monthly subscription service and save %15 (about 23.99 a can), and if you’re a member of amazon prime (completely worth it if you’re planning on signing up for the subscription service), you get free two day shipping.

It’s already “back to school” time for many, especially those of us who have kids starting back in mid-August so school supplies and school items are coming to the forefront.   So the people at Bumkins are doing a great Back to School Blog Tour and giveaway that we’re happy to be taking part in.  Bumkins sent us a Dr Seuss Apron to test run and we certainly did.  I’ve given their products a thumbs up in the past and this didn’t disappoint either.  Aprons and art smocks are something I’ve needed for a million different things… painting projects, clay work, cooking, baking, the messy stuff that kids get into on a day to day basis, as well as at school!  My little man loves to help me bake and make messes so we tried it out on a vanilla cake recipe.

Bumkins aprons are made of the same waterproof material as their bibs (which many of you wrote in to tell us you loved as much as we did).  The apron fit my 3 1/2 year old perfectly and has a nice pinch adjuster on the neck piece so you aren’t stuck tying the strings to fit.  Their proprietary waterproof fabric is PVC, Vinyl, BPA, Phthalate free and is totally machine washable.  They wash up great and look good as new after abuse.  They’re made for kids 6 and up but this fit my average sized 3 year old just fine.

Win! The kind folks at Bumkins are also giving away $35 gift certificates to 5 lucky people.  All you have to do is comment on their blog or on any of the blogs (including this one) in their Back to School Blog Tour to enter!  Go check it out or visit their website at Bumkins.com