Disposable Diaper Smackdown: Seventh Gen VS Bambo Natural

There has been a lot of talk about re-usable diapers on Inhabitots lately and the debate is great considering the limited sustainable options available to parents in the US. While mums and dads across the pond do have a green option in Bambo Nature nappies (that’s UK-speak for diapers), the closest disposable diaper mass-marketed in America under the guise of being sustainable is the Seventh Generation brand.

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CARIBOO: Eco-Friendly Activity Gym

Looking for a baby gym that’s not only fun for your baby, but beautiful and earth-friendly as well? The Eco-Friendly Activity Gym – from Cariboo is a great choice. The Cariboo Activity Gym is a unique and soothing baby activity gym that blends seamlessly into your home decor. Included are four cloth hanging friends to keep your little one company: a turtle, moon, calming sheep and sleeping puppy. This activity gym encourages independent play and gross motor skills, and there are no glaring lights or noises to overstimulate your baby (or you).

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Epicuren Baby: Holistic Skincare for Baby’s Skin Stages

What may seem to be the simplest of gestures, such as a parent bathing their baby, giving an infant massage, diaper changing… has such a profound impact on the development of that baby. Quality time and skin-to-skin contact are essential for your baby. Epicuren Baby skincare incorporates a patented Episencial aromatherapy blend into their products to maximize the bonding experience with your newborn and establish a healthy skincare routine as they grow. As babies explore and come into contact with more bacteria and viruses, it is important for them to safely develop and maintain good hygiene without dosing their hands and still fragile bodies in harsh chemicals (a.k.a common cleaning agents on the supermarket shelves).

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BAREFOOT: Handmade Eco-Friendly Plush Animals

Barefoot toys are unique, brightly colored, organic toys that will delight any child. These adorable soft eco toys are filled with character and vibrancy, and they’re sure to pique a child’s curiosity and make her want to learn more about the animal kingdom. Above is the Rainbow Caterpillar who comes with 16 detachable donut rings perfectly sized for small hands.

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Inhabitots Blog Picks of the Day

One Green Generation shows us how some Christmas trees are being recycled as baby elephant food!

Tree Hugging Family has six tips for teaching kids eco-skills in the kitchen!

Planet Green‘s got five ways to green your video game system. Did you know watching a Blu-Ray DVD on your Playstation …

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David Weeks’ Sustainable Wood Simian

The reviewers at A+R don’t really care if you refuse to classify Hanno – the “sustainably harvested new-growth beech wood” gorilla – as a toy. As a matter of fact, they dare you not to. But named for the Greek voyager who discovered gorillas a long, long time ago, Hanno the Gorilla is sure to inspire young minds to take whimsical voyages of their own.

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Make Sure Your Carpets Are Green-Cleaned!

I recently contributed to an article for Fit Pregnancy Magazine about safe and healthy flooring for eco-friendly nurseries, and I was quite shocked about what a little bit of research yielded regarding the potential toxins in various types of flooring; particularly carpets. I know that many parents view carpeting as a wise choice for a house with small children because it is warm, provides good sound insulation, and is a soft surface to cushion falls. Despite these superficial upsides, however, traditional carpeting has a lot of downfalls in terms of toxins, ultimately contributing to poor indoor-air-quality, the collection of dust, dander and other allergens which can contribute to asthma, respiratory problems, and other health issues for children. The EPA has stated that 80% of human exposure to pesticides happens indoors. That’s because everything that enters your home on your feet settles in the carpet and lingers there for years. However, since most people can’t readily change their flooring without a serious renovation — I want to hold this thought for now to concentrate on an issue with carpets that is easy to fix: carpet cleaning.

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Chi Chi Amor’s Recycled Textile Birdie Tote

There is no question that we love our eco-friendly plush toys and wide-eyed owls here at Inhabitots, but cute products that are functional and also sustainably produced from recycled textiles are sure to ruffle our feathers even more. Chi Chi Amor’s Birdie Tote Bag has to be one of the more adorable things we have seen for kids in the New Year. We love the idea of sending our little ones off to school with a birdie friend crafted out of recycled Guatemalan textiles. The Chi Chi Bird has a real story to tell, and it is a great one to share with everyone you encounter along the path of your little one’s exciting adventures.

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Inhabitots Wins The 2008 Homies Award!

Inhabitots has been awarded The 2008 Homie Award for Best Children’s Design Blog! Thank you all for your support and for your votes! We are honored to have received this accolade, and we would like to thank Apartment Therapy and Ohdeedoh for hosting these awards, as well as all of the other fabulous blogs with which we were nominated.

We look forward to living up to this award and bringing you the …

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Diddle Dumpling Shoes: Serious Eco-baby Bliss

These darling Diddle Dumpling wool felt shoes are handmade by Sarah Hillgrove. The Red Chirp Baby Shoe style shown above has an adorable appliqued bird with lovely hand embroidered detail. Each pair of Diddle Dumpling shoes is made to order and recycled leather is used for the soles. Additionally, each pair has coordinating fabric lining and features an elastic strip or button closure, so shoes stay put on tiny feet.

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tiny TOMS: Shoes for Tomorrow

“Since its beginning in May 2006, TOMS has given over 10,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina and 50,000 pairs in South Africa…” So begins the online statement of the cause behind TOMS. What the statement doesn’t hint at is the comfort, style and affordability stitched into each pair of TOMS shoes. A great plus for your child, and the more needy one who will receive shoes courtesy of you, as every pair of TOMS shoes donated to a child is made possible “through the purchases of our caring customers.”

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Inhabitots News Pick of the Day

The National Children’s Study is set to launch on January 13th!

“The National Children’s Study will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of 100,000 children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21. The goal of the Study is to improve the health and well-being of children.”

For an overview of the study, including the issues and factors that will be taken into account, click here.

We’re very enthused about this endeavor, …

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10 Easy Ways to Save Money by Going Green

One of the most common complaints in the venture to go ‘green,’ is that it’s “too expensive.” Undoubtedly, the majority of eco-friendly designs and products on the market have higher price points than their status quo counterparts. But, inventiveness, a return to some old-fashioned ideals, and finding crafty ways to work around typical expenses will help you achieve an eco makeover that will actually save you money. Here are ten easy ways to save money by greening your family’s lifestyle:

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Inhabitots Blog Picks of the Day

Enviromom extends the life of her daughter’s jeans by patching up the knees with adorable heart patches and adding hems for length.

Send your used holiday and greeting cards to St. Jude’s Ranch now through February 28, 2009. Children will recycle them into brand new cards, while getting paid for their work, and learning about going ‘green.’

Ohdeedoh shows us how to …

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Petit Collage Sustainable Bamboo Mobiles

Petit Collage is a line of modern sustainable kids decor offering eco-friendly and fun takes on mobiles, screenprints, and wall accessories. From Animal Alphabet Sustainable Screenprints to Adorable, Sustainable Kids Art to beautiful Bamboo Mobiles, Petit Collage items offer an extra special touch for your child’s room. Their bamboo mobiles are the perfect hanging art embellishments for a baby nursery or tot’s room.

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Unplug’s Recycled Aid Packaging Soccer Ball

Having grown up in a third world country, I distinctly remember repurposing empty milk boxes to make the cubed ‘balls’ we would use for games such as dandy-shandy (dodge-ball), handball (baseball with your hand serving as the bat) and scrimmage (mini-soccer). Unplug Design’s ‘Dream Ball’ takes me back to that place and time with its clever thought of upcycling specially designed UN/Red Cross food aid packaging and converting it into balls of variegated sizes.

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