Nov

27

CitizenPip Waste Free Lunch Kits (Giveaway!)

Filed Under Food Safety, Giveaways Coupons, Green Mama | 83 Comments

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    Soup2Nuts2_415It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to a company I just recently learned about, CitizenPip.  CitizenPip specializes in waste-free lunch supplies that are safe for you and the kids.  I know what you’re thinking, “Not another reusable lunch box“.  Ok yes but I really adore so many things about this product that I had to share it with you.

    CitizenPip makes adorable (for kid or adult) insulated lunch bags made of all safe materials.  The “bag” which is more like a lunchbox shape is deeper than conventional lunch boxes (much deeper than our old Crocodile Creek) so it fits containers better and there is no shoving or smushing involved.  They have 3 cute designs with chic colors.  For review, we received a Lunch Bag and a Soup-to-Nuts kit to put it to the test.  I sent it to school with my almost 4 year old who really knows how to beat stuff up. Better yet, all the items are BPA, PVC, Phthalates, and Lead free so no worrying about any of that.

    The Soup-to-Nuts set comes with 4 airtight BPA Free plastic containers, one of which is the right size for a sandwich. THANK YOU CitizenPip.  One of my biggest peeves about these new reusable lunch systems out now is that they hardly ever come with a container to fit a sandwich!  In my son’s lunch I fit a full sandwich, a cut up apple, grapes and some Annie’s Bunny Crackers.  It also fits a big stainless water bottle so I got everything in there without any trouble.  The Soup-to-Nuts kit also comes with an insulated food jar perfect for warm or cold foods, a stainless set of utensils, and a set of 4 cotton napkins.

    What I loved the most: Deep lunch box, perfect size food containers, stylish, and safe (All items are BPA, PVC, Phthalate and Lead Free!).  Even better is my kid liked it too.  A couple of the teachers that supervise after school lunch-bunch stopped me to say how much they liked his lunchbox and wanted to know where to get it.  Thumbs up!  We’re CitizenPip kids here now!

    Get

    You can purchase a CitizenPip Waste Free Lunch Kit on CitizenPip.com.  And from now through 12/31/09 use the code “SAFEMAMAgives” on orders over $50 and get a free fork+spoon set (just add them to your cart before checkout).

    Give

    Citizenpip will plant one tree in partnership with Trees for the Future for every $10 spent.  AND, Citizenpip will donate $300 on behalf of the blog/site with the most coupon codes redeemed between now and 12/31/09.  How cool is that?  We can choose from one of these green non-profit organizations:

    • Trees for the Future
    • Environmental Working Group
    • Healthy Child Healthy World

    Win

    One lucky reader will take home a CitizenPip Square Meal Kit!  Here’s how to enter:

    Visit CitizenPip.com and tell us in a comment on this entry which lunch kit you like the best! (We have the “Eat” lunchbag and we love it!)

    For extra entries (leave a separate comment for each extra entry, leave links to your tweets/buttons):

    • Follow @CitizenPip on Twitter
    • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter
    • Re-Tweet this Giveaway: Win a CitizenPip Square Meal Waste Free Lunch Kit from @safemama (http://tinyurl.com/yjtfot7)
    • Add our SafeMama button to your blog or website

    Giveaway Closed!

    Nov

    20

    Review: Britax Chaperone Travel System

    Filed Under Car Safety, Product Reviews | 3 Comments

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      britaxchapWe were given the unique opportunity to product test Britax’s new Chaperone Travel System.  After spending a few months with it, we are happy to report many positive things about its performance and think it’s an excellent choice of travel systems on the market right now.  I’ll start with the infant carriers features.  The Chaperone Infant Carrier features Britax’s True Side Impact Protection system which we’re written about before. This system protects your baby by distributing crash forces and shielding your child from vehicle intrusion.  It also has No Re-Thread Head Restraint system which I can’t tell you how much easier it is to get the right fit without having to thread straps all over the seat (which is what my biggest complaint about my old Peg Perego).

      What’s also nice about this carrier is that it accommodates your baby up to 30 lbs so you can use it and all its safety features longer as well as keep them secure and rear facing longer.  Because of this the seat is a bit larger than some infant carriers.  Compared to my old infant carrier this seat is considerably “taller” and therefore takes up a bit more space.  This was only problematic for me having him seated behind the driver.  I don’t drive a minivan and I had to move my seat up and ended up being too close to the wheel to drive.  However, I would imagine this would be the same problem with any rear facing larger car seat.

      The Infant Carrier is designed for baby’s comfort in mind and I do feel that my son (who is now 4 months old) fits in there snug and comfortable. One of the things I really love is the oversized canopy.  It never fails that the only stream of sun lands on his face while I’m carting my other son back and forth to school so the large canopy is a huge help.  Britax designed the handle to be a little more ergonomic so carting them around is easier.  Although I don’t think I’ve ever come across an infant carrier that is “easy” to carry.  They all weigh a ton and with a big baby in it, its back breaking no matter how you slice it.  This seat is bigger than my old one but weighs about the same.  Infant carriers are just heavy, period.

      CHAP_Stroller_Cow_72RGBLet’s talk about the Britax Chaperone Stroller too.  I have to admit I fell in love with this stroller pretty quick.  It has a ton of features my other stroller lacks and a few minor issues I’d love to see worked out.  But if given a choice I really to like the performance and solid nature of this stroller.  Compared to other’s I’ve used the “glide” factor on this surpasses many traditional strollers.  It has larger wheels with “all wheel drive” so there isn’t any of that silly wheel wiggly turning backwards situations.  It rolls like a dream!  it has an adjustable handle height to fit any parent and has a nifty comfort grip handle bar so pushing it with both hands  OR one hand is super easy.  My old Peg Perego has split handles and pushing it with one hand is not an option.  It also has two cup holders and a little storage bin up at the handle for the parent (love!) and a cup holder and tray for baby too.  One of my peeves is strollers with a weak basket underneath, or a basket that’s inaccessible.  I tend to chuck stuff under there in a hurry.  The Chaperone stroller has a big basket thats easily accessible. My old gripe would be the tension on it… if I throw my big diaper bag in there it collapses down requiring me to get down under there and really shove it in.  But, its great for shopping and fits quite a bit.

      It features enough canopy to cover your child from sun and combined with the infant carrier, you can cover baby entirely while they nap or to keep the sun/rain off them.  This is really just a beautiful piece of baby gear.

      I had the unique opportunity to ask some car seat safety questions of Britax’s safety expert, Dr. Laura Jana.  Laura Jana, M.D., is a pediatrician, safety advocate and mother of three. She is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention and the co-author of “Heading Home with Your Newborn; From Birth to Reality.” As a certified child passenger safety technician, Dr. Jana has worked to help parents learn to use child seats consistently and properly. Recently, she has focused her attention on raising awareness of the danger of side impact crashes. Read more

      Nov

      19

      Review: Sprout Organic Baby Food

      Filed Under Food Safety, Product Reviews | 1 Comment

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        sproutNow that the days of baby food are here in my house once again, I’ve been on the hunt for all of the “homemade” types of baby food. Now, I’ll confess my snobbery here, for giving my baby only homemade of my own, but I’ll also confess that the second child really does get the shaft. And while I have made a good majority of her food so far, I’ve both been lacking in variety and time, usually leaving me scrambling for something for her for dinner, since she’s not really ready for a béchamel sauce or our standard variety mac and cheese, often prepared with unpasteurized cheeses.  There are also occasions where we are out and sometimes jarred variety baby food is easier.

        I had heard of Sprout before, but didn’t really have any real need at the time, or any place to purchase it. Sprout is all organic, and is featured in a handy resealable pouch. The best part of this is that the packaging is completely BPA free.

        They recently opened up a Wegmans in my area, the holy grail of grocery stores, and I was happy to see it on my shelves. I picked a few up for my baby girl to give a whirl.

        Her absolute favorite, is the mix of apple, carrot and mango. She took one bite and promptly ripped the spoon from my hand. She wasn’t a big fan of peach rice pudding (it’s more her dislike for tart things) or pasta with lentil bologonese. Everything else she was OK with. Everything seemed fresh and not lacking taste, which I loved.

        Overall, I’ll definitely be purchasing this brand to keep on hand for emergencies and travel.

        Just a back story, Sprout was co-founded by Chef Tyler Florence, who you can catch on Food Network, if you’re not familiar with him. I love it when renowned chefs create appetizing foods for baby. I mean, why do babies have to eat plain food?

        I will say that it’s a bit more expensive than even the bigger organic brands out there, but for me, I don’t plan on feeding it to her exclusively, so I can justify the cost of buying it for outings and the nights where I just don’t have anything on hand.

        Get it: You can get Sprout Baby food at most Whole Foods stores, as well as online.

        Nov

        10

        Dear SafeMama: What’s TPR and Is It Safe? Answer from The Soft Landing!

        Filed Under Dear SafeMama, Product Safety, PVC Free | Comments Off

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          dear safemamaQuestion: Do you know the identity of the soft, non-skid “rubbery” parts that are often included on Sassy or Munchkin products? These seem a lot like PVC to me, but might be silicone. I know they are BPA free and SAY they are PVC free, but then what exactly is the material and is it safe?

          Answer: It’s a pain not knowing what’s what, so we reached out to our favorite expert Alicia from The Soft Landing to get the skinny on this mystery material so often found on baby toys and teethers. She knew exactly what it was of course! Here’s what she had to say:

          “While PVC is sometimes used in various parts of teethers, the dense “rubbery” areas on teethers (and even non-skid bowls and such) are usually made from either silicone or thermoplasticized rubber (TPR).  TPR is a great choice because it doesn’t require the use of BPA and is made without PVC (and thus phthalates).  Thermos uses it for their Foogo sippy spouts.  PVC is typically found in hollow, squeeky bath toys or dense, plastic baby dolls with a harder feel (less rubbery) and is hardly ever used in eating gear.  Silicone and TPR are both usually BPA-free, because they simply don’t require the use of a hardening/strengthening agent like polycarbonate plastic does.

          If a manufacturer goes the extra trouble of actually labeling a product as BPA or PVC-free, you can usually assume that it’s true.  They are not required by law to label their products with materials used (or not used in some cases), so if they do, they are laying their reputation on the line.”

          Thanks Alicia!  As always, if you’re ever in doubt about a product or material… do your shopping at The Soft Landing. There you are sure to get non-toxic safe feeding and baby gear.  Be sure to check out her great holiday specials too!  Alicia also runs the The Soft Landing Blog where you can find great information on a bevy of other children’s feeding and toy gear… check it out!

          Nov

          9

          Recall Alert: Maclaren Recalling Strollers Due to 12 Fingertip Amputations

          Filed Under Product Recalls | Comments Off

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            We generally don’t post recalls, here, but this is a big one, and so many of my friends have Maclaren strollers.  They’re one of the most popular lightweight strollers out there.   So when I found out they were recalling one million of them because of severed fingers, I figured, I should probably scrape the baby food out of my hair and get myself together enough to post this.

            From NPR:

            The recall applies to every umbrella stroller Maclaren has distributed in the US since 1999. The specific models are: Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.

            The CPSC says the strollers’ hinge mechanism, “poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.”

            10033aMaclaren is suggesting that consumers stop using the stroller immediately and call the company for the repair kit.   However, due to the size of the recall, you may want to either purchase a different stroller, or be prepared for a wait.  NPR reports that they’ve tried the hotline a bunch of times and only got a busy signal.

            Recall Information:

            This recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers. The word “Maclaren” is printed on the stroller. The affected models included Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.

            Sold at: Babies“R”Us, Target and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360.

            For additional information, contact Maclaren USA toll-free at (877) 688-2326 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall

            Nov

            5

            Consumer Reports Tests Find BPA in Canned Soups, Juice, and More

            Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Food Safety | 3 Comments

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              Here we go … BPA in the news again.  I have been wanting to post something about this since I saw it on the evening news the other night.  Consumer Reports just published new findings (but none of it is really news to us) about levels of BPA in canned food.  We knew it was there but how much?  As we know, BPA is not only found in hard plastic but as a component of the epoxy lining in canned food, soda cans, juice cans, baby formula and glass jar lids to name a few.   From the new study:

              Canned Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans Blue Lake had the highest amount of BPA for a single sample in Consumer Reports tests, with levels ranging from 35.9 parts per billion (ppb) to 191 ppb. Progresso Vegetable Soup BPA levels ranged from 67 to 134 ppb. Campbell’s Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup had BPA levels ranging from 54.5 to 102 ppb.

              Average amounts in tested products varied widely. In most items tested, such as canned corn, chili, tomato sauce, and corned beef, BPA levels ranged from trace amounts to about 32 ppb.

              Given the significance of BPA exposure for infants and young children, Consumer Reports tested samples of Similac Advance Infant Formula and Nestle Juicy Juice All Natural 100% Apple Juice. The findings revealed:

              Similac liquid concentrate in a can averaged 9 ppb of BPA, but there was no measurable level in the powdered version.

              Nestle Juicy Juice in a can averaged 9.7 ppb of BPA, but there were no measurable levels in the samples of the same product packaged in juice boxes.

              I was surprised to hear that Similac’s powdered formula came back with no measurable levels of BPA, though it’s unclear to me at this point what type of packaging the powdered version was in.  Similac has a new plastic container made of polypropylene but there is a questionable foil seal on the inside that Similac would not comment on whether it had BPA or not (I’m guessing yes or else they would probably have said so).

              What’s most alarming is that products boasting BPA Free on the label tested with measurable amounts of BPA.  Alarming, but not so surprising. Even items in alternative packaging came back with BPA levels.  Even Eden’s baked beans, which we though were BPA Free came back with a very low level of BPA.

              We tested two products that their manufacturers claimed were packaged in BPA-free cans and found the chemical in both of the foods. Although tests of the inside of the cans found that the liners were not epoxy-based, Vital Choice’s tuna in “BPA-free” cans was found to contain an average of 20 ppb of BPA and Eden Baked Beans averaged 1 ppb.

              It’s unclear at this point what levels are safe and what aren’t (though my preference would be for NO safe levels):

              “The findings are noteworthy because they indicate the extent of potential exposure,” said Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director of Technical Policy, at Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports. “Children eating multiple servings per day of canned foods with BPA levels comparable to the ones we found in some tested products could get a dose of BPA near levels that have caused adverse effects in several animal studies. The lack of any safety margin between the levels that cause harm in animals and those that people could potentially ingest from canned foods has been inadequately addressed by the FDA to date.”

              The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is soon expected to announce the findings of its most recent reassessment of the safety of BPA.

              Read all about it: Consumer Reports Study (use the links on the left side to read the details of the study and the results.

              Nov

              3

              Giveaway: BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Active Organic!

              Filed Under Giveaways Coupons | 143 Comments

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                babybjornBoy, do we have some great giveaways for you.  This first one comes to you from the makers of BabyBjörn!  Baby wearing is really popular right now and as the mother of a new baby and an almost 4 year old, baby wearing saves my day.  Hands free is the way to go.   So imagine my delight when I learned about BabyBjörn’s new baby carrier made of organic cotton.  The fabric is Oeko-Tex certified, and also meets GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) which regulates the use of chemicals in the entire production process of textiles. The organic carriers are available inn both the Original and the Active style carrier.

                BabyBjörn’s have been around forever and for good reason.  They’re made exceptionally well and provide back support for both baby and Mom or Dad. The baby carrier provides proper support for a small child’s back and head, and ensures that the child’s legs and arms are in a physiologically correct position. When the child is older, the head support can be folded down so that the child can be carried facing forward, allowing him to look around. And it is a sharp looking carrier if I do say so.

                BabyBjörn is giving away 5 brand spanking new Baby Carrier Active Organic‘s to 5 of our lucky readers. Giveaway closed.

                To Enter

                1. Take this test on BabyBjorn.com
                2. Comment on this entry and let us know which baby carrier the quiz said is right for you!

                For Extra Entries (please leave a comment for each extra task so we can count your extra entries):

                • Follow us on Twitter (@safemama)
                • Join our Facebook Group
                • Tweet about the giveaway! (Example: Win a BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Active Organic from @safemama – http://tinyurl.com/yecsqpa  )
                • Add our button to your website or blog and let us know where to find it (with a comment)!

                FIVE winners will be selected at random.  Entries will be accepted until midnight EST on November 10, 2009.  Open to US and Canada residents.  Good luck!

                Already a fan of BabyBjörn?  See if you qualify to be a BabyBjörn Believer at http://www.babybjornbelievers.com/join.  BabyBjörn Believers receive a first look at new products, parenting tips, contest opportunities and have a chance to share their feedback directly with BabyBjörn.

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