ReUsies 2-Pack in Limeade

    My son starts back to school on Monday (I love him but yay). Starting Monday he’ll be bringing his lunch 5 days a week too. One of the things I swore, and have been somewhat successful at, is making his lunch as waste-free as possible. I just can’t bear the thought o sending a bag full of packaging, zip locks and juice boxes to school 5 days a week for the next 5 months.  That’s a lot of unnecessary trash.   There are so many great reusable lunch gear products on the market but sifting through it all and deciding on what works best for you can always be a challenge. Trying out ReUsies reusable snack and sandwich bags has made a change in the way I see lunch gear.

    ReUsies were created by Seattle moms who wanted to improve the environmental impact they were leaving on the earth with their kids and work lunches.  The bags are soft and accommodate a large sandwich or a generous snack.  Important to note is that they stay sealed (with a velcro strip) and even when jostled.  ReUsies are made with 100% cotton and are lined with water-resistant nylon. They are of course BPA, PVC, phthalate free.  ReUsies are also made right here in the USA (Seattle!).  ReUsies says that sandwich bag fits a half of a sandwich or a whole one with the crusts cut off but I had no trouble fitting a regular sized sandwich in there – crusts and all.  In fact it fits snug enough to keep it together.  My son prefers his sandwiches plain so its tricky to keep them “glued”.   I was also able to fit a small round sandwich in the snack bag.  My point is they are large enough to accommodate your lunch items.  I also found good use or them in my diaper bag.  My 1 year old is one of those kids who needs snacks all the time.  I filled mine up with crackers and dry cereal.  I had no problems with spilling or messes (aside from the messes my son makes).

    I’ve been resistant to buying cloth bags for a while due to my anxiety over keeping them clean.  I can assure you it’s much easier than I thought and they hold up to the abuse.  For the best results a soapy sponge and a quick rinse is all you need.  I air dry them in the dish rack with all my other hand washables.  However, these can be machine washed or run through the dishwasher.  They come in a lot of cute fabric designs and in both snack and sandwich sizes. I’m kind of in love with the Chopsticks design myself. :)

    Get Them: You can purchase ReUsies snack and/or sandwich bags right on their website ReUsies.com.  If you buy 4 or more they are offering free shipping with the code 4ORMORE at checkout.

    Win Some!

    ReUsies is giving away a 2-Pack (Sandwich and a Snack Bag set) to one SafeMama reader!

    Here’s How To Enter:

    Visit ReUsies and tell me which 3 fabric patterns are your favorites.  If you win, you’ll get one of your fabric choices!

    For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

    • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
    • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
    • Follow @ReUsies on Twitter (Twitter name)
    • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
    • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
    • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments) Enter to #WIN 2-Pack of @ReUsies Snack & Sandwich Bags on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 1/7 http://tinyurl.com/2wman9d

    One US or Canadian winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until January 7, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

    Congratulations Sheri, commenter #24!

    I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com and the Tomoson weekly featured sponsor Favorite Wigs – Shop Name Brand Wigs at Low Prices! Large Wig Selection of Forever Young Wigs, and other Quality Wigs. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

    Sponsored by Tomoson.com

      Just wanted to take a moment to wish all of my readers a Happy Holiday season!  I appreciate every single person who takes the time to read SafeMama.com, to write in questions or notes of thanks, and I truly appreciate the ongoing support of the network of people this site has become for me.  Your readership is the best gift I’ve gotten all year.

      To the people I consider colleagues – the community of people I am so lucky to be able to interact with on a daily basis: Thank you for a wonderful year that has taught me a lot and continues to enrich my knowledge.

      Happy Holidays everyone and as my son would say “Feel Knees Nabby Dod”!

        A reader forwarded me a recent newsletter that was sent out by the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, Inc) to it’s subscribers bashing the bans on BPA taking effect in the country and in Canada.  In a word they quote it “Nonsense.” Or my favorite “unscientific hysteria”.  JPMA quotes “Nonsense. Not only is there no good evidence that BPA locked into plastic can hurt people, it actually saves lives by stopping botulism. They also quote the American Council on Science and Health which has poo poo’ed BPA’s dangers in the past. Interesting that the report found quotes from the one organization that disagrees on the safety of BPA. (The American Council on Science and Health are also a nonprofit organization that relies on donations… hmm, I wonder who donates?)

        I may not be a scientist but I’m pretty sure that the people who did the studies that revealed the dangers of Bisphenol-A to humans (especially to the sensitive development of babies and children) feel differently. Such as:

        I’m not sure why JPMA felt the need to share this with their newsletter readers, pulling quotes like “scientifically illiterate legislators are quick to panic” and highlighting scaremongering that’s making things happen. The content sounds motivated and defensive rather than weighing both sides of the issue in a thoughtful manner.  It’s not what I would expect from an organization that specializes in the safety of children’s products.  You can see the newsletter in it’s entirety here. (It’s copied from an email into PDF)

        Edited to add: It’s been clarified by JPMA that these are not their opinions and that they were merely quoting an article by John Stossel which they do link in their newsletter in the end.  However the presentation does not lend itself to making that clear. These are not the collective opinions of JPMA and have “quoted” other articles on the contrary side of BPA in past newsletters.

          My husband sent me a link to this recently and I had to share it.  I’m always posting about the newest water bottle that I fond and this certainly, is no exception.  So far the only glass water bottle I am aware of (there may be more) is the great one by Life Factory which I reviewed a while ago.  I still like it and use it often.  But the Bamboo Bottle is a little different and has a very interesting sustainability effort behind the brand so I thought it was worthy of a mention here on SafeMama.com

          As you may very well know, glass is one of the safest materials to use when it comes to liquids because whether you put ice cold or steaming hot in contact with it, it will not leach toxins like plastics can.  SO using it for a reusable water bottle is brilliant – though that always comes with it’s own challenges.  What I thought was really cool is the removable bamboo sleeve that fits over it.  The Bamboo acts like an insulator so you can actually use this for hot liquids and I imagine it insulates against the bottle sweating (though I don’t know if it does, I haven’t actually seen on of these in person). The bamboo also protects the glass from breaks.

          All the materials are recyclable and/or from renewable sources so it’s a nice way to eliminate the plastic water bottles from your life. Who needs em? Plus it’s pretty stylish I think.

          They aren’t available until 2011 so you won’t find one of these in your Christmas stocking (but oh how I would love that) – but you can pre-order one when then come available again.  They retail for $25.

            Finding organic clothing for kids is not an easy task… in fact on a day to day routine of errands, I don’t come across them at all. I think once there was organic baby clothing at Target but down here in the south, there just isn’t an abundance of options, unfortunately.  So we have to take our shopping to the Internet.  I was recently introduced to Levana Naturals which is an online retailer/wholesaler carrying European organic and fairly traded apparel brands for babies and children.

            They carry a wide array of items for babies right up to kids, including underwear and socks (which I haven’t seen much of but seems like a smart idea). They carry really cute tops, bottoms, accessories like hats and blankets to my favorite piece they sell: A red zip up cardigan made with heavy organic cotton. It’s soft and warm, but what I love most is that it can really be used as a jacket, or as a snuggly sweater for those cold wintery months. It has a nice weight to it and washes up beautifully.  As much as I love and support organic clothing for babies and kids, I find it tricky to find great clothes that are organic and aren’t all that natural cotton color.  I like that too, but sometimes you need some color and versatility and you want them to look great.  This covers all your bases! The double zipper feature allows you to zip from either end – a handy feature that looks sharp too.

            But there is some real merit in those natural toned clothes and they too can look fabulous paired with the right pieces.  Levana Naturals also carries a line called Linea Jonathan. Their clothes are made from organic cotton that is color grown. Cotton grows naturally in various tones of sage and rich brown. Using these unique cotton fibers, Linea Jonathan’s apparel is colored without using any dyes at all. Which is fantastic, especially for kids with allergies or sensitive skin. They have a beautiful and soft velour baby cardigan that comes in green and a cinnamon brown – both colored just from the natural cotton itself.  No dyes! It’s totally adorable and soft.  I kind of want one for me.

            I encourage you to check out Levana Naturals selection… finding organic clothing for kids is tough, but if you look in the right places you can find some great pieces.  I like to buy organic clothes for my oldest child so that they can be passed down and used again and again. This is a great store to find pieces to do that with! At Levana Naturals, all their cottons and wools are 100% organicand don’t use any chemicals or flame retardants during processing (which some manufacturers do).With babies and kids developing skin next to it, you want only the cleanest and safest materials around while still maintaining a soft, cuddly feel for playing in.

            Win It!

            Levana Naturals has so graciously offered one of our readers an item from their store valued up to $40! Or you can use the $40 towards a larger purchase!  Thank you Levana Naturals!

            Here’s How To Enter:

            Visit Levana Naturals and tell me what item you would chose if you won!

            For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

            • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
            • Fan/Like Levana Naturals on Facebook (first name, last initial)
            • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
            • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
            • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
            • Post about this giveaway, SafeMama and Levana Naturals (using FB tags/mentions) on your profile (first name, last initial)
            • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments) Enter to #WIN organic kids clothing from Levana Naturals on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 12/23 http://tinyurl.com/2d53kcg

            One US or Canadian winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until December 23, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

            Congratulations commenter #42, Kara!

              I was introduced to Innobaby products a while back from The Glass Baby Bottle and then ventured over to their website where I found they’re really cute stainless steel divided dinner platter called Din Din SMART. Since then I’ve checked out their products and received some samples to check out.  Innobaby does a really good job of anticipating the needs of new mothers and moms “on-the-go” which lets face it – we all are. While it’s true that there are a few items that are not BPA Free All of their products are now BPA Free and have many options available to you in terms of safer plastics, glass and coming soon, more stainless steel options for food storage.

              For review I received a Packin’ Smart BPA Free stackable containers which at first glance I thought “How can this even work?”. But it does.  Each container easily fits dry snacks, powdered formula or cereal for a day out and about. I filled mine mostly with dry snacks and cereal for my 16 month old but you could easily fit a servings worth of formula or baby cereal in these.  Each container snaps into the next one creating a seal.  To remove a specific section you grip the sides of the section you want to open and squeeze two tabs to remove the top portion.  The rest stay sealed and you are free to pour or dump out the contents of the desired section.  Snap it back on and it all stays neat and tidy in your bag.  No spills. This would be great also for moms using formula.  I’ve only seen a couple of formula dispensers and they typically only have 3 spaces for bottle servings.  The Packin’ Smart would provide enough for 5.

              I also received a set of their Keepin’ Fresh glass baby food storage containers. These are freezer, oven, dishwasher and microwave safe and are prefect for bringing that homemade baby food to Grandma’s house.  You go through the trouble of making your own… you don’t want to yuck it up with bad packaging materials. Glass is the perfect option for this, no leeching, and is really useful for re-heating.  They come in a 2-pack and are the perfect size for portions. (150 ml).  I ended up using them to pack fruit for my kids while out holiday shopping. Better than having to stop and buy some junk food to snack on!  Are these “I’ll die without them” items? No, most stuff isn’t but they are truly “nice to have”  products that might make your life a little easier while running between errands with the kids. The items I mention are all BPA, PVC, Lead and Phthalate free.

              Get Your Own: You can purchase these and other items at their online store Innobaby.com! (Be sure the items you purchase are marked BPA Free).

              WIN IT!

              One SafeMama reader will receive a Packin’ Smart BPA Free stackable container set and a set of Keepin’ Fresh glass baby food storage containers!

              Here’s How To Enter:

              Visit Innobaby and tell me what other item they sell would make your life a little easier!

              For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

              • Follow @Innobaby on Twitter (Twitter name)
              • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
              • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
              • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
              • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
              • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments) Enter to #WIN #BPA free food storage on @SafeMama from @Innobaby! #giveaway ends 12/21 http://tinyurl.com/388te6n

              One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until December 21, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

              Congratulations commenter #21 Becky!

                I really love the products that Dandelion makes and have admired their work over the past year or so.  They already had a great line of dishes (made with corn rather than petroleum) and organic teethers and toys. But this year they have outdid themselves and expanded to other items.  One being their new Organic Toddler Doll.

                The Dandelion Toddler Doll is made of all organic materials – organic soft organic cotton exterior and clothing (feels like a plush velour) and is stuffed with a corn based filling. The doll comes in blonde or brunette and is the perfect size to fit under your little girl’s arm. It’s very cuddly and soft (even my son wanted to hug it) and is a wonderful alternative to traditional dolls with plastic heads, which are typically made with PVC.  You can also machine wash and dry this little cutie and she’ll pop up good as new. This is especially important for kids with allergies to dust.  Its a brilliant doll and it definitely earned it’s spot on the 2010 Toy Guide. It’s really well-made and I recommend it for any little girl who loves a good dolly.

                As an aside, I also wanted to point out that Dandelion has created Teething Keys and Teething Links for those with babies.  They are made of their innovative cornstarch bioplastic and are safe to teeth on!  No BPA, no PVC, no phthalates and less worries.  They feel good to hold and are the perfect size. I was able to check these both out and I wish I had them when my kids were babies. They’re really made well and look great.  Finally a safer more natural version of the old favorites. They’re pretty affordable too.  Thanks Dandelion!

                Get These: You can purchase their new softie Toddler Doll or their new Teether Links and Keys on their website DandelionForBaby.com!  You can also purchase the Dandelion Toddler Doll and other Dandelion products from The Soft Landing!

                  A while back we all found out just how much BPA is present in a simple store receipt and several people blogged about it, bringing it to the forefront. It’s become more apparent that BPA lurks in places we don’t realize.  So is the case with paper money too.  My friends at SaferChemicals.org published an article today about a new report that illustrates how much BPA is in paper money.

                  The Washington Toxics Coalition along with Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, who authored the report, said that 95% of bills tested came up positive for amounts of BPA.  It’s more disheartening evidence that avoiding BPA is virtually impossible… no matter how hard we try.

                  Researchers found that half of the thermal paper receipts tested had large quantities of unbound BPA; 95% of the dollar bills tested positive for lower amounts.  Unlike BPA in baby bottles and other products, BPA on thermal paper isn’t chemically bound in any way: it’s a powdery film on the surface of receipts.  Data from this report indicate that this highly toxic chemical does rather easily transfer to our skin and likely to other items that it rubs against.  In tests mimicking typical handling of receipts, BPA transferred from receipts to fingers.  Just ten seconds of holding a receipt transferred up to 2.5 micrograms. Researchers transferred much higher amounts, about 15 times as much, by rubbing receipts.

                  You can read/download the full report on the Washington Toxics Coalitions website. (PDF)

                  WA Toxics has great tips for avoiding BPA but in a nutshell regarding paper money and recipts:

                  • Keep receipts/bills seperate in your purse or wallet.  Its been shown that the BPA on receipts is not embedded into the materials like in plastic so, it’s in a powdery film form that can get onto hands and into mouths easier.
                  • WASH YOUR HANDS after handling money or receipts.
                  • Don’t allow children to handle money or hold receipts, or at the very least wash their hands afterwards.
                  • WA Toxics suggests refusing a receipt when you can.  BPA Free receipts are starting to pop up but it’s not all that common yet.

                  Now my question is, what about paper checks? Mail? Magazines? Where else can it be lurking?

                    One of my favorite items from my SafeMama Toy Guide is the Doctor’s Suitcase by Haba.  I’ve seen several Doctor kits at various stores and I was always hesitant to buy them despite thinking it would be a fun toy for my son who is big into pretend right now. Back during the “year of the recall” in 2007 a Fisher Price Doctor’s kit was recalled for having lead in the arm band and since then I haven’t been big into trust with regards to Fisher Price or any other brand for that matter.

                    The this year I found the Doctor Suitcase by Haba in The Soft Landing’s store and was giddy with excitement. Finally something more trust worthy and already cleared by the rigid standards of The Soft Landing. It comes in a cute little suitcase to keep it all together, which I have to admit is one of my favorite features.  My biggest peeve with toys is when a toy comes with many parts and you have no where to contain it.  So the pieces end up all over the house and not in any playable order. It is inevitable that will happen but less likely if you can keep the pieces in a designated suitcase.

                    It’s perfect for pretend play  – all your child’s sick stuffed animals, and you, will get a good once over. It comes with a blood pressure gauge, thermometer, doctor mask, an Rx pad, a bandage and stethoscope.  All are made with soft suede and cotton and while they aren’t totally realistic, they are real enough to do the job.  I’ve gotten a lot of “illnesses” that have been cured by a good soft bandage lately. The stethoscope is a little small so my son tends to wear it stuck to his neck, though I think in the nature of safety, it’s small to help avoid any strangulation hazards a larger one might pose. Either way, my 4 year old didn’t seem to mind, nor did his stuffed cat “Kitty” who has been the doctor a few times.

                    The Doctor Suitcase by Haba is free of BPA, PVC, Lead, Phthalates and Flame Retardants and is great for kids aged 3 and up. Thumbs up from SafeMama… really cute toy! Would make a great gift for little ones just starting to get into pretend play, boy or girl!

                    Get It: You can purchase it from The Soft Landing (Save 15% with the code “safechristmas2010” which is good until 12/24/10) and The Soft Landing is also participating in Free Shipping Day on December 17th – use code “freeshippingday2010” (good for US mainland orders only, but international and non-mainland customers will get an automatic $5.95 credit; can only be used on 12/17/10)

                    WIN IT

                    The Soft Landing is giving one of our readers a Doctor’s Suitcase by Haba!

                    Here’s How To Enter:

                    Visit The Soft Landing and tell me what other item they sell would make a great gift for your little one this year!

                    For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

                    • Fan/Like The Soft Landing on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                    • Follow @thesoftlanding on Twitter (Twitter name)
                    • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                    • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
                    • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
                    • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
                    • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments) Enter to #WIN a Doctor’s Suitcase by Haba on @SafeMama from @TheSoftLanding! #giveaway #holiday ends 12/13 http://tinyurl.com/2v6we4z

                    One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until December 13, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

                      With all the Holiday excitement, it’s easy to forget simple safety measures that could keep you and your family safe.  Fraying wires, dry trees, candles and dead-battery smoke alarms can all pose risks when you’re too busy wrapping gifts.  The Underwriters Laboratory,a leading independent safety organization, is calling all parents, specifically moms, to set aside time in their schedule to commit at least one minute to safety each day this holiday season.  Here are some tips for having a safer holiday this year – there are several items on the list I need to pay attention to… time to check the batteries on my smoke alarms!

                      Top 10 Tips for Safer Holidays

                      1.      Water your tree: Dry trees pose a substantial fire risk. After bringing your tree home, make a fresh cut at the base of the trunk before putting it in a sturdy stand. Be sure to water it daily. Additionally, know your trees expiration date. After about four weeks, the tree will stop absorbing water, dry out and should be discarded.

                      2.      Check your lights, check them twice: Inspect all of your electric lights and decorations for damage or wear. Cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections may pose a fire or shock hazard.

                      3.      Plan your fire escape: Use the holidays as a good time to practice a fire escape plan with your loved ones. Identify at least two exits from every room in the house.

                      4.      Sleep safe, install smoke alarms: UL recommends using both types of smoke alarms in your home. Be sure that at least one smoke alarm is installed on each floor of your home, and always close to sleeping areas.

                      5.      Be flame aware: Always blow out unattended candles and teach your children to stay away from lit candles or fireplaces.

                      6.      Give wrapping paper a second life: Don’t burn used wrapping paper as it may cause intense flash fires. And throwing it out adds waste. Consider recycling or repurposing it instead.

                      7.      Know your lights and cords: Do not connect more than three miniature light strings together.  Also, be sure to check the rating on your extension cords and do not plug in more than the recommended wattage.

                      8.      Steer your tree clear: Your tree should be positioned at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. It should also not block any doorways or exits.

                      9.      Decorate with a safe eye: Cords should not be run under carpets and lights should not be tacked-up with metal nails or staples. Small decorations can be choking hazards so keep them out of the reach of toddlers.

                      10.  Look for UL: Only use light strings and other electrical decorations that bear the UL Mark near the plug, signifying that safety standards have been met.

                      It’s also important to know that lots of holiday lights can contain lead and PVC.  It’s best to not let kids handle them and use gloves while decorating your tree, and use gloves definitely if you are pregnant.  There are some great tips and info on safer holiday lights on The Soft Landing Blog.

                      To learn more about the Commit A Minute challenge at SafetyAtHome.com!

                      Win a $100 Visa Gift Card!

                      To enter, leave a comment here telling me what YOU will do to Commit A Minute for Holiday safety!  You can enter a comment once a day until January 3rd 2011. (You may also tweet this contest once a day – but you must post a comment below each day, with a link to your tweet for it to count)

                      For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

                      • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                      • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
                      • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
                      • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
                      • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments) Enter to #WIN a $100 Visa Gift Card from @SafeMama #giveaway ends 1/3/2011 http://tinyurl.com/3yqbllo

                      One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until January 3, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

                      Congratulations Kelly, commenter #89!  Thank you all who entered. Hope your holidays were safe!

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