LilSugar

Yet Another Reason to Steer Clear of Plastics

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:31 -0800

The last thing mommy wants to do is add another worry to her already fret-worthy list, but this one may be worth noting. We all know that plastics can contain BPA and other harmful toxins, but we don't always know why they are hazardous. Fortunately, scientists are doing the dirty work for us and informing us of yet another reason to steer clear of items containing phthalates. In a recent study, British researchers found that certain phthalates were not only affecting male genitalia, but their behavior, too. Boys who were exposed to higher amounts of the chemical were less interested in the stereotypical car toys and less apt to play in a rough and tumble manner. Elizabeth Salter-Green, director of the chemicals campaign group CHEM Trust said:

We now know that phthalates, to which we are all constantly exposed, are extremely worrying from a health perspective, leading to disruption of male reproduction health and, it appears, male behavior too... This feminizing capacity of phthalates makes them true 'gender benders'.

While the EU banned such toxins from toys years ago, the US has yet to make such dramatic (and in my opinion, necessary) moves. This is just another good reminder why us moms should speak up and let our voices be known. Join the Million Baby Crawl and speak your mama mind!

Ecotot: Green to Grow

babysugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:00:33 -0800

If your baby is hitting the bottle, you might want to check out the line from Green to Grow. The Bisphenol A and phthalates free containers were created by parents who wanted to give their child a better drinking alternative than hormone interrupting polycarbonate plastics.

To learn more about Green to Grow, read more.

Lucky for the consumers, they didn't have to sacrifice looks for comfort. The eco–friendly bottles are actually charming as each one has a lil sprightly fruit friend grinning. At $7 – $10 a pop, they may make your wallet thinner but you'll smile wider knowing your babe is safely sipping.

An added bonus: In addition to safeguarding their children from harmful toxins, Green to Grow is dedicated to preserving the environment by using 100 percent recycled paper and soy inks in all of their packaging and printed corporate materials.

Green to Grow Bottle ($7)	Green to Grow Bottle ($8)
Green to Grow Bottle ($10)	Green to Grow Bottle ($11)

Mommy Alert! Toxins

LilSugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:05:00 -0800

Just when you cleared out the bisphenol A baby bottles and recalled toys, now a study shows that phthalates, the chemicals that make plastics flexible and are used in fragrance making are a cause for concern.

An Associated Press article said a small study shows that the products you use to freshen up baby - from shampoo to lotion - can potentially cause reproductive problems. To see what the study found, read more.
It said:

In the study, they were found in elevated levels in the urine of babies who'd been recently shampooed, powdered or lotioned with baby products.

Phthalates (pronounced thowl-ates) are under attack by some environmental advocacy groups, but experts are uncertain what dangers, if any, they might pose. The federal government doesn't limit their use, although California and some countries have restricted their use.

Animal studies have suggested that phthalates can cause reproductive birth defects and some activists believe they may cause reproductive problems in boys and early puberty in girls.

School Year's Resolutions: Eco-Friendly Lunch Boxes

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Brown paper bags are so passe. Make sure your child isn't outcasted at the earth-friendly lunch table by buying them an eco-friendly lunch box that helps reduce waste. Unlike the green lunch carriers of years past, today's bags are cute, kid-friendly, and serve many purposes. Check out a few of our favorites:

Kids Konserve lunch kit comes with a stainless-steel bottle, two stainless-steel containers with leak-proof plastic lids, a reusable baggie, a cloth napkin, and both a recycled aluminum name tag and recycled cotton lunch sack all made from nonleaching, BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate-free materials.
Munchlers Backpacks come in three cute polypropylene designs that unzip right into a place mat. The insulated bags easily fit lunch and a beverage.
The Lunchsense Lunchbox Set is BPA, PVC, and phthalate free, and comes with four food containers, a drink bottle, and a reusable ice pack. It opens up flat so it can be used as a place mat as well.
The lead, PVC, BPA and phthalate free Gator Tots Lunch Bag is large enough for a large lunch and keeps foods cool throughout the day. Its retro fabrics make it fun to look at too.
Cartoon and movie-loving tots will love Zak Design's phthalate-free lunch totes that feature every character from Spiderman to High School Musical.
Crocodile Creek's fun designs are a great alternative to character-driven ones. The eco-friendly bags even have an outside pocket for notes, utensils, or extra lunch money.
The Land's End Critter Lunch Box is a classic that has been lead and PVC-free for years.
Fleurville's Lunch Pak functions like a backpack that is insulated and ready to hold a midday meal. The lean and PVC-free bag also has storage compartments for holding projects from school.

Enter to win a $1,000 wardrobe for your child from Tea Collection!

Do You Buy Into Pregnancy Products?

LilSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Being with babe means forgoing caffeine, unpasteurized cheese and raw fish for many moms-to-be, but do they take the lotions and potions they lather their bodies with (the skin is an organ) as seriously as they do the foods they digest? Lots of the popular beauty lines women use on a regular basis include phthalates, sulfates and other chemicals to help preserve the rest of the products' ingredients and increase their cleansing power. Some doctors warn that these chemicals can be absorbed into the bloodstream and impact an unborn baby's hormones.

New pregnancy oriented hair products, like Nine Naturals' Oh Baby! and Beaute de Maman, are all natural, vegan and chemical-free and offer expectant women peace of mind when they pretty themselves up each day. The brands are said to work just as well as mainstream ones. Do you purchase goods made especially for pregnant women? If so, which ones?

The Wean Machine: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:00:59 -0700

Would you carry an extra gadget to press your child's lunch? For parents on the go, the Wean Machine ($25) is a portable tool for creating nutritious pureed meals. The BPA, phthalate and PVC-free gizmo can be filled with soft, ripe fruits and cooked veggies before it is squeezed to create foods for babes beginning their solid feeding. The Wean Machine comes with a spoon for easy use and is dishwasher safe. Would you invest in one?

Would you give the Wean Machine a try as an alternative to steaming and pureeing foods?

Thank Goodness For Eco Angels

babysugar — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Mamas only want the best for their wee cherubs and that includes providing them with safe yet entertaining toys. My latest object of affection is the Eco Angel Grip and Grasp.

The round aesthetically pleasing rattle has just enough shake to it to keep baby wanting more without driving present company crazy. The shape makes it easy for tiny fingers to grasp and provides eternal chewing spots. And since it's phthalate free, mommy won't mind the teething tot gnawing his way to tooth heaven with this sweet angel. The $18 price may be a little much, but it's worth the peace of mind knowing the rascal is playing it safe.

Self-Heating Bottle by Liamo: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

babysugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:00:36 -0700

I know many a baby that suffers from Goldilocks syndrome - the milk is too cold or too hot. Mamas out running errands or flying in the sky may appreciate the ingenuity of the Iiamo self-heating bottle. Lucky for us, creator Karim Rashid, who has also designed for Prada, Audi, Sony, and Lacoste, brought his vision to parenthood.

Mommies begging for cups of warm water or hunting for a microwave can relax. Free of BPA, PVC, lead and phthalates, the sleek Iiamo bottle self heats contents to body temperature in about four minutes with a self-contained organic heating cartridge made of salt and water. The $38 price includes one six-ounce bottle, one nipple, and a single heating cartridge. So tell your babe the treat's going to be juuuuust right.

Ecotot: Kids Konserve

LilSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:00:01 -0700

Think about all the disposable goods that go into a packed school lunch - plastic baggies, aluminum foil, wrappers and often times, a paper bag. Children each generate an average of 67 pounds of lunchtime trash every year. Chance Claxton and Lynn Julian, founders of Kids Konserve, were appalled when they read that statistic. Taking lunch into their own hands, they created a re-usable and waste-free lunch system that appealed to both parents and kids.

Their Signature Waste-Free Lunch Kit ($40) comes with a stainless steel bottle, two stainless steel containers with leak proof plastic lids, a reusable baggie for items like sandwiches, cheese and cut apples, a cloth napkin, and both a recycled aluminum name tag and recycled cotton lunch sack. All of the kits products are made from non-leaching, BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate-free materials. To continue educating tots about the benefits of recycling, the company has also launched the Waste-Free Lunch Challenge, offering schools the opportunity to sell the kits and earn 25 percent of each sale. With Earth Day just two days away, switching to a reusable lunch kit may be the easiest way to begin greening your life.

Teething Bling: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:00:58 -0700

When a tot is teething, you want to keep him happy - that's why our parents' generation resorted to a rubbing a lil whiskey on the gums. We recently explored a number of teething remedies, but a newer one caught our eye. Teething Bling are nontoxic, food-safe, phthalate-free silicone teething rings transformed into jewelry. The rings are either hung from strings to create pendant necklaces or made into bangle bracelets with the intention of having your lil one gnaw on them while teething. The thought behind the line is that babies will put anything in their mouths, so why not provide them with something they can easily grasp while mama goes about her usual business?