Many parents don’t start looking for environmentally friendly options in their lives until after they have babies.  We want only the most natural of items to touch those precious little babies and all of their baby parts.  We clean their clothes in gentle detergent.  We wash their skin in sensitive soaps.  We put the softest diapers on their little bums.  Here are a few ways you can use that little yellow box of Baking Soda – for your baby!

5 Ways to Use Baking Soda for Babies

1. Stain remover – add 1/2 cup of baking soda with your favorite detergent to remove those pesky baby stains (like spit up on your favorite shirt or brand new onesie).
2. Clean toys – make a solution of 1 part baking soda to 4 parts water and rub down your favorite baby toys.  Follow with a quick rinse and their toys will be squeaky clean.
3. Diaper pail stinkies?  Sprinkle a little bit of baking soda in your diaper pail or wet bag to help keep the odors away.  This trick works for both disposable and cloth diapers.  With cloth diapers it’s not recommended to use baking soda in the wash so sprinkle the baking soda in the bottom of your pail or wet bag instead of directly on the diapers.
4. Diaper rash – you can add 2 TBS to a tub full of warm water to help soothe your babies skin if they happen to have a diaper rash.  (Be sure to consult a doctor or medical professional if rash is severe or for open sores)
5. Cradle cap relief – make a paste using baking soda and olive oil (or baby oil) and gently rub on babies scalp to remove the flaky areas.

There are a million and one other uses for baking soda for your baby, cleaning, pets, and even for a little homemade spa treatments.  How do you use baking soda around your home?

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Every afternoon when my daughter gets home from day care she’s incredibly hungry and crabby!  She just turned two and just started day care so we’re still trying to find our afternoon groove.  The tantrums can be extreme but I’ve found that if I offer her a snack while I finish preparing dinner she’ll calm down.  We received a sample of the new Plum Organics Super Puffs and I was happy that she was still interested in this type of ‘baby’ food.  She’s always been a Plum Baby and Plum Tot fan and loves their Mish Mash pouches – she’ll drink them 2-3 times a day if I let her. 

What’s so special about the Super Puffs? 

• they are USDA organic ingredients
• they are made with whole grains
• they are made with cane syrups
• there are NO HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) in the ingredients

As a mom I can feel good about giving my kids a handful of Super Puffs without feeling the guilt associated with other snacks.  They come in 5 vibrant flavors and color combination.  Their tag line even talks about “Eat Your Colors” – purple, green, yellow, orange, and red!  They aren’t made with just fruit either, each fruit is paired with a vegetable. 

• Blueberry and Purple Sweet Potato
• Spinach and Apple
• Banana and Peach
• Strawberry and Beets
• Mango and Sweet Potato

There aren’t many days when the tot doesn’t come home and run to the pantry to grab her Super Puffs and demand (kicking and screaming if necessary) a handfull of them.  Seriously I should video the experience of these exciting tantrums because all we can do some days is to sit back and laugh.  She’ll start with the tears and end up on the floor rolling around waiting for us to give in to her demands for more Super Puffs (or whatever it is that she’s focused on at that time – it could be a toy, often times it’s demands to be picked up, or to be left alone). 

Oh, and did I mention that she could eat an entire container in one sitting if I let her?  Or that her almost 8 year old brother enjoys them just as much as she does?  Who’d think that kids would still be so excited over a baby food?  Although I have to admit – they are rather tasty and I have been known to sneak a handful myself. 

The containers are light weight, BPA-free (WOO HOO) and recyclable.  Or if you’re feel creative here are some other uses for these containers:

• piggy bank
• Lego storage, sorter, and/or scoop
• bath tub toy
• sand box or beach scoop
• collector of all things tiny (hair clips, rocks, shells, acorns, etc)
• pencil ‘box’ – just think how many penciles, crayons, or markers you could fit in there

All you need is a little imagination and you can find a reuse for these handy containers.  I’ll be adding a photo of some of our unique uses as we finish off these wonderful snacks. 

Where to buy?  EcoMom sells Plum Organics and so does your local Babies’R'Us and I think Target is even selling them now too.  Watch the sales flyer and you may find them discounted off their already low $2.99 price. 

Follow Plum Organics online:
Facebook.com/PlumOrganics
@PlumOrganics on Twitter 

Do you have a toddler with tantrums?  What tricks have you found that helped to curb the EXTREME moments that truly test your patience level?  PLEASE leave your comments and ideas below. 

Disclosure: We received a sample of Plum Organics Super Puffs from the fine team at Plum to help ease my daughters tantrums.  The Plum team didn’t pay me for my humor with dealing with tantrums or to write a rave review of their product!  I would however accept a lifetime supply if they could promise that it would stop all tantrums from the 2 yr old and 8 yr old – but I don’t think anyone can promise that!

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Last week I attended a double baby shower for two ladies that I met at church.  They’ve heard me go on and on about how cute, how easy, and how much better cloth diapers are - but they still haven’t made the commitment.

I try not to guilt someone into trying cloth diapers but rather debunk the myths that exist about using cloth diapers to help better educate parents.  I have a few friends with babies that still use disposables and I don’t make them feel bad about their decision.  I’m always showing off Lil’ B’s fluffy bum in hopes that they will give up their disposable addiction and join me in my mad addiction passion.

Now you’d think that the perfect baby shower gift would be a cute new cloth diaper, right?  Since cloth diapers are not a cheap investment (I try to stay around the $15-20 range) I don’t buy cloth diapers for people who haven’t made the commitment.  I would be upset to see fluff sitting on a shelf NOT being used because a parent was scared to try them.  Instead for this shower they both received a copy of the Healthy Child, Healthy World book, an Under the Nile organic toy, and some ecoStore USA baby products. With these products the parents have the opportunity to make some other small changes in their lives.

I did have a few diapers with me – in my bag – because I was showing off some of my new fluff to a friend of mine who just begun using cloth diapers.  While we were all sitting around chatting another one of our friends immediately went into the disposable diaper panic.  What’s that?  When you realize that you are OUT of diapers at home and you left your toddler with daddy and NO diaper for bedtime. Now – I haven’t had that panic attack since Big B was a baby 7 years ago so I jokingly said something about if she used cloth she’d never run out.  I then flashed a diaper and said “Here – take this!”

You know what?  She just about cried with excitement!  For starters, she didn’t have to rush to the store after the baby shower to buy a box of pull ups for her 3 year old – who only wears them at night and nap time.  She said she never thought about using cloth diapers this late in the game but it actually made since to her now.  The next day she stopped by my house and bought 3 of my old fluffy stash for her little man!  Second hand fluff is super duper cheap and costs a lot less than a box of pull ups.  I even gave her a baggie of detergent and a mini-laundry lesson.

Her biggest surprise the next day?  The ammonia smell!  She’s NEVER smelled that before using disposable diapers. Unlike most cloth diaper users who think that there is something wrong with their diapers when they smell ammonia – she was in shock about the chemicals that are used in disposable that mask that odor.  It’s NORMAL for a diaper to smell like ammonia after a long night sleep!

I guess it’s never too late to make a cloth diaper convert out of someone. Have you convinced someone to try cloth diapers out of desperation – or later in their diapering journey?  I’d love to hear your story.

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Are there products out there that you just can’t get enough of? Products or brands that you HAVE to have in your house? Products that you whole-heartedly stand behind? I know it’s hard to tell when a blogger really likes a product because they were given the product for free – or because they REALLY like the product – like it enough where they would spend money to replace it if it were empty!

I REALLY love EcoStoreUSA!  I was first introduced to them in March 2009 right after Lil’ B was born and I’m still in love!  You can read all my previous mentions of EcoStoreUSA by visiting the archives (http://www.theecochic.com/?s=ecostoreusa). 

Here are some NEW reasons to love EcoStoreUSA:

- They are now made in the USA!  They now manufacture products in their Michigan facility so it no longer has to be shipped from New Zealand. 

- Four baby products (baby wash, nappy balm, sleepytime bath, and moisturizer) have earned a score of 0-1 on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Review by the Environmental Working Group.  Now there is scientific proof that their product is as good as they said it was – not that I ever doubted them – but some people like to see numbers. 

- It’s BOGO month again!  If you don’t know about their BOGO sale you really need to go shop NOW!  I mean – quit reading this and go shop now!  **OK you can wait until you’re done reading – because I enjoy your time here!  What is so special about their BOGO sale?  Any product that you order during the month of July (2010) you will be sent TWO of!  I actually shop only during the BOGO because I can stock up for the entire year.  I still have baby body wash, nappy balm, pet shampoo, and dish detergent from the last BOGO!  It lasts that long – their products are concentrated so you use LESS!  I love their Nappy Balm (diaper cream) so much that I have extra on hand to give as baby shower gifts. 

I just tried two new (to me) products this past week (thank you EcoStoreUSA for sending them out to me for review).  Their Baby Moisturizer and the Sleepytime Bath now sit proudly amongst their sibling products in my house.  My baby is going to have to fight me for the moisturizer though because I love it!  It’s a very light product and has a nice sweet fragrance that’s not overpowering.  The Sleepytime Bath is similar to their baby body wash which has always been a favorite in our house. 

Want to know which products I 100% honestly love at EcoStoreUSA – so much that I purchase myself?

-Baby Nappy Balm - the best diaper rash cream ever!  I even use it with my cloth diapers but only with a flushable liner to keep the cream from staining the cloth.

-Baby Body Wash – I love the smell of eucalyptus on my baby.

-Laundry Detergent (Liquid) - super concentrated and lasts a long time.  Another great eucalyptus fragrance.

-Powerdered Dish Detergent – now if only we would install a water softner so I could see the true cleaning effects!

-Dog Shampoo – have you ever looked at the ingredients on the ‘other stuff’ that you wash your dog with – scary!

-Baby Moisturizer – my new favorite – I think I may need to stock up during BOGO!

What products have you tried and loved?  What products are you dying to try?

Shop:  http://www.ecostoreusa.com
Tweet:  http://twitter.com/ecostoreusa
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/ecostoreusa?ref=ts

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Giveaway Alert! Win a Dittany Baby Mei Tai baby carrier in the color of your choosing.  See coupon codes below for all readers.  ECO-ngratulations Natalie A! Check your email for details.

Dittany Baby!  If you’ve been a reader for a while you already know who Dittany Baby is…one of my favorite companies for trendy baby products!  HERE is my interview with Shannon, owner of Dittany Baby, from this summer.  You can see my review and pictures of their fabulous pouch sling and skid pants there also. 

Shannon was kind enough to send Lil’ B and I one of their Mei Tai style baby carriers for the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.  We received a special Mei Tai in the Stockholm print (see pattern image in pouch sling) and black TODAY and I was so excited I had to share it with you immediately!  I have secretly been dying for a Mei Tai carrier since Lil’ B was first born but needs and wants are different when you have 3 pouch slings (2 Hotslings and 1 Dittany Baby sling) and an Ergo. 

Now that Lil’ B is nearing the one year mark I fear that my baby wearing days are numbered.  We have already begun limiting the use of the pouch slings to short periods of time due to her weight (she’s about 20lbs).  I regularly use the Ergo for our extended trips (Disney, airports, etc) so I was excited to compare it with the Mei Tai.  I wasn’t disappointed either; I think it might replace our pouch sling for those quick trips and maybe even for slightly longer outings.  It feels more secure for the older tot than the pouch slings (especially when yours is as wiggly as mine is).  I should really develop a chart that tells you when and at what age I like the different carriers…each age and occasion is slightly different…I’m glad I have a few to choose from.  And can you really have too many baby carriers?  I think not!  

Quality of Dittany Baby Mei Tai:  GREAT!  I was excited to see the padding along the edges and on the shoulder straps to make this carrier comfortable for baby and wearer.  Workmanship on this carrier is excellent.

Price of Dittany Baby Mei Tai:  Comparable to other Mei Tai’s on the market at $70-$85 (depending on fabric choice).  Cheaper than an Ergo but more pricey than a pouch sling.

Extras:  The Dittany Baby Mei Tai comes with a coordinating carrying pouch (all their carriers come with this pouch) which helps keep it organized in your diaper bag or car.  The Dittany Baby Mei Tai can also be reversible since both sides are finished the same.  This is a great feature for daddy who prefers things a little simplier than I do.

Website:  http://www.dittanybaby.com/
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/dittanybaby
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Dittany-Baby/44349889388?ref=ts

But it!  Add a Dittany Baby Mei Tai (or anything from Dittany Baby) to your shopping list this holiday season and save from 10%-30% off your total purchase.  Use the following coupon codes:   

                            ”10off20” for 10% off of a $20.00 order
                            “20off50” for 20% off of a $50.00 order
                            “35off100” for 35% off of a $100.00 order

Be sure to enter THEECOCHIC@GMAIL.COMinto the comments section for all purchases at Dittany Baby.  They have a “Refer a Friend” promotion right now….you can refer your friends too and earn credits to spend at their store! 

Win It!  Dittany Baby has offered a Mei Tai to one lucky reader in a color of your choosing.  To enter you must visit Dittany Baby and tell me what your favorite fabric pattern is (on any of the carriers).  Leave your comments below to be entered in this giveaway. 

Extra Entries:
-Enter any of my other Eco-Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways (Leave a comment telling me which one’s you’ve entered.)
-Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
-Subscribe using Feedburner or other reader (Leave your email addy)
-Add my button to your blog or site (Leave a link to your blog)
-Blog about this giveaway and the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide  (Leave a link to your blog)
-Share this giveaway with your friends (Leave me a comment telling me how)

Giveaway open worldwide to anyone over the age of 18 yrs old.  Must leave a comment for each entry with a maximum of 10 entries total for this giveaway.  Giveaway ends December 10, 2009 at midnight (EST).  Entrants must leave their email to be contacted if they are selected.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

Giveaway ended! ECO-ngratulations Natalie A!

More from the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.

*This post was sponsored by Dittany Baby.

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Giveaway Alert! Win a $10 gift certificate to spend at Picnic Basket Crafts on Etsy.  ECO-ngratulations Zealandsmom!

Is anyone else addicted to Etsy?  It’s my inspiration to dive back into my artsy crafty self and create!  (Of course with my 2 kids and a full time job…and a blog…I don’t really have the time!)  Etsy is a worldwide site that allows creative people to make handmade goods for the rest of the world.  My favorite thing about Etsy is that everything is made with love and passion from people just like you and I. 

One such person is Tiffany, owner of Picnic Basket Crafts.  Tiffany creates eco-friendly decadent products for your body, home and baby.  Tiffany creates an amazing line of body products that would make a great at home spa day!  Just add a bottle of wine and some good friends and pamper yourself with her Facial Scrub or Foot Soak. 

Cloth diapering mama’s will love Tiffany’s Cleanse and Moisturize Mist for your cloth wipes…the fresh scent will take away the worst poo stink from your babies behind!! 

Like to clean; try one of Tiffany’s eco-friendly mop pad that fits nicely onto your swiffer.  These pads can be used over and over again…is it lame that I would really like one of these for Christmas? 

Tiffany takes eco-friendly to the next step with her shipping packages.  When my package of samples arrived it was nicely packaged inside an old cereal box!  It was so cute!  She also packed some of the samples in paper bags (re-purposed I’m sure) that were stitched neatly to finish off the edges. 

Website:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/picnicbasketcrafts
Blog:  http://www.picnicbasketcrafts.blogspot.com/
Coupon:  Use coupon code Eco Chic Blog and save 10% off your purchase at Picnic Basket Crafts.  (Wait for an adjusted invoice before paying.)

Win It!  Win a $10 gift certificate to use at Picnic Basket Crafts.  To enter, visit Tiffany’s shop on Etsy and tell me what you would spend your gift certificate on.  Leave your comments below (mandatory entry).

Extra Entries:
-Enter any of my other Eco-Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways (Leave a comment telling me which one’s you’ve entered.)
-Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
-Subscribe using Feedburner or other reader (Leave your email addy)
-Add my button to your blog or site (Leave a link to your blog)
-Blog about this giveaway and the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide  (Leave a link to your blog)
-Share this giveaway with your friends (Leave me a comment telling me how)

Giveaway open to residents of the US over the age of 18 yrs old.  Must leave a comment for each entry with a maximum of 10 entries total for this giveaway.  Giveaway ends December 10, 2009 at midnight (EST).  Entrants must leave their email to be contacted if they are selected.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

ECO-ngratulations Zealandsmom!

More from the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.

*This post was sponsored by Picnic Basket Crafts.

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Giveaway Alert! Win a starter set just like the one in the picture below from Your Baby Can Read. Eco-ngratulations Khrystina! Check your email!

Your Baby Can Read!

We’ve all seen the commercials…you know the one’s with the babies watching the videos, playing with the word cards, and acting out the actions…reading!  I would have been all over this video with my first child but you get a little more relaxed with your second (at least I do) and don’t push them as hard.  I have a friend of mine who has used this with her own child and she said it was cute.  She said her baby would see the word clap on screen and begin clapping along. 

The set that I received (the same as the giveaway) is only 1/5 of the full intro set but it’s plenty to fall in love to!  Based on Dr. Titzer’s Early Language Development program the intro set includes a DVD Early Learning Workshop, the Parents Guide, Learn to Read Word Cards, and a starter book.  Having an older child who monopolizes the television along with a sports addicted husband; Lil’ B hasn’t really had time to dedicate to the program.  We have watched it a few times and it’s cute.  It’s designed for use with babies starting as early as 3 months of age up to children 5 years old.  Now if only there were more hours in the day I might actually have time to dedicate 20-30 minutes to practice this with Lil’ B.  She just began to clap and has learned her first baby sign…I think she’s finally old enough where I would be able to see results. 

Buy It:  You can buy Your Baby Can Read online HERE.  They offer a 30 day trial for $14.95 (plus S&H). 

Win It!  Register here to win your own intro set like the one in the picture above!  Visit the Your Baby Can Read site and tell me one thing you learned from their site.  Leave your comment below to be entered into this giveaway.

Extra Entries:
-Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
-Subscribe using Feedburner or other reader
-Add my button to your blog or site
-Blog about this giveaway and the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide
-Share this giveaway with your friends

Giveaway open to all residents in the US over the age of 18 yrs old.  Must leave a comment for each entry with a maximum of 10 entries total.  Giveaway ends December 1, 2009 at midnight (EST).  Entrants must leave their email to be contacted if they are selected. 

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

Giveaway Ended.  Eco-ngratulations Khrystina!

More from the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.

*This post was sponsored by Your Baby Can Read.

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Giveaway Alert!  Want to win a cute blanket like the one in the picture above? aden + anais is giving away one organic muslin baby wrap to a lucky reader.  See below for details on how to enter.  ECO-ngratulations Desiree! Watch your email for details on how to claim your aden + anais baby wrap!

A picture is worth a thousand words, right?  I don’t normally like to show pictures of my family but I couldn’t resist, Lil B’s smile just spoke to me here.  The gorgeous blanket that Lil B is cuddling is by aden + anais.  It’s 100% organic cotton muslin and measures 47″ X 47″ in size.  I love that it’s light weight which is perfect for our hot Florida weather.  It’s all natural, organic cotton fabric so it’s free of nasty chemicals and safer for my baby.  As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also machine washable.

While the organic wraps only come in a few color options (for both girls and boys), they also offer non-organic wraps in a larger variety of colors.  The organic wraps sell for $34 and the non-organic wraps start at $19.95 each.  The quality of the aden + anais wraps is well worth the price tag.  aden + anais also offers hooded towels, wash clothes, and sleeping bags all made with the same cotton muslin fabric. 

I take our aden + anais blanket with us everywhere.  It’s so versatile.  I use it as a blanket, a pack-n-play sheet, and as a nursing cover.  It’s so large that I’ve wondered how I could tie it into a babywearing carrier like a ring sling or mei tai.  I’m sad when it gets dirty and we actually have to use our old blankets, it’s by far one of my favorites! 

Buy It!  The aden + anais baby wraps would make a great baby gift, a blanket that no family should be without.  It’s perfect size for swaddling your newborn and large enough for the older toddler too.  You can purchase them directly on the aden + anais website.  Go ahead, spoil your baby!  They deserve the very best don’t they!

Win It!  Want to win your own aden + anais organic cotton muslin baby wrap?  Visit aden + anais and leave me a comment below telling me which wrap is your favorite.  This is mandatory before you can enter the extra entries.  Contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. 

Extra Entry #1: Subscribe to the aden + anais mailing list.  Leave me a comment with the email address you subscribed with.

Extra Entry #2: Become a fan of aden + anais on Facebook.  Leave me a comment with your Facebook name.

Extra Entry #3: Follow The Eco Chic using any (or all) of the following; Google Reader, Facebook, Twitter, or Feedburner (email).  Leave a comment below for each way that you follow me.  

Giveaway will close on October 19th, 2009 at midnight (EST). 

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER GIVEAWAY!

ECO-ngratulations Desiree! You win!

The wrap shown in the picture above was provided by aden + anais for this review. 

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Giveaway alert!  Swami Baby Boutique is giving away 3 organic cotton baby tee’s/onesie’s.  My absolute favorite is the Same Diaper, Different Day Tee.  Check out the other Think Green T-shirts at Swami Baby Boutique!  They are available in sizes 6mo-24mo only.  ECO-ngratulations Carol, Gwen & Alysia!!

To enter to win all you need to do is visit Swami Baby Boutique and leave a comment HERE about your favorite Think Green T-Shirt!  Three lucky winners will be selected at the end of the Eco-Summer Blog Party!  Register by July 15th at midnight (EST).

Swami Baby is a cute baby, toddler and mommy boutique that gives a voice to our own wise little ones.  You can even find cute matching tee’s for you!  Good Luck!

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One of my goals with the Eco-Summer Blog Party was to provide you with valuable information on some hot environmental topics each day.  One of the hot topics in the news lately is BPA and toxins in our plastics.  All of the information out there seems very intimidating, even to me.  I have read some great blogs by people who are passionate about their fight against plastics.  As a crazy busy mom of two some topics are just too deep for me to grasp my arms around and embrace change.  BPA and plastics is one of those topics.  It’s much like global warming…I know that it is a real phenomenom and that I should change my lifestyle…but the changes that are required are just too much.  We hear global warming but we don’t really know what we can do ourselves. 

I asked Alicia Voorhies, owner of the online retailer The Soft Landing, to educate us a little about BPA and plastics.

Guest Post by The Soft Landing’s owner, Alicia Voorhies.  Coupon Code at bottom of post!

Surely you’ve heard about Bisphenol-A (BPA) by now. It’s an endocrine-disrupting chemical found nearly everywhere with over 6 billion pounds of it produced each year.  It’s most well-known use is as a building block for polycarbonate, a hard plastic commonly used in clear plastic baby bottles.  Studies show that BPA can leach from its unstable bond into food and drinks.  Leaching occurs at room temperature, but especially when containers are heated – to the tune of up to 55 times more.  In more recent studies, 93% of Americans were found to have higher levels of BPA in their bodies than previously thought. 

BPA is essentially a synthetic estrogen that disrupts the reproductive systems of both males and females.  It was actually considered as a possible form of estrogen for estrogen replacement pills in the 1930s. The sperm count of the average male has begun a steady decline over the last 50 years as many males are becoming more feminine.  But that’s not all.  Scientists have linked BPA to a growing list of ailments:  cancer, reproductive and cardiovascular system disorders (including damage to the prostate gland, infertility and early puberty), brain and neurological system dysfunctions, behavioral problems, diabetes and obesity.

It’s become apparent that the FDA isn’t going to ban the use of BPA in our food containers anytime soon.  Nor will they require manufacturers to label their products when they contain do BPA.  So how can a concerned parent navigate the confusing sea of unlabeled products?  You shouldn’t have to be a rocket scientist to find safer eating gear for your family, so let’s look at some simple strategies for avoiding BPA.

Using Recycling Codes

Staying away from plastics in the recycling category #7 is the most common strategy for avoiding BPA.  It’s a fine way to start making general changes, but not all #7 plastics contain BPA.  Over the last year, several new plastics, such as PES and copolyester, have been introduced as BPA-free alternatives.  This serves to confuse the issue because they look just like polycarbonate and are placed in the same “other” recycling category (see Are all #7 Plastics Toxic? for a more detailed discussion on this complicated topic). 

Even more confusing is that some polypropylene products (in the #5 recycling category) can contain BPA after all.  When a polypropylene product is tinted with color, the colorant base used may be made from BPA, adding a small amount of the chemical to an otherwise BPA-free plastic.  So recycling codes should only be used as a very general guideline.

Buying Products Labeled as BPA-free

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just go to the store and grab only products labeled as BPA-free?  No such luck.  Regulations currently don’t require manufacturers to label their products with the chemicals used.  The only way to know which plastic items are actually BPA-free is to:

• Look for manufacturers who have chosen to label their products despite the regulations
• Communicate directly with each manufacturer to confirm its BPA-free status
• Purchase products from a reputable company who completes the research for you (such as www.thesoftlanding.com). 

Avoiding Plastic All Together

More proactive companies are taking steps to create non-plastic options in an effort to meet the demand for BPA-free products.  Several materials are naturally BPA-free because they simply don’t need the chemical during production:  glass, stainless steel, silicone, natural rubber, bamboo, wood and corn-based bio-plastics are some of the major players.  And they’re not only safer, but they’re easier on the environment too.  We’ve compiled an extensive list of great alternatives in food storage containers to make your life a little easier (see BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free Food Storage Containers).  

In the meantime, let’s continue letting manufacturers and the chemical industry know that we won’t be buying their toxic plastic.  Take a minute to sign the Environmental Working Group’s petition to protect children today!

Alicia was kind enough to provide a coupon code for 15% off any purchases made at The Soft Landing from July 9th-15th. 
Coupon Code: ecosummer09

Please be sure to visit The Soft Landing at these locations:
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