Go Green Week

One of my friends plays the cutest trick on her first grade students on St. Patrick's Day.

While my daughter is too young for her antics, maybe you can take a page from her book.

Before your kids wake up or while they are napping, make a mess of their toys, books and other household things. When they notice someone has been tinkering with their toys, you can tell them that a naughty lil leprechaun has been scurrying around the house. They'll delight in the surprise and mischief.

To further the Irish celebration, whip up some green eggs and milk. Grab a bottle of green food dye at your local grocer. At breakfast, plop a few drops of the emerald juice into their milk.

Tots grow quickly, especially when it comes to clothes and shoes. And most foot-gear is too tattered or torn to be reused by another wee one.

Croc loving parents and kids can now recycle their worn shoes with SolesUnited. To see how the process works, read more

Every new mama knows that baby's favorite "toy" is an empty water bottle. While that's a cheap and simple hat trick to pull anywhere at anytime, Y Water is a new product that fits the bill and then some. Beyond doubling as a toy, the uniquely shaped bottles are filled with organic, low calorie, drinks.

Y Water comes in four flavors: Brain, Immune, Muscle and Bone waters. Each one has vitamin fortifying ingredients to promote wellness in that area. For example, the Bone water is full of calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin C and fluoride. To see why kids will think it's cool, read more

Don't you want your baby's room, or whole house for that matter, to smell fresh and clean?

Steer clear of toxins and other chemicals by spritzing a little Sweet Grass Farm ($6) on your lil love's linens and threads.

The all–natural spray is made with lavender oil that helps neutralize odors while sprucing up the air with a delicious calming scent. And if your tot breaks out in a rash, it'll be one less product to fret over.

Crafted from cardboard, this tot entertainer is a literal toy box. The paper–made Nume Stove and Washing Machine ($38) is easy to assemble – no screwdrivers or batteries required. You won't hear me complaining! Adding to the simplicity, the clean white exterior practically begs kiddos to use their imagination as they can decorate it with crayons, markers, stickers or whatever their wee hearts desire.

And when the novelty wears off, the appliances just need a good collapsing and a toss in the recycle bin.

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, lilsugar is going green! Beyond bringing you posts about emerald apparel and ways to celebrate the holiday, we'll be launching a series of Go Green posts that spotlight ecological ways your family can stay green.

From recyclable toys to the EcoMoms movement, this extension of our Ecotot coverage will show you simple things that you can do to create a better world for your wee ones. If you have a tip you'd like to share, feel free to post it in the comments.

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St. Patrick's Day is just one week away so here are some emerald options from Old Navy that won't cost you too much of the green stuff.

Choose from an assortment of $7 onesies or $15 jammies with witty Irish themed sayings on them. For the older tots, snatch up a $5 tee or a verdant–colored hoodie.

At these prices, you'll be able to doll up your darling all week long!