Apr

7

Spring Cleaning with Better Life (Exclusive Deal!)

Filed Under cleaning products, Eco-Mama, Giveaways Coupons, Product Safety | Comments Off

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    whateverSpring cleaning is never my favorite thing, but in light of the fact that I am pregnant and having severe nesting urges I’ve been dumping out closets left and right and detailing my bathroom floor more times than I care to share.  But all that cleaning doesn’t worry me (unless I go into early labor from hunching over) thanks to Better Life’s cleaning products.  I’ve been using their stuff since last year and we’ve reviewed them here on SafeMama.  They are also recipients of the SafeMama Excellence in Safety Award.

    I really can’t say enough about Better Life’s products… All their products are free of sulfates, ethoxylates, fragrances, dyes, petroleum-based ingredients, parabens, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as glycol ethers and alcohols. VOCs vaporize, entering the air we breathe and trigger respiratory problems, nausea, headaches, and skin irritation, and contribute to many more ailments.  Not to mention that stuff is all bad for our environment, our waterways and marine life.

    Being the mother of a messy 3 year old boy, the what-EVER All Purpose Cleaner is my constant companion.  It’s prefect for everything and anything.  Even The Kitchen Sink is great for sinks, toilets, … anything grimy.  It’s gentle enough to not scratch while doing the job.  What I love is there is nothing harmful and no awful fumes.  I can mop my kitchen floor with Simply Floored and not stress out about airing out the house.

    GET IT CHEAPER!

    We have a special treat for our readers.  Better Life is offering SafeMama readers a special introductory price on a Better Life Starter Kit.  The kit include:

    • (1) what-EVER Clary Sage & Citrus all-purpose cleaner
    • (1) I Can See Clearly, WOW! glass cleaner
    • (1) Simply Floored! ready-to-use floor cleaner
    • (1) Even the Kitchen Sink gentle scrubber
    • (1) Collapsible six-compartment cleaning caddy
    • (1) Euro Sponge
    • (1) Loofah Sponge (2 – pack)

    Better Life Starter Kit retails for $39.99 but for SafeMama readers they are extending a special price of $29.99!  Aren’t they the coolest?  They have a limited supply and it’s first come first serve so order your kit as soon as possible to get the great discount.  I’ll be taking advantage even though my supply still hasn’t run out from the first batch I received.  This stuff lasts forever.

    How to Order: Go to the Better Life Website at this link and when you checkout use the code “safemama” for $10 OFF!  Remember to hurry because this won’t last forever.  Happy Cleaning!

    SafeMama Cleaning Tip: Even The Kitchen Sink and an old toothbrush makes grout sparkle!

    Mar

    17

    Review: Kids Konserve Lunch Sets

    Filed Under Eco-Mama, Food Safety, Green Mama, Product Reviews | Comments Off

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      Now that my 3 year old is in pre-school, finding safer school supplies and lunch items came to the forefront of my life. I didn’t want to become part of the giant pile of waste created by disposable lunch containers and wraps so I went on a hunt to find better solutions that wouldn’t be a pain in my time-limited neck.

      kitc_smallI got a chance to try out the lunch sets by Kids Konserve.  Their sets come with everything you need to take lunch with you and you come away with zero waste.  ZERO.  That’s something I’ve been working toward while keeping the materials I’m using safe.  The kit comes with a Velcro seal canvas lunch bag, a canvas place mat (this was great for me more than my 3 year old – especially at the park), a reusable sandwich wrap, 2 stainless steel containers for snacks, fruit or whatever really, and a stainless water bottle.. all in a stylish matching print.

      I was really pleased with all the components and it works perfectly for lunch on the go.  The stainless containers seal air tight and keep things fresh, and the sandwich wrap miraculously kept my sons sandwich held together until lunchtime.  I’m trying to teach my son about helping the environment and keeping the planet clean so he gets a kick out of using this system and then bringing it all home to use again the next school day.

      Kids Konserve has a bevy of other reusable lunch storage items like mini stainless tins (great for dips or condiments), insulated food thermos for warm or cold food,  and my favorite thing – party supplies.  The volume of waste created at parties is phenomenal.  They have sets of reusable party dishware for class parties, picnics or parties at home – all made of recyclable yogurt containers.  Cool!  Kids Konserve gets a thumbs up from SafeMama.com!

      Get Kids Konserve: Pic up any of their items or lunch sets at KidsKonserve.com.  Bonus!  Save 10% off your order with the coupon code “safemama“.

      The Earth Day Special for Schools:
      Make money or save money – 25% off is for schools that choose to do a Waste-Free Challenge (either the school earns a 25% kickback or each family will save 25%, the school chooses.) Contact christy@kidskonserve.com to get it started.

      Dec

      10

      SafeMama Review: Maya Wrap (giveaway)

      Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews | Comments Off

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        When my son was born, I didn’t really get into the wrap scene, as I was always afraid of him falling out of the bottom of one.  We had a Bjorn, but he was never a fan of it.  I preferred carrying him around if I needed to, only adding a hotsling to our collection when he was able to sit up and hang on.

        With number two on the way, I know that I’m going to need something if I’m ever going to have use of my hands ever again.   And I will admit, that while I wasn’t too into attachment parenting before my son was born, and now I still cart him around as often as possible.  With this one, I plan on doing things a little differently.  And did I mention that I like having the use of my hands?

        The problem is that there are about 8 million different types of slings and wraps out there and I don’t have disposable income.

        I was lucky enough to be able to try out the new organic version of the Maya Wrap.   The Maya wrap is a ring sling and is incredibly easy to put on and cinch up when you need adjustment.  While I didn’t have a baby to try it out on, I was able to easily get it on with one hand and adjust it without too much fuss, something I know that I’ll definitely need the ability to do when I have an infant. These are also great for nursing, as there’s a lot of fabric so that you can nurse discreetly in public.

        The new organic line comes in three styles, all of which are pretty nice.   I’d definitely want to snag one for myself.

        Get It: You can order the Maya Wrap from Papoose Shop and enjoy 10% off your order until Feb 28th using code Safemama10.   You can also find this code along with other codes in our shopping mall.

        Bonus! We have one organic Maya Wrap in lollipop (shown above) to give away.   This would make any new mom thrilled (this mom would be thrilled to get this for #2, nudge nudge wink wink ;o)  and is close to $100 in value.   Here’s how to enter:

        1. Send an email to safemama.contestsATgmail.com with the subject “Maya Wrap Giveaway” in the subject field.  Please be sure to include your full name and address to avoid delivery delays.

        2. Log onto shoppapoose.com and tell us what your favorite product that Papoose carries.  And tell us your answer in the email.

        You must complete BOTH steps in order to qualify for this giveaway.  Contest expires at midnight December 23rd.  Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of prize.   Contest is open to US and Canadian residents only.

        Nov

        18

        Review: Wool Diaper Covers with Tips and Coupons

        Filed Under Cloth Diapering, Green Mama, Product Reviews | Comments Off

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          Before my son was born I really wanted to use cloth diapers, but I hesitated because my family said that it was such a hassle and well… they didn’t want to use them when they watched my son. After about 9 months the smell of the disposable diapers really got to me and the gel pellets that were left behind from the ones that didn’t smell, horrified me. So I began transitioning to cloth diapers. I started out with a couple of All-in-One diapers that are great but I couldn’t afford to stock up on them so I tried pre-folds.

          At first I  was intimidated by pre-folds because I didn’t know how to fold them but folding is easy.  I went back and forth trying to decide what kind of diaper cover to use but ultimately wool won me over since it is a natural fiber. I love them!  All of the wool covers that I have tried keep my son’s clothing dry if I change him regularly during the day (at least every 2 hours). He does sleep in them at night for 11 hours and his clothes are fine in the morning. Sometimes I put a doubler in at night, but most of the time I don’t because it makes his diaper so big. He does fine either way.

          About wool:

          • Wool can absorb lots of moisture without feeling wet.
          • Lanolizing wool helps it resist moisture.
          • Wool breathes so it doesn’t get too hot or cold.
          • Wool does have an odor after washing but it goes away when it is dry.
          • Wool covers must be lanolized before use.
          • Wool covers only have to be washed about once a week unless they get soiled.
          • Wool is a renewable resource.

          If you decide to try wool covers be sure and measure your child to get a good fit. I found out the hard way (YUK). Another must is finding a good pre-fold, flat or fitted diaper to use under the wool cover. I’ve tried the Indian pre-folds, Blue Penguin’s Snap on Prefold Hemp Diaper and Firefly’s flat diapers and all work for me.

          Little Beetle Merino Wool Jersey Cover: I only use this cover at night and only if it is my last resort. I purchased it in aplix (Velcro) and wished I had purchased it with the snaps as my son has figured out how to take it off. The legs are elastic. The aplix sticks out underneath clothes and is very bulky. I think my son really needed a smaller size but I went by the weight only. Hopefully as he grows we can use this one more. This cover is made from organic wool so that is a plus in my book. I purchased mine from betterforbabies.com and the customer service is great. They also have shorts and pants that I plan to try.

          Loveybums Organic Wool Cover:  I really like this cover, it is organic and made in the USA. I use this with Indian pre-folds and the hemp pre-folds. My favorite part about this one is that it isn’t as thick as the Little Beetle so it doesn’t look as bulky under clothes. The snaps around the waist are great and it is easy to tighten and the sides don’t stick out. There is elastic around the legs. Low impact dyes are used so you have some color options. You can purchase this at loveybums.com and can get 15% off by using the code SAFEMAMA at checkout.

          Loveybums Pull-up Wool Cover: This is my second go to cover. I really love that I can just put on a pre-fold and pull these up. No snaps or aplix to mess with. I have noticed that around the waist these can stretch out but washing will tighten it back up. This one isn’t organic but they are made in the USA. Color options (with low impact dyes) are available. You can purchase this at loveybums.com and can get 15% off by using the code SAFEMAMA at checkout.

          Firefly Easy Wool Diaper Cover: I love this cover. I’ve tried the Organic Natural version but I’m about to purchase one in the sea green color. Low-impact dyes are used for coloring. There are snaps at the waist AND at the legs so there are no gaps. Firefly’s flat diapers work great with this cover as well as any of the others I’ve tried. I recommend hand washing and air drying all wool covers but I’ve accidentally machine washed and dried this cover twice and it is still in great condition…not too bulky under clothes either. You can purchase this at fireflydiapers.com and can get $2.00 off any Easy Wool cover until the end of November by using the code EASY02 at checkout.

          Things to remember about wool covers:

          • Lanolize
          • Hand wash and air dry
          • Need a good fit

          All of the companies that I have ordered from have been very helpful and have answered all my questions so don’t hesitate to call them if you need assistance.

          Nov

          7

          SafeMama’s Safer Toy Guide 2008!

          Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Toy Safety | Comments Off

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            SafeMama's 2008 Safer Toy Guide!We know many of you are a little ill at the thought of holiday shopping for kids stuff this year (or perhaps at the thought of starting your shopping). After last years “Year of the Recall” scares, making holiday toy purchases makes my stomach churn. Or did. We didn’t get to it last year but this year we decided we would make some recommendations for your little ones.

            say hello to SafeMama’s 2008 Safer Toy Guide to Holiday Shopping for little kiddies.  We went with the “pretend play” theme to encourage imagination and tossed in a few favorites from smaller shops who take care in selecting toys made responsibly and in many cases with care for the environment. As other people start publishing their toy guides we’ll add links to those from there as well so you can access a bevy of wonderful and safe ideas for the holidays.

            For added convenience in the spirit of “one-stop”, we’ve extended the recent recalls there as well so in the event something does get recalled you’ll be the first to know. You can never be TOO safe we always say.

            Be sure to look for the coupon codes at the bottom, which we’ll continue to add to as more filter in or we find good deals that we think will help. In this economy every saved penny counts! Happy Holiday shopping!

            Sep

            12

            Friday Link Roundup!

            Filed Under Phthalates Info, Product Safety, Safe Mama Tips | Comments Off

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              I know we skipped Dear SafeMama this week but in the world of motherhood, it was a hellish week for all of us so we took a week off. We’ll be back with another edition next week as long as my potty training efforts don’t put me in the hospital twitching.  Anyway, I thought today I’d share a few newsworthy items from some of the really great blogs I frequent.

              • FDA Issues Health Advisory on Infant Formula I know this isnt a blog but I do peruse the feeds on the sidebar as much as I can and when I spotted that announcement I had to point it out.  The advisory is for any formula manufactured in China that is possibly contaminated with melamine.  Read all about it here.
              • $10 Off Seventh Generation Diapers on Drustore.com.  I love this site Ecobunga.com.  They have tons of great green deals and discount announcements.  Anyone trying to adopt a greener lifestyle will tell you it isn’t the cheapest at times so this site is a great find for anyone looking to save a few bucks or score a freebie.

              I also wanted to quickly welcome SafeMama Dierdre to our team!  Dierdre is our newest addition and she has already jumped in with both feet so you’ll see some articles (and you probably already have!) from her as her time allows.  She has experience with food allergies in kids so I know she’ll be a valuable asset to our site.  Welcome Dierdre and thank you for contributing!

              If you would like to join us and help keep kids safe, drop us a note through the contact page and let us know.  We’d love to have you!

              Aug

              22

              SafeMama Review: Greenbaby Gifts

              Filed Under Green Mama, Product Reviews | Comments Off

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                One of the things that was indispensable to me when I was pregnant was the things that were given to me by my parent friends.   Not typical shower items, but things that were thoughtful, practical and most of all, tried and true favorites of theirs.  Being a new parent is overwhelming and there are so many little things you don’t think about.   Now that I’ve got a little more handle on things and infant-hood is behind me, I like to try and pay it forward and get something that are things that I can’t live without, along with essentials.  And while I try not to push my greener lifestyle on people, I can’t in good conscience give someone something that I wouldn’t use on my own child.  Which means that most of the stuff I do give has to be greener.   And while there’s no doubt that the buzz phrase of 2008 will most likely be eco-friendly, a lot of people still turn to conventional baby products, because organic is either too expensive or hard to find, necessitating several trips or online purchases.

                Enter Greenbaby Gifts.  Oh how I wish I would have known about this even just a few short months ago when I was on the hunt for a more natural and organic gift basket.  Owner Cynthia McGregor just wanted what was best for her baby and much like myself, found herself frustrated when she couldn’t find something affordable all in one spot.

                Green baby gifts has incredible looking gift baskets for any budget and all of the items are either organic or made from sustainable eco-friendly fabrics.   All items are hand picked and thoroughly researched and then packaged in a beautiful reusable recycled box that is perfect for keeping baby momentos.   These boxes are gorgeous and the products inside are equally as gorgeous and well made.   When I first opened the box I was awestruck.  I’m definitely keeping these on my list of SafeMama approved products.

                Get It: Order your Greenbaby Gift Box direct from their website and enjoy 10% off your purchase from now until September 30th.  Just enter the code safemama at checkout!

                Aug

                1

                SafeMama Review: Simply Neutral

                Filed Under Award Winning, cleaning products, Product Reviews | Comments Off

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                  One of the subjects we get a lot of questions on here at SafeMama™, is about non-toxic, earth friendly cleaning products. And I’ll admit, I’m always on the lookout for these products too. The majority of the stuff that I’ve used, doesn’t work, or it still smells funny and I have to wonder exactly what’s in it. Because of this, I usually fall back to my old standby, vinegar, water and baking soda, which works great, but there are times, that I don’t want my house to smell like a salad bar, and I still need a glass cleaner that cuts through toddler finger prints, dog drool and water stains, to name a few. We have a kid, we have dogs, which means this house never stays clean for more than 3 nanoseconds.

                  So when I stumbled upon Simply Neutral cleaning products during my research, I was excited. Simply Neutral was created by Maggie, who has very sensitive skin and started reacting to the chemicals in conventional cleaning products, which she was using to clean homes. She set out to make up her own and after much trial and error, created the Simply Neutral line. The ingredients that are used in Simply Neutral are derived from corn sugar, palm kernel oil and have the pH equivalent of clean water, making them quick to biodegrade. This line is great for anyone, especially for those who have asthma, allergies or skin sensitivities.

                  But how does it work? It works fantastically!! I rarely find a cleaning product line that I’m in love with. And I say that with complete honesty . I put it through my “stainless steel” test. And it passed with flying colors. The only other thing that works on my fridge is vinegar. Simply Neutral’s no VOC (volitale organic compounds) glass cleaner made my fridge sparkle with no streaks. My husband loved the green tea and citrus all purpose cleaner (what, you don’t have a husband that cleans?), especially the scent, which is big, because he’s really picky about scents. The non-abrasive cleaner cuts through the toughest grease without scratching. Not only do I feel clean, but I don’t feel worried that the products I’m using might still be unsafe.

                  The best part is, when you buy their Go Green Starter Pack, you get FOUR great bags, including two of the produce bags, which I absolutely love. They’re very well made, and large enough to hold quite a bit of produce, which helps to avoid using more unnecessary harmful plastic bags into the house.

                  Award Winner: We’re gearing up to start recommending products that get the new SafeMama™ “Seal of Approval” rating, which we’ll post more about soon, but I’m going give Simply Neutral the first official SafeMama™ Seal of Approval.

                  Where to get it: You can order Simply Neutral right from their website. And enjoy 10% off your purchase by using the code “simplyonline.”

                  Jul

                  1

                  Treat yourself to something nice

                  Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Website News | Comments Off

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                    Operation vacation is in full swing over here at Safe Mama, so posting will be a little light. I’ve been meaning to write about our new “Shopping Mall” for a while now. One of the most frustrating things about creating a safer environment for my family, is the lack of resources there seem to be out there. We’re always excited to find new stuff and share our findings with you. And what better way to do that than a directory? We’re adding to the mall all the time to make shopping for your family a whole lot easier. So head on over and check it out.

                    Now, if only the real mall were this green.

                    Apr

                    19

                    Playtex Offering BPA Free Samples

                    Filed Under Bisphenol-A | 7 Comments

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                      A few of our readers have tipped us off about Playtex publishing a list of products that are BPA Free. While some of their products contain BPA and they still maintain that BPA is safe, they wanted to make sure to eliminate any confusion:

                      “We know recent news coverage has created significant confusion about the use of BPA in plastic baby products,” said Gary Cohen, Vice President and General Manager Playtex®, Energizer® Personal Care Division. “While US and worldwide regulatory bodies continue to deem the ingredient safe, as a leader in infant care products, we are listening to consumer concerns and we believe the right thing to do is eliminate any confusion or doubt that parents may have. For thisreason, we will stop using BPA in our products this year and we offer consumers a chance to immediately switch to BPA-free infant products.”

                      You can read the press release here.

                      The good news, is that there are quite a few products on the list that are BPA Free. The full chart is available for download as a PDF. Anyone wanting a free sample of the original Playtex Drop-Ins nurser can fill out the form available on their website. It’s that easy.

                      Thanks Safe Mama Readers!

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