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Search Results for "pit putty"

Apr

23

Safe Mama Review: Pit Putty

Filed Under Green Mama, Product Reviews, Skin Care, paraben free

With everything going on in the news, I haven’t had much in the way of time to post a review, and generally, I’d say this is a good thing as news is what keeps us going around here, but this review is one that I’ve been been pretty excited about. I know you’re probably thinking: excited over deodorant? You need to get out more, Statia. And indeed I do, but that’s not going to stop me from being excited.

Replacing all of my beloved beauty products has been a very arduous and painful process. For one, I LOVE product. At any given time, I was once known to have at least 11 tubes and/or tins of lip gloss in my handbag. Now that I’m trying to live a less chemical life, it’s been trial and error, and also a lot of money. One of the last things I tried to replace was my antiperspirant. For one, most of the natural deodorants that are out there, are just that, deodorant, not antiperspirant. I was kind of scared of that, since I sweat like my father (and that’s just not pretty). The other thing is that most of them were like rubbing honey on my armpits, which left me feeling sticky all day, on top of sweating.

Enter Bubble and Bee Organics. I found Stephanie and Steve’s site while surfing around and I really don’t even know how I stumbled upon it, but I was really intrigued by Pit Putty. I slept on it, paced and took one long last hug of my icky chemically laden antiperspirant, before I bit the bullet and ordered it.

Oh my sweet baby Jesus. I saw angels! And rainbows! And unicorns! I LOVE this deodorant. When I first put it on, it was really flaky, and I looked in the mirror at my black t-shirt, that was now covered in white stains, and I was disheartened, but then I realized that I didn’t need an entire stick. I backed off and used a small amount, rubbed it in, like the directions said and then headed off to spend a day out in the hot sun. I did sweat a little bit, but it wasn’t much and quite frankly, we’re supposed to sweat, but I did not stink. At all. I wanted to give it a good week to give it a fair chance. I still love it. It isn’t sticky in the slightest, and when you rub it in, there’s no residue left behind. And it smells great, kind of like chai.

All of Bubble and Bee’s products are chemical free and organic. Everything smells so fresh and light. And Stephanie and Steve are so committed to making sure you’re happy, that they’ll go the extra mile to help you find a deodorant if you’re not satisfied.

Now if only I can convince them to make it in 5 gallon drums….

Update: There’s been a big response to Pit Putty both here and over at Bubble and Bee, which makes me happy. Stephanie has been generous enough to offer a coupon code. Simply enter the code “safemom” at checkout and save 15% off your order, over $35, which can also be combined with free shipping on all orders over $50. (offer expired, but check out the new offer over at LovelyMama valid until 11/1/08)They have several different deodorants to choose from. And if you’re not happy with it, they have an awesome deodorant guarantee policy.

Search Results for "pit putty"

Apr

14

Greening your hospital stay.

Filed Under Eco-Mama, Safe Mama Tips

With the impending birth of our second child on the horizon, I’ve given a lot of thought to packing my hospital bag and what I used last time and what I’ll definitely want to bring this time.   Being a little wiser, and greener, I’ve given consideration on how I can minimize my environmental impact, while also keeping in mind that I’ll have just had a baby, so I need to be realistic.   I’m not the greenest person on the plantet by far, but the amount of waste that a hospital creates is insane.  If you’re planning on giving birth in the hospital,  there are steps you can take to be a little greener.

Diapers.

In general, the hospital will supply diapers for you during your stay, which makes things easy.   When we stayed in the hospital with the birth of our son, I made sure to take every single pack of diapers in the room, if they weren’t nailed down.  But that was before I decided on cloth.   Now, while I would love to bring my cloth diapers with me to the hospital, it’s not practical.  Possible, yes, but definitely not practical given that you’re already exhausted, sore and have limited resources.  If it’s something you can pull off, then I commend you, but there are other greener alternatives to conventional disposables.

  • Seventh Generation Diapers – Seventh Generation are my favorite disposable brand.  They work best on my son when I need to use disposables.   While they’re not any more biodegradable than your conventional diapers, they’re chlorine free, fragrance free and free of any of the awful chemicals that regular diapers have.    These will be accompanying me to the hospital when I give birth.
  • Nature Babycare Diapers -  I had the opportunity to try these out and I love them, but they weren’t readily available and given my gestating status, I usually don’t realize that I need diapers until I needed them yesterday.  These are really great diapers because they’re also all natural, compostable and biodegradable.   Everything about these diapers are eco-friendly, and the little leaf design on them is adorable.
  • gDiapers -  g diapers are another great biodegradable alternative.  They may be a little more cumbersome in the hospital, but the liners are flushable (check with your hospital before you flush them if you decide to use this system while you’re there) and unless you have a blowout, you can reuse the diaper and the snap in liner (the snap in is really easy to wash with some warm soap and water and dries in a few minutes.).

Wipes

Wipes are another thing that they do supply in the hospital.   My hospital supplied just basic paper towel like wipes that you simply wet down, which are great from a chemical free standpoint, but if your hospital supplies disposable wipes, they may be a brand that harbors unfavorable chemicals.  Again, if you’re planning on being brave and bringing your own cloth wipes to the hospital, hats off to you, but here are a couple of different wipes brands we love:

  • Whole Foods 365 Brand – I actually love these the best out of any of the “healthier” wipes brands out there.  They’re bigger and sturdier than other brands, and when you have a toddler, the last thing you want is a wipe that won’t function.  I use less wipes, and I rarely worry about getting, um, poop, on my hands.
  • Seventh Generation Baby Wipes -  Seeing as how we’re fans of Seventh Generation, these are another great alternative to cloth wipes when you’re out and about (or in the hospital).
  • Nature Babycare – I loved these wipes when I tried them, but again, they didn’t have them readily available.  I generally use cloth wipes at home, so I don’t really go through a lot of disposables, but since these are also biodegradable, I highly recommend these for your hospital stay.  Bonus!  They also make biodegradable bags.  This would be great for a hospital stay, and also if you’re out and about, or traveling.

Baby Accessories

Again, bringing as much as you can from home, without having to rent a U-Haul, is key.   Although, I will tell you, for the love of all that’s holy, take the hospital grade aspirator home with you.   Tell them you lost one and take two.   This was invaluable advice that was given to me (by Kathy, I believe) and we still use that thing to this day.  Literally.  I’ve been using it for the last two weeks.  Of course, there are things you can do in the interest of health, and things you can do to create less waste at the hospital, but disposable things are going to be thrown away, no matter how you cut it.   So pick what will work for you and use stuff that the hospital gives you if it’s just going to be thrown away anyway.

  • “Un Petroleum” Jelly - If by chance you need petroleum jelly for something, this is another one of those things that the hospital will supply for you, and you can save them the trouble of having to give you some, by bringing your own safer alternative.  We love this stuff and I feel better knowing that it has no harsh chemicals.  It’s a nice sized tube, so it’ll last you awhile and you’re not creating excess waste.
  • Formula and bottles – If for some reason you’re not planning on breastfeeding (and really, no judgment here, we realize that it’s not possible in all situations).  Bring your own formula to cut down on waste.  They go through TONS of those little nursettes and while they’re easy (and definitely add to your formula supply), they create so much waste.   Bring a few bottles with you to the hospital and a small sample of dishwashing detergent. Again, this is definitely personal choice.  You’ll be exhausted and we won’t be up in your grill if you do choose the nursers (I don’t really remember much of my hospital stay, I was that tired).   But you know, if you do bring your own, this is the time where your husband or partner can really shine (bottles, that is).
  • Baby skin care – Granted, you won’t be giving your baby a full bath in the hospital, but if you want to give them a sponge bath before you go home (also great to do with a nurse present if you’re first time parents, so that you don’t feel totally clueless when you get home), bring your own baby care products.   And opt for full sizes, so that you don’t have to  create extra waste by loading up on samples.   Our safe skin care cheat sheet is a great resource if you’re not sure of what’s out there.

Accessories for Mama.

Of course, you’ve just given birth and while you can’t have all of the luxuries of home, you can bring some things that are not only pampering, but at the same time, reduces your impact.

  • Your own water bottle – If you don’t have one already, treat yourself to a new stainless (or safer plastic) water bottle.    You’re going to need to stay very well hydrated after going through childbirth, especially if you’re breastfeeding.  Not only will this reduce your husband taking a million trips to the water dispenser at the hospital (because sure they give you a pitcher, but the water eventually gets warm, ew), you won’t be using disposable cups.  I LOVE my Thermos Intak, but really, any stainless is a great choice as it insulates your water for longer periods of time.
  • Toiletries -  There is never a shower that you will look forward to more, than the one you’re finally allowed to take after giving birth.  If  you’re delivering your first child, trust me when I tell you, to bring your own toiletries.  I made the mistake of forgetting my toothpaste and the stuff that the hospital supplies, is horrible.  Not only are you reducing your impact by not adding to hospital waste, but most of the stuff they provide you with, really sucks.  So pack your own stuff.  If you already have smaller travel containers, and want to carry smaller amounts, go for it, otherwise, skip the sample sizes.
  • Towels – You’re going to have dirty clothes, therefore, you’re going to already have a bag of laundry that you’re bringing home with you, so bring your own towel.  Again, not only is this reducing excess water consumption (in their laundry department, that is), but hospital towels are crap.  I’m not saying to bring your best set of towels, but even an older towel from home that you might not care about as much, is definitely better than the standard hospital towel.
  • Reusable breast pads -  Again, you’re going to have laundry, and breast pads really don’t take up much room in the grand scheme of things, so putting these in your bag instead of disposables, again, will help cut down on excess waste.

Of course, we could go crazy and recommend a million things to help lessen your impact, but some of them are just not practical.  Like bringing your own cloth maxi pads.   Trust me, you’re going to want to use the disposable stuff that they give you in the hospital.  The aggravation is just not worth it.    And if you have any other ideas,  definitely contact us, and we’ll happily add it to the list.  Especially if it’s something you did in the past and it worked out for you.   Again, we realize that you’ve just given birth, so we’re trying to be as realistic as possible.

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Sep

26

Introducing LovelyMama! One-stop safe beauty!

Filed Under Eco-Mama, Green Mama, Website News

For a long time now we’ve gotten email after email from readers saying “Ok, we’ve got the kids covered, now what about US??”  We heard you.  We want to welcome our readers to visit our new sister site LovelyMama!  Since the birth of SafeMama.com, both Statia and I have been making big changes to the personal care items we put on our bodies and face.  We don’t want to put parabens and phthalates on our babies, so why should we want that junk on us too?  We’re far from having tried every product on the market but we’ve tried a lot of the alternatives out there and wanted to share our finding with you!

We’ll cover all areas of green and eco-friendly personal care including Make Up, Bath & Body, Hair Products, Skin Care, Pregnancy Body care products, Giveaways and much more (check out Statia’s updated review on the new Pit Putty as well as an exclusive discount code for Bubble and Bee)!  It’s hard enough reading all the awful things in the news about phthalates, lead in lipstick and the body burden woes of our teenage daughters – we wanted to create a space to talk about things you CAN use that won’t put you into an anxiety frenzy.

The products we feature will have to pass a long list of No’s to make it into our elite LovelyMama Seal of Approval category to make choosing what’s right for you easier.  The site just opened it’s doors and content is just starting to flow so check back with us, sign up for updates, and subscribe to the LovelyMama RSS feed to keep up with what’s going on over there.

This has been a long time in the making and has been sitting on the back burner for ages, so we’re happy to finally be able to share it with you!  Let’s all be eco-gorgeous!

Search Results for "pit putty"

Jun

19

Guest Post: Stephanie of Bubble & Bee Tells Us About Dimethicone

Filed Under Chemicals, Product Safety, Skin Care

stephStephanie from one of our favorite companies Bubble & Bee, where she creates awesome products from lip balm to deodorant to lotion sticks (her Geranium Lime Pit Putty is a SafeMama Fave) has so graciously offered her chemical expertise to us when we’ve needed it. In true Stephanie form, she came through for us when we asked her about the “real deal” on Dimethicone. I see it pop up everywhere from sunscreen, moisturizer to make up.   I asked her about it when a reader wrote in to us from Lovely SafeMama inquiring about the safety of Jane Iredale’s Cosmetics.  Dimethicone was one of the ingredients I saw pop up in almost every formulation so I thought it best to ask Steph about it.  Here’s Stephanie’s  breakdown!

EWG Risk Score: 3

What is it: Dimethicone is a silicone product that’s used as a skin conditioning agent, hair conditioning agent, and emollient (skin softener).  Depending on how it’s made, it can also be used as an industrial lubricant and caulk. It’s also a main ingredient of Silly Putty.  According to EWG, “Dimethicone is a mixture of fully methylated linear siloxane polymers end blocked with trimethylsiloxy units.”  In other words, it’s a highly industrialized, highly synthesized non-natural ingredient. It’s also known at “polydimethylsiloxane”

Why is it a risk: According to the Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List, dimethicone is bioaccumulative in humans and wildlife.  Basically it pollutes our bodies and environments and accumulates in our organs.  It’s not a known carcinogen or anything like that, but why add to the toxic load of environmental toxins that we add to our bodies on a daily basis?  In addition, poisonous hydrochloric gas is emitted during the chemical production of this ingredient.

What type of products it is in:

  • Sunscreen
  • Moisturizer
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Makeup
  • Personal Lubricant

A few companies that use this chemical:

  • Almay
  • Jason Naturals
  • KY
  • Shikai
  • Avalon Organics
  • EO
  • Revlon
  • Aveeno

Steph’s Opinion: There are definitely worse chemicals than dimethicone, but there are definitely healthier, more natural options.  Why use a silicon-based polymer when you can use a natural oil or butter as an emollient or skin conditioner?  It’s used in shampoos and conditioners to make your hair feel soft and silky, however, it’s not really making your hair softer–it’s just coating the hair so it feels this way.  It’s one of those ingredients that’s used in lotions to trick us in to thinking it’s healing our skin because it makes the skin feel soft.  In reality it’s only covering problems and not fostering actual healing.

Sources:

http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ingredient.php?ingred06=702011&refurl=/product.php?prod_id=49387&&nothanks=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydimethylsiloxane

More Info: Stephanie recently launched an awesome resource called Chemical of the Day where she highlights a ew chemical each day.  She has a weath of knowledge and information to share so I suggest you check it out.  Also check out her great products on her site Bubble & Bee!  Thanks Stephanie!!!

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Jun

29

Review: Organic Baby Clothes by SOFT (Giveaway!)

Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews

I haven’t had the opportunity to check out much in the way of organic baby clothing so when I was contacted by SOFT, a maker of organic cotton baby wear to do a review and a giveaway I was happy to be able to!

Creator, Yee Wong, who is originally from Hong Kong and now a New Yorker, created the line to meet the growing demands for organics in clothing – especially baby who is most sensitive to environmental toxins. SOFT clothing is made from 100% Organic cotton – never dyed or bleached and uses an eco-friendly water based ink. The designs are cute, cheeky and are an awesome gift or addition to an expectant mother’s layette.

I received a sample of their really adorable Growl Onesie. It lives up to it’s name and is very soft but what I was most impressed with is the construction.  It has little stretch panels in the armpits and neck for added baby comfort.  not to mention the little dog face on it is precious.  All of SOFT’s baby items are super stylish.  I mean, how adorable is this onsie for a boy? Boys always get stiffed in the cute clothes department!
Get Them: You can pick up any SOFT items right on their website.

Win It!

SOFT is giving away one Growl Onesie to a lucky SafeMama reader! AND, I’m going to giveaway the review sample too so that’s two winners!

To Enter the Giveaway (Required):

Visit SOFT and check out their selection of other items… Leave a comment here letting me know what you think is cute!

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

  • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via RSS reader
  • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
  • Share this giveaway on Facebook (leave the link)
  • Put our SafeMama button on your blog or website and leave us a link
  • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook
  • Fan/Like  SOFT on Facebook
  • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  #WIN an Organic Onesie by SOFT from @SafeMama #giveaway ends 7/9 http://tinyurl.com/23x72ka

One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Giveaway open to US residents. Entries will be accepted until July 9, 2010 at midnight PST. Good Luck :D

Giveaway closed.

Congratulations Commenters #41 Amber and #53 Lani! Thanks to all who entered and tweeted the giveaway.

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Jun

25

Review: Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm

Filed Under Product Reviews, Skin Care

I’ve been trying to review more sunscreens that have made it on to our 2010 Sunscreen Cheat Sheet this year and this is one of them.  There is a lot to choose from and even though we list only a handful – it’s still tricky to know which one is the best fit for you.  For me it’s more or less on a scenario basis.  I use one for the playground, one for the beach or pool and one on me vs the kids.  So when I had the chance to check out the Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm I was really psyched.

I’ll make a confession.  When I first learned about Miessence I was really reluctant to trust them.  When organizations set up their business so that people can resell it, I get weary about brainwashing and greenwashing.  I felt similarly about Shaklee for that reason (and still kind of do – don’t crawl up my butt Shaklee people).  But once I had a chance to really look at the ingredients and practices of Miessence my heart warmed for the entire product line and their products made their way to SafeMama approval.

ElyOrganics.com provided a sample of the Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm for me to check out and I am so glad she did.  Here’s what I think of it as a sunscreen.

It has an SPF marking of 15.  But according to third party testing OneGroup (Miessence) submitted, gave it a rating of SPF level 29.5.  Despite that I tested it on myself first to make sure it would provide adequate coverage and sun protection.

At first glance, the balm appears gray, which I’ll admit is a little off putting.  But after everything I’ve learned when it comes to truly natural products is to not judge it by how it looks and rather, how it works and feels.  So I slathered it on anyway and set out into the sun to see how my somewhat fair skin would do.  Like natural sunscreens it does apply a little on the thicker side at first but does spread quite easy.  You do get some of that “ghosting” that natural sunscreens give you but its not as prominent as other brands.  In fact after about 30 minutes you couldn’t see it at all.  So maybe there is something to the gray… less pale whiteness to deal with.

I wore it at the pool (apply every 2 hours as instructed) and came home with nary a burn mark on me. Success!  This is a great choice in sunscreens and I really love the ingredients list which is mostly organic and natural.  The sunscreening ingredient is zinc oxide which provide excellent broad spectrum protection.

Get It! You can purchase Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm from ElyOrganics.com – Let her know SafeMama sent ya!

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Apr

28

SafeMama Cheat Sheet: Safer Hand Sanitizers

Filed Under Product Safety, Safe Mama Tips, cleaning products

For the longest time, we were always getting the question, what about sanitizing?  “I want to carry a hand sanitizer!”  “What about sanitizing my toys/baby bottles/pacifiers?”   It seems like these days, it’s so much more prevalent to see some parent slathering Purell or the like on their kid at every turn.   They keep giant warehouse size bottles of it in school classrooms.  Parents want to sanitize their entire life.   Even my washing machine has a sanitizing mode.  Do my kid’s socks really need to be sanitized?

And this is where I get a bit cranky.  When we were younger, our parents weren’t insane about wiping down grocery carts before we sat in them.   We didn’t have cart covers.   If a pacifier dropped on the ground, our parents licked it off with their own spit and popped it back in our mouths.  As much as I eschew religious references, like my mother says (yes, I’m turning into my mother now.  Help me) “God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt!“  Maybe she could use a little polishing on her grammar, but what she says is true. (Kathy thinks dirt is filled with pesticides and PDBE’s…. she’s paranoid like that)

Truth be told, I would LOVE for my house to be hospital sanitized, but that’s my itchy brain hating the fact that there’s dog hair in my life and mud and grass being tracked in, and probably poopy dog paws, and what have you.  Not because I feel the need to be overly sanitized in my life.  Our love with hand sanitizers in this day and age is just not natural.

However, I know that there are times when there is a need for something to sanitize when you’re on the run and you have nothing else available to you.   Like when the only place to go to the bathroom for miles is an old disgusting gas station rest room with no soap (which by the way to avoid such a mishap, shoot on over to Mommy Likes and sign up to win an awesome fold up travel potty from Cool Gear Inc.).

Now that I’ve stepped up on my soapbox, here are some natural sanitizer alternatives:

Looking to kill bacteria or fight germs in your home?   One of our favorite ingredients we’ve recommended time and time again, is vinegar.   Another great ingredient is lemon juice (from a fresh squeezed lemon is best).    Making a mix of the two to clean your counters and other surfaces in your home beats the pants of off those noxious smelling blue multipurpose cleaners any day of the week.

Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

You can easily make your own hand sanitizer.  Essential oils such as thyme, oregano, tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus to name a few are great at killing a host of bacteria.  Here’s an easy recipe from eHow.com

Ingredients

  • 100% pure aloe vera gel (organic is preferred – aloe can be preserved with parabens)
  • Witch hazel
  • Tea Tree Oil
  • Peppermint Oil

Directions

  • Place about 1 cup of your pure aloe vera gel into a bowl.
  • Slowly mix in 1-2 teaspoons of Witch Hazel. You do not want the consistency of the gel to become too thin.
  • Add 3-4 drops of Tea Tree essential oil, and 3-4 drops of Peppermint essential oil. Slowly stir ingredients together.
  • If you find the consistency to be too thin, add more aloe vera gel a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
  • Store in a re-purposed container.

Most of the time however, just warm soapy water for 15-20 seconds is more than enough to kill germs.  I have my son sing his ABC’s while washing his hands to get into the practice of washing for long enough.    I save even the natural hand sanitizers for when we’re truly in need.

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Mar

22

SafeMama Baby Pool Cheat Sheet

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, PVC Free

Last year we had gotten the question about baby and wading pools for small kids.  What better way to spend a summer afternoon than sitting in your backyard with some friends and letting the kids splash around?  It’s a nice cheap afternoon.  The kids are having fun, you’re working on your tan (in moderation of course), and you’re able to have a somewhat peaceful conversation with other adults.  One of my friends has what we refer to as “block party,” during the summer.  She puts every outdoor toy in her driveway, along with her pool and we all just hang out under umbrellas while the kids have fun.   The only drawback is, her pool is vinyl, which makes me a little paranoid sometimes.   I tend to be phobic of chemicals, so this year, I was determined to search for better alternatives.  I wasn’t going to stop until I found a suitable alternative.  And thankfully, I came up with a few ideas.

PVC Free Baby Pools

EverEarth Inflatable Pool: Looks like a regular blow up pool but it’s made of TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) which according to EverEarth is biodegradable and phthalate free.  They also have a full line of pool toys, inflatables, swimmies, and rafts. Woo!  Check out their website for the selection.  I don’t think these are available just yet but as soon as they are I’ll update and let you know where to find them.  I have to thank Inhabitots for the find – thanks!

Molded Plastic Pools: This is your typical and least expensive option if you’re looking to go with something PVC and phthalate free.   You can typically find these anywhere, including grocery stores, toy stores and department stores like, Target and Wal Mart.   They range from $8 to $20 depending on the size.  They’re generally made of LDPE (low density polyethylene, which is #4 on the recycling scale).  Sometimes they have a recycling code on them, and sometimes they don’t.   But they are a good option if you’re looking for something inexpensive and fun.  The only drawback to these is that they tend to be a pain to empty, but that’s a pretty low con to deal with for the price.

Sun Smarties Pop up Pool: Another great, but a little more expensive option is one that I found over at One Step Ahead, called the Sun Smarties Pop Up Pool.  I was really excited about this find, and went ahead and ordered one (I can’t give you any details on it yet, though, because it’s back-ordered until next month.  Thankfully it’s still late winter and not summer yet!).  This pool just seems like an all around great option. The great thing about this pool is that it pops up easily folds up so flat, that you can pack it with you if you’re going on vacation!  Neat.   It comes with a sun canopy that clips on easily, which is great because you can move it around as the day wears on to make sure that your child has all day sun shade (but remember to still put sunscreen on them.  You know how kids are, in out in out in out).   Because of its ease of use, you can also get use out if it in the winter by using it as a ball pit.   It also comes in three sizes, which is a nice plus.  The smallest model retails for about $40, but the biggest one is pretty pricey at $90.   The Sun Smarties pop up pool is made from puncture resistant polyester.   Once I get mine, I’ll add my two cents to the information.

Statia Says (5/20/09): I received my pool and unfortunately, I’m going to have to remove the Sun Smarties Pop up Pool from our list.  Sadly, when I opened my pool, I noticed the plastic liner suspiciously looked like PVC (which is not mentioned in the product description).  However, One Step Ahead will not confirm what the liner is made of, so I’ll leave this information here in case One Step Ahead wants to clarify any information, or if any of you went ahead and ordered the pool.   I’m so disappointed, because this seemed like a great space saving option.

Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sand and Wading Pool: This is a really cute, fun option for smaller toddlers.  The pool is somewhat small, so use would be limited, but if you really wanted to, you could fill both sides with water for more pool room.  Sometimes though, all kids need is just a little bit of water to have a lot of fun.  I also like that you can fold it up when it’s not in use and that there’s an umbrella to give the kids some shade on a hot day.  Little Tikes products are made of polypropylene (#5 plastic), which is recyclable in nearly all areas and Little Tikes products hold their value really well, so when you’re done with it, you could sell it to recoup your cost or donate it.

Phthalate free vinyl pool Perhaps this isn’t the most eco-friendly option, but there are PVC pools that are phthalate free.   They’re made without using all of the phthalates to soften the pvc.  I’ve researched and found some options, particularly one company by the name of Intex, that makes them, but they seem to be hard to find.  Maybe as the demand becomes higher, they will be more readily available.   There is however, the issue of how it could be recycled, and if it could be recycled easily, given that most PVC is made with phthalates.  I haven’t done a ton of research on it yet, since summer is still around the corner.   But it’s on my list of things to look into.

Little Tikes Wade Lagoon: This is beyond expensive as an option for something phthalate free, but it is phthalate free, nonetheless.   Little Tikes inflatables are all made of a mix of polyethylene and phthalate free PVC (as confirmed by a rep from little tikes).  All Little Tikes products are free of phthalates and BPA, so that’s comforting to know.  This product is built to last, which is one of the things I love about Little Tikes.  The inflatable products are expensive, but they definitely hold up to a beating (we have one of their bouncers, and a very active jumpy little boy, so I know how sturdy they are).   The good thing about this, is that you’d no doubt get quite a few years out of it, and it would probably last until your kids outgrew it and again, Little Tikes products hold their value, so you can sell it later on down the road and extend its life a little longer.

Another option that isn’t technically a “wading pool” but could also be used as a pool, would be a stock tank.  I’ve seen these as options around the internet, and while they could get pricey, they are a little bigger than your typical plastic molded pool.  I actually researched this option, but we’re a little low on garage space, so I went with the foldable pool instead, to save space.  They’re extremely sturdy and are higher on the sides than an actual wading pool, which might be nice if you wanted to say, fill it up on a hot summer day and kick the kids out, while the mom’s enjoyed some nice cold beverages.   I’m just sayin’…

Know a product you think belongs in this list? Let us know!

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Mar

15

SafeMama’s 2010 Safer Baby Skin Care Cheat Sheet

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Product Safety, Skin Care

SafeMama 2010 Skin Care Cheat SheetWelcome to the next generation of our 2010 Safer Baby Skin Care Cheat Sheet! As we’ve grown and learned, we have become more aware of other ingredients, aside from parabens and phthalates, we wish to avoid. We also realize that there are different trains of thought (how many chemicals you’ll tolerate) and budgets to consider so we decided to simplify this list and split it up. For more detailed information on why we avoid certain ingredients please check our glossary. Below is a listing of brands we recommend. (Last Updated July 23, 2010)

Notice: Please do not redistribute this list anywhere without our prior written consent. If you would like to share this information with your readers, please use the handy little button we created for doing just that and link back here. We spent time away from our kids, pouring over ingredients lists, digging in the Skin Deep Database and learning about chemicals and processes. Please help us make that worth our time and energy by not copy/pasting our work on other websites, communities, forums or blogs without permission. Thank you!

Want to know about skin care & beauty products? Check out LovelyMama for product reviews and recommendations.  Us Mommies need safe skin care too!

BEST CHOICES: SafeMama’s Top Picks

The following brands are, according to the latest ingredient information, 100% chemical free. They also rate well in the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics database and are responsible companies. These are listed in alphabetical order for each rating group and not in a preferential manner. [Key: Brand Name, (Skin Deep rating range for baby items only, if available - Skin Deep ratings start at 0 being the best and goes up to 10 being the most hazardous)]

BETTER CHOICES

These are also really GREAT Choices: All baby care items are free of Parabens, Phthalates, PEG’s, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone, SLS and a bevy of other chemicals I won’t bother listing. Brands exhibit a very respectable ingredients list. (Note: In some brands cases they carry several products that are chemical free however have one or two items that were not.) I personally use many items from brands in this section.

GOOD CHOICES

Brands are Paraben, Phthalate, Propylene Glycol, PEG, Propylene Glycol Free though had one or more products containing cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium benzoate, dimethicone, and/or phenoxyethanol. Some of these brands had traces of just one questionable ingredient and others had several, or contained more chemically processed ingredients than we were comfortable with. These are still far better choices than most mainstream baby products and would recommend them. You will need to investigate the products yourself and make a judgment call.

Gluten Free Brands

These brands are gluten free according to their informational materials, for those needing to avoid gluten in their skin care. (Not comprehensive)

  • 100% Pure Kids
  • California Baby
  • Episencial
  • Nature’s Paradise Organics
  • TruKid Skin Care

Basic Skin Care Tips:

Read labels carefully. Beware of the basics -paraben, fragrance, PEG’s, and propylene glycol. Use our list as a guide.

Shopping at a “natural” store doesn’t mean everything is paraben and phthalate free. Read labels, know how to decipher the ingredients and don’t be fooled by the word “natural” or “organic” on the label. These words are not regulated the way food is… just because it says natural/organic doesn’t always mean it is.

Be wary of the term “fragrance”. Synthetic fragrances are a phthalate culprit so if you can, try to use products with organic or natural essential oils only if you are unsure. Unscented products can also contain phthalates by using a fragrance masking agent.

Use less products. This seems like a no-brainer but many people use way more than they need. Babies are born with the most perfect skin (usually) and it will never again be as perfect as it is when they’re babies.  Their sin is also sensitive and susceptible.  They don’t need to be slathered in lotions and powders. A little warm water and a washcloth is all they really need. When kids get older and grimier (like mine) a little soap and warm water does the trick and you can spot treat any dry skin problems or rashes.

Make Your Own: Some Castille Soap and water goes a long way!

Note: We support all the brands listed above regardless of what rating they have received.  We also realize everyone has their own standard of “greenness” and feel that there is a product to suit the needs of every child.  Experiment and mix and match until you find which brands work best for you, your family and your budget.  If there is a brand you think is missing from this list, please contact us and let us know and we would be happy to review it for inclusion.

When my son was first born, I probably got sixty bottles of different types of Johnson’s Baby Wash. They had one for every day, one for calming, one for colds. It seemed like they had just about everything I needed. Not having any idea what a paraben or a phthalate was, it was my staple. Once I started doing research (you would think that I would have done this prior to having my baby, but then again, you wouldn’t think they would make a baby shampoo that was laden with chemicals. Fool me once…), I was horrified to learn that I was using something harmful on my son’s delicate skin. I stopped using it immediately and sought other alternatives. I will admit though, I became so used to the smell of the Johnson’s calming baby wash, that I kept a bottle, just for the tactile memory. Every now and then, I’ll give it a little sniff, and it transforms me back to those early days of his newborn baby head. Since then, I’ve done A LOT of research on baby shampoo, and have tried many brands. When my daughter was born, I even brought my own body wash to the hospital and refused to let them use what they had on hand (most likely Johnson’s). Between Kathy and I, I’m pretty confident that we’ve tried just about every brand that’s out there. We’ve pored over ingredients and compared lathering capabilities. And here’s what we’ve come up with.

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Mar

9

Batter Blaster Organic Pancake Batter: BPA in Packaging?

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Food Safety

My husband came home from a grocery shopping trip not long ago and he had a look of total excitement and triumph on his face.  “Look what I found!” he said as he handed me a whipped cream can looking item.  It was the new Batter Blaster that I keep hearing about. At first glance I thought “What a cool idea!” and truthfully, it is a pretty cool concept. Organic batter in a can? Yes please!  But of course, the SafeMama in me wasn’t totally convinced that the can that held this precious certified organic product was BPA free.  So I set out to find the answer.

I checked their website first and while their product information tells us the can is totally recyclable (although I’m told you have to check with your local recycling center to see whether you can actually recycle it on your area) but there was no mention of BPA.  This always is a red flag for me.  Typically, companies who offer organic food or safer products have a BPA free logo or address it in their FAQ’s because who wouldn’t want to leverage that angle? Its marketing…. if its BPA Free (by accident or otherwise) you want people to know.  Since it was missing from an easy access place like their company website I had a feeling I wasnt going to be pleasantly surprised.

However, I did speak to a company representative and my question “Does the can contain BPA?” was answered.  The answer? Yes, and No.

According to Batter Blaster, the cans they were using did contain BPA in the epoxy lining of the metal interior.  No surprise there. Of course they assured me it was within FDA regulation limits and was well below the allowable BPA content.  You know that isn’t good enough for SafeMama.  BPA Free or I don’t buy it.  BUT, Batter Blaster recently changed their cans to a BPA Free one.  So all the new Batter Blaster’s coming into stores are in the new BPA Free steel cans.  Hooray!  But hold on a minute…

My next question was “Ok so are there still cans in stores right now in the old BPA containing packaging?“  The answer that I concluded from our conversation was Yes.  Batter Blaster rolled out their new BPA Free packaging but they are still selling the older style cans (I can assume until they run out of it).  I asked how I would be able to tell the difference and Batter Blaster told me that the older cans look like the ones featured on their website (See the homepage).

  • The old package/can  has a “lip” or a “rim” near the top (See inset).  The newer packaging does not and appears more streamlined.
  • Batter Blaster told me that the cans only have a shelf life of a few months so anything marked with an expiration date of April 2010 or later would be in the new BPA Free  packaging.

So I pulled out the can my husband brought home and flipped it over.  April 2010.  But it was in an old style can with the rim she described.  So perhaps a better gauge will be the new style of packaging (which I cannot find a photo of but will post if I see one).

Right now the Batter Blasters in my local store all have the BPA style packaging so I can only assume that these have not been sold out enough to warrant ordering in the new packaged cans yet, despite the April 2010 expiration dates.  So I may wait a while before I purchase it again.

Update: Here is a photo of what the new BPA Free packaging looks like:

Thanks Schmedley for pointing me to it.

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