Rocking Frog’s Eco-Friendly Rocking Toys for Kids
by Julie Seguss, 08/08/10
Whether a in the form of a horse or a more unique animal, a rocking toy is one of those classic playroom staples every child needs. Rocking Frog’s bamboo Kangaroo with Joey rocker offers kids a ride through the Outback and a fun surprise, too — the mama roo’s joey is sweetly tucked in her “pocket” and can be taken out to play. Inspired by a rocking frog the designer built his daughter when she was 3, the rockers are handcrafted from sustainable materials including bamboo and non-toxic and plant based natural finishes. If a trip Down Under isn’t her thing, you can choose a dog or frog instead.
+ Kangaroo with Joey Rocking Toy $365
Cate & Levi Reclaimed Wool Stuffed Animals
by Julie Seguss, 08/07/10
Cate & Levi has grown into an Inhabitots obsession. The line, dreamed up by an eco-conscious Canadian dad, incorporates reclaimed wool from no-longer-loved sweaters and other local sources. So what are we drooling over now? Their collection of stuffed animals: From chickens to stingrays, all are irresistibly cute and creatively handmade in a variety of colors and patterns. Each sweater animal is one-of-a-kind so you’ll have to trust Cate & Levi to dream up a design you’ll love — you choose the animal and they choose gender-appropriate reclaimed wool.
Link Love: Painted Driftwood and Baby Gear Swaps
by Julie Seguss, 08/06/10
Looking for another way to make nature hikes fun for kids? Have them collect sticks to paint once you get home in gorgeous patterns and colors as seen on Design for Mankind.
Here at Inhabitots we think we’re pretty good at keeping you informed about the best ways to keep toxins out of your home. Find out how much you know by taking Lil Sugar‘s quiz on hidden nursery toxins.
Is your kid more eco-conscious than you? One Babble writer shares her story.
Have baby gear to purge? Or looking for used kids stuff? Try the new online local marketplace Trading Cradles. Daily Candy Kids says, “Think Craigslist for baby and kids’ gear — but easier to use.”
Check out Under the Sycamore‘s genius idea for displaying kids’ artwork and photo using old memory cards.
‘Mila’s Daydreams’ – Images that Poetically Capture Baby’s Naptime Dreams
Most new moms and dads race through their household in a chaotic, bleary-eyed fog, tripping over piles of laundry and trying to grab a shower the moment baby hands over the Holy Grail of parenting: the ever-elusive, long nap. But one new mom, Adele Enersen is using her baby daughter’s slumber as an opportunity to create an homage to her sweet, new life by imagining her dreams and harnessing them in pictures. Mila’s Daydreams is a treasure trove of images that manages to elevate one of the most beautiful sights: a peacefully sleeping baby, to a captured moment of brilliant art. Adele fashions whimsical worlds around her daughter as she takes her daily nap, and her “maternity leave hobby” is taking the blogosphere and the media by storm with its simple charm and ingenuity.
DIY: Make a Marble-Run Toy With an Empty Cereal Box
Forget the essential minerals and vitamins; the real magic happens when the Cheerios are downed and you’re left with an empty cereal box to bend to your will. The crafty dad at Made by Joel transformed one erstwhile breakfast receptacle into a series of ramps for rolling marbles. All it took was …
New CHEJ Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies
Whether your child is getting ready to start preschool or go back to school, you probably already have a list of school supplies that you’ll need to buy. And while you can find great eco-friendly school supplies, they’re unfortunately outnumbered by lunch boxes, backpacks and other common supplies made from Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC, which often contains phthalates. We’ve told you how to avoid this toxic endocrine disruptor in your bath tub, teething toys, changing pads and more. Now the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) has released a free Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies to help you avoid toxins while shopping this fall.
HOW TO: Choose A Childbirth Education Class
No other life experience compares to giving birth to a baby. While there are as many opinions and experiences surrounding labor and delivery as there are mothers, no amount of talking about these topics can ever fully prepare you for the rite of passage from pregnant woman to mom. I say this in all honesty, because while childbirth education classes serve the wonderful purpose of arming you with a plethora of important details, while enabling you to bond with your partner or labor coach, there is no book or teacher which will allow you to truly capture or understand the visceral, raw experience until you’re immersed in it. That said, having as much knowledge as possible regarding the labor and delivery process will be beneficial. Here are four different types of childbirth education classes that will teach you vital information about the process of giving birth.
BPA Found In Grocery Store and Other Paper Receipts
It’s official, we’re now 100% over-exposed to endocrine-disrupting bisphenol A (BPA). We already know about BPA in canned food products, water bottles, baby bottle, toys and other plastic products and now, a new study by John C. Warner, confirms that BPA can also be found in paper. Paper? Yup – BPA in paper is just one more thing for parents to think about. Super.
Study Links BPA to Low Sperm Counts and DNA Damage
We’ve heard a lot of concerning news about the chemical Bisphenol-A, BPA, in our food supply and how it can have adverse effects on our health, especially for toddlers. A new study raises yet another alarm over BPA — this time on the effects of sperm count and quality. The study found a relationship between BPA levels in urine and decreased sperm concentrations. You’re likely already concerned about your child’s direct exposure to BPA, but now do you need to think about your (or your husband’s) exposure, too?
Model Gisele Bundchen Thinks Breastfeeding “Should Be a Worldwide Law”
For new mom Gisele Bundchen, breast isn’t just best, it should be mandated by international law. “Some people here think they don’t have to breastfeed,” the Brazilian supermodel tells the September issue of British Harper’s Bazaar. And I think ‘Are you going to give chemical food to your child when they are so little?’” Bundchen, who credits breastfeeding for helping her maintain her famous figure, thinks that mothers should be required to nurse their babies for at least six months. “I think there should be a worldwide law, in my opinion,” she adds.
Amazing Lego ‘CubeDudes’ by PIXAR Animator Angus MacLane
It’s certainly evident that Legos really can go, in the words of Buzz Lightyear, “to infinity and beyond!” We have seen countless awe-inspiring masterpieces that have been created with the colorful little bricks, from life-sized homes and fun-loving furniture to contemporary villas and endangered animals. And now PIXAR animator Angus MacLane joins the ranks of our Lego admiration with his amazing CubeDudes — the trademark marvels that he deftly wields out of Legos. Iconic toys and fictional characters from both today and yesteryear are immortalized in CubeDude form — from Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear and Jessie to Star Wars heroes R2D2 and C-3PO, CubeDudes will appeal to kids and fans of all ages! MacLane’s countless creations also include movie dudes, such as the characters from Ghostbusters and Spinal Tap to TV dudes like the cast of 30 Rock and the Incredible Hulk! Read on for insight in MacLane’s design process.
Green Man Solar Powered Table Mood Lamp
Italian designers Simone Spalvieri and Valentina del Ciotto created Green Man, a modern ode to the lantern. Green Man is cordless (thus, easily portable) and waterproof, and it features a solar panel in its base — so you simply turn it upside down to charge it. Made of bio-plastic corn and bamboo, Green Man really lives …
Inhabitots Interview in 5: Little Alouette Designers Joe & Amy Sharp
Little Alouette is a popular kiddie brand here at Inhabitots. The family run company’s sustainably crafted, heirloom wooden teethers and developmental teething toys are eco-friendly, creative mini-masterpieces that babies and tots will really want to sink their teeth into! We had the opportunity to interview Joe and Amy Sharp, the savvy designers and eco-conscious parents behind Little Alouette. Here’s our exclusive insight into the organic roots behind this charming business, which proves that handmade, green toys can be enjoyed and afforded by all who want to make a difference in the lives of their children and the health of the planet.
Handmade Felt Tea Set from Etsy
Organic green tea for two? This adorable tea set is handmade using felt, cotton and vintage rick rack accents. Each set comes with two teacups, two saucers and a tea pot. We adore the pink and orange combo, but if you’re dreaming of something different, the Etsy designer will create a custom set using colors and fabrics of your choosing. We also love that this tea set, unlike its plastic and ceramic rivals, is super lightweight …
LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!
