Inhabitots

Andrea McMann

Andrea McMann is a freelance writer from rural Nebraska. She grew up in a family where attachment parenting, recycling, and living off the land were the norm. As an adult, she has come to appreciate the gentle, nurturing environment in which she was raised, and she and her husband strive to employ these early childhood lessons as they raise their own children, ages two and six. Andrea writes a weekly fitness column for Peekaboo Picks and shares her life's adventures on her blog, Chocolate Fingerprints.
Andrea McMann
November 6, 2008

GREEN & CLEAN: Eco Parenting While Toting Tiny Travelers

by Andrea McMann

Green and Clean, Classy Baby, babies, germ defense, green parenting, on the go, Toddlers, traveling

Traveling with babies and toddlers is typically a bumpy ride, filled with many surprises. Our precious cargo require so many necessities on the open road, and following the ‘green’ path can be difficult when away from home. The easy-to-tote Green and Clean line of products from Classy Kid, Inc. offers eco-friendly biodegradable products including toilet seat covers, coloring placemats, and changing table covers, which will help keep both your child and your conscience spotless, whether you’re traveling across the globe or just jaunting across town.

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October 25, 2008

100% Organic Cotton Nursing Gear by Under the Nile

by Andrea McMann

100% Egyptian organic cotton, baby, baby shower gift, breastfeeding, breastfeeding ease, breastfeeding gear, eco baby, eco friendly feeding, eco parenting, green parenting, maternity bras, new mom gift, new parenting how-to, nursing bras, organic accesoriies, organic breastfeeding supplies, organic clothing, pamper new mom, Under The Nile, Under the Nile organic clothes

Breastfeeding is an inherently ‘green’ endeavor, but finding 100% organic cotton nursing wear and accessories to complement this eco and baby friendly choice is often a difficult task. Once I stumbled upon Under the Nile’s wonderful line of organic Egyptian cotton nursing wear and breast pads, I knew I had come full circle in my dedicated mission to ‘green’ my breastfeeding regime.

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October 24, 2008

Elle Macpherson Nursing Bras: Fashion fuses with Function

by Andrea McMann

baby care, breastfeeding, breastfeeding ease, breastfeeding gear, eco baby, eco friendly feeding, eco parenting, elle macpherson nursing bras, green parenting, maternity bras, maternity clothing, maternity gear, nursing bras

Breastfeeding moms know that when it comes to finding a fashionable and flattering nursing bra, the pickings are rather slim. Most nursing bras look extremely matronly, or fit in a way that causes breasts to look strange. With regard to the few appealing nursing bras available, many are uncomfortable, or don’t open easily with one hand, rendering them impractical, or even impossible to use for their intended purpose. Elle Macpherson has, thankfully, designed a comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, feminine nursing bra, which has restored my faith in the lingerie industry. Her lacy La Mere and Maternelle nursing bras are proof that moms can now be sexy and stylish in their breastfeeding endeavors.

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October 10, 2008

Cold Weather Babywearing: The Peekaru Original

by Andrea McMann

Peekaru, attachment parenting, baby, baby carriers, baby gear, babywearing, eco baby, eco baby carrier, eco baby gift, eco design kids, eco friendly baby care, eco-friendly baby, eco-friendly family, eco-friendly gear, green baby wrap, green gear, green parenting, Peekaru Original, sustainable product design kids, TogetherBe

As the weather is getting chillier, are you contemplating the old ‘baby carrier versus coat dilemma’? It can be hard to keep both yourself and your baby warm in a baby carrier when the weather turns nippy. Thats why I love the Peekaru baby carrier fleece . I always get excited over revolutionary baby carriers or babywearing accessories; and when I discovered the Peekaru Original from TogetherBe, I had to get my hands on one immediately. Not only is this baby carrier cover a totally nifty, useful accessory for keeping warm, it’s also eco-friendly! The Peekaru Original is soft, very warm, and made out of approximately 85% recycled plastic bottles. The manufacturing of each Peekaru saves approximately 25 bottles from going into landfills.

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October 3, 2008

The Art of Babywearing: Safety Guidelines

by Andrea McMann

attachment parenting, baby, baby care made simple, baby carriers, baby gear, babywearing, breastfeeding ease, eco friendly baby care, eco friendly babycare, eco products for babies, green baby, green baby eco baby, green gear, green parenting, new baby, new parenting how-to, organic cotton baby carriers, sustainable maternity style, Posh papoose

Babywearing is more popular than ever, due to an ever-increasing interest in natural parenting. Wearing your baby in a sling, wrap or carrier is a wonderful way to keep him close and still have your hands free to take care of necessary day to day tasks. Like any other child care product, however, baby carriers should be used with common sense and security in mind. The following guidelines will help ensure that you are wearing your baby safely.

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September 26, 2008

Guide to Baby Carriers: How to Tote your Tot

by Andrea McMann

attachment parenting, baby, baby care made simple, baby carriers, baby gear, babywearing, breastfeeding ease, eco friendly baby care, eco friendly babycare, eco products for babies, green baby, green baby eco baby, green gear, green parenting, new baby, new parenting how-to, organic cotton baby carriers, sustainable maternity style, Posh papoose

The art of baby wearing has been practiced since ancient history; but it was only recently that this age-old parenting skill really blossomed, thanks to an ever increasing array of carrier options, and the rise in popularity of attachment parenting in Western culture. Now, there are so many baby wearing options on the market that attempting to sort them all out may be mind-boggling. I’d like to share a few of my favorite carriers with you, to help take the guesswork out of your search for the perfect way to tote your baby.

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September 18, 2008

ALCHEMY MESSENGER: A New Take on Diaper Bags

by Andrea McMann

Alchemy Goods, Alchemy Bags, Urban Messenger bag, eco bag, eco tote, green bag, eco diaper bag, sustainable diaper bag, eco-friendly diaper bag, recyclced diaper bag, environmentally friendly diaper bag, eco fashion, green fashion, sustainable style

I have long felt that messenger bags make the very best diaper bags. They’re the perfect size, with plenty of pockets for stashing binkies, wipes, bibs, and basically every little piece of baby paraphernalia that needs to be toted around on a daily basis. Best of all, messenger bags allow parents to look sleek and sophisticated, instead of frumpy or cutesy.  Now, with the Urban Bag from Alchemy Goods, you can have a hip diaper bag that’s also eco-friendly and unique.

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September 12, 2008

Make a Customized Silhouette T-Shirt Of Your Kids

by Andrea McMann

Andrea McMann, Silhouette Tee shirt, Screen printing, Silhouette T-shirt, Andrea DIY column, eco screen printing, eco tee shirt

Kids grow up quickly; so I’m always looking for new ways to celebrate these fleeting days while my little ones are still small. Recently, I came up with a fun project that captures a moment in a child’s life, and creates a unique fashion statement. Here’s how to make a customized silhouette T-shirt that features your precious tots.

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August 29, 2008

Home Laundering Cloth Diapers

by Andrea McMann

baby, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, diaper washing, DIY diapering, eco friendly baby care, green parenting, home laundering cloth diapers, how-to diapers

In today’s tricky economy, things are getting more expensive and costly all of the time. A great way to save money for the family is by home laundering your baby’s cloth diapers. We are all for the DIY spirit when it comes to doing-it-yourself with eco-friendly methods. Granted not everyone has the time to do household chores from start to finish, but if home laundering is something you want to fit into your busy parenting schedule, consider the following helpful tips to make the most out of your green laundering experience.

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August 22, 2008

Getting Started with Cloth Diapers

by Andrea McMann

baby care made simple, cloth diapering, cloth diapering how to, cloth diapers, diapering how-to, diapering must-haves, eco friendly baby care, eco friendly nursery, eco products for babies, green nursery, new baby, new parenting how-to

As a continuation of our ongoing series on cloth diapering, we thought that we would share some simple tips for new (perhaps sleep-deprived) parents on getting started with cloth diapers at home. If you’ve made the decision to use cloth diapers, and you have all the supplies you need, it’s time to get started! Have no fear, the following tips will help you on your way to cloth diapering with true ease!

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August 22, 2008

9 Cloth Diapering Must-Haves

by Andrea McMann

baby, cloth diaper accessories, cloth diapering how to, cloth diapers, eco friendly babycare, green baby, green parenting, guide to cloth diapering, new parents diapering, nursery essentials

In our ongoing efforts to try to make cloth diapering a breeze, we have put together some simple guidelines for essential items that might make the diapering process a bit more eco friendly and manageable. Hooray, if you have decided that cloth diapers are right for you! Now it’s time to get busy and stock up on the basic nursery items that you’ll need to make the diapering process easy and fool-proof for everyone involved!

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August 22, 2008

Finding the Right Cloth Diaper for You

by Andrea McMann

baby care, best diaper brands, BumGenius, Chinese prefold, cloth diapers, eco friendly diapers, Fuzzi Bunz, gDiapers, green parenting, how-to baby, how-to diaper, Mother-ease

Let’s face it, we are all trying to do the right thing these days, both as parents and as environmentally conscious consumers. For some, disposable diapers is the best route to go, for others - cloth diapers are the obvious choice. We are certainly not about preaching ‘the diapering gospel’ here at Inhabitots, but for those of you who opt for cloth and are confused about which cloth diaper to buy, here you go!

I have had the opportunity to test several different types of cloth diapers, and I have put together the following list of benefits and drawbacks of each of these options, along with my personal brand choice for each category.

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July 25, 2008

5 Eco Friendly Reasons to Choose Cloth Diapers

by Andrea McMann

baby care, cloth diapers, eco friendly diapers, environmentally friend nursery, green parenting, organic cotton diapers

Mention the word ‘cloth diaper’ to a modern, harried urbanite and you are likely to be met with a look of shock and horror. When I tell my friends about cloth diapering, the response is usually, “But isn’t that SOOO messy and time consuming? All that laundering and poop scraping?” Despite a prejudice in our culture towards the quick-fix disposable, cloth diapers are really the only green choice when it comes to diapering. Not only are cloth diapers healthier, more economical and eco-friendly than their plastic cousins — but their ease of use and convenience has significantly improved over the last decade. Here are five great reasons to go cloth:

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