2011 November | Inhabitots

Would You Let Your Child Attend a Chicken Pox Party?

by Jennifer Chait, 11/07/11

Chicken pox parties are something that have been fairly off the radar — well, our radar anyhow. But a recent scam to sell the chicken pox virus through the mail has brought the trend front and center, sending both parents and the media into a tizzy. The scam at hand was started by a Facebook page called “Find A Pox Party In Your Area”, which has since been deleted — because while pox parties are legal, sending any sort of virus or germs through the U.S. postal service without using a biohazard or biomedical waste service is 100% illegal. Though concerns over the mail issue have for the most part dissipated, worries over chicken pox parties have just begun. Facebook pages such “Find a Pox Party Near You” are creating a space for parents to promote parties to other parents who are willing to take their child to an infected home. In these homes, children can catch the virus and become immune without the need for vaccination. Read on to learn more.

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Show Off Kids Artwork with Maple Shade Kids Art Clips

by Julie Seguss, 11/07/11

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Design Lab’s Raccoon and Fox Huggables are Made from Recycled Fabrics

by Julie Seguss, 11/07/11

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3 Sprouts Soft Seats Offer Creature Comforts

by Julie Seguss, 11/06/11

Sticking to the same adorable animal designs used in their Organic Wall Hanging Organizer, eco-friendly art smocks, and more, 3 Sprouts now offers tots a cute spot to pop a squat with their Soft Seats. Available in either a wolf or a purple cow design, the round plush seats are sized right to be an easy-to-move seat or a low activity table. While we wish the entire seat was made with eco fabrics like the rest of the 3 Sprouts line, these sweet seats are made from 10% cotton twill with eco-spun felt appliques made from recycled plastic bottles.

+ Soft Seats $69.99

+ 3 Sprouts

Schimitt Design Adrift Mora Mobile Brings Nature to the Nursery

Soothe your baby at bedtime with the serene scene of falling leaves gently swirling above her crib. The Adrift Mora Mobile from Schmitt Design is crafted from FSC-certified cherry veneer and finished with a non-toxic blend of carnauba wax, orange oil and beeswax. The three, thin leaves are first cut by a machine and then refined by hand in a sustainably-minded California design studio. The small perforations let light through and help them to move easily with the air current. …

David FitzSimmons Curious Critters Gives Kids a Real Look at the Wild

Visit the library and you’ll find no shortage of kid’s books telling the tales of animals, but few introduce little readers to creatures as up close and personal as David FitzSimmons’ new book Curious Critters does. Featuring amazing photographs that let kids look eye to eye with a flying squirrel and see the detailed pattern of a Black Swallowtail. FitzSimmons’ striking images are sure to amaze kids more than drawings of the same fauna. To write the text, FitzSimmons imagined …

Cate & Levi’s Winter Gear is Made from Reclaimed Wool

Get your kids ready for winter with an animal hat, scarf, and mittens from Cate & Levi. The adorable cold weather gear is made from reclaimed wool with soft eco fleece lining. Keep on reading to see all of the adorable animals your kid can choose from - if you let him make the call, chances are he'll be happy to wear them.

Johnson & Johnson Sort of Phasing Out Chemicals in Baby Shampoo

On November 1st, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released an analysis of Johnson & Johnson iconic “No More Tears” baby shampoo via a report, Baby’s Tub Is Still Toxic (pdf). This report was released more than two years after many leading health and parents’ groups specifically asked Johnson & Johnson to reformulate their baby shampoo in order to remove a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (quaternium-15). Strangely, this new report shows that Johnson & Johnson did indeed remove this cancer-causing chemical from baby shampoo sold in Denmark, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and the U.K. The bad news: Johnson & Johnson are still using the formaldehyde-releasing preservative in baby shampoo formulas sold in the United States, Canada, China, Indonesia and Australia. Too bad for us here in America huh? For once though, a possible revelation – as soon as the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ report was released, Johnson & Johnson lickity split, released their own statement, noting that they are getting rid of products containing formaldehyde.

Merah Mudah’s Upcycled Kids Backpacks Make Dress-Up Last Year Round

Halloween may be over, but keeping your little one outfitted with butterfly or angel wings can be a year-long affair with Merah Muda’s adorable, adjustable backpacks. The whimsical and playful packs are made from upcycled shirts and knit remnants that are hand silk screened with water based metallic inks.

Wes Bennett’s Clever Chalkboard Lamp is Made from an Upcycled Pot

Ever wonder what you should do with those plastic planter pots you’re left with after adding new flowers to your garden? Wes Bennett came up with a super-creative solution, turning them into clever lampshades covered in chalkboard paint, making them perfect for playrooms or shedding some light on your kid’s art table.

miYim Organic Cotton Plush Disney Collection Brings Mickey, Minnie and More to the Nursery

Just in time for the holiday season, the always delightful miYim is introducing some familiar Disney friends, only this time, they're organic! miYim is no stranger to organic cotton, having already released a beautiful 100% certified organic cotton nursery collection for green babies. Now though, miYim has gathered some of your child's favorite Disney faces, such as Micky and Minnie Mouse, and added them to their organic plush collection. Any one of these cute dolls is sure to be hit this holiday season and all year round.

+ Organic Cotton Mickey Mouse Plush $25.99

+ Organic Minnie Mouse Plush $25.99

Go from Nursery to Big Kid Room with Mod Mom Furniture Owyn Platform Bed and Dresser

When your little one is ready to transition to a big kid bed, consider the Owyn Platform Bed from Mod Mom Furniture. The simple, wooden twin platform bed comes with a reversible headboard so while your tot may like the colorful side now, you can flip it to the muted, natural birch side later to lengthen the life of the bed. It also coordinates with a dresser and night stand in the collection, along with the Owyn Toy Box, which we introduced you to in the past.

Kapoaka Artisans in Madagascar Craft Tin Cans Into Fair Trade Toys for Bundu Designs

Bet you didn't know that in Madagascar recycled crafting is an art form. It's true - the art of turning discarded tin soda and beer cans into models is called "kapoaka." And thanks to a Fair Trade partnership forged by Bundu Designs, you can get your hands on one of the cleverly crafted cars, planes or buses.

HOW TO: Make Homemade Organic Caramel Apples

If you're looking for a fast fall treat, caramel apples can't be beat. Organic apples are super fresh during the fall season, and healthy to boot. If you eat the peel, apples are packed with fiber and vitamin C, plus they'll fill you up and taste great. Adding soft, gooey organic caramel is like the icing on the cake, or the apple as the case may be. Keep reading to learn how to make festive fall caramel apples.

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER the 2011 Inhabitots Green Halloween Costume Contest?

CALLING ALL CRAFTY PARENTS AND GHOULISHLY CUTE KIDDOS!
Halloween is just around the corner and hopefully you have your kid’s costume ready to go. If you channeled your creative juices into an amazing, eco-friendly DIY costume, we want to see it! If you’ve got something worth showing off, be sure to enter it into the Inhabitots Green Halloween® Costume Contest to share your one-of-a-kind eco-friendly fright night outfit for your chance to win great Halloween goodies including …

James Hardie Playhaus Competition Finalist Features Green Roof and Solar Oven!

Our friends at DWELL have partnered with siding company James Hardie and asking entrants to design the ultimate playhouse! Using their products, designer Andrew Witmer created “The Star Gazer,” a green-roofed dream house, and a top five finalist in the James Hardie Playhaus competition. Witmer’s design is not just for play, but encourages education through curiosity, too.

Box Play for Kids’ Eco-Friendly Stickers Turn the Recycle Bin into the Toy Box

The recycling bin is a tried and true source of inspiration for DIY green crafts and toys. And now, thanks to Box Play for Kids' collection of twenty-two designer stickers, even the least crafty among us may transform unassuming toilet paper tubes into a soaring rocket ship or pair of binoculars, or a macaroni and cheese box into the perfect clutch purse to accessorize the dress-up play outfit of a budding eco-fashionista. Above: Say Cheese! The empty box from a macaroni and cheese dinner turns into a sweet new camera to play with in a flash.

Are You an Extreme Green Parent?

My mom started recycling way before it was cool, so I was on an eco-friendly path from an early age. Somewhere though, my interest in going greener and greener took on a life of its own, and I found myself (on Valentine’s Day) angrily reprimanding my husband for buying me roses that were not fairly-traded or organic. I watched the expectant smile leave his face as I destroyed his kind-hearted attempt to celebrate a supposedly romantic holiday. That’s when I knew for sure: I had gone to the green extreme. Have you done the same?