Jun

16

I’m a Mom For Cooties

Filed Under Chemicals, cleaning products, Healthy Schools | 6 Comments

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    I was reading one of my favorite blogs this morning Phd in Parenting and she posted about a campaign floating around called Moms Against Cooties.  It’s a campaign launched by the Water Quality and Health Council (which they don’t make very obvious).  According to their website  they are a group sponsored by the “Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council, an industry trade association“. Which means to me that it’s funded by groups with a monetary interest in the success of people’s fears turning to chlorine products like Clorox to obsessively bleach the heck out of everything we come in contact with.

    I am a Mom FOR Cooties. “You like your kids to get sick? What kind of a twisted woman are you?” No.  I hate when they get sick.  But it’s a part of life and a part of growing up. Kids and people will ALWAYS get sick.  If we didn’t we would have no immune resistance to anything.  I come from the era where your parents sent you to the kid with Chicken Pox’s house to play so you’d get it and be done with it.  I don’t recommend that course of action but let’s be real.  Kids get sick regardless of whether we scour our schools with a “mild chlorine bleach solution” or not.  Oh my! Germs! Run!

    Cleaning is important, of course. I am not advocating the idea of not cleaning schools and day cares.  But I don’t think that rubbing down every surface of our homes and schools with chlorine bleach is the key to a healthy life illness free life. It may “kill germs” but it is also contributing to the polluted air in schools and could be aggravating asthma conditions.  I think teaching good hand washing while using simple less toxic (please let’s ditch the heavy scented stuff! Ugh!) cleaning products is more effective in preventing the spread of germs.

    So is the Moms Against Cooties campaign really out to “protect” your kids from germs and bacteria? Or are they just looking for another way to brainwash people into thinking chlorine bleach  = clean and safe so they can sell more product? What say you?

    Interesting that the “about us” page is broken right now… hmm.

    What Can I Do?

    I am often asked what to do about preschools and public schools usage of toxic cleaning products.  So far I have come up against two barriers.  One is that many times, schools are bound by the state Health Department and must follow certain rules in regard to cleaning.  Second is budget.  Our own preschool uses some cleaning products I wish the didn’t. I have lobbied to have them investigate safer options without success.  But I think if I had more back up it could be encouraged since most people I speak to about it are open to learning more about it.

    • Educate yourself so you can educate others.  I once told our class teacher that the cleaning products they used each day could contribute to asthma and other long term health problems for developing kids.  She “had no idea” that was the case.  They were open to learning more.
    • Tap into resources like Cleaning For Healthy Schools Tool Kit which provide printable PDF’s to share with your schools administrators, nurses and teachers.
    • Check out Healthy Child Healthy World‘s tips on getting your school to Clean Green.
    • The Healthy Schools Campaign is loaded with information and resources to help you too.

    Have you approached your school about changing their cleaning policies?

    Jun

    15

    New FDA Sunscreen Regulations and What They Mean For You

    Filed Under Skin Care | 4 Comments

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      With all the chit chat over sunscreen lately, the new regulations that are being put in place by the FDA regarding sunscreen claims has brought new light to the ever present “What do I buy?” question.  Whether you buy sunscreen thinking of the protection versus the ingredients, these new regulations will be a step forward.  Since the SPF numbers on sunscreens in major stores started soaring up into the range of 80 to even 100, I had a gut feeling that those claims were not all they were cracked up to be.

      SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.  The theory is that depending on the SPF number, times 10 (minutes) is how long you could “theoretically” stay in the sun without burning.  So if SPF 15 means 150 minutes than SPF 100 means you can stay in the sun for 1,000 minutes without burning? Seems an unlikely claim.  The SPF number really does not correspond with how much time you can spend in the sun especially when you consider what you do in the sun – swim, run, play, use towels, etc.  And to make matters even more confusing, SPF only relates to UVB protection.  UVA protection is not included in the SPF number.  The new phrase that pays is going to be “Broad Spectrum”.  This means that it will protect you against UVB AND UVA rays.

      In brief here are what the new regulations will cover:

      • Starting next summer, sunscreens with less than an SPF of 15 or that aren’t “broad spectrum” will have to carry a warning label: “This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.”
      • The FDA will prohibit sunscreen marketing claims like “waterproof” and “sweatproof,” which they said “are exaggerations of performance.”
      • The FDA also proposes capping the highest SPF value at 50, unless companies can provide results of further testing that support a higher number.
      • FDA says manufacturers must phase out a four-star system currently used by some companies to rate UVA protection.
      • FDA wants sunscreen labels to advise consumers that using a sunscreen is just one way they can protect themselves against the sun.

      But lucky for those of us who have insisted on choosing safer sunscreens for years, sunscreen ingredients like Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide already have broad spectrum protection. *grin*  Until next summer, be sure to choose a sunscreen with “broad spectrum” protection with an SPF of 30 or higher.

      Jun

      10

      Organic Bamboo Velour by Baby UR Precious (Giveaway)

      Filed Under Eco-Mama, Product Reviews | 201 Comments

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        Organic Bamboo Velour is buttery soft and absorbent!

        I’ve used and have a couple organic cotton towels for the kids, and they’re nice. But I had no idea just how luxurious organic towels could be! One of my sponsors, Baby UR Precious is a family owned and operated business which specializes in organic cotton velour products like hooded towels, wash cloths and blankets. They are hand crafted in the USA with 100% certified Natural Organic Bamboo Velour.

        Erin, the mom behind the magic at Baby UR Precious sent us a Organic Hooded Toddler Towel for review (and a washcloth for me!) to try out and I was just in love from first touch!  To be honest, I had some misgivings about velour being less absorbent than cotton but I was proven totally wrong once I tried out these organic bamboo velour towels.  They are SO soft.  And I am not saying “soft” in the traditional sense… I mean really soft, softer than butter soft.  So soft I wanted to cover my body with it and take a nap, soft.  But would it be good as a towel?

        I wrapped my youngest son in the cuddle towel after a bath and laid him on the changing table.  He grabbed the towel and rubbed it on his face the way he does with his beloved “kie kie” (our name for blankies in our house) and I think he wanted to bring it to bed with him. Better yet? It is really absorbent and dries them fast (which is key with wiggly kids) and gently with the buttery soft fabric.  I was pleasantly surprised how well it dried him off and when I was done the towel wasn’t sopping wet… bamboo has the ability to wick moisture away from the skin and is 3 times more absorbent than cotton.  Who knew? Bamboo is also naturally antibacterial and the fabric dries quickly on its own. I would recommend this for babies especially, and babies and kids with sensitive skin and skin issues like eczema.  It’s soft and gentle and won’t irritate.

        I was so happy to find out that Baby UR Precious also creates blankets with their amazing organic bamboo velour (my son will be so thrilled to not have that since he’s been trying to sleep with his towel!).  They also make Baby Hooded Towels, Burp Cloths (so perfect for this use – absorbent and soft), Bibs, Blankets, and Washcloths.  The washcloths are great for baby but I love it for me! I have sensitive skin and love having the soft velour to dry my face at night after washing.  They come in a variety of soft colors and are very durable.  I’ve washed my 100 times already and it still looks new. They aren’t inexpensive as far as these things go but it’s worth it in my opinion.  The softness, the absorbency and the wear… you’ll only need one! Plus you’ll be supporting a family run business maintained by a mom just like me, and you.

        Where Do I Get It??: You can order these luxurious towels and blankets direct from Baby UR Precious!

        Win One!

        Baby UR Precious is giving one of my lovely readers an Organic Bamboo Hooded Baby Towel!

        Here’s How To Enter (Required):

        Visit Baby UR Precious and have a look around.  Tell me in the comments what you would love to have for your kids (or for a friend/relative)!  For me, I’d choose the Oversized Blanket since my son wants to sleep with his towel!

        For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

        • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
        • Fan/Like  Baby UR Precious on Facebook (first name, last initial)
        • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
        • Follow @babyurprecious 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 an Organic Bamboo Velour Baby Towel from @Babyurprecious on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 6/17 http://tinyurl.com/447wh8m

        One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until June 17, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!  Thank you Baby UR Precious!

        CoOngratulations commenter #7,  BlessedBlogger!   Thank you everyone who tweeted and entered.

        Jun

        2

        Summer Starter Kit from Lullaby Organics! (Giveaway)

        Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Green Mama, Skin Care | 254 Comments

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          I released my 2011 Sunscreen Cheat Sheet recently and right on time for starting out the summer fun!  Being in the south, we’ve been beaching and swimming for a while so it’s not new to us but the rest of the northern states are gearing up for heading to the beach, lake, river, or wherever you spend your leisure summer days.  So while you’re packing up your big floppy hats, umbrellas and filling your coolers with snacks, you can add some other summer aides to your pile to make your summer fun and safe.

          Lullaby Organics, one of our sponsors and supporters is offering a Summer Starter Kit for some fun in the sun to one of my very lucky readers. In the kit you’ll receive some fabulous goodies from Lullaby Organics to get your summer off to a good start.  Better even, if you don’t win the kit, you can buy your own for yourself or as a gift! These are all GREAT products that I support and love.

          Green Toys Sand Play Set – I’m a big fan of Green Toys and for good reason.  Not only are their toys recycleable, but they are make of 100% recycled plastic, made in the USA and contain no BPA, PVC or Phthalates.  Plus, their toys are really fun to play with.  We’ve used their sand toy set here at the beach many many times.  Everyone fights over the Green Toys shovel because it’s the best one. Their toys are sturdy and well designed and will last far longer than the cheap plastic beach toys we have (that always end up breaking every year).  Green Toys stand the test of time. And they look cool! And then you can recycle them when you’re done with them (which will be never… they really are that sturdy)

          Purple Prairie SPF 30+ Sun Stuff - Purple Prairie got awarded  Best Overall Sunscreen in this years cheat sheet.  It feels “drier” than other natural sunscreens, protects great and stands up to swim, beach and rough play in the sun. When you can’t keep hats and sun clothes on the kids, a good sunscreen is good back up for long days in the sun.  Some sun exposure is very important to overall health, so don’t keep them slathered every second in the sun.  But if you’re out at a picnic for hours on end and the kids won’t get off the playground, a little Sun Stuff will keep them from getting burned. Non-greasy, minimal whiteness (seriously – it’s a non-issue) and good protection.  Hands down my summer favorite this year.

          BienElla Bug Spray – Sometimes it gets later in the day and those biting rascals come out to play too.  Here in Florida I battle the buggies every afternoon around dinner time. They are relentless.  So some natural bug repellent is key this time of year. Natural oils confuse bugs and keep them off your arms and legs.  It has a pleasant scent and isn’t heavy on your skin. The small bottle fits perfectly in a side pocket of your non woven tote bag.  BienElla specializes in all natural skin and body solutions and their bug spray is no exception.  No DEET, just natural bug repelling oils to keep them at bay.

          My Mama’s Love Burn Out Organic Burn Cream – If by chance you happen to get too much sun and there are pink backs and faces running around the house, perhaps a little soothing rescue is in order.  My Mama’s Love Burn Out Burn Cream is great because it is SUPER effective for sunburn and made with natural organic ingredients for a soothing, healing ointment for burns that provides fast relief.  My Mama’s Love products are specialized for problem skin issues like eczema, bug bites, scalp problems and itchies. Natural organic ingredients that exclude allergens is the key to it’s success!

          Stock Up: Get your Safe Summer Essentials Kit from Lullaby Organics!

          Here’s How To Enter (Required):

          Visit Lullaby Organics and let me know what items they carry would make your life greener. They carry some great stuff! (I love the organic cotton jammies myself..)

          For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

          • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
          • Fan/Like  Lullaby Organics on Facebook (first name, last initial)
          • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
          • Follow @lullabyorganics 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 Safe Summer Essentials kit from @LullabyOrganics on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 6/10 http://tinyurl.com/6fmko8f

          One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until June 10, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!  Thank you Lullaby Organics!

          Congratulations commenter #84  - Tara B!   Thank you to everyone who entered.  I wish I could give this prize to everyone!

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