Gardening with Children

Gardening with Children

We have been experimenting with our first organic vegetable garden at Eden's Baby.  For myself it has been a desire since my early twenties, but living in New York City I never had the opportunity to garden.  We found a wonderful sunny patch right outside our kitchen door and began tilling.  Or I should say my husband began tilling.  Our garden is 13 x 14 feet and while not overly large I think (or hope!) it will provide us with fresh fruit and vegetables all summer long. 

An organic vegetable garden has been a wonderful at home "classroom" for our children.  They were able to see seeds in a variety of shapes and sizes, plant them and watch them grow.  All a little different looking.  Everyday we venture out to see what else has sprouted.  I have been amazed how quickly things grow.  For myself I am learning tricks to keep pest away without using chemicals.  Today, I discovered that cornmeal and sugar will deter ants.  Another option is cinnamon.  We also began a compost pile.  Not only is this an excellent way to nourish your garden naturally and economically, but it has been a great teaching lesson for our children.  My son quickly has learned that vegetable peels, egg shells and garden scraps go into the pile.  In a few weeks he will see these scraps turned into compost. 

I have been using the Internet a lot while I learn about companion planting, natural pest control and garden layouts.  Some of my favorite sites are Kids Gardening, Garden Guides, and Vegetable Gardening Guru. 

I hope that you can be inspired to grow herbs or vegetables with your family.  There is no need to have a large patch of ground you can grow a few herbs or vegetables in pots and hanging containers.  Some cities even have community garden plots you may be able to use.  Enjoy spring time with your family and happy gardening!

Myths and Facts about Sustainable Cloth Diapers

This post is part of the Real Diaper Facts carnival hosted by Real Diaper Events, the official blog of the Real Diaper Association. Participants were asked to write about diaper lies and real diaper facts. See the list at the bottom of this post to read the rest of the carnival entries.

I have to admit my journey to cloth was not my first choice.  When my Grandmother told me I should use cloth diapers I turned my nose up.  I was proud to buy the most expensive disposable diaper on the market, Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers.  After all I would give my children only the best!  Things went fine for a while.  We had rashes, but nothing out of the ordinary.  Then seven months into diapering my son he developed a rash.  This one was different; it would not go away.  I called Pampers and asked if something had changed and was told nothing had.  In fact they sent me coupons for being a loyal customer.  Of course that made me happy; diapers are expensive!  After a couple of weeks with out any let up I took him to the doctor.  I was given some creams to try.  None worked.  We made trips to the doctor every week for two months and still nothing helped.  In the end he had huge bleeding blisters all over his diaper area.  I felt like a horrible mom, my son was suffering and I didn't know what to do.  Then I met Christina.  She showed me a cloth diaper she used on her son.  It was really cute! It was a Bumkins vented cover.

That night I went home and began looking into cloth diapers.  I was overwhelmed.  There were so many options and it seemed really expensive.  Most of the diapers I liked were about $18 each.  That seemed crazy to me.  Now that I see how long they last and how much use you get out of them I would happily pay more.  I started with prefolds and covers that I had borrowed from a friend.  Within one week his rash was gone!  I was hooked and knew I needed to let others know about cloth diapers.  Gone were the days of pins and dunking, cloth too had become modern.



Cloth Diaper Myths and Facts

Myth:  Disposable diapers were developed to offer babies benefits that cloth diapers could not meet.

Fact: Cloth diapers come in many different forms.  There are flat diapers that wash easily and travel well.  Prefolds, fitteds and contours that fit nicely inside a diaper cover.  All in one diapers, pocket cloth diapers and one size diapers that go on like a disposable diaper.  Pocket diapers have a super soft fleece or micro suede that keeps baby's skin dry by wicking moisture away.  There is a study that claims that cloth diapered babies have a 7% incidence of diaper rash while disposable diapered babies have a 78% incidence of diaper rash.  The elastic at the back and legs of a cloth diaper hold in leaks far better than a disposable diaper can.  This prevents blow outs and leaks from occurring.
My Facts: As mentioned above once we switched to cloth diapers our children became virtually rash free.  On occasion they may have an out break.  This is typically caused by an allergy and is cleared up within a day without the use of creams.  Other times they may develop a rash from a detergent I am testing.  Once we get back to our normal wash routine their bottoms are clear.  Having used disposable diapers I know first hand about blow outs.  They happened a lot with my son.  Since making the switch to cloth diapers we have been blow out free, even during a diarrhea episode!

You can see the leg gussets and elastic used to contain messes in this Thirsties Diaper Cover.

Myth: Cloth diapers and disposable diapers have the same environmental impact.

Fact: The fact is the energy, water and resources it takes to make disposable diapers far out weighs the impact of using sustainable cloth diapers; even if you take into consideration the washing and drying of cloth diapers over a two to three year period.  Disposable diapers generate sixty times more solid waste and use twenty times more raw materials, like crude oil and wood pulp.  The manufacture and use of disposable diapers amounts to 2.3 times more water wasted than cloth.  Over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum feedstocks and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby EACH YEAR.  Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about 4% of solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of household waste.  In 1988, over 18 billion diapers were sold and consumed in the United States that year. Based on our calculations, we estimate that 27.4 billion disposable diapers are consumed every year in the U.S.  In 1988, nearly $300 million dollars were spent annually just to discard disposable diapers, whereas cotton diapers are reused 50 to 200 times before being turned into rags.

My Facts: We have had anywhere between 13 and 34 cloth diapers at a time.  These diapers are used for over two years before some become so thread bare they needed to be thrown out or used as rags.  My daughter, Sophia has diapers that have been used by her brother, three of her cousins and some are back in our baby box for the next child.  We wash our diapers in a front loader using much less water than a top loader does.  I do typically dry diapers in my dryer, but do hang dry on occasion saving even more energy.  I am proud of the fact that our store, Eden's Baby uses as little packaging as possible to display our diapers.  We do not have diapers wrapped in plastic. Most cloth diapering families will make two or three trips to our store to purchase their cloth diaper stash that will last them over two years compared with disposable diaper families who have to make weekly trips to buy diapers.  This reduces the use of gas and cuts down on air pollution.

Myth:  Sustainable cloth diapers can not be used if my baby sleeps 8-12 hours at night.

Fact:  While it is true that cloth can only absorb a given amount, their are many excellent options available for diapering a child at night.  One of the most common is to use a wool cover.  Wool makes an excellent diaper cover because it is very breathable, antibacterial and waterproof.  Wool of course is made with renewable resources. 

This is a work in progress please check back soon for more myths and facts about cloth diapers.

Cloth Diapering on the Road

Cloth Diapering on the Road

By Brooke Matherne

When I was asked to write about traveling and cloth diapering it occurred to me, my cloth diaper adventure began while traveling.  My husband was deployed so my 7 month old son, two 95 pound German Shepherds and I set off for a cross country adventure.  It was in my first stop that I met some Moms who introduced me to cloth diapering.  After months of horrible diaper rash and countless doctor visits I decided to give it a try.  Happily for me and for Tristan's poor heiny within one week of our switch his rash had cleared.  

   

I have learned a lot in these past few years of cloth diapering at home and on the road.  We typically travel by car, but have made half a dozen plane trips as well.  If you are planning a trip this summer or anytime there are a few important steps to take to ensure that your vacation and cloth diapering goes easily.  First, you really need to study your child's diaper routine for a few days.  Right everything down.  You will want to figure out how often you change your child, how many wipes you use and what type of diapering accessories you can't live without.  Once you figure out your daily needs you will need to decide if you want to wash while on vacation or wait until you return home.  Now is the time you need to decide if you will cloth diaper full time or use a hybrid system like g Diapers or Flip. 

   

I don't have set diapers I take while traveling.  I plan my diapers around our travel plans.  If we are going to be visiting friends or family then I would take my normal home diapers (for me an assortment of pocket and all-in-one diapers).  You may want to make sure who ever you are visiting is OK with you using their washing machine or that your hotel has access to a machine.  However, if we will be traveling by air and paying ridiculous fees per bag, then I would opt for a flat diaper and covers.  Flat diapers take up very little room and can be folded differently to fit both a newborn and a toddler.  Another good option is a one size diaper.  I really like these diapers for families that have more than one child in cloth at a time.  If your vacation plans call for a lot of activities you may prefer to use one of the hybrid systems during the day and your usual night time diaper.  In general you will want 2-3 days worth of diapers, a dozen or so wipes, a wet bag for day use and a pail liner or large wet bag for the hotel.  Plus, your detergent, any diaper creams or ointments and a wipe solution and perhaps the most important, a flushable liner to aid in clean-up. 

   

My favorite tips:

• Wash out your diapers and air dry until you are able to wash.  This will prevent any unwanted smells lingering in your hotel room.
• Pack a separate suitcase for all your diaper needs.  It helps keeping them all together.  If traveling by car you may prefer to use a basket for easy access.
• Don't try a new system on the road.  My first plane trip in cloth ended with both of us being soaked because I didn't know the new diaper I bought required a cover.
• Check to see if there is a diaper service in the area.  For a nominal fee you will have everything you need without any extra work.

Whatever you decide don't be afraid to try cloth on vacation.  It is surprisingly easier than you would think.  Your baby will feel better and you will be helping the environment.  For more inspiring travel diapering tips (including one mom's rain forest adventure) visit the Real Diaper Association for stories and advice from Real Moms using Real Diapers on Real Babies.  

Brooke Matherne is the co-owner and founder of Eden's Baby in San Antonio, TX.  She has been full time cloth diapering her two children since August of 2007.  She is currently training to become a RDA Diaper Circle Leader.  She teaches monthly cloth diaper classes in San Antonio and around Texas. 

This was originally written for the blog My Tot Travels

12 Days of Christmas Sale!

We are having a great 12 days of Christmas sale. Each day we will add a new item to the list.  Here is your sneek peek at what's to come.  The sale endds December 24th.

On the first day of Christmas save $40 off all rocking horses. These unique handcrafted rocking horses are a perfect gift from Santa. They are heirloom quality. Free shipping does not apply with this item.

On the second day of Christmas buy a Born Free 3 pack of bottles and get a soft spout set for FREE! Triple-Pack 9oz. BornFree Bisphenol-A Free plastic bottles, featuring the innovative BornFree venting that helps eliminate colic symptoms. Pack contains 1 BornFree venting system for use with all three bottles and voucher for 2 free BornFree venting systems redeemable from July 15th 2008 until December 31, 2009. Each bottle comes with handy non-spill travel cover. Pack contents include: 3x 9oz bottles, 3x Level 1 nipples, 1x BornFree venting system, 1x Voucher for 2 venting systems. Retail value of 34.98 for just 27.99

On the third day of Christmas save 10% off Valco Baby and Micralite brand strollers. Try the Valco Baby Runabout, the perfect all around stroller that grows with your family. Or try the Micralite Toro, Consumer Reports #1 rated luxery stroller. Other models are also included in this sale. All strollers will ship directly from the manufacturer.

On the fourth day of Christmas save 10% off all miYim™ plush animals. miYim™ organic cotton toys are made with safety and sustainability in mind. Colored by nature and 100% certified Non-Toxic, our toys help to make your home a safe and chemical free environment for you and your child. The PureWaterWash™ process is the secret to creating our charming colors. Untreated cotton thread is woven into gently flowing fabric and brightened with nature's own plants and minerals. The fabric is then hand dyed repeatedly in soy-water to set the color. As a result, each miYim™ toy has its own unique appearance and color variance.

On the fifth day of Christmas save $5 off a Baby Bunch. Combining practicality with presentation, Baby Bunch gifts delight new moms and dads with super soft, 100% cotton baby clothes craftily rolled into blooming baby bouquets and other creative shapes. Unique newborn baby presents, the Baby Bunch is safe for hospital delivery where ordinary flowers may not be permitted and makes an extraordinary baby shower gift basket.

On the sixth day of Christmas save $6.99 off a g diaper starter kit. This is an amazing diaper. It truly is the best of both worlds. It has a water proof cloth cover and a FLUSHABLE and truly biodegradable inner. Each kit contains 2 'little g' pants, 10 plastic-free, flushable refills, a swishstick and a H.U.G (handy user's guide). Retails for 26.99 on sale for $20!

On the seventh day of Christmas save $19.95 off pouch slings. Leave that baby carrier in the car. Our slings have no buckles, metal rings or adjustments to be made. Our slings can be worn five different ways to carry a baby or a toddler up to 36 lbs. Our sling is so compact that you can easily toss it into a diaper bag when you're on the go. The sling features sleek leg padding to increase your baby's comfort without added bulk. We use a non bunch fiber fill so that the padding will never bunch. Retails for $69.95 on sale for $50

On the eighth day of Christmas save $20 off all instock lillebaby Eurototes. Traveling just got easier with the lillebaby EuroTote. Ideal for parents on the go, the EuroTote does far more than any single function baby carrier or bunting bag on the market. Specially designed to fit the American parent's lifestyle, the EuroTote marries stylish Scandinavian design with easy-to-use American functionality and safety requirements. The versatile intelligent design provides the functionality of five products in the convenience of one system, all for the price of many single function products. Ideal for parents on the go, the EuroTote starts out as a Moses Carrier and morphs into a bunting and stroller bag as well as a play blanket and travel bed. The EuroTote easily fits into most car seats and strollers making travel with baby a breeze. The interchangeable outer-shell allows for this product to be used in any climate all four seasons of the year! The lillebaby EuroTote also allows mom and dad to switch effortlessly between carrying baby without the need for the tedious adjustment of straps and buckles.

On the ninth day of Christmas save 10% off Fuzzi Bunz products. Choose from Perfect Size or One Size diapers, tote bags and hanging pails. This is a great way to take advantage of the One Size Reward program ending December 31st. With the $40 voucher from Fuzzi Bunz it's like getting your diapers for just $12! Discount can be used for in stock or special order items.

On the tenth day of Christmas save 15% off all Earth Mama Angel Baby kits and gift sets. These products are organic and vegan. Plus, (my favorite) they smell great!

On the eleventh day of Christmas buy one piece of clothing get the second half off. Choose from brands like Sage Creek, Sweet Peanut, Earth Tots, Bella Materna and much more. Excludes special order items. Please note that the discount will not appear online, but you will receive half off the lower priced item before we hand ring in your order.

On the twelfth day of Christmas save 10% off all furniture. Choose from brands like, Caraboo, Anka, Kaloo*, and Svan. All furniture ships directly from the manufacturer. *Kaloo shipping charges are not included in the total and are charged separately.

Christmas PJ Photo Contest

Every Christmas Eve our GG gives each of the girls in the family matching pj's. This will be our first Christmas without her, but we want to keep the tradition going so we are having a photo contest. Send in your cutest Christmas pj photo and the winner will receive a special gift from us. Please submit photos by 12/27. Voting takes place 12/28 - 31. The winner will be announced January 1st.  You can upload your photos to our Facebook Fan Page.

2009 Parents' Pick Winner

For Kids Clothing Store
in San Antonio

It's official, we have the window decal to prove it! Thanks to your votes we have won our first Parents' Pick Award. You can find other winners at http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/parents-picks

Earth Mama Angel Baby's Toxin Scavenger Hunt

The Hunt Continues! Quaternium-15

This month ’s scary toxin is Quaternium-15, a common formaldehyde-releasing preservative used in products like body washes, lotions, baby shampoo and floor polish. The big concern is that Quaternium-15 causes irritation, from mild rashes to open oozing sores. What, in baby products? Are they crazy?? It is “a known skin irritant believed to be responsible for increased rates of allergic contact dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin that varies from mild irritation to rashes and open sores.” If that isn’t enough for you, it also has a whopping 6 toxicity rating on the Skin Deep database, for organ system toxicity, developmental toxicity and even cancer. Check out the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Quaternium-15 news release, and then get set to find Quaternium-15 in your “natural” or “organic” products. Mama wants you to know what’s in your products, so go forth and find some Quaternium-15!
Email us by October 26, 2009, a list of at least three “organic,” “natural” or “green” pregnancy or baby care products (like pregnancy body washes, cleansers or baby shampoo) that contain Quaternium-15. Feel free to make comments, we’d love to hear what you have to say. If you want to dig deeper to find out more, check out the products’ toxicity rating on the Skin Deep database, or take our eye opening What‘s Your Score? Challenge.
Prizes!
1. One A Little Something for Baby
2. One 5.3 oz. Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
3. One 4 oz. Angel Baby Lotion
Good sleuthing, mamas!