FLOR baby area rug above - FLOR products are made with renewable and recycled content and are recyclable at the end of their life.

Skip the carpet: Carpet fibers trap in plenty of allergens. When I was building a house one of the flooring experts we talked to said you can never, ever get your carpets truly clean, no matter how powerful a cleaning machine you rent. A better choice is to choose a sustainable wood floor. If wood floors sound chilly, you can also get an area rug. Many are being made with postconsumer materials nowadays and you can clean these much easier than attached carpet.

Skip the wallpaper: Most wallpaper contains PVC. Your choices – go with a low to no VOC paint, choose some fun non-toxic wall decals, or head to MOD GREEN POD - one of the few companies making toxic free wallpaper.

Skip the plastic blinds: First of all if you’ve got another choice than plastic why not choose it? Secondly, I think plastic blinds look tacky. Better than plastic blind choices include certified organic textiles, hemp curtains, shades made from paper, reeds, bamboo and other grasses, and FSC-certified wooden blinds and shutters. Be sure to look for coverings made with non-toxic finishes and low impact inks as well. Read more about eco-friendly window coverings.

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What we do know based on studies is that BPA leeches out of many a baby bottle that contains it; especially once you heat those bottles up (say in the dishwasher). The best choice is to avoid BPA until we clearly know the effect it has on our own bodies and our kids bodies. With that in mind, here are some BPA-free baby bottles you can choose…

• Momo
• Born Free
• Green to Grow
• Mam
• Evenflo
• Dr. Browns
• Thinkbaby
• Lifefactory
• Weil Baby
• Nature Pure

[image via Momo]

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The kit is pretty much a one-stop deal covering the planning stages of a green baby shower all the way up to the actual event with topics such as invites, location, food and drink ideas, party games, decorations, hosting supplies, and green gifts for mama, baby, and guests. Rounding out the guide is a nice eco-friendly birth & first year rituals section.

Below are a few examples of some of the many tips that the Tiny Footprints kit offers…

• Give sustainable party favors such as locally sourced goodies like organic beer, sustainable wine, honey, beeswax candles, vegetable soaps and so on.
• Baby and mama gifts should be sustainable and healthy for example, organic cotton clothing over conventional cotton and sustainable wooden toys over plastics.
• One eco baby shower activity suggested is to have guests decorate organic cotton unbleached baby onesies with non-toxic fabric paint and stamps.

Since the Tiny Footprints kit is Oregon based some of the location and gift ideas are specific to the area, but overall, this kit is packed with ideas that anyone, anywhere can use to green their baby shower. Plus, FREE is the best price ever for so much info. Visit the Tiny Footprints kit online.

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Getting your baby or young child out into the spring weather is a smart plan; start early with nature adventures to instill a love of the planet in your tot.

Spring is still chilly so plan for double layers that are easy to take off if it gets too warm. Sometimes even a hat is in order. You want your little on to have fun and enjoy being outside. If she’s chilly, she may associate being outside with uncomfortable.

Try feeling the wind. Hold your tot up in the breeze and allow her to feel the wind on her cheeks. Point out how the trees sway and the clouds float. Hold scarves or a small kite up in the wind so your toddler can watch them blow.  Another windy perk that babies adore – wind chimes!

See this piece; Activities to get you and your children outside for more ideas such as, Rainy Days and Shapes and Colors and Textures, Oh My!. OR take a peek at the whole Take A Child Outside website. Another good site for learning about nature fun is No Child Left Inside.

Bird and bug watch – point out tiny animals that may interest your little one. Caterpillars, butterflies, and worms are especially fun.

Try feeling tree bark, smooth rocks, cool water, and new silky flower popping up. For very little ones just make sure your babe doesn’t pop anything into her mouth.

Try out the super keen, really fun, eco-friendly, Nature Bag: Environmental Activity Kit for Kids.

See some more spring activity ideas…

• Introduce your baby to nature
• 60 Eco-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Spring
• Brand New Spring Line of Green Toys!
• Spring Nature Photos
• Spring Ducklings Hatched

[image via stock.xchng]

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Amazon has come a long way in terms of green toys and baby/child gear in the last year or so. One of the lines they carry; Summer Infant, has tons of adorable organic toys available, like the Summer Infant Nature’s Purest Activity Blocks above. Bonus, these items clock in at excellent prices. Far better prices than say, most of the organic toy companies. If you’re looking for a good baby shower gift, first birthday present, or just a safe non-toxic toy for any old occasion, I’d check out this line.

Some options…

Summer Infant Nature’s Purest My First Toy Giraffe or Summer infant Nature’s Purest Sleepy Safari Soft Toy

Summer Infant Nature’s Purest Safari Stack

The Summer Infant toy line is made with 100% naturally colored organic cotton and no dyes, chemicals, or pesticides.

[images via Amazon]

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In any case, One Book Two Book is having a great Happy Green Bee giveaway right now. I really like Happy Green Bee. They offer super bright organics for babies and toddlers. Personally I prefer natural colors, BUT almost all eco-baby companies produce natural colored baby items, when many parents do like bright shades, so I think it’s nice that Happy Green Bee caters to this demographic.

You can win three gifts in one; an organic cotton knit receiving blanket, a 4 oz. bottle of eco-friendly laundry soap and a re-usable zipper tote (perfect fit for bottles and extra diapers). I’m a little leery of the plastic case, because plastic; not so green. However, it is reusable, and hopefully recyclable – their organic cloth and eco-laundry soap are both green choices.

This is a great green mama-baby prize – there are three ways to win; visit One Book Two Book to learn how to enter.

[Images via One Book Two Book]

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I think that they’re the perfect holiday gift for all tree hugging families with little ones. And no, I don’t get a bonus for saying that. In fact, I’m going to order my own soon – for a friend who is expecting.

The tees feature ‘Habby’, the Inhabitot owl mascot, and are made from 100% organic cotton. They’re hand-printed with eco-friendly, water-based inks and available in sizes 3-24 months. The super fly old school-like tagline reads ‘I give a hoot’. Bonus, these are economical kiddie organic tees (just $20 a pop); not something we see every day.

Get your own little one a hip organic owl tee.

[images via Inhabitots]

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So in case I’m right here are some good green posts I’ve blogged elsewhere this week:

• Green Action for Autumn – Sealing Your Home for Winter
• Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
• Taraluna: Safe, Natural & Non-Toxic Baby Toys
• Sustainable Furniture Guidelines
• Where To Find New Green Homes for Sale
• Re-purpose the Furniture You Own
• Questions for A Green Home Remodel
• Imaginative Eco Kids Furniture from Roebuck Studio
• Puzzle safety and fun puzzle picks for your baby
• Save money with attachment parenting

Then of course, there are also some stellar posts around the web that yours truly did not write:

• PETA Likes Human Milk Better
• OEUF Eco-Friendly Convertible Kids Furniture
• Keep warm, stay green
• Green Living Magazine Launches the New Digital Edition for Fall 2008! – ah digital mags. They’re getting more rampant, which is a swell deal.
• How Green Is Your College?
• ‘All The Better To Kiss You With’ Eco Lip Balms
• Pumpkin Bars: A Nutritious Autumnal Treat
• And lastly, in oooooooooo news, a lovely Vintage Owl Locket! I want one – my birthday is coming up (FYI).

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes and everything else going on at Tree Hugging Family in October 2008

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Marcie is having a Natural Pod contest. Check it out before end of day September 25 for your chance to win a Poot & Boogie doll or some organic baby goodies.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in September 2008

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The entire set comes gift-ready in a sweet box with space for a personal message inside. There’s also a three-piece option. Best of all, these sets are available at an amazingly low price. Visit Kiddymania to learn more.

[Gift image via Kiddymania]

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in September 2008

Post from: Tree Hugging Family