the mOMtras

Staying Protected: Mineral Based Sunscreens, Simplified

2012-04-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

There’s few things more therapeutic than nestling your bare feet into the grass or sand during a summer day. Baby thinks so, too, but their extremely sensitive, delicate skin requires special care. Not only is sunscreen an absolute necessity, but the right sun care protection is key. This means selecting UVA-UVB broad spectrum SPF that is chemical-free, and applying it properly. I’ve found

Dry Skin Tips

2012-03-05T07:21:00.001-08:00

#roundBox {-moz-border-radius: 15px;border-radius: 15px;border:solid thick;border-color: #d75ba1;background-color:#ffffff;width:550px;padding-top:1px;padding-bottom:1px;padding-right:10px;padding-left:10px;} Baby it's cold outside, but inside the heater is roaring keeping everything toasty and dry, including your skin. Here are a few tips to prevent dry and itchy winter dry skin, or if your

Organic Certification 101

2012-02-21T09:17:00.000-08:00

If natural & organic cosmetics are near and dear to your heart, here's a 101 on organic certification for skin care and on Eco-cert, the very first certification body to develop standards for natural/organic cosmetics and sustainable packaging. Organic Certification for Skin Care Today in the US, skin care companies can say just about anything to market their products (unless they are

Essential Oils Made Easy

2011-11-29T12:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the world of essential oils! Consider this your introduction to everything aromatherapy. I began using essential oils with my children on an almost daily basis once they turned 6 months, and I have noticed that they got sick less often than other kids and recover from illnesses faster. To get the biggest aromatherapy benefit, it is important to work with essential oil blends that

Massage me! - The benefits of infant massage

2011-11-07T07:27:00.000-08:00

Studies have shown that infants benefit from the gentle touch of massage just as much as adults do. Massage is known to alleviate muscle tightness, stiffness, tension and cramping. It is also known to increase flexibility and increase oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body. The power of gentle touch in baby’s first year of life is very important to both child and parent. Share with

Organic Call-To-Action

2011-11-01T07:35:00.001-07:00

As a member of the Organic Trade Association, a group that works to promote organic agriculture in the U.S., I get the skinny on lots of inside info, facts, regulations, rule making... I'm not a policy wonk and sometimes the plowing through page after page of techo-lingo can be a bit much. Since I consider myself an advocate for health and the environment, I receive lots of 'Calls To Action' and

DIY Pizza Party

2011-09-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Calling up your local pizza place and ordering a quick pie is a perfectly fine "Mom-what's-for-dinner?" solution. But I've found that making your own pizza can be a fun activity for the whole family. Invite over a few friends and their kids, offer up a selection of fun toppings, and you've got an instant, at-home pizza party. Sure, making your own dough can seem daunting—all that kneading and

How to sanitize a bottle

2011-08-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

Recycling, reusing and refilling are always at the forefront of my mind when I am creating products for California Baby. This is one of the reasons why I created bulk sizes of some of our best-selling products. Buying in bulk allows you to refill rather than re-buy and it’s a money saver! Refilling is a cinch, but many people don’t know that you should always sanitize the bottle or container

Food for Thought

2011-07-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

When I became a mother, I went a little crazy about what goes in, on, and around my child. Many women do. So we read labels, we research ingredients, we make ourselves the guinea pigs... and we buy organic. Nowadays, there is organic everything. Almost anything you can find in a conventional grocery store has a correlating natural or organic product… organic cheese puffs, organic TV dinners,

Summer Pest Tips

2011-06-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hello California Baby Fans! Since the summer season is almost upon us, we thought we would post some tips & prevention methods on how to avoid ticks and mosquitoes. These tips were taken (and edited!) from the EPA’s website; if you want to learn more (probably more than you’d ever want to know about pests), go to, http://www.epa.gov/ TICKS Checking for ticks and prompt removal of attached

Worms and their Indulgences!

2011-06-05T14:58:00.000-07:00

Worm Casting (worm poop) We call this fertilizer :) Lifting off the lid of my very active worm bin... reveals a layer of finished worm compost. Worm Tea (worm pee) The base tray holds a swish-y mess of worm tea--use straight or dilute! Don't worry, most composters have a spigot to dispense directly into a bottle or watering can. Tune in next time for... A Search For A Shady Spot: California

Life in my garden

2011-05-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

I believe in compost. I love when organic material doesn't end up in the trash can and ultimately a landfill. I'd rather it rot right in my own backyard. My worm bin holds a coveted spot -- right next to the kitchen door. Beautiful colors. Green parsley stems, bois du rose onion skins, black coffee grounds, brown egg shells, and touches of red radish. Next... those wiggle worms that do the

Natural Habits That Heal Dry Skin

2011-05-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

Daily cleansing and moisturizing is an essential part of caring for your skin and your child’s. But for those who suffer from extremely dry skin or eczema, a relaxing bath or a soothing warm shower can turn into a dry and itchy affair. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition marked by itching, redness and scaly patches. It is very common in babies, usually

California Baby Hair Care: Not Just for Kids

2011-04-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hello California Baby Fans Although California Baby products are used and promoted for use by sensitive adults, they are designed for babies and kids. Usually little ones have baby fine hair and do not use styling aids like gel, hairspray, etc. Their hair care needs are a little different than an adult’s. Nevertheless, California Baby washes and conditioners work great on adult hair because they

Earth Day = Spring Cleaning

2011-04-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

It's Earth Day, which means you'll probably be reading about simple ways to "go green" all afternoon. It's true that the small changes we make can have a big impact on the health of our planet. For example, take shorter showers to conserve water, eat local and organic to reduce our use of oil and pesticides, wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot to save energy. All of these things are

Recipe: A Great Vegetarian Side Dish

2011-04-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

Yikes! You were shopping at the Farmer's Market and inspiration struck... it's the start of tomato season, the farmer piled them high, there was a bit of bumping and vying for best, and it was fun. At home, while unloading your bounty, you realize you bought way too many tomatoes. Not to worry, here's an easy and delicious way to use up the tomatoes before they start rotting on your kitchen

Take a Hike

2011-03-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

Seeing the world through your child’s eyes is just one of the joys of being a parent. What better way is there to introduce them to the wonders of their world than to take them into the outdoors on a hike? Communing with nature by hitting the hiking trails is a great way to spend some quality time together as a family while teaching little ones about nature. Whether your brood is big or small,

Juicing! My First Step On The Natural And Organic Path

2011-03-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

I've been juicing everyday for over 20 years. In fact, it was one of the first natural and organic 'lifestyle' changes I made in preparation for pregnancy. Juicing takes some advance planning, but not much. Here's How I Do It: Rely on frozen fruit as the staple in your juicing program - buying in bulk if possible. Organic is important here - especially if you are using strawberries (rank high

Ways to care for your baby's skin if they have extremely dry skin or eczema.

2011-03-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

First Stop all skin care product use and go back to the basics. Always patch test any new product; wait 24 hours and observe the area looking for any change before using. Keep it Simple I recommend going fragrance free for a while. Cleanse with our Super Sensitive, no fragrance, shampoo & bodywash (now also available in a 19 oz bottle!) head-to-toe. Follow with California Baby Super

In Need Of Oscar Party Snacks? Mix up a batch of healthy hummus dip!

2011-02-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

I’m looking forward to celebrating the celebs (and their gowns, hair-dos and jewelry!) on Oscar night. After all, the event’s glitz and glamour is a great reason to throw a little get together. Of course, organizing a fun night for friends—who all have kids of their own—can be tricky. The key to a successful party that works for both youngsters and their parents is to make any food served

Five Reasons to Love Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

I’m not a big holiday person, but I’ve come to appreciate Valentine’s Day because I like receiving flowers and the chances are high that my hubby will have a beautiful arrangement delivered to our home (hint, hint). Out of curiosity, I did a little research into the history behind Valentine’s Day and its traditions are pretty murky. Some say St. Valentine was a priest who secretly married young

Concentrated Products—like California Baby washes—need a little know-how

2011-02-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

I recently bought a High Efficiency (HE) front load washer and dryer made by Miele. The first time I used the washer, it overflowed with bubbles. Why? Not only was I using the too much laundry detergent, I was also using the wrong kind. Most laundry detergents are formulated to bubble—and bubble a lot. We, as consumers, have been trained to use large quantities of product. The combo of pouring in

Organic Milk: Good for You, the Planet, and Farmers

2011-01-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

The milk in my house is always organic. Yes, it costs a bit more, but I’ve noticed that doesn’t spoil as fast as non-organic, and it’s free of pesticide residue, hormones and antibiotics, all of which aren’t so great for my family’s health—and is one of the main reasons I made a big health switch. And as it turns out, organic milk isn’t just better for humans—it’s also better for the health

Nasal irrigation. Ever done it?

2011-01-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

Yes, you read right! Nasal irrigation involves washing out the nose to clear away excess mucus, pollen and debris. Those of you with sinus issues may know what I'm talking about, but you don't have to have clogged nasal cavities to rinse them with salt water. So many of us live or work in buildings that have dry or stuffy air. In my case, I battle the dry polluted Los Angeles air. Instead of

Hand Sanitizers

2011-01-05T13:15:00.000-08:00

While researching hand washes (check out our Wash-Up! products) I found Triclosan and alcohol in everything. Also many of the hand sanitizers that market themselves as ‘No Alcohol’ contain ingredients such as Benzalkonium Chloride, which is rated as a high hazard by environmental and safety groups such as the EWG. I prefer and love essential oils as a safe and healthy alternative to chemicals