Inhabitots

WIN IT WEDNESDAY! We’re Giving Away TWO 100% Organic Cotton Patemm Changing Pads!

Green diapers? Check. Reusable baby wipes? Check. Eco-friendly changing pad? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This week, we’re giving away TWO 100% organic cotton Patemm changing pads valued at $55 each. Now, your green diapering routine can come full circle… literally! The mom-invented circular Patemm pad measures 30 inches, and allows parents to place their child in any direction for full coverage. Patemm pads are lined with interior pockets to store  diapers, wipes and a change of clothes — and they conveniently collapse into a compact carrier, with four outside handles designed to allow you to fold and unfold the pad with one hand. Proudly made in San Francisco, CA, eco-friendly Patemm pads are PVC-free and made of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton — they are non-coated and machine washable. We are giving away two Patemm pads: 1 in Avocado (green), and 1 in Hibiscus (pink)! Enter to win after the jump!

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Baby-Measuring Crib Sheet Doubles as a Growth Chart

If you’re tired of tangling with measuring tape every time you want to check your bambino’s growth spurts, consider your problem solved. Clare Chen, a designer from Taiwan, has created a fitted crib sheet pre-marked with height measurements, so you can gauge baby’s length right in her crib. The multifunctional Hi-Height, which comes in several colors, …

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Save Money, Planet With Bottoms Up Reusable Baby Wipes Kit

If you’re a cloth-diapering superstar and you’re champing at the bit to do Ma Earth one better, Bottoms Up’s chemical-free reusable diaper wipes are just what the planet ordered. The All-in-One Kit makes it easy, with 25 all-natural cotton wipes, two essential-oil blends formulated for “clean” and “dirty” tushies, and two wipes …

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Recycled Truck Tarp Diaper Bag by Gabi Goncalves

As a new parent, at times life can feel like a patchwork of moments haphazardly sewn together, and Brazilian artist Gabi Goncalves captures this sentiment perfectly in one of parenting’s essential accouterments –  the diaper bag (for Maria Buzina). Much more environmentally smart than purchasing squares of material from fabric sellers, Ms. Goncalves uses recycled cottons and donated truck tarps to create a one-of-a-kind piece that is both fashionable and functional.

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Platypus BPA Free Reusable SoftBottles

In light of this year’s reusable water bottle scandals, plastic bottles aren’t looking so bad — especially bottles made with zero BPA. The Platypus SoftBottle fits the bill, and like its Australian namesake it is an odd, squishy creature kids will love. Because the bottle is …

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Cowacca: Handcrafted Handles for Small Straphangers

Growing up in a big city, I often found myself on crowded trains and buses, looking up at my dad and longingly wondering when I would be able to reach the straphangers to hold on tight while traveling to and fro. I wish I’d had this Cowacca (literal meaing: small loop), which attaches to adult belt loops and bags, and provides immediate kid-comfort in any mass-transit vehicle. Carefully designed with small …

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GREAT GREEN HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR NEW PARENTS

Put down that onesie with the image of Jimi Hendrix screen printed on the front. It says “Hip,” it says “Cute,” it says “I have absolutely no idea what new parents need in a gift.” There are certain must-haves a new parent always wants to have around. And though fashionable kids clothing is great, it’s almost a certainty that they’ve already purchased tons of that stuff while in ‘the glow.’ Here’s a list of great green gifts for new parents that are positively eco-cool and practical.

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Picnica’s Reusable Tote Doubles as a Stuffed Bunny Toy

No matter how you hype them, a reusable bag is a reusable bag. Picnica’s lightweight nylon tote, however, transforms into an adorable stuffed rabbit when it’s not in use. Distract a fidgety tot with the bunny while you’re cruising along the supermarket aisle, then unzip its back at the cash register to enlist ol’ Bugs in some heavy lifting.

+ Picnica Bunny Tote Bag $30 at A+R Store

via Daily Candy

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GREEN GIFT GUIDE: Gifts for Eco Babies, Tots, Moms and Dads!

The Inhabitat 2009 Green Gift Guide is here!
Featuring the best eco-friendly gifts for babies and kids, girls and boys, new moms and dads, and veteran parents, our Green Gift Guide is your one-stop shop for eco-friendly gifts, and the best place to find the latest and greatest, greenest TOYS! Giving green presents to everyone on your list this holiday …

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Inhabitots’ Greenmarket Recipes for Kids: Oven Roasted Carrots and Parsnips by Sarah Poten

Carrots and parsnips… that’s about all you need to make Sarah Poten’s simple and delectable side dish of Roasted Carrots and Parsnips this Thanksgiving. Be sure to review the fun nutritional facts Sarah, Education and Special Projects Coordinator, Greenmarket (CENYC), has included with this recipe after the jump!

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Inhabitots’ Greenmarket Recipes for Kids: Purple Mashed Potatoes

Sarah Poten, Education and Special Projects Coordinator of Greenmarket (CENYC) has shared 6 vegetarian recipes for Inhabitots readers to try this Thanksgiving. The first one is: Purple Mashed Potatoes. To begin, Sarah poses a question to our kid helpers: “Did you know that potatoes originated in Peru, and the first varieties were purple? These mashed potatoes are delicious, rich in beta-carotene, and you’ll love the amazing lavender color!”

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Inhabitots’ Thanksgiving Recipes from Sarah Poten of Greenmarkets

At a time when green advocates are pointing to meat consumption as the single most environmentally devastating practice humans have adopted, certain Thanksgiving dishes such as the turducken (that’s a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey) must represent all that is wrong with humanity. But don’t strike off this holiday as an ecological no-no just yet. This week Sarah Poten, Education and Special Projects Coordinator of Greenmarket (Council on the Environment of New York City), saves Thanksgiving by serving up fresh recipes on standard fare locavore and vegetarian families can dig into. This week on Inhabitots, we’ll feature six recipes from Sarah Poten that are “simple, child-friendly, and guaranteed crowd pleasers for eaters of all ages!”

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Organic Noonies from Lala’s Pequenos Wrap Baby in Womb-like Warmth

Handcrafted in Virginia by designer Alessandra Gutierrez, aka “Lala,” Noonies are the coziest spot for newborns to land after leaving the womb. Made from 100% organic fabrics and a sumptuously soft organic sherpa lining, Noonies are designed to swaddle baby in familiar security. 30 inches long and 15 inches wide at its broadest point, a Noonie is large enough to comfort babes past the newborn …

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NEW! BabyBjorn Organic Cotton Baby Carriers and Babysitter

The BabyBjorn Active Carrier made our Inhabitots favorite baby carriers list for winning us over with its ergonomically correct design that provides great support for both wearer and baby. We were equally impressed with their Oeko-Tex, Eco-certified fabrics and manufacturing methods, but we are thrilled to learn that they recently debuted their BabyBjorn organic line — which includes the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Original, the BabyBjorn Baby Active Carrier, and the Babysitter Balance.

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The Baby Show NYC – Our Favorite Green Finds for Eco Babies!

This past weekend, Inhabitots was on the scene at NYC’s first ever Baby Show, a fun event gathering all the best baby toys, clothes, services and gear together under one roof for new parents and parents-to-be! Several green baby brands showcased sustainable goods at the show, and we’re super excited to share our favorites finds with you. Here are our top green finds from The Baby Show NYC!

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TerraCycle’s YakPak Backpack made from Recycled Billboards

I recently discovered (a bit too late for the start of the school year) that TerraCycle offers three recycled backpack options for kids. Even though TerraCycle argues that “every year millions of non–recyclable cookie wrappers and packaging end up in our landfills,” I’m still on the fence regarding their Drink Pouch and Cookie Wrapper recycled backpack options. (I’d be hard-pressed to come up with a reasonable explanation as to why my son can wear a backpack constructed from Oreo cookie packages but he can’t eat from them). However, the YakPak backpack offered by TerraCycle, “made from recycled billboards,” is a product any green parent could endorse.

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Matching Eco Dad & Baby Set from Diaper Dude

We’ve featured numerous chic, eco-friendly mama-baby matching outfits and feminine diaper bags on Inhabitots — and we wish there was more green baby gear designed especially for dads! Diaper Dude helps fill the gap in the market with their hip Eco Dad & Baby Set, which pairs a multifunctional, masculine messenger style diaper bag, with matching ‘daddy and me’ clothing.

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OXO Candela Guardian: The Perfect Portable LED Nightlight

If you’re tired of stumbling around in the dark during late night feedings and diaper changes, then the OXO Candela Guardian nightlight is the perfect solution for you. This LED lighted rechargeable lamp is super portable with a nice handle that stays cool …

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Bigg Bottle Swap! Trade in Your SIGG for a New Bottle!

How lame was it to find out that older SIGG bottles contained BPA? However, in an effort to make lemonade out of lemons, the mamas at Cool Mom Picks and The Soft Landing have partnered up with one amazing idea, The Bigg Bottle Swap – through which you may trade in that old SIGG and upgrade to a safe BPA-free stainless steel water bottle for a discount price. (30% off!) They will also recycle your old SIGG bottle! You could just return your old SIGG water bottle to SIGG for a replacement bottle, but SIGG misled consumers in the first place and now they’re claiming that the BPA was a third party’s fault. Do you really want another SIGG? Why support a company who stretches the truth and won’t take responsibility? We say go with stainless steel. Keep reading to learn about how to get a great deal on a safe stainless steel water bottle.

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The “Great Trade-In” Event at Toys ”R” Us

If you have used baby gear around your house, or you’re not sure if the baby gear you have is safe, then The “Great Trade-In” Event at Toys”R”Us is just what you need! This event is a new, limited time national program that gives parents an opportunity to trade-in used cribs, car seats, baby bouncers, highchairs, and other baby gear that may not be up to date on meeting current safety standards. As an added perk, parents who trade in an old item will receive savings on a new, safer baby item.

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Back to School: Mother/Son Review of Citizenpip Lunch Kits

My son Cedar is the pickiest child alive… so when his school lunch box went by the wayside this summer, a feeling of dread grew inside of me knowing we’d have to find a new one. I picked out a bunch of eco-friendly lunch boxes, only to have Cedar snub them all. Lately, he’s been using a bamboo lunch sack for camp, and while it is eco-friendly, it’s also inappropriate for long-term use because it has no insulation. Then I heard about a new waste-free-lunch system – the Soup to Nuts Kit from Citizenpip. The Soup to Nuts kit is an all inclusive, reusable, waste-free lunch kit that puts a stylish end to disposable lunch trash woes. Read on to learn what earth-loving Cedar and I thought of Citizenpip’s reusable lunch kits.

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SIGG Scandal: Sigg ‘Eco’ Water Bottles Contain BPA!

SIGG water bottles, which have long been perceived to be the eco-friendly alternative to plastic water bottles, has just confessed something that has sent huge ripples through the media – all of their bottles manufactured before August of last year actually DO contain BPA – according to a press statement made by Sigg CEO Steve Wasik. In case you aren’t familiar with the notorious chemical, Bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor. Part of what made SIGG so popular in the first place was when SIGG marketing tactics involved pointing fingers at polycarbonate water bottle manufacturers – claiming that these types of bottles leached BPA. Not surprisingly, parents and eco-conscious consumers everywhere turned to SIGG bottles as a safe way to tote water on the go without being exposed to the dangerous effects of bisphenol-A, but there is a daunting sense of mistrust now that we learn we’ve been duped. Read on to see how SIGG was able to mislead us.

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Back to School: Kid’s Organic Messenger Bags

We’re fans of all of Etsy shop SewnNatural’s wares, but with back-to-school time right around the corner, we especially love their sweet Organic Messenger Bags! These kid-friendly, kid-sized messenger bags are perfectly suited for your preschooler or kindergartner; equipping him or her with the perfect tote for carrying small treasures, crayons, and art projects to and from class.

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Organic Joobles Stuffed Animals and Babywear from Fair Indigo

Organic, Fair Trade, and adorable, to boot—what more could you ask for in a stuffed animal? If you’re after coordinating gear (think hats, mittens, blankies, and hoodies), Fair Indigo has you covered, as well. Handknit in a Fair Trade workshop in Peru using homegrown organic cotton, the online retailer’s collection of cuddly Joobles and matching baby accessories offers employment for hundreds of impoverished artisans. Fair Indigo even lends disadvantaged kids a helping hand through its eponymous foundation, which provides educational programs and supplies for the children of co-op workers.

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NEW! Goodbyn Lunchbox is a Back-To-School Must-Have!

The brand new, cute, hip, Goodbyn lunchbox saves the earth one school lunch at a time. This BPA and Phthalate-free lunch system eliminates the need for plastic baggies, disposable drink boxes or pouches, and multiple Tupperware containers. It’s “a better lunchbox, reinvented for kids, parents, and our planet.” Read on to see why we’re sending our kids back to school with this stellar sidekick.

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Artists Design Kid Kustoms Tricycle Fenders for Charity

We raved about Kid Kustoms Roddler stroller which brilliantly converts into a tricycle, and now we’re equally impressed with the work of over 50 commissioned artists: “the world’s best hot rod pin stripers, street artists, illustrators, air brushers, graphic designers, and cartoonists” who created masterpieces out of Kid Kustoms’ Roddler tricycle fenders with their original artwork. The fenders will be auctioned off in a charity auction called ‘Tins for …

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Eco Alternative to Plastic Baggies – Wet Happened? Bags

We’ve all been there — you’re out with your tot and a wet cloth diaper happens, spit-up happens, sippy cup spills happen. The end result is always the same – wet baby gear that you need to stuff into your diaper bag or purse. You can carry plastic bags with you, but even if you purchase recycled content plastic baggies it’s still a drain on resources and an ongoing cost. A better option: Wet Happened? bags by Itzy Ritzy, a chic, green alternative to the plastic baggie dilemma.

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REMINDER: Enter to Win an Ecozoo Backpack!

Tomorrow is the last day to enter to win an adorable Ecozoo backpack! Your child may choose between a panda, puppy, pig or elephant to tote all of their school gear and make all the other kids ‘green’ with envy over their eco-friendly Ecozoo! Enter our …

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Hold Everything With Packtoozi’s Organizational System

You don’t need to be a Type A parent to appreciate the beauty of a well-organized system, especially one that manages to keep the flurry of kid-related activities—and accompanying paraphernalia—from spinning out of control. Packtoozi keeps your sanity in check with its range of organic cotton in-home and on-the-go organizational products, which can be purchased individually …

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REMINDER: EcoZoo Backpack Contest!

Just a little reminder that we are giving away an adorable green ‘EcoZoo’ critter backpack to the family who impresses us the most with their green back-to-school tale. So if you want to get your hands on one of these uber green, super cuties, enter our contest …

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Ecozoo Backpacks Get Kids Back to School in Sustainable Style

Eco-conscious parents take extra care selecting what goes into their child’s backpack — from waste-free lunches to recycled paper notebooks… but is your child’s backpack as safe and eco-friendly as its contents? Thanks to Ecogear, tikes can tote all their school paraphernalia in sustainable style by slipping on an Ecozoo backpack. Kids may choose from an adorable array of characters including an elephant, pig, panda and puppy. The ideal classmate, each ‘pet’ in the Ecozoo series is made of organically grown cotton canvas and rope materials, non-toxic dyes, recycled plastic components, sustainable wood accents, and features padded shoulder straps and internal pockets. Ecozoo backpacks will put your kids at the head of the class in cuteness and comfort, while teaching everyone a lesson or two about going green.

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