Neelam is a practicing physician, board certified in pain management and physical medicine, and certified in medical acupuncture. She believes in incorporating a holistic and integrative approach to patient care. She is the writer/creator of health and lifestyle blog http://www.envivant.com. Her latest creative project is now 9 months old and crawling. Neelam loves to make things with her hands...hats, scarves, quilts, critters, mobiles, baby food, veggie delights...
Babysoy clothing for babies and toddlers is devastatingly cute, and smartly crafted from one of my favorite foods: soy. As a vegetarian, I have always appreciated soy as a source of protein, but I underestimated the possibilities inherent in soy, and I’m delighted to learn about its life as a fabric in the Babysoy clothing line. Not sure what gift to grab for the tiny eco-fashionista in your life whose wardrobe is brimming with clothing options? Gift her with Babysoy… her parents will be ’soy’ happy you did.
Earthentree toys are stunning, natural, exquisitely beautiful toys with a colorful backstory. Earthentree is based in Kirkland, Washington, however, each toy is handmade by an artisan in a community in South India. Deepti Shanker, the owner of Earthentree, was raised in this same artisan community of Channapatna, India, to which she now maintains close ties via her business. Earthentree toy-making techniques are over two centuries old, and oftentimes artisans have learned and inherited their skills as they were passed down by previous generations of family toy-makers.
The eco-friendly WoodPecker Walker from Plan Toys carved a niche in my heart with its precious features, and quickly became our baby’s favorite companion. Crafted entirely of sustainable wood, this walker is as beautiful as it is functional. Two playful little woodpeckers perched at the front cheerfully peck away, making a charming clacking sound as the walker is pushed. The sound they make is lively and frolicsome, encouraging babies to ‘walk on’ down the path to a green lifestyle.
When trick or treaters come knocking on your door this Halloween, you may feel a sharp pang of guilt handing out the usual holiday fare, which is loaded with unhealthy ingredients, artificial colors, and flavors. We’re here to help you find some more green Halloween delights to really treat those cute little costumed greeters. Glee Gum and YummyEarth lollipops are true treats for the taste buds and the earth; and what little kid won’t think he hit the jackpot when he receives gum and lollipops after yelling “Trick or Treat?”
In preparation for the spookiest night of the year, we’ve unearthed several healthy alternatives to typical Halloween treats. Unfortunately, the majority of candy passed out on Halloween is frightfully laden with high fructose corn syrup and a slew of other scary ingredients. We’d prefer to treat our mini-revelers to tasty, mindful goodies; and in our search for such delights, we came across a few very inspiring products we’d like to share to make everyone’s trick or treating experience more enlightening than frightening.
Hardwood floors are a wonderful feature in any home, but they don’t necessarily mix with wobbly babies. When our little one began sitting up rather unsteadily, we knew we needed to pad our hardwood floors to cushion the many tumbles that pepper the path to toddlerhood. We wanted to find a playmat that would be both child-friendly and sophisticated, not one that would turn our small apartment into Pee Wee’s Playhouse.
Our recent visit to the newly re-opened Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights, had us giddy and delighted as we explored the sprawling, environmentally friendly space. The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is New York’s first ‘green’ museum. It is slated for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, boasting several environmentally conscious features, and it is a fun, educational excursion for the entire family!
Given the noticeably shorter days and slightly cooler evenings, there’s no denying that fall is in full swing, and winter is nipping at our heels. One of my favorite cold weather accessories is a pair of toasty legwarmers. They are stylish and functional, and they add so much flavor and coziness to any outfit. Legwarmers are very charming on little girls, and they are an unexpected, equally compelling surprise when worn by little boys. Every time my little guy sported his legwarmers, he would be greeted with compliments and gushing admiration. Luckily, it’s easy to find these adorable little accessories in organic materials from BabyLegs.
As the debate rages on between cloth anddisposable diapers, their is a lesser known third option that bypasses diapers alltogether: elimination communication (EC). In many third world countries, diapers are not an option. When Ingrid Bauer visited India, she noticed that mothers would often be carrying diaperless babies fearlessly and with what seemed liked virtually no “accidents.” How is this possible? In many cultures, mothers develop an incredible sensitivity to their babies’ elimination needs and can hold them over an appropriate receptacle when that need should arise. Ingrid Bauer has written a book on EC entitled: Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene.
Imagine this: a formerly plain white baby onesie jazzed up with a vintage tie applique. Pumpkin Girl, an Etsy artisan and crafty mom (who started sewing at the ripe old age of five), dreamed up this sassy pairing. Pumpkin Girl has a penchant for incorporating vintage materials into her designs, and her totally unique “Tiesies” give new meaning to the term “business casual.” Each Tiesie is an original design, so when your little man sports these couture threads, he’s sure to avoid those embarrassing moments of running into another little dude wearing the same outfit.
Having a baby who had an intense sucking reflex, we needed to find an alternative to his saliva-coated digits (after approximately 6 weeks of established breastfeeding, of course). Natursutten is the perfect solution in this situation. Made of pure ‘natural’ rubber from the Hevea Brasiliensi tree, it’s a great alternative to plastic. ’Natursut’ means “natural pacifier” in Danish; it boasts no artificial colors, no parabens, and no PVC, phthalates, BPA, or chemical softeners. It’s ideal and truly comforting for both babies and environmentally-conscious new parents.
One of my son’s absolute favorite toys is a adorable green alligator pull-toy that ‘clackety-clacks’ when in motion. It was a gift from a dear friend, and when I did some research on Plan Toys, the company that produces this darling toy, I was elated to see that they have an extremely active eco-agenda. If you have been searching for a truly green toy-maker and a fun new friend to tag along behind your little one, Plan Toys is great company to invite into your household.
If you are like me, you may feel rather cautious and leery about BPA, PVC, and pthalate-free plastics - especially when it comes to baby teethers. I am frankly always worried about the next toxin of the moment, and try to play it safe by basically opting for non-plastic baby and nursery products whenever possible. Thankfully, with regards to truly eco-friendly teethers, there are a variety of desirable and affordable options available for baby’s budding teeth and your peace of mind!
UPPAbaby, the purveyors of high-end though affordably deluxe baby strollers, offers some elegantly designed vehicles to transport baby around town, all the while remaining actively eco-minded. The Northeast-based company really goes the distance by recycling materials from old and used strollers, donating functional strollers to charity, and operating a warehouse bi-coastally to reduce emissions and gas-guzzling travel by delivery trucks. They even encourage ‘work at home’ opportunities to help decrease emissions from what would have been commuting employees. Look no further if you are hoping to stroll in sustainable style as well as lighten your footprint as a green family on-the-go!
If you have ever worn a necklace while carrying a curious baby, you know that this may result in an unwelcome game of tug-of war. Teething babies definitely need stuff to chew on, and conventional jewelry with its sparkling trinkets, multi-faceted gems, and shimmery baubles are all delicious eye-candy for an exploring infant. Unfortunately, this can also pose a serious choking hazard, and the concoction of baby + jewelry may also spell ‘recipe for disaster’. Enter Teething Bling to every new Mom’s rescue!
A Bella band is every pregnant woman’s best friend for keeping unbuttoned pants cleverly and discreetly concealed during those awkward ‘in-between’ stages of one’s pregnancy. Baby Be Mine maternity offers Belly bands (which bare a striking resemblance to the aforementioned Bella bands), made of bamboo. Please note - these are not Bella bands, but Belly bands.
Let’s face it folks, there is an ever-increasing demand for truly functional green gear for today’s busy families on the go. Couple that with deep concern over the planet that we are passing on to the next generation, and it’s enough to really keep you awake at night - besides the obvious parenting demands! Enter Fleurville’s eco-fabulous line of recycled plastic bottle fabric totes and packs that keep (on average) ten 600ml plastic water bottles out of the landfill! We love their Spring 2008 floral prints and clean graphic contours. These spacious and lightweight totes and shoulder bags function equally well as diaper bags or simple on-the-go carryalls. Fleurville makes parenting a breeze by sending the right message to little ones looking on from their strollers as inheritors of the planet.
Fresh, organic homemade baby food is, undoubtedly, the best way to nourish your growing little one. However, it is not always possible to make your own baby food due to travel, the busy modern-parent schedule (i.e. the lack of a single spare moment in the day), or possibly no access to the necessary food-prep equipment. HomemadeBaby offers delicious and fresh organic baby food that your wee one will gobble right up, all the while helping you to feel that you did your best in providing the best alternative to puréed homemade and loving nourishment.
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