Beth Shea

Beth is the writer and founder of Petite Planet, a blog which focuses on eco-friendly living for families and informs parents of the best “green” choices for their babies and our planet. The birth of her daughter was her inspiration to take baby steps toward changing the world and preserving it for future generations. A former travel and spa writer, Beth swapped airline miles and body wraps for long stroller walks and quick showers. She is living her dream by being a mother and freelance writer. Follow Beth on Twitter @PetitePlanet
Beth Shea

DVD REVIEW: More Business of Being Born

by , 01/31/12

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Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan Launch The Honest Company, Green Diaper & Baby Product Delivery Service

by , 01/20/12

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Recycled Wood Art Panels from Urban Tickle Enlighten Kids and Brighten Rooms

by , 01/19/12

urban tickle, eco nursery decor, eco art, recycled wood art, green design for kids, eco design for kids, eco kids decor, recycled wood panel art, sustainable nursery art

It’s easy to find planes and cars flying and zooming across art decor for kids. But the artist behind Etsy shop Urban Tickle really goes the distance by pairing inspirational messages with the transportation motifs to really drive important sentiments home. Parents may brighten the nursery or playroom with Urban Tickle’s 100% recycled wood art panels, made from wood salvaged from discarded apple orchard trees, while enlightening blossoming minds with the empowering words: “I hope that even the sky is not the limit for you,” and “In life, I hope you will always go the distance…” making planting the seeds of self-esteem a sweet and subtle undertaking.

+ Plane and Car Art Wood Panels (Set of 2) $76

+ Urban Tickle

Organic Floor Pillows from Smiling Planet Provide a Soft Spot for Green Tots

by , 01/14/12

smiling planet, smiling planet floor pillows, organic floor pillows, eco kids, green kids, eco design for kids, green design for kids, organic pillows for kids, organic floor pillows for kids

Tots looking for a soft landing, to outfit they’re indoor teepee or tent, or while kicking back to read a good board book, will love Smiling Planet‘s new collection of organic floor pillows. We dig the inspirational words and sweet graphics in neutral and pastel hues — and the peace signs, shooting stars, and an array of happy creatures from the animal kingdom grace the sweet cushions, offering a refreshing touch for nurseries and playrooms. Since the savvy floor decor is made from organic cotton in California, it’s also grounded in green design.

+ Smiling Planet Floor Pillows $47

+ Smiling Planet

High Line Children’s Workyard Kit by Cas Holman Provides Interactive Play

High Line Children’s Workyard Kit by Cas Holman Provides Interactive Play

We were thrilled when New York's High Line park opened in 2009, and we were delighted to come across the recent news of designer Cas Holman's custom play feature for the green playspace: the High Line children's workyard kit. Comprised of a collection of wooden planks, pulleys, wheels, wingbolts and rope, this interactive kit may morph into myriad structures, and there are "no wrong answers" when it comes to what children ultimately design. Sounds like a perfect, engaging interactive toy which will please parents interested in their children learning new things and getting down to the crucial, healthy business of playtime.

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Recycled Mudpuppy Money Banks Teach Tots to Spend, Save and Share

Recycled Mudpuppy Money Banks Teach Tots to Spend, Save and Share

The holidays and consumerism go hand in hand, so why not make the season (and your tots) bright by teaching kids about money. Mudpuppy’s Money Banks go two steps beyond saving for a rainy day. Each bank features three labeled slots in which to make a deposit: spend, share and save. Little ones …

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James Harvey’s Amazing Rocking Animals Help Conservation in Africa

James Harvey’s Amazing Rocking Animals Help Conservation in Africa

There are some wow-worthy 'toys' in this world, and then there are the masterpieces that take your breath away. UK artist James Harvey's Rocking Animals are works of art -- heirloom quality showpieces that will inspire and delight the kid in all of us. His rocking elephant, hippo and rhino are all individually hand carved from solid wood, and the gentle giants are even big enough for adults to ride.

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Fortress Bureau is A Regal Desk for Kids

Fortress Bureau is A Regal Desk for Kids

If you have a little lord or lady holding court in your midst, make your home his or her castle with this cute and clever children’s bureau fortress. Made in France with wood from sustainably managed forests, the model above is complete with chalkboard paint for kids to decorate and personalize as they …

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Family Memories Captured in Photos – Into The Great Wide Open

Family Memories Captured in Photos – Into The Great Wide Open

As a child, the Arizona desert provided the rugged, blissfully quiet and expansive backdrop for many a sun-drenched day full of adventure, mischief and excitement when I played outdoors daily from dawn to dusk. I now have my own little girl, whose soul lights up every time we embark into the great wide open together — the fresh air and the anticipation of the unknown infusing her with the same unquenchable desire I had to explore every crevice of my small corner of the earth. While she won’t stay this age forever, or always exude the same undying curiosity and endless wonderment for all that nature has to offer, I can capture these beautiful memories in photos.

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Pong™ iPhone and iPad Cases Reduce Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation

Pong™ iPhone and iPad Cases Reduce Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation

We’ve reported on cell phone radiation, especially with regard to the dangers of childrens’ exposure to iPhones and iPads on multiple occasions over the past year. Most readers have admitted they think iPhone apps are a lifesaver when it comes to keeping tots entertained. But that doesn’t change the fact that studies show that kids’ brains absorb twice as much cell phone radiation as adult brains, and we’d be remiss not to take precautions or avoid letting children play with these devices full stop. Lucky for diehard fans, young and old, of the iPhone and iPad, there’s a new case on the market which drastically reduces a user’s exposure to cell phone radiation. Pong Research, Inc. is a new health technology company founded by a team of PhDs from Princeton, Harvard, UCLA and MIT, that offers the only solution proven in FCC-certified labs to protect consumers significantly (up to 95% below FCC limits) from wireless device radiation.

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Organic Cotton Santa Claus Pajamas for Festive Tots

Organic Cotton Santa Claus Pajamas for Festive Tots

The countdown begins! As tots wait for Santa to grace their living rooms, they can anticipate the arrival of the jolly man in red by donning these festive organic Santa Claus pajamas from Hanna Andersson. In addition to being super cute, their thoughtful design includes smooth, flatlock seams, soft, ready-to-grow cuffs and stretch waists. These pjs …

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Light Up the Night in a Flash with Vintage Cameras Turned into Nightlights!

Light Up the Night in a Flash with Vintage Cameras Turned into Nightlights!

Nightlights are a quintessential gadget for every kid’s bedroom. We’ve seen some pretty cool variations on the comforting beacons in the night, but these repurposed vintage camera nightlights by Jason Hull captured us with cheesy grins at their thoughtful, savvy design. Hull transforms cameras from the 1950′s and 60′s by “removing the shutter, film transport, and as much extra plastic as possible to make …

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GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Gifts for New Parents

GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Gifts for New Parents

If you have any new parents on your holiday gift list this season, you know that they are whistling ‘Joy to the World’ over the arrival of their sweet little bundle — even though they’ve gotten nary a ‘silent night’ since his or her debut. But they’ll be singing your praises if you present them with any of the fabulous offerings from our green gift guide for new parents. From eco essentials: cloth diapers, baby bottles, and …

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GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Gifts for Boys

GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Gifts for Boys

Whether your little guy is a tough nut to crack or he wears his heart on his sleeve, we’ve got a gift that is sure to make him grin from ear to ear. Handymen in training will revel in receiving their very own set of real tools, superhero fans will be delighted to have a new …

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GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Gifts for Girls

GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Gifts for Girls

Tea sets, dolls, gardens, jewelry and crafts — these things often come to mind when brainstorming gifts for girls, but don’t forget the building sets, science sets and sports gear! The collection of gifts we’ve compiled for your little lovelies goes above and beyond the pink frilly tried and true, by putting a fresh, …

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The Best Green Gifts for Boys, Girls, Tots, New Parents and More!

The Best Green Gifts for Boys, Girls, Tots, New Parents and More!

Ready to tick all of those gift purchases off your master list as stealthily as Santa Claus? You can get your eco shopping done in a swift, secretive and eco-conscious fashion with Inhabitat’s 2011 Green Holiday Gift Guide! Featuring an …

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GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Gifts for Tots

GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Eco Gifts for Tots

When you see a toddler’s face light up in anticipation of opening his holiday gifts, it’s evident that the magic of the season is at its purest in the joy of a child. Inhabitat’s 2011 Green Gift Guide for Tots will help you choose the very best toys of the season for eager little ones to cherish for years to come. These eco-friendly, non-toxic gifts will stimulate, educate, entertain and delight. From art supplies, dolls and …

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Wee Can Too’s Edible Vegan Sidewalk Chalk is Safe for Tots

Wee Can Too’s Edible Vegan Sidewalk Chalk is Safe for Tots

Fact: curious kiddos will put almost anything in their mouths — which makes playtime with teething tots a dubious experience. And when it comes to creating masterpieces, art tools often end up as chew toys which get confiscated from frustrated wee ones who just want to have fun. So when we learned about Wee Can Too‘s edible chalk, we had to take note! Conceptualized …

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Frida’s Tierchen Handmade Mother & Baby Breastfeeding and Birthing Dolls

Frida’s Tierchen Handmade Mother & Baby Breastfeeding and Birthing Dolls

Frida's Tierchen's gorgeous handmade mother and baby breastfeeding and birthing dolls are works of art that imitate some of the most momentous occasions and exquisite joys in life. Gifting toddlers or big kids with one of these interactive dolls in light of a new baby entering the family is a wonderful way to help them learn about and be involved in baby care in tandem with their parents.

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Jeff Friesen’s Toy Photography Delivers A Poignant Message Via Plastic Animals

Jeff Friesen’s Toy Photography Delivers A Poignant Message Via Plastic Animals

Award-winning photographer Jeff Friesen's 'Last Migration' pictorial frames plastic animal toys in natural environments, capturing the regal essence of the majestic animal kingdom in a diminutive, fabricated format. While the images are intriguing, what's more captivating is the intention and the message behind Friesen's work. He offers, "Our encounters with the animal kingdom begin shortly after birth. We learn the alphabet using aardvarks and zebras. We make friends with teddy bears... Given our early attachment to animals it’s surprising that as adults many people are indifferent to the fate of wild creatures. It’s well publicized that a wide range of animals are threatened by human activity, yet in most cases their numbers continue to decline. In the future will we be left with nothing more than plastic toys as proxies for the real thing? Is the animal last migration from flesh to plastic?"

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LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!