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All Natural Shopping on Salt Spring Island
As printed in the Fall 2008 issue of Island Child
Salt Spring Island Mom Robin Little, has your baby shopping solution all boxed up. Inspired by her three fabulous kids and her desire to work at home while doing something she loves,
her little babe online boutique was born. In a small community, gift shopping for unique baby gifts is challenging at best, and with small children of her own, Robin found it increasingly more difficult to get off island for shopping. Robin understands the importance of having soft, high quality clothes and accessories for your baby.
Launched in 2008, www.rlittlebabe.com has received great response from local customers. Moms like the organic line of onesies and beanie hats, and the ease of getting great lines like ‘Cuddlebee’ and ‘Jack and Lily’ on Salt Spring. Presentation is Robin’s key marketing tool here with beautiful keepsake boxes custom made as a special touch to unique gift giving. Funky and hip for today’s babies, these unique gift boxes can be ordered directly from her website where several options are shown, or you can contact her to create a custom giftbox.
Robin’s long term goal for the future of r little babe is to eventually be 100% green and provide her customers with the highest quality organic baby gifts on the market, right down to the keepsake box itself and the paper she wraps the gifts in. Starting r little babe has been a great experience for Robin. It has made her step outside of the box and push her own personal limits. She is excited to share her new business with the world and looks forward to what being a business owner will teach her.
A European Bumbleride
By Shari McCreesh
as printed in the Fall 2008 issue of Island Child
With our plane tickets in hand, my dream of one day visiting Europe was finally coming true. Our adventure was taking us 4500 kms through some of the most beautiful places in the world. Our whirlwind tour took us through Germany, France, Italy and Austria. Imagine if you will, grandparents, two kids under five, and a husband, who like most men see a destination with no chance of veering off the charted course. All in a seven passenger mini van with six pieces of luggage and no room to spare. All of a sudden the visions of backpacking through Europe at the age of eighteen all by myself was looking a lot less adventurous!
Already popping at the seams, the small European minivan was at its maximum capacity and we hadn’t even gotten the strollers in yet. Imagine my relief when the Bumbleride Flyer strollers we had brought along slid down the middle isle with ease. These compact flyer strollers were the perfect choice as they fold up in a snap and have many features that other strollers of this class just do not have. Take for example the ability to have your child face you or the world with just the flick of a switch and push of the handle bar (my daughter especially loved this feature as she doesn’t like Mama to be too far out of sight!). The wheels have a front and rear wheel locking system which makes this stroller very easy to maneuver in both of these positions. The canopy has a ratcheting system that allows it to be pushed down almost completely so that it covers your child from the sun, making a suncover obsolete. It also has a full zipper across the back allowing you full access to your child. Something that I would never have looked at or even thought of was the quality and feel of the rubber-like tires. This feature is not normally found on a stroller of this type. Standard issue these days seems to be a molded plastic wheel which makes maneuvering of this type of stroller over rough terrain almost impossible. What also impressed me about this stroller was that my son’s weight was near capacity and yet pushing it through the cobblestone streets of these ancient cities we visited was easy. I would definitely take this stroller again on our next visit.
And if you want advice on taking your two children under five, with in-laws in tow, to four countries in just under a month, that’s a whole other article!
The Wonderful World of Babywearing
By Lara Leontowich
as printed in the Summer 2008 issue of Island Child
Babywearing is the ancient art of carrying your baby close to your body in a sling, wrap, backpack, pouch or other type of carrier. This allows parents to go on with their daily tasks while being assured of their baby’s security and continually responding to baby’s needs. This ancient art has been practiced for centuries, but in recent years has grown in popularity due to many celebrities babywearing their young children. Babywearing provides a number of benefits, from allowing new mothers to breastfeed discreetly, keeping hands free for numerous shopping trips, and most importantly providing the opportunity for new parents to stay close to their newborn baby - not to mention, wearing your baby is fun! With so many different styles and selections on the market today, you are sure to find a baby carrier that appeals to your own personal style.
Types of Baby Carriers
• Ring Slings - The ring sling carrier adjusts fabric through rings to accommodate different sized baby wearers. Use the excess tail for discreet nursing or simply show off a beautiful sling tail.
• Pouch Slings - Baby pouches are the simplest and most straightforward type of baby carrier, and are popular for their compact design and ease of use. Baby pouches are available in fitted and adjustable versions.
• Wrap Carriers - Wraps are the least structured carriers available. They are simply long pieces of fabric that the wearer wraps around herself and her baby to create a secure and supportive carrier. Wraps have the longest learning curve of any baby carriers, but they also provide exceptional versatility and comfort - with even the heaviest of babies. Wraps can be warm in the summer months but are quite stylish.
• Mei Tais - The modern Mei Tai is based on traditional Asian baby carriers. In a Mei Tai baby carrier, the baby can be worn on the wearer’s back, front, or on the hip. The design is simple: a panel of fabric with supporting straps to go around the waist and over the shoulders. Mei Tai baby carriers are easy to use and their two-shouldered design makes them comfortable with even the heaviest babies.
• Back Pack Carriers - Back pack carriers are the most structured and supportive design of baby carrier. Inspired by hiking backpacks, they feature padded shoulder straps and stiff waist/hip belts, adjustable nylon straps, and lots of buckles. Dads love these!
When choosing a baby carrier, be sure to take your time and do some research. You need to be sure you are choosing a carrier that you and baby will enjoy wearing. To help, ask yourself a few simply questions...
‘What kinds of positions does your baby like to naturally be carried in?’... ‘How long do you aspire to use this baby carrier for?’... ‘Are there specific activities that you would like to use the carrier for?’
Once you covered the basics, you and baby are ready to starting babywearing. Always remember to follow the baby carriers’ detailed instructions and abide by the child weight restrictions. We expect that once you get the hang of babywearing, it will be your only mode of transportation for baby!
Today’s must haves: For Mom and
Child
Winter 2007
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Clothing – Oh How Unnatural!
By Kate Dorion, Ethic Baby
as printed in the Spring 2007 issue of Island Child
Who doesn’t like shopping for their little one? The clothes are just tooooo cute! But, have you ever stopped to consider what goes into making conventional clothing, bedding and other linens? Let’s consider cotton for starters, as it is the most widely used textile for clothing and linens. It is also something we all consider to be a “natural fibre.” Did you know that cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crop in the world? Over a quarter of the pesticides used world-wide are sprayed onto the clothes we and our children wear and the bedding we sleep in. Around 150 grams of pesticides are used to grow the cotton for one T-shirt – the equivalent of one cup of sugar. Can you imagine what it is like for the farmers tending these crops?
Let’s take a closer look at the life cycle of the conventional cotton crop….
1. Seedlings are planted in the ground, which is already saturated with toxins, and 70% of US-grown cotton uses GMO seeds.
2. As the crop grows, it is sprayed with a multitude of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides… (to help it grow and keep the bugs at bay). It also requires intensive irrigation.
3. Then the leaves need to be removed from the plant. Ahh….. another chemical, this time a “defoliant” to make the leaves drop off.
4. Finally, the cotton buds make it into the manufacturing plant where they are again treated with a cocktail of other toxic substances. At any stage in the process, the cotton may be bleached with harmful chlorine and then dyed to make it a beautiful, vibrant colour. Many of these dyes contain heavy metals and other chemicals that make people ill.
5. All these toxins that were used in the production of clothes remain in the fibres and cannot be washed out! Tests after multiple washings still test positive for chemicals.
So, who cares?
Chemicals are easily absorbed into the skin as it is our largest organ. Babies are at even greater risk than adults as their skin is five times thinner than our own, allowing toxins to penetrate the skin much more easily.
So far, we have touched on the impact clothing production has on the health of the earth and the farmers planting the crops, but what about the health of those making the garments?
It is very easy to disconnect ourselves from a product’s source when we are out buying. Most of us have heard about some of the well known stores (not mentioning any names), that have poor labour practices in overseas factories, but it is easy to turn a blind eye when the store has something you really want, or is a great price or would look super cute on your child.
It is no secret that sweatshop labour is behind much of the clothing sold today. Many manufacturers are paying starvation wages, forcing employees to work unpaid overtime, providing unhygienic accommodations, denying bathroom breaks and sick leave, and retaliating against workers who seek better treatment. Such practices may lead to cheap clothing on the consumer end, but at the intolerable expense of human dignity and human rights.
So, what can you do?
1. One way to keep your clothing dollars from enriching companies that use sweatshops is to buy less clothing overall and if that does not work for your lifestyle, you might consider...
2. Buying second hand. This is a great option for eco-minded, anti-sweatshop, budget minded folk. There are lots of great deals to be had out there.
3. Organize a clothing swap with other Mums or with girlfriends.
4. Buy Fair Trade – artisans sell directly to wholesalers and retailers and earn fair payment for their products.
5. Look for clothing companies that you know operate responsibly.
6. Do a little digging – there are ways to check out the practices of many stores and name brands (see responsible shopper link below).
7. Buy organic for your wee babes, particularly if they are premature, have health concerns or skin concerns.
For more information on
ANTI -SWEATSHOP resources, check out this great site:
http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/rs/
(The Responsible Shopper)
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More Christmas With Less Money
By Virginia Brucker, Author of ‘Gifts From The Heart’
as printed in the December/January 2007 issue of Island Child
Families everywhere increasingly find the holiday season a challenge - gifts, cards, wrapping paper, baking ingredients, photos with Santa and office parties stretch our budgets to the breaking point. And as kids turn into teens, their list is more expensive. Meanwhile, many of us are finding that our disposable family income seems to be shrinking. Is it possible to create a caring Christmas without spending a lot of money? There is a growing trend toward simplifying the season; many people are beginning to realize that the very best presents we give and receive are those priceless “gifts from the heart”. Incorporating simple traditions and showing our appreciation in simple, yet thoughtful ways, enable us to rethink Christmas, and our small “acts of Christmas kindness” leave a loving legacy of special memories that will linger long after the holidays end.
Begin by modifying your expectations - decide what can be done within your budget. Once you have examined your finances thoroughly and know how much you can spend, be open and honest in your discussions with family members. Plan carefully so that you can incorporate some inexpensive activities and traditions your family treasures most.
Think about your talents and materials you may have already. And above all, resist the impulse to overspend. You will be sorry in January; it will just create additional stress and worry. Besides, you can never buy enough “stuff” to show people how much you really love them.
Here are some of the many, many inexpensive ideas to help you create “more Christmas with less money”:
~ set reasonable limits for expectations for gifts
~ perhaps grandparents could provide the gift Santa usually brings and put a smaller gift from Grandma and Grandpa under the tree
~ sprinkle some glitter around the fireplace or doorknob after your children have gone to bed on Christmas Eve. The next morning, tell your children this is the magic dust Santa has to use to make himself fit in small places.
~ give gifts that develop your children’s interests and abilities. An inexpensive craft kit, blocks or a homemade puppet theatre and puppets can keep them happily engaged for a long time. Choose gifts that do not require batteries but do require imagination.
October/November 2006
Have You Seen Cloth Diapers Lately?
by Holly Simard, Mom and co-founder of JamTots.com
as printed in the June/July 2006 issue of Island Child
It was a hot summer weekend, and I was at a friend’s cottage. My son had been in cloth diapers for two years by this time. I was explaining to my friend Jennifer, the virtues of modern cloth diapering. The cloth diapers that you can find in department stores are mass produced flannel diapers or cotton rectangles and pull-on plastic pants. The diapers could hardly hold one pee and the covers were made with materials that don’t last. Most parents would give up on cloth after a week with those systems - I know because I used them. I had researched cloth diapers on the internet and was amazed at what was out there. It was actually overwhelming at first with all the different choices.
At the time, both of us were on maternity leave with our 2nd children, and wanted to figure out a way to stay home with them. While sitting around the campfire I suggested we start an Online store selling a new diaper that I had been testing. My background was in computers and hers was in accounting. It seemed a perfect fit except neither of us had any capital. Oh Mom! We then asked Jennifer’s mother, Hilary, if she would like to join us. A week later, JamTots.com was born.
We started out with one diaper line and quickly added a few of our own products that we had sewn locally. We actually didn’t realize how much work was involved in running an Online store. Least of all Hilary, whose house looks like a warehouse these days. Almost three years later we now carry hundreds of products and manufacture our own line of diapers and baby products. We ship worldwide and have retailers in Canada, the United States, Australia and Europe.
The cloth diaper industry is booming. Parents are realizing how economical it can be. You can save more than $1,000.00 per child over the cost of disposables and save even more when reusing your cloth on subsequent children.
Today’s cloth diapers are as easy to use as disposables. Velcro and snap closures make changes a breeze, and stay-dry fabrics keep baby’s skin dry and comfortable. They now come in a wide range of colours and prints that make diapering fun and fashionable. Best of all – no pins! As an added bonus, cloth diapers are great for the environment. Disposable diapers are the third largest single item in municipal solid waste systems. Cloth diapering is the best way to reduce, reuse and recycle!
Cloth diapering isn’t just for super-moms. . . . It’s for every mom! They’re easier on the pocket book, better for the environment and healthier for baby. If you haven’t looked at cloth diapers lately, take another look today.
We’ve come a long way, Baby!
Zen Baby? You Bet Your Bamboo!
by Kate Dorion, Mom and co-founder of ethicbaby.com
as printed in the June/July 2006 issue of Island Child
Everyone has surely heard of bamboo before. I’m sure many of you have bamboo chopsticks or bamboo flooring or a bamboo plant or a bamboo mat somewhere in your house. But, have you heard of the newest, hottest fibre to hit the streets? – you got it, BAMBOO. From shirts, to skirts, to baby hats and baby blankets, it is one of the most natural, sustainable fibres out there.
In Asia, bamboo has been used in the traditional hand-made production of paper and other products for centuries. Now, through modern manufacturing processes, bamboo pulp is capable of producing bamboo fibre for use in yarn and fabric. Bamboo fibre is softer than the softest cotton feeling similar to silk or cashmere, is extremely durable and is highly sustainable, the perfect fabric for your child or baby.
Bamboo is one of nature’s most sustainable resources. It is grown without pesticides or chemicals, is 100% biodegradeable, and is naturally regenerative. Bamboo is actually a tropical grass with an extensive root system that sends out an average of four to six new shoots per year, naturally replenishing itself and growing to heights of 60 feet or more. Some bamboo species grow up to 4 feet per day and can be harvested every 3 to 4 years compared to the typical 25 to 70 years for commercial tree species in North America. In fact, bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world.
There are over a thousand species of bamboo that are native to every continent except Europe and the poles. It tolerates extremes of drought and flooding, generates more oxygen than trees and acts as a critical element in the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Bamboo stands release 35% more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees.
Some bamboo even sequester up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide from the air per hectare. Bamboo can also lower light intensity and protects against ultraviolet rays. Traditional belief holds that being in a bamboo grove - the favorite dwelling place of Buddha - restores calmness to emotions and stimulates creativity.
Bamboo fibre clothing is naturally anti-microbial, unlike other anti-microbial fabrics, which require chemical treatments. Bamboo contains an agent called, ‘bamboo kunh’, that prevents bacteria from cultivating on it. Bamboo apparel is comfortable, thermal regulating and will keep you cooler, drier, warmer and odor free. The merits of bamboo for use in textile fibers are its breathability, the ease of processing it into fabric, its high functionality, and its beauty. The fashion world’s fascination with all things Oriental and Japanese continues unabated. Bamboo is attracting the interest of a growing number of designers. More and more of these materials are expected to find their way onto store shelves as time goes by.
If you’re looking for style and sustainability, consider adding bamboo fibre to your wardrobe.
Toxic Toys
by Kate Dorion, Mom and co-fiounder of ethicbaby.com
as printed in the August/September 2006 issue of Island Child
With babies being born all around us and birthdays popping up month after month, the inevitable hunt for the perfect gift begins...and for kids, it’s all about the TOYS!!! Shopping for toys is so much fun, it’s always hard to resist buying more than you should. But, have you ever stopped to think what the cute stuffy toy or teething ring is really made from?
Toys and Plastics - The Low Down
PVC or polyvinyl chloride is the most toxic plastic. Ironically, this is also the most common plastic used in the manufacture of newborn and infant toys including bath toys, squeeze toys, beach balls, dolls and teething toys. The most worrisome fact about PVC plastic is that it is not stable - the chemicals can leach out. These chemicals can be ingested by our children when they suck and chew on these teething toys, sippy cups and other sorted plastic toys.
PVC uses more additives than any other plastic and softeners are needed to make PVC toys flexible. Of the 63 PVC plastic toys for children under three that were tested by Greenpeace, almost all contained between 10% and 40% by weight of hazardous softening additives. These chemicals, called phthalates, are known to leak from PVC products during use, especially when pressure is applied, as in the case of a small child sucking or chewing on a toy.1 Almost all soft plastic toys for infants and toddlers that are sold are imported from factories in Asia where PVC is very widely used.
Exposure to chemicals, such as those in plastics, has been implicated in increased rates of asthma, acute bronchitis and upper-respiratory infections, cancer, liver damage and reproductive abnormalities.
Alternative plastics are being used on the market as toy companies are being pressured by lobby groups and consumers to avoid use of PVC’s in toys; these plastics include polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate and bio-based plastics. None of these plastics require vinyl’s extensive use of toxic additives, and none contain reactive chlorine as an essential component. Certain countries and toy companies are committed to demanding and making toys that are free from PVC plastics.2
Toy Shopping Tips for Upcoming Summer Birthdays...
• Shop for toys that have an ISO 14001 certification, an international environmental standard (eg. HABA wooden toys).
• Avoid plastic toys for babies, or at least check to ensure they are PVC-free. Look for toys made of non-chlorinated plastics, such as polyethylene (“2” or “4”) or polypropylene (“5”). If it’s not labeled/numbered, don’t buy it.
• Choose traditional alternatives such as organic textiles (organic cotton, hemp, wool), or wooden toys. Encourage friends and family to buy these types of toys especially if your baby mouths everything in site.
• Shop at craft fairs and summer markets for locally crafted toys.
At Ethicbaby, we sell only safe, high-quality, wooden toys made with renewable woods and non-toxic paints. Our natural wooden toys offer you and your little one a safe, healthy choice. We are a proud supplier of HABA wooden toys (www.haba.de) and are happy to do custom orders.
1. Natural Life Magazine - “Toxic Toys” (www.life.ca)
2. Adapted from the Oregon Toxics Alliance
(http://www.oregontoxics.org/toys.html)
Today’s Must Have
EZ-2-Nurse Twins Nursing Pillow
as printed in the August/September 2006 issue of Island Child
In today’s market, we are finding more and more the wonderfully creative and unique baby products out there are being created at home by moms. Take Sandy Clark, mom to 12-year-old twins in San Diego, California, who took some blocks of foam and an electric knife from her kitchen and went to work. From her imagination and hard work came the EZ-2-Nurse Twins nursing pillow, a must-have in the lives of parents of twins!
The EZ-2-Nurse Twins nursing pillow is unique among its competitors in that it has an angled top surface, which slopes towards Mom on all three sides. This design safely positions babies towards mother’s breasts, while freeing up her arms and hands, which are needed for positioning, stimulating, caressing and burping. Sandy’s business, Double Blessings, is now one of the largest suppliers of twin specialty products and offers a full line of twin-related embroidered logo t-shirts, ball caps, visors and window signs.
In 2001, Double Blessings launched its redesigned nursing pillow for twins, now offered in an inflatable model. It easily inflates to a mother’s individual comfort level and deflates for travel and storage. Also included is a detachable back pillow for mother’s comfort and support. Sandy’s cousin Thaylin Parrish was amazed and impressed with this unique product created, and since Double Blessings did not have a reliable distributor in Canada, Parrish Twin Supply was born. Thaylin and her husband Doug, now handle the shipping and promoting of the EZ-2-Nurse Twins nursing pillow in Canada, based out of their home office in Ladysmith.
At first, Parrish Twin Supply only carried the inflatable version, as it was much easier to ship up from the US (the box dramatically smaller than the foam version). Once costs for the US dollar and shipping changed a bit, they ordered a supply of the foam, and Sandy stopped shipping to Canadian customers - referring all to Parrish Twin Supply. Parrish Twin Supply uses safe, secure online shopping with PayPal and can process online for next day shipping using Canada Post. You can view their website at www.twins2feed.com or call 250-245-4895 for information on Today’s Must Have!
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