Healthy Child Healthy World has created a very moving video that is capable of inspiring millions of people to take action for the safety of their children.

A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.

Before Matilda was born in June of 2008, my husband and I decided we wanted to cloth diaper and make our own baby food.  Many people rolled their eyes when we told them our plans and many said, “Just wait until she comes.”  Well I am happy to say we dove in and are still cloth diapering Matilda and we had a blast making our own baby food for her.  There are huge misconceptions about both, but I want to focus on the food part.

Many people think that making baby food is time consuming and expensive.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  All you need is a pot to steam the fruit and veggies, a casserole dish for oven cooking, a blender or food processor and some ice cube trays.  The best website I have found for health baby food recipes is Wholesome Baby Food.  This website is very extensive and has tons of easy recipes and tips.  It is also important to think about the fruit and veg that you buy.  When Matilda started eating purees, a Whole Foods opened up in our city so I would go there for my organic purchases.  I was on a budget however, so I would only buy The Dirty Dozen there.  Otherwise I would buy my produce from my local grocery store.  Buying frozen is also a great option because produce is flash frozen so nutrients are not lost as compared to fresh produce being trucked hundreds of miles to their final destination.  Trader Joe’s has a lot of organic frozen fruit and veg to choose from.  Local farmer’s markets are also a great way to buy fresh.  In doing all this, I know I saved hundreds of dollars by not buying jarred baby food.  But even more reassuring is that I knew exactly what was going into her mouth every time I put her into the highchair.

To make baby food prep even easier, Fresh Baby has developed the So Easy Baby Food Kit.  They sent me one to review and I am very impressed with the contents.  Included in the kit are 2 BPA and phthalate free freezer trays, a cookbook, a 20 minute How-To DVD and a nutrition card.  The DVD shows you all the basics of making your own food, from chopping to steaming or baking and blending.  The trays have covers which protects the baby food as it is freezing and also make them easily stackable.  You can then pop the purees out and store them in freezer bags.  The cookbook is very extensive and provides the reader with the benefits of home-prepared baby food, gives an overview of baby’s dietary essentials, and offers a detailed guide on how to make baby food, including choosing produce and storing it.  Last but not least, it is chock full of yummy recipes for all age ranges, up to 12 months.  I really wish I had this guide when I started cooking for Matilda, but they  just released  a So Easy Toddler Cookbook which I will definitely check out and review on this blog.  Also included in the box is a handy laminated reference card that is full of useful information.  It gives information on what to do if your baby starts choking, offers fresh baby food tips and lists first foods by age.  There are also nutrition tips, baby ailments and foods that help and a list of foods that are the best sources of nutrients.  This card can be useful long after your baby has stopped needing pureed food.  The So Easy Baby Kit makes it so very easy to cook, puree and store nutritional food for your baby in just 30 minutes a week.

If you have used the Fresh Baby freezer trays, consider leaving a review at Squeaky Clean Tot.

One tip to leave you with…I was at a friend’s house the other day and she pureed up some cooked spinach and mixed it through the mac and cheese she was going to give her 3 year old.  I never would have thought of this trick and you can really do it with any fruit or veg.  Just because baby has grown up does not mean he/she will not benefit from a few frozen pureed cubes.

I stumbled upon Earth Mama Angel Baby as I was researching baby personal care products for Squeaky Clean Tot.  What struck me is that all of their products are rated zero on the Cosmetics Database.  I found this to be an amazing feat.  As I became familiar with the company, I found out that their number one priority is my daughter and yours too.  Melinda Olsen, Founder and CEO, takes these ratings very seriously and she and her employees have worked very hard at creating a very concious company amongst the big giants who are most concerned about their bottom line.

Mama Melinda was gracious enough to answer a few questions for our blog.  I continue to be amazed at the work they do, not only for our little tots, but also for mothers who have had miscarriages.  She also runs a website called Baby Loss Comfort, where women can go to find some solace during a very difficult time.

If you have used any of their baby care products and wish to leave a review, you can find a full list at Squeaky Clean Tot.

Earth Mama Angel has products that cover all your mama and baby needs: pregnancy and baby loss teas, Body Butter, massage oils, after birth sprays and my very favorite, baby shampoo and wash.  (I even us it on my own face and my skin has never felt softer).  This is just a small sampling of the many products they have to offer.  Their website also has many resources, including a blog and Reading Room.  And if you sign up for their email newsletter, they are always sending out special promotions and sales.

Mommy B won our Giveaway.  Congrats!

As I have posted before, I am a big fan of Nuby.  We love their sippy cups and teethers and I think their designs are upbeat and modern.  All of Nuby’s products are BPA free so you can feel secure knowing your tot is safe.

Nuby has generously donated a Toddler Mealtime Set for our January giveaway.  Included is a non-toxic plate and bowl, No-Spill Cup with cover and a Hot Safe Spoon.  For your child’s safety the spoon indicates if their food is the right temperature.  The plate, bowl and sippy cup show a bear drinking his honey from a bee hive.

The Giveaway ends January 25, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. PST.  The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email, so please make sure your email address is correct when commenting.

Mandatory Entry

• Visit Nuby’s site and comment back here on a product that catches your eye.

Additional Entries

• Write a review for a safe, non-toxic product you have tried at Squeaky Clean Tot.  Please see the “Leave a Review” page for assistance in writing a review.  DON’T FORGET TO SELECT THE STARS FOR YOUR RATING. (1 review = 1 entry)
• Follow Squeaky Clean Tot on Twitter (1 entry)
• Use the Retweet button above, or tweet the following (1 tweet per day = 1 entry) @squeakycleantot Nuby Toddler Mealtime Set #Giveaway http://bit.ly/7P6nA5
• Subscribe to our feed or sign up via email (3 entries)

As I have mentioned before, Cosmetics Database is one of my go-to sources for non-toxic baby products.  I also use them for my own personal care products and have started switching to more conscious companies.  I am still having a hard time locating any safe mainstream moisturizers with sunblock.  I still use my trusty Oil of Olay, but would love some ideas on others.  Sweetsation Therapy Sun*Brealla is the only one I know of that has a low rating.  If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Back on topic….Cosmetics Database/Skin Deep has joined with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by creating a Compact for Safe Cosmetics.  Over 1000 companies have vowed the following:

• All cosmetics and personal care products made by the company anywhere in the world meet or exceed the formulation standards and deadlines set by the European Union cosmetics directive to be free of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects.

• The company will implement substitution plans that replace hazardous materials with safer alternatives within three years, and publicly report its progress in meeting these goals.

These companies are leading by example, proving to toxic giants that it is possible to make effective products without the use of toxic chemicals.  Check it out and see if your favorite company has signed the pledge.  I know mine has.

Below is a guest blog piece I wrote for Living My MoMent, a website that promotes mom owned businesses through free listings and advertising.  Abbey, the site creator, took some time off to be with her new addition, so I jumped at the chance to spread the word about my cause.

When my daughter Matilda was born in June of 2008, my quest began for the perfect body wash, shampoo and lotion. I started reading the ingredients on brands that have been around for many years and are trusted by many parents. I was shocked at all the chemicals they use in their formulations. Many of them contain 1,4 Dioxane, Quaternium 15, Parabens and Cocamidopropyl Betaine (just to name a few). Many of these chemicals have been linked to cancer and developmental/reproductive toxicity, but companies are still able to use them in popular brands of baby products. I think what’s most shocking, is that these chemicals are being used in products claiming to be “natural” and for “sensitive skin.” Yes, these chemicals are from nature, but does that mean they are safe to put on a baby’s body?

And what is about all this talk about bisphenol-A, phthalates, and PVC? No big deal, right? These products have been around for a long time so why should we worry now? I beg to differ. Bisphenol-A or BPA is an organic compound used to harden polycarbonate plastics. It is an endocrine disruptor which can mimic the body’s hormones and has been linked to, among others things, obesity, breast cancer and adverse effects on the thyroid. BPA has been found in many brands of baby bottles and it is now coming to light that many canned goods contain BPA in the epoxy liners which is leaching into the cans. PVC is polyvinyl chloride and releases toxic chemicals know as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air. VOCs can contain many different chemicals which can be detrimental to health. Phthalates are plastic softeners added to PVC to make products pliable. PVC and Phthalates can be found in shower curtains, lunchboxes, toys, baby bibs, pacifiers, teethers play jewelry, hairspray, cosmetics, perfumes and even mini blinds. It cannot be recycled so it also sits in our landfills releasing VOCs for many many years.

Many baby manufacturers have begun to rid their products of BPA, PVC and Phthalates, but only because of consumer pressure. We have the power to demand these companies use safer ingredients in baby skin products as well. I am helping this cause by providing a resource for parents and caregivers to find, rate and review safe and non-toxic baby and toddler products. Squeaky Clean Tot was founded because I feel it is so important for babies to get the best start out of life, especially when toxic chemicals are all around us. I was very overwhelmed when I began my research, but I found that starting small is the best approach. When you run out of your “no tears baby shampoo” try the body wash and shampoo from Earth Mama Angel Baby. All of their products rate a “0″ on Cosmetics Database, which is the best score a company can have. No toxins or dangerous chemicals are in any of their products. They work great and smell wonderful. When your baby is ready for a sippy cup, buy only cups that are labeled “BPA free”, or even better, try stainless steel. Kid Basix has a great line of bottles, sippy cups and sports bottles for babies and toddlers. When your bleach countertop cleaner is gone, try a safe alternative from babyganics or 7th Generation. These eco-conscious companies have created very effective but safe cleaners for you and your baby. These small steps add up, and soon you will be on your way to a toxic free household.

If you want to find other companies that put your child’s safety high on their list of priorities, please visit Squeaky Clean Tot. When you do try some safer products, please visit again and post a review. There is nothing more genuine than a parent review and I often search them out when making a decision. Parents are honest and sincere, but also expect the companies we use to meet high standards, especially when our children are involved.

I just finished reading an article by healthier talk titled, Why Men Should Avoid BPA.  High levels of BPA exposure can cause erectile dysfunction in men.  Hmmm….Could this finally get the blue suits talking in Washington?

One our of local papers, the Reno News & Review, published The Myth of a BPA Free Diet a few weeks ago.  The author, Kat Kerlin, was 6 months pregnant at the time of her experiment and it was very disheartening to read that she found it near impossible to avoid BPA in her food.

BPA is everywhere and 93% of Americans have BPA in their urine.  Even if we can avoid it in our food by eating fresh, non-processed, non-packaged foods, BPA is still in our pipes and we ingest it just by drinking water.    Ms. Kerlin interviewed two scientists:  Steve Hentges, the executive director of the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group of the American Chemistry Council, said we should trust the FDA.  He believes the amount of BPA found in packaging and food are at safe levels.  On the flip side, Frederick vom Saal, a leading researcher on BPA and a biology professor at the University of Missouri at Columbia, thinks we should be very concerned and no amount of BPA in our system is safe.  He believes we should be worried because we don’t know enough about BPA to really know it’s effects on our bodies.  He also feels the FDA is understaffed and underfunded so testing is not at the top of their priority list.

I read the article with a lump in my throat, until the end.  Even though BPA is pervasive, there are some steps we can take to reduce the levels we are exposed to:

• Invest in an inexpensive carbon filtration system.  Filter out BPA before it even gets to your glass.
• Never put plastic in the microwave or dishwasher even if the container is marked safe to do so.
• Choose glass over plastic and cans.
• Look for #2 and #5 plastics.  These are the least worrisome, according to vom Saal.

I am in the process of switching all my old beat up plastic storage containers to glass.  I no longer drink from plastic bottles and even Matilda is building up a nice set of stainless steel drink containers.  Baby steps….

I have not read, The Body Toxic yet, but it is on my list.  While I watched this interview with the author, Nena Baker, I realized I need to make reading it a priority.  We are surrounded by chemicals that are harming us:  phthalates in rubber ducks, PVC in non-slip bath mats, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in non-stick cookware.  I am overwhelmed, but keep telling myself, “one step at at a time.”

When I began researching products for Squeaky Clean Tot, I stumbled upon The Soft Landing and it has been an invaluable resource on bisphenol-A (BPA) ever since.  Alicia has just published an ebook on How to Avoid Toxic Plastics.  It is a very informative read on 3 toxic plastics:  BPA, Phthalates and PVC.  She also gives us useful tips on avoiding the big 3 and offers some alternatives.  This information can be overwhelming and scary, but if we eliminate one toxic item at a time, the task doesn’t seem as daunting.  Remember, the more informed we are as consumers, the more power we have in demanding these companies make safer products for ourselves, our children and our planet.

Avoiding-Toxic-Plastic-Ebook