Of all the materials out there, organic cotton has to be one of my favorites. On laundry day, in a sea of freshly laundered t-shirts, without even looking, I know exactly when I’ve pulled out my favorite organic cotton Quicksilver t-shirt to be folded—there’s that much difference in softness! But besides the super soft texture, many companies and manufacturers are adding and increasing organic cotton options to their existing lines. In some cases, new companies are emerging altogether because of this trend that’s here to stay.
So, what’s with organic cotton anyway? What makes it so special and oh so soft?
Organic cotton is the version of its conventional counterpart grown without pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers or any other chemicals, making it an ideal textile for baby and children’s products. Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of insecticides on 3 percent of our arable land; that’s more than any other crop per unit. That adds up to 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for a t-shirt, and 3/4 of a pound for a pair of jeans. Organic cotton on the other hand, uses agricultural methods designed to help sustain the land it grows on, the people who grow and harvest it, and the planet in general. (via Treehugger)
Once again, like with other greener alternatives, organic cotton products tend to cost a bit more—for now. As the demand for organic cotton products continue to increase–and organic products in general–prices will begin to balance out. In 2006, organic fiber linens and clothing sales in the United States grew by 26 percent over the previous year, to reach $203 million, according to the Organic Trade Association’s 2007 Manufacturer Survey.
Because of its healthier composition and sustainable aspects, organic cotton is a great option for baby and kids’ products. It certainly helps that organic cotton goodies are super soft and always hard to pass up.
To read more about organic cotton and its benefits check out these resources
Gaim on organic cotton
Cleaner cotton
The difference of organic cotton
The case for organic cotton
Organic cotton fact sheet
Tag: preschoolers
Happy Earth Week!
As Earth Day approaches this Wednesday, The Next Kid Thing will be focusing on green kid topics all week. When Earth Day began 39 years ago, times were much different, but the environmental movement as we know just started to gain momentum. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts. Today, Earth Day is celebrated worldwide.
As the Earth Day celebrations continue to grow, as does the environmental awareness. It might be easy being green one day a year, but 365 days of green-living make much more of an impact. What’s even more important is fostering our kids at an early age to be more socially responsible. Stay tuned for lots of ideas on how kids can help protect Mother Earth and ways to go green too!
(photo via mlumograph17)
That Baby DVD and CD review + giveaway
Every time our silly, but catchy cable tv commercial comes on, it makes me laugh to see the excitement it brings to my kid’s heart. He squeals, claps and then the dancing begins. Above the cuteness of the dancing, it’s the love of music and the rocking out at such an early age that truly brings a smile to my face.
As much as our family loves music, I love giving music-related gifts, too. I mean, who wouldn’t appreciate the gift of rocking out? So if you’re on the market for a unique baby gift, I recommend checking out That Baby DVD and CD.
I had the chance to check out That Baby DVD and it was such a hit with the kid. That Baby DVD and CD both feature acoustic cover versions of songs made popular by great artists like Fleetwood Mac, The Pretenders, Bob Marley, 10,000 Maniacs and more. In addition to various eye-catching graphics and cool animations, That Baby DVD showcased other music-loving kids who dance away to the tunes, thus making my kid dance and squeal along.
Read More
SafeSippy, how do I love thee? review+giveaway
Have you ever bought a product that you and your kid love so much that you can’t stop telling others about it? Yeah, me too. And that’s part of the reason why I felt so compelled to start this blog. Times have changed; we moms and dads are heavily influenced by each other more than ever. This sippy cup is my prime example…
In the fall, as Jack transitioned to a cup full time, I was in search of a sippy cup that was durable and an alternative to plastic. We’d been using a great BPA-free plastic sippy cup, but after several weeks of usage, I noticed the wear and tear. At the baby store, amidst the wall of plastic cups, I set sight on this gleaming stainless steel sippy cup. Hello, SafeSippy! Modern looking, clean design and practical–my first impression was, this sippy cup completely met our needs.
Apart from its aesthetics, this cup, inside and out, is well-designed. It features a narrow spout, a contrast to many other sippy cups’ flat drink spouts. Research has shown that wide, flat drink spouts can cause developmental and speech problems in young mouths. The cup boasts a removable handle that can be removed once your kid can grasp the cup. My kid, though old enough to hold a sippy cup without handles, likes this specific cup’s handle, which makes it better to “crank” and chug. Don’t ask…
Read More
Click this: Kids off the Couch
Are the kids on spring break this week? Have you run out of ideas on how to keep them from climbing the walls and everyone involved sane? If this is you, it’d behoove you to check out Kids off the Couch.
When I ran across the website, Kids off the Couch, I immediately thought, ‘what a great resource!’ Kids off the Couch is a free weekly e-newsletter that offers insightful suggestions on family-friendly activities. The e-newsletter and its accompanying site and blog were created by moms and targeted to other parents, especially those with big kids. It features a laundry list of creative ideas and activities for families with kids of all ages, including tips for movie ideas, cultural activities and staycation suggestions that are relevant all year long, not just for spring break. As I browsed through the adventure archives, it was one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” moments. Well, thanks to the moms at Kids off the Couch, here’s a resource that takes the guesswork out of finding that next family adventure! As someone who appreciates culture and local adventures, this is the kind of newsletter that is a great addition to my inbox.
Go on, after you sign up for their newsletter, unplug yourselves, get off the computer and get the kids off the couch!
Toys “R” Us introduces $1-$2-$3 Fun
Fellow barganistas, behold: Toys “R” Us has set up a new shop with us in mind. Toys”R”Us has introduced a new concept within their stores called $1-$2-$3 Fun!
The feature shops are located in the front of its stores nationwide and are aimed to provide affordable fun. In this economy, you can’t go wrong with inexpensive and fun goodies. In the same vein of Target’s Dollar Spot and other discount store concepts, each shop features around 100 items for $1, $2 or $3. The shops will showcase different themes such as dinosaurs, games and fun toys, princess dress up, musical instruments, art supplies and party favors. The goodies found in $1-$2-$3 Fun would be ideal for party favors, stocking stuffers and other daily events where inexpensive goodies are appreciated!
Who says you can’t get anything for a dollar anymore!?
Peter Rabbit skincare
The children’s classic book and well loved character, Petter Rabbit now has a line of organic baby products. The Peter Rabbit branded baby products from Econatura includes baby shampoo and wash, baby conditioner, baby body oil, baby lotion and Intense Therapy Cream for Baby. The products have been developed from plant-based formulations, are hypo-allergenic and contain natural antioxidants, making it a great option for children and even sensitive adults. Check out the ingredients here.
The Peter Rabbit Econatura line, which was awarded 2008’s “Best Baby Line” from Natural Solutions magazine, are available exclusively at Whole Foods.
Goodies: Visit Econatura’s site to get a coupon for $2 off of Peter Rabbit organics.
Read this: Easter basket books
With the Easter Bunny hopping around this weekend, surely he or she might need some last minute alternatives to the 15 lbs. of jelly beans and ultra-glow Peeps. It’s my thinking that if the Easter Bunny fills up our guy’s basket with cool books, that will only leave enough room for 5 or 6 Mini-Eggs. (The way I see it: the less chocolate that find their way into the basket means less chocolate to find their way into my mouth.) There are so many classic books for the Easter Bunny to choose from, but there are also some newer books to check out too! Here are a few suggestions on some fun treats of the book variety.
Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue By Jon Agee
Orangutan Tongs is a witty book filled with tongue twisters and play on words. It’s a fun collection of phrases and silly subjects to entertain kids and parents alike. If you love clever kid reads, how could you not be a fan with text like, you know New York’s unique, but did you know that unique New York’s also pretty chic?
The Dumb Bunnies’ Easter By Dav Pilkey
The Dumb Bunnies are at it again! This time, they’ve got their holidays all mixed up! On December 24th, they’re cutting down their Easter tree–wait a minute! Check out the Dumb Bunnies’ ridiculous adventures and find out why they’re for the Easter Bunny to drop eggs down their chimney!
Here’s the thing: the Dumb Bunnies books by the same hysterical author that brought us Captain Underpants has a gift for making kids laugh with his book. Some parents may not be fond of the “Dumb” descriptor for these silly bunnies, but c’mon, it’s harmless fun. On his site Pilkey says it best:
The only thing that all human beings have in common is our endless capacity for doing dumb stuff.
All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant (Author), Nikki McClure (Illustrator)
By the Newbery Medal-winning author, Cynthia Rylant, this book has a simple but very important message–to make the most of each day. The illustrations, cut-paper art and text are equally appealing to both parents and kids, making it a perfect read for any age. At times like this, isn’t it all about living life to the fullest while embracing what each day has to offer?
Where are Baby’s Easter Eggs? By Karen Katz
Karen Katz’s books are a big hit in our house. So much so, they’ve been read and flipped through so much, the pages have become so tattered from all the page-flipping excitement. The colorful and sparkly surprises that can be found when flipping the flaps is what keeps these books at the top of our reading regimen. Where could those Easter eggs be?
Just hatched: Jingle Chicken with Finger Puppets
Just in time for Spring, the fabulous baby store, giggle now features this adorable Jingle Chicken with a flock of baby chick finger puppets. The set, which is a giggle exclusive, is made from certified organic cotton and colored with natural dyes, making it a perfect eco-friendly addition to any nursery.
For the love of the game
In our home, Opening Day of baseball reignites the April-October daily regimen of bonding over baseball. America’s past time is loved by so many, so it’s no surprise that these days, the love of the game extends beyond the game itself. From the littlest baseball fan to the aspiring ace, here’s a short lineup of fun gear in honor of opening day:
Topps recently took baseball cards to a new dimension–quite literally–when they unveiled 3-D Live. With a webcam, baseball card collectors can now view a 3-D avatar of players from select 2009 Topps trading cards on their computer screen. Rotate the card, and the figure rotates in full perspective. Augmented reality is a combination of a real image with a virtual one. 3-D baseball cards? Now that’s a brand new ballgame!
We grew up in a cul-de-sac, so in our baseball games, we used car bumpers, manhole covers and curbs as bases and we mentally kept score. But for the high tech set, Junk Ball has a pretty cool Ghost Runner Baseball that’s designed to remedy all that guessing. The Ghost Runner electronically keeps track of runners on base and the score. And with lights and sounds, it also tracks innings played, team at bat and the number of outs in each inning. It automatically switches teams after three outs are recorded. Information is entered into Ghost Runner’s electronic home plate with the touch of a button/base.
Learning to love baseball isn’t just a rite of passage reserved for boys anymore! The baseball greats might be rolling over at the thought of a Princess-themed baseball set, but who says girls can’t play too? Little Tikes has a T-ball set in pink that just might hone even the girliest girl’s budding ball skills.
It’s never too early to start grooming them to play ball. From an early age, tots can learn to perfect their swing to the tune of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Play Ball” with Playskool’s Swing ‘N Score Baseball.
