Mar

22

SafeMama Baby Pool Cheat Sheet

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, PVC Free | 10 Comments

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    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!

    Dec

    10

    Teething Bling: Safe for baby, stylish for mommy!

    Filed Under Product Reviews, Product Safety | 9 Comments

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      BabyBling0044When I have a new baby around, like many, I tend to focus more on the baby than on myself and my appearance is well… lacking in polish.  I run out the door to drop one kid off at preschool while I rush off to the grocery store to get shopping done before I have to pick him up again, then rush home to shower, squeeze in some work while the baby naps (if you call 20 minutes a nap… sheesh) and then supervise the kids until dinner time relief.  Did you see any time in that schedule for primping?  Yeah, me either.  I’m lucky if I slap on some mascara and lip balm.  During this time of m life I rely on smoke and mirrors to appear I have my ish together so I’m always on the lookout for things that can add to my personal style without requiring time.

      I heard of Teething Bling a while ago, before I was even pregnant with my second son, and I knew I wanted to get one.  They look like a super stylish piece of jewelry… and well , they are.  The disc on their fabulous pendants are about 2 inches wide so they make a proper statement.  But the beauty of it is that they’re made of food-safe, phthalate-free, federally-approved silicone so they double as a safe teether for baby.

      I wasn’t sure how effective they’d be but for he price I knew I’d give it a try.  I am so glad I bought one because baby loves it, he always has something to chew on and I am never without something to give him.  He’s yet to get his first tooth so he’s constantly jamming everything in his mouth.  I’ve gotten several compliments on my bling and a few moms have said “what a great idea!”.  And it is!

      Ive taken to wearing it everyday to boost my appearance, while having a handy teether around.  No digging in the diaper bag, no searching the house for something, its just there ready for baby.  I bought a round donut pendant in a pretty turqoise (called Jade), but I have my eye on the Mother of Pearl too.  They come on a black cord with a breakaway safety clasp.  I know what will be in my stocking this year… Teething Bling!

      Get It: I bought my bling at my favorite spot The Soft Landing!

      Mar

      31

      Review: New Boon Bath Toys

      Filed Under Phthalates Info, Product Reviews, PVC Free, Toy Safety | Comments Off

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        boon bath toysI recently got my hands on all of the new Boon Bath Toys for my son.  Our bath toy collection had drastically dwindled last year when I learned about PVC and Phthalates and promptly pitched everything we had.  Bye bye bath squirties.  Then, light shone down on me when I entered a giveaway at The Soft Landing (hey I like to win things too!) and I was totally giddy.

        To start, these bath toys are totally cute, are BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free so you can be confident that your little one isn’t chewing on some off-gassing toxic piece of junk.  They’re done in the bright colors we’re used to from Boon products and I have to say, I even had a great time with them.

        The Boon Scrubble Squirties are adorable (and also double as a good “car wash” if you have boys) and my favorite part is they unscrew so not only can you refill them quick, you can clean them.  Traditional bath squirters tend to get moldy and end up in the garbage since there is no real easy way to get them clean.  These wash up easy and you can mix and match them.

        boonsplatBoon Splat Bath Toy works like a good old simple ring toss. The blue Splat floats on the water and my son and I take turns trying to get the rings on the peg.  He thinks its hilarious.  And of course the Boon Water Bugs Bath Toy is my favorite.  The little bugs float on the water and you can scoop them (or other things) up with the little net.  Overall good bath time fun!  When they get a little grimy you can run them through the dishwasher on the top rack and they’re good as new so these will last a long time.  Good job Boon!

        Get Boon Bath Toys: Pick up any of the three Boon Bath Toy sets at The Soft Landing, and don’t forget to use our SafeMama coupon code “SF-10” for 10% off your order.

        Jan

        15

        Review: Kiss My Face Obsessively Natural Kids

        Filed Under Product Reviews, Skin Care | Comments Off

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          kiss my face kidsMy mom actually bought some of this kids Kiss My Face line for us when we were visiting and I kind of fell in love with it, so I thought I’d share my thoughts with SafeMama Parents.  Kiss My Face released a line of kids bath products and deemed them Obsessively Natural.  They are free of all the icky things I prefer to avoid like parabens, phthalates, PEG’s, SLS (see glossary for info), dyes or fragrances… all scented with essential oils.

          They have a variety of products including some hard to find items like bubble bath.  I adore the Orange U Smart Shampoo and Conditioner and of course the Orange U Smart Bubble Wash.  I just saw they have a fluoridated toothpaste as well which if you are pro-fluoride might be a nice alternative.  These all work great and have a nice orange scent which is a welcomed change from the usual lavender scented products around.  Another perk, these can be readily found and are pretty affordable.  The bubble bath is $9.95 versus the $12+ you might spend on a bottle of CA Baby Bubble Bath.  I’ve seen some of these at target and Publix and I am sure they’re available elsewhere like Whole Foods and stores that typically carry Kiss My Face products.

          Buy Online: you can also order these on their website if you have trouble finding the items you;re looking for.  Kiss My Face Online Webstore carries the full line and I’ve seen them on drugstore.com too.

          Oct

          6

          Safer Dishware Cheat Sheet: BPA, PVC & Phthalate Free Dishes

          Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Bisphenol-A, Food Safety, Product Safety, PVC Free | Comments Off

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            We’ve gotten the request for a cheat sheet for dishware so here is our list of favorites. We made sure all the items listed are free of Bisphenol-A (BPA), PVC and Phthalates and we listed as much of a diverse selection as possible for those who are looking for alternatives to plastic we made sure to include options for you too. Note: There is no melamine dishware on this list. You can read why here. (Last Updated: September 17, 2010)

            Plates, Dishes, Bowls, Cups

            Utensils

            Snack Containers

            Placemats, Eating Surfaces

            Lunchboxes, Food Containers (full cheat sheet)

            WAIT! You can also find a more comprehensive list of our 2010 Safer Lunchbox Picks located here.

            Have a product you think belongs on this list? Let us know! Please link back to SafeMama.com if you share this so we can keep this site going! Thanks!

            Take the headache out of no-toxic shopping by visiting our friends at The Soft Landing. They have a safer Dish and Cup Guide as well. Have a look.

            Oct

            6

            Skip*Hop Mate: Stay-put Mat + Plate!

            Filed Under product finds | Comments Off

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              SkipHop MateWe get a lot of email about dishware here at SafeMama.  What’s safe, what do you recommend, is this brand safe, etc.  So when I stumbled on the new Skip*Hop Mate (Mat plus plate… how cute) I new I had to share.  This adorable kids dish has a 3 compartment plate that pops into the no-skid mat, as well as comes with utensils that pop on and off the mat as well.  The best part, all the pieces are BPA, Phthalate and PVC free.  The company says all parts are dishwasher safe (top rack) but a decent hand wash seems sufficient in most cases. This stylish meal set runs about $20 and comes in orange, hot pink and blue.

              Get One: Available on Skip*Hops website

              Oct

              2

              Review: The Safe Sippy Revisited

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                The Safe SippyWe reviewed The Safe Sippy a while back and weren’t totally in love.  The good people who make The Safe Sippy have re-engineered the cups valve and cap slightly to improve on what was already a great cup.  Now? The cup is pretty awesome.  The interior and main portion of the cup is stainless steel which is one of the best alternatives on the market.  While plastic is ok, over time can wear and eventually leach chemicals into food and liquids-which is why we usually recommend replacing them.  The valve under the lid is made of non-toxic silicone and has been redesigned slightly to ensure leak prevention while allowing regular flow.  The lid is designed  to be a little wider than the body of the cup to help prevent dents and dings, while the cup is cuddled up into a rubber sleeve to protect the steel and keep it insulated.  It does aide in the grip factor too.

                This cup is well thought out and designed to be the best sippy cup on the market.  Kid Basix, who makes the cup, sent us a cup to try out since they’ve redesigned the lid threads and the valve.  I am happy to report that now, this cup doesn’t leak one bit.  To be totally fair, I gave our sample to a mom who works at the gym daycare I go to (hi!!) to get a totally unbiased opinion.  She handed the cup over to her toddler for the rough and tough tests and they passed with flying colors.  She reports:

                “This cup doesn’t drip so it’s great for the car and at night in bed.  The steel body keeps liquids cold longer and the soft grip cover makes holding it easy for toddlers.“  She thought it was also “easy to clean and take apart and it’s a cool looking cup so her little guy was drawn to it.”

                The only cons if you can call them that were that it’s heavier than traditional plastic cups so it’s better for older toddlers who can handle it, and she thought the handles were a tiny bit weak.  But the handles are completely removable so it’s not a make it or break it feature.

                We are really pleased with the adjustments The Safe Sippy received and think it’s definitely one of the best “safe” sippy cups on the market.  SafeMama Approved!

                Get Your Own: You can find a list of retailers on their website or you can grab one on Amazon.com

                Sep

                10

                SafeMama Review: Good Grips POP Containers

                Filed Under Product Reviews | Comments Off

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                  I live in an apartment with a galley kitchen, and so the top of my refrigerator doubles as additional, and much needed, storage space.  Now that my son is on table food, it seems that there’s suddenly many more boxes of dry food jammed up there on top of the fridge.  And it doesn’t look so nice.

                  I keep my son’s toddler formula in an air-tight glass container on the kitchen counter, because again, storage is hard to come by and if it’s got to be out on the counter, it may as well be in something attractive.  I’ve often wished that I could do the same thing with the items on top of the fridge: put them into something prettier and cleaner than ripped-open boxes.  But alas, the things on the fridge, they seem to…fall.  Often.  Probably because those boxes of food don’t stack very evenly.   I’ve heard my husband mutter something about a small avalanche.  So glass containers on top of the fridge?  Probably not a good idea.

                  I’ve toyed around with the idea of plastic containers, but I never quite got around to checking into the safety of any of them.  Then last week while out shopping, I was browsing the aisles, admiring the OXO Good Grips POP containters when I noticed they were labeled “BPA Free”.

                  Hallelujah.

                  I purchased several of the 0.9 quart and 1.5 quart sizes and found them to be just the right size to store my son’s cereals, pastas and snacks, but there are much larger sizes as well to store just about any food item.   Once I got them home, doubt creeped into my mind: the POP containers were BPA-free, but what about PVC?

                  I emailed OXO’s customer service and was pleased that someone emailed me back within 24 hours that all POP containers are PVC/phthalate-free as well as BPA-free.

                  With all the containers lined up on top of my fridge, it looks much more organized, which makes me feel so much more organized.  Plus, I’m not as worried that something harmful might be leaking into my kid’s food.   Most importantly: no more avalanches.

                  Get It: Find OXO POP containers on Amazon!

                  Jun

                  24

                  BeeCeuticals Re-Review & Giveaway!

                  Filed Under Eco-Mama, Giveaways Coupons, Skin Care | Comments Off

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                    I know I have raved about BeeCeuticals Organics in the past. However, now that the site has come to many new people’s attention I feel it’s definitely warranted to bring it up again. We focus so much of our time and energy on our kids but us safe moms want some pampering without the parabens. I discovered BeeCeuticals Organics from a commercial on the Howard Stern show over a year ago but since then, and since becoming seriously hooked on their products… I am now a devout believer and follower. I really cant say enough about this company. Why? Because they use as much certified organic fair trade ingredients as is humanly possible to find. They care about their environmentally friendly packaging, they care about the environment… they offset 100% of their power usage with Green-e certified wind and solar power energy…. and they care about saving the bees! bzzzz…

                    But enough about how caring they are. What I want to focus on is their products. Sure they are a great company but are their products great? YES. I started out trying a few things here and there and fell in love with their Bee-yond Body Balm™. I had a few peeves about it but once I was past them I fell head over soft supple heels. Imagine my shock when they FIXED my peeves with a reformulation. Now, this stuff is heavenly perfect. It works some serious rough feet miracles that no foot balm has ever fixed for me. I use it all over the place now and plow through a container a month. Its great for dry hands, lips, rough spots, feet, elbows, cuticles… it softens everything without saturating you with some awful petroleum like other balms.

                    I am also a self professed lip balm addict. I have about 12 in my diaper bag. I wish I was kidding. BeeCeuticals lip balms are my favorite. I dig through the pile in my bag to find my BeeCeuticals lip balms over all others. I recently learned also that some natural and even organic lip balms are packaged in polycarbonate plastic. Big natural name brands that sell at natural food stores. They don’t mark the tubes. What a dirty little secret! BeeCeuticals Organics packages all their products in safe recyclable materials and plastics and are making moves towards glass containers soon as well. No polycarbonate lip balm for me thanks!

                    They have 3 new flavors of lip balm available: Blueberry, Peach and my personal favorite, Raspberry. I am hoarding 2 of them as we speak. No one gets my raspberry BeeCeuticals.

                    Win it!

                    One lucky reader will receive a tub of Bee-yond Body Balm™. To Enter, check out the BeeCeuticals Organics website. Send an email* to safemama [at] gmail.com with the subject “Save The Bees!” and tell us what BeeCeuticals Organics lip balm flavor you’d love to try. Giveaway ends Friday July 11th, 2008 at midnight EST. We’ll announce the winner here and we’ll be submitting winner info to PRIZEYWinners so you can check there to see if you’ve won as well. Contest has ended.

                    *your email address will never be shared or used to email you. It will only be used to notify you if you win.

                    May

                    20

                    SafeMama Review: Stuff 4 Sprouts

                    Filed Under Product Reviews | Comments Off

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                      Last year, while looking for yet more lotion for my son (I don’t have a problem and I can quit at anytime, I swear), I came across Stuff 4 Sprouts. It looked cute, with fun scents, and natural. Kristen was nice enough to recently send me some samples of their cream and lip balm. She sent me the Blueberry cream, which currently has phthalates in it, but will be phthalate free by next month. She does disclose this though on her website, as well. I liked the cream. It’s a little greasy at first, but it absorbs nicely and lasts through a few washings. Since it’s a cream for kids, the smell is fun. I mean, what kid wants to smell like an old lady’s attic? They also have the cream in fresh cut grass. Fresh. Cut. Grass! That is one of my all time favorite smells ever. All in all, I liked the way it made my hands feel.

                      The lip stuff (for extra crispy kissers) was awesome. It comes in a wider tube for smaller hands and even though it’s for kids, I’m all over anything that smells like chocolate. The lip balm is awesome and comes in three kid friendly flavors: chocolate, frosting, and peanut butter and jelly (no peanuts are used in the actual product, so no worries of allergies).

                      All of Stuff 4 Sprout’s products are paraben and phthalate free, with the exception of the blueberry muffin cream, which as I mentioned is changing to phthalate free as well soon. And a bonus for me is that Kristen lives in my area. I love supporting local businesses.

                      Safe Mama readers can order online at Stuff4Sprouts.com and receive 15% off your order when you use the code: SAFEMM15. Code is good through the end of June.

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