2010 September | Inhabitots

Jane Goodall Institute Wildlife Collection Notebooks from Ecojot

by Julie Seguss, 09/08/10

Do you have a future anthropologist in your family? Send her back to school with one of Ecojot’s new colorful notebooks. The Canadian green stationery company has teamed up with the Jane Goodall Institute to create a special collection of wildlife notebooks, journals, and sketchbooks featuring endangered and threatened animals — chimpanzee, giant panda, Sumatran rhino and whooping crane. They’re made using 100% recycled, acid-free and chlorine-free paper, along with vegetable-based inks and glues. Quotes from inspirational Goodall grace the covers such as, “That I did not fail was due in park to patience.” And best of all, the royalties from the sales will help establish innovative community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa and help support Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots a global environmental and humanitarian youth program.

+ The Jane Goodall Wildlife Notebook Collection $10.50 – $17 each

+ EcoJot

Dental Sealants Contain Bisphenol A (BPA): How To Limit Exposure

by Jennifer Chait, 09/08/10

A freshly released study in the medical journal Pediatrics reveals that many sealants and fillings used by dentists for children’s teeth may expose them to bisphenol A (BPA). According to the new research, BPA is released from dental resins through “Salivary enzymatic hydrolysis of BPA derivatives” and the BPA is detectable in a child’s saliva for up to 3 hours after resin placement.
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NEW Little Fluffy Organic Baby Line from FluffyCo

by Julie Seguss, 09/07/10

San Francisco original FluffyCo has been making sustainable design goodies for adults since 2005, but this fall marks their first foray into the baby world. Little Fluffy was just introduced, offering 100% organic cotton graphic onesies for babies 3 months and up. Like the rest of their collection, Little Fluffy draws on the beauty of nature, culture and modern design for inspiration, and each made-in-the-USA garment features a hand-printed graphic such as birds or a bicycle produced with water-based ink.

+ Little Fluffy onesies $28 each

+ FluffyCo

FRAMEicariums: Living Ant Farm Art by Hugh Hayden & Katie Vitale

by Desmond Williams, 09/07/10

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Labor Day InhabiNews: It’s a Boy for Beth!

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, but it also marks new beginnings like going back to school. And one of our own beloved writers, Beth Shea, is celebrating a special new beginning of her own — a new addition to her family. Beth’s “labor day” (pardon our pun!) happened last week when she, along with her husband and daughter, welcomed Ashton Eaton Shea into the world. He arrived on August 28 at 1:42 a.m, weighing …

Mae Alphabet Fabric Wall Stickers Spell Fun for Back to School

Get in the spirit for back to school with the latest fabric wall stickers from Mae — a nautical or girly set of alphabet stickers. We love that Mae’s stickers are printed on adhesive fabric, not vinyl like most options. Let your kids go wild sticking and re-sticking these letters in their playroom, like you did as a kid using magnet letters on the fridge. Or use a set to spell out your newborn’s name …

Manny & Simon Wooden Rockers

We’ve seen a lot of adorable animal-shaped rocking toys for kids, but not so many animal-shaped rocking chairs like these wooden rockers from Manny & Simon. Perfectly sized for tots, you can choose a dino, elephant, lamb, and monkey. These made-in-the-USA, simplistically designed, solid-colored rockers are constructed out of 100% post-industrial recycled wooden residuals, finished with zero-VOC paints. If you love the look, but don’t need a rocker, they also make sustainable …

Link Roundup: Handmade School Bags and Printable Travel Games

What will your toddler take carry his lunch in on the first day of school? How about Ohdeedoh‘s find shown above– a bag from Mee and Bee?

Design Mom asks readers to share their brilliant ideas for DIY playmats that kids can drive toy cars on; we loved Little Red Ren’s response.

Take big brother out in …

Baby Formula Contaminated With Aluminum, 40 Times More Than Breast Milk

New research from the UK found that a range of well known brands of baby formula sold there contain too much aluminum. Even though it’s common knowledge that infant formulas have been contaminated with aluminum for decades, this new study published in the journal BMC Pediatrics, raises concern over children’s health risks, pointing out that levels are still too high. Manufacturers don’t seem to consider it a health issue, but this non-essential element has been linked to diseases. What’s more, the concentrations of aluminum found in baby formulas are up to 40 times higher than those found in breast milk. A product made for preemies and a soy-based formula have particularly high levels of the contaminant. Studies have not shown that aluminum in formula causes adverse effects, but they haven’t shown the opposite either.

Adjustable Bookend Shelf for Growing Book Collections

Tree by Kerri Lee is known for charming, vintage inspired goodies for little ones, and the designer’s latest creation, the bookend shelf, delivers the same. You can hang the sweet shelf, that’s decorated with either a bird, owl or elephant, on your child’s bedroom wall to hold the beginnings of their book collection. But even if she only has a few board books, you can keep them standing upright and organized by using the built-in, adjustable bookends …

5 Green Family Night Activities For Bonding and Fun!

The priceless benefits that stem from simple yet meaningful family nights have the capacity to change society. The world around us becomes increasingly complex, fast-paced and isolating, but human beings continue to crave the same innate emotional connections and familiar bonds that may only be gained by spending treasured, undivided time in the presence of loved ones. By setting aside at least one night each week to enjoy quality time together as a family, stronger bonds, increased communication and a deeper understanding amongst family members is likely to be the result. Here are five green family night activities that will help you celebrate the earth and each other!

Zebi Sustainable Baby Collection

Of all the adorable onesies and baby clothing at the New York International Gift Fair, Zebi caught our eye with their beautiful gift-ready and easy-to-reuse packaging. Their patterned fabrics and designs have a vintage-modern appeal. We love their 100 percent organic cotton baby tees that come kraft cans. Each one is embellished with a linen animal applique like a bird or a giraffe, and if you’re sending a baby gift to a friend afar, said …

The ‘Safe Cuddling’ Suit by Helge Fischer

Intended to stir debate about child safety in public spaces, the Safe Cuddling romper suit designed by Helge Fischer (a recent Royal College of Art graduate) has set off an alarm across the Internet. “The ‘Safe Cuddling’ suit allows for the innocent cuddling of children by helping adults to maintain their integrity,” says Fischer via a statement posted on the popular Dezeen blog.