Caring for baby’s clothes naturally with Kleen Free enzyme cleaner…

When purchasing clothing for babies, every mother knows: buy big.  Babies grow so fast that they might only wear certain sizes for a few months before they are grown out of them.  I always buy my boys clothes in the next size up.  When wearing natural fibers such as cotton, buying a little big helps account for some shrinkage.  Also, rolling up sleeves and pant legs a little means that the garment's use is extended for you when you roll them down again after a growth spurt. 

Now, if you shop for kids clothes at American Apparel online (or in store if you live on the west coast) you might think you are buying big, only to realize when you receive your gear that they look small already without even being washed yet!  American Apparel runs almost 2 sizes small on some of their cuts, especially after washing.  I just bought my 4 year old, who wears a size 4 in most clothing, an AP size 6 that looks really small to me.   I discovered American Apparel on my recent week long research project to find out where our clothing is made and by whom and do they enjoy basic human rights?  As for American Apparel, their garments are made in downtown Los Angeles, by mostly Guatemalan immigrants, and yes.

Having to buy clothing for the kids is new to me as we've enjoyed immaculate hand-me-downs for the past 4 years.  I learned something valuable from this experience too, kids are messy!  The clothing I received was all well cared for and stain free.  My girlfriend told me that these clothes had been through at least two children already, some of them many more and yet they were all still very clean.  Because of this, I developed an erroneous observation, and very bad habit:  I never bothered to put a bib on my first child!  Now many of those shirts and pants are dotted with avocado bits, speckled with blueberry juice and mushed with banana mash.  Now, the next child to inherit them will always look like he's already had his breakfast.  Luckily the next mom can't complain because she's me, and the next baby is my second son. 

My second son is now the fourth and sometimes the sixth child to wear this round of hand-me-downs and I'm getting better at taking care of the clothing that I inherit as well as the clothing that I buy new.  Trust me, once you've spent a week researching the ethics of a company, waiting for calls back from their P.R. rep, explaining to your husband why they cost so much more, checking ebay and craigslist for used versions and finally deciding on sizes and colors before ordering online... you begin to take better care of your "investments."

Children's clothing is transient.  Your baby may wear a garment for about 3 months, then it will be "new" again to a succession of other children until it has become unwearable by someone's standards and gets thrown out.  This could literally be 10 or more kids!  This past year I passed on my baby's very elaborate newborn organic layette, it's already finding it's third home and in excellent condition. 

So, I'll tell you my secret: enzyme cleaner.  I use Kleen-Free Enzyme cleaner in a spray bottle on every spill and spot they get.  This stuff is a must in any house with kids or pets.  It comes in various size bottles but the gallon is the most economical as it is highly concentrated.  It takes me almost 9 months to get through a gallon using it for everyday cleaning and laundry.  It's an enzyme the "eats" protein.  They sell it for lice, bedbugs and other tiny-crawly things, but we use it for food stains and all household cleaning.  The gallon is about $70 with shipping and worth every penny. 

My eco-tip for the day is: Take good care of your children's clothing as these garments will have a long and adventerous life with many children in many homes when your little ones have outgrown them.  After all, re-use is one of the 3 R's!

Butting In For Child Safety (spreading the word on BPA)

It was a classic "eve-moment" in the baby isle of the grocery store.  An unsuspecting mother-to-be, heavy with child, anticipation and protective instinct holds a sippy cup in her had with intent to purchase in preparedness for her unborn...

"Excuse me," I always begin, knowing that my interjection could punture her trusting world view "have you heard about the recent research on plastics containing BPA?  Those sippy cups you're holding were the poster-product of the recall suggestion. (They were Nuby brand.)"  Experience has prepared me for a range of responses at this point.  While most mothers are happy to hear information pertaining to the direct safety of thier child, another common response annoyance at my interuptive, know-it-all attitude. 

"No, I haven't.  What's BPA?" Relieved to have a receptive audience, I begin my discourse on the harmful affects of Bisphenol-A, along with suggestions of BPA free products that can be found in the same isle.  On this occasion, the encounter ended with me escorting this pregnant woman across the store to the sporting goods isle to show her the Thermos brand stainless steel sippy cups called Foogo (read product review).

There are many informative and detailed blogs about BPA.  The summary is that BPA is an estrogen disruptor.  It's use is banned in Europe and Canada but it is still currently being used in the US.  BPA is found in #7 plastics (polycarbonate), canned food and some plastic toys.  Polycarbonate water bottles including the popluar Nalgene bottles made prior to year 2008 contain BPA.   Some baby bottles and formula can liners contain BPA.  Actually, the liners of most canned foods contain BPA.

Vitamix containers made prior to 2008 contain BPA, although the company has begun selling new containers that are BPA free (called the Tritan) and are available for sale through the company's website for about $150. 

As in the case of BPA, I wonder how many other toxins will be finally exposed in the media as being harmful to humans after we have been exposed to them for many years already.  For this reason, I feel compelled to interupt pregnant mothers during the joyful project of making a shower registry, to let them know that there is sometimes a safer alternative. 

My eco tip for the day is: Speak out.  I happen to know a little bit of useful information.  You might also know things that can help others make safer decisions for their children and planet. It's important to remember that information is power.  We can empower ourselves and each other by being open and communicating about the world we have found ourselves in.  So much seems out of our control. Who, exactly is putting toxic chemicals in our children's food, food containers and toys?  Talk to strangers about how we can improve our world.  Start small, like I did that day, with a useful tip to help someone protect their loved ones.  Eventually, the light of truth will make our world transparent!  We can help it along!

Ants on a log…

The holidays can easily seem overwhelming.  As a mother of two small children I know how challenging it can sometimes be to keep a patient and cheerful attitude when your list of chores is longer than Santa's list of good little girls and boys.  However, I encountered a brief moment of that good-mom feeling when choosing for the children a healthy snack paired with a lively song over the less eco-friendly option of tossing them a kid sized package of some  processed health food imposter. 

"The ants go marching one by one hoorah, hoorah... the ants go marching one by one hoorah, hoorah... the ants go marching one by one, the little one stopped to play his drum, and they all go marching down, to the ground, to get out, of the rain...the ants go marching two by two hoorah, hoorah..."  I sang while decorating peanut butter slathered celery with little ant-raisins.  They both lit up like tree angels and never questioned the green-ness of the celery. 

To continue the song, just make sure the little ant always does something that rhymes with the number you're on.  Maybe the song has traditional words, but I'm sure whatever you and your kids come up with will be more fun!

Make your own Waldorf play kitchen

This being the season of gift giving, I'd love to share with you some of my favorite eco-friendly gift ideas.  My son's are getting a wood play kitchen like the very wholesome looking ones in the waldorf style toy catalogs.  However, to save money and just for fun, I'm making it myself from mostly reclaimed materials.

First, I've used an old cutting board for the stove top.  I just turned on the burner of the stove (electric) on high and burned burner shapes on the cutting board by holding it upside down and pressing it on the burner for a few seconds.  Then I placed that on top of an old night stand and voila! instant stove top.  Next I attached a piece of wood cut to the shape of the front of the night stand w/ cabinet door hinges. You can also cut a little window out and add a small handle of some sort.

For the sink I used another piece of old furniture, an old tvstand and cut out a hole in the top to place a stainless steel bowl for the sink, then I cut a wooden dowl to the general shape of a spout and added two small drawer pulls for sink knobs.  Last, I used peel and stick floor tile for the "counter top" and put it all around the sink.  It's really cool!  Honestly, I spent less than $50 on this endeavor and it was a lot of fun to make.  I can't wait to give it to them at Christmas!