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It’s Easy Being Green

March 12th, 2010

Hello Friends of the Bambino!

We’ve cooked up something special in our test kitchen for you this week in celebration of St. Patty’s Day (what can we say, we like to party).  But first, I’d like to talk to you about something important you can do to positively impact your child’s health.

The last thing we want here at Greeno Bambino is for people to get so overwhelmed by the task of replacing conventional kids’ products with their non-toxic counterparts that they throw up their hands and do nothing.  That’s why we recommend starting small – with baby steps, if you will.  Of course bottles, sippy cups and pacifiers are a great place to begin, and anything absorbed by your child’s skin is a smart second step – shampoos, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc.

But there is one “big” purchase that most people overlook – mattresses.

When you think about it, it’s pretty obvious that you should pay attention to your kids’ mattress – your child is breathing right on top of it for 12-14 hours a day after all.  Yet many parents don’t realize that most conventional mattresses are practically overflowing with toxic materials.

For the past 30 years, conventional crib and toddler mattresses have been made from a host of petroleum-based synthetic materials like polyurethane foam, vinyl (PVC), phthalates and chemical fire retardants.  (Polyurethane foam, the primary filling in nearly all conventional crib mattresses, is so flammable that the National Association of State Fire Marshals calls it “solid gasoline.”  Paradoxically, to mitigate flammability the polyurethane foam is often treated with a combination of highly toxic chemicals, including arsenic and boric acid.)  Some recent studies indicate a potential link between such toxic chemicals and the significant rise in childhood disorders, as well as hormonal problems, allergies, asthma and cancer.

That’s why, along with the easy changes like using BPA-free bottles, we urge parents to consider purchasing a non-toxic, organic mattress like those we carry from Naturepedic.

Naturepedic mattresses use naturally hypo-allergenic organic cotton and they’re highly supportive, provide good air circulation, and maintain even humidity and balanced temperature.  Plus, they feature an easy-to-clean, waterproof cover made of clear, 100% food-grade, non-toxic polyethylene, and they exceed Federal and State Flammability Standards.  To top it off, Naturepedic mattresses are made, tested and certified in the U.S.A. and recommended by Healthy Child Healthy World, a nationally acclaimed non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about environmental toxins that can affect children’s health.

Starting at just $279 (with free shipping!), Naturepedic mattresses are an investment in your child’s health that is really worth considering.  For a small fee, Naturepedic will even make custom size mattresses to fit any crib or bed – just contact us and we’ll help you out.

OK, time to get to the fun stuff:

From now through St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), take 20% off everything green throughout the entire store.

Whether it’s 3 Sprouts’ green hippo organic hooded towel, Green to Grow Regular Neck Bottles, all Leaf-colored Ecotots furniture, Little Green Star Onesies and Bibs, Sam & Bellie Roadway printed products or most anything else green (excluding BabyGanics, on which we’re still running a separately awesome deal), if it’s got green, we’re giving back the green.

Just enter the following code at checkout and you’ll get 20% off all your green goodies:

easybeinggreen

There it is folks, some green goodness on a Friday afternoon.  We’ll see you next week with a brand new edition of Fab Five Faves.

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  • Fab Five Faves – March 5th Edition

    March 5th, 2010

    Hello Friends of the Bambino!

    It’s baa-ack…your Fab Five Faves that is, with a look at the most loved items over the past 2 weeks:

    1.  Sprig Hollow Dragonfly’s Heli-Scoopter (sale price $9.95; normally $15)

    • As you know, Sprig Toys specializes in making truly innovative non-toxic toys, and here is just one more example of the company’s ingenuity.  The Heli-Scoopter is a 5 in 1 sand/dirt/water toy that’s great for both indoor and outdoor use, so rain, shine or bathtime, it will keep your active child flying high.

    • To paraphrase Jackie Wilson, your love keeps lifting BabyGanics higher and higher.  Not sure what you’ve been feeding your little ones lately (we kid, we kid), but it seems there’s been a growing need for this fantastic air freshener/odor remover.  And with our BabyGanics sale still in full swing, this baby might just reach the top of the charts.
    3.  VMV Hypoallergenics Gift Set (sale price $60; normally $75)

    • Give this gift and you’ll have a friend for life.  Why?  Because VMV makes the most lust-worthy body care products around – the first to be rated VH-65, meaning they are free of all 65 known allergens.  Inside this gift set – beautifully packaged in a hand-made cream-and-chocolate box with an espresso-colored bow — you’ll find carry-on approved travel sizes of VMV’s complete line of baby products, plus a set of Hypoallergenic Bonnet & Booties.  We’ve never put this item on sale before, so here’s your opportunity to take advantage of us.
    • Whether you’re an everyday germaphobe (like me) or getting ready for a family vacation (GERM-any anyone?), Clean Well’s travel size hand sanitizers – offered in Original Scent or Orange Vanilla – are just the thing to beat back all those evil little fever-inducing meanies.  Also available in a 6 oz. spray pump and pocket wipes.
    5.  DANO2 Ducki Bath Toy/Teether ($8)

    • If bathing and teething are part of your daily routine, well, maybe you should see a doctor about the teething.  But if you’ve got a child who meets that description, then you’ve got to get him a Ducki.  Offered in 4 cheerful pastels – Caribbean (blue), Mint, Raspberry and Citrus (yellow) – Ducki is cool as a cucumber and free of BPA, phthalates, lead and PVC.

    Speaking of rubber ducks, we just had a chance to dive into Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Dangers of Everyday Things, a book recently released in the U.S. by Rick Smith (Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada) & Bruce Laurie (a Canadian environmental activist) about the real-world impacts of exposure to toxic chemicals in everyday products.  It’s a freakishly magnetic read.  Over the course of a few days the authors intentionally expose themselves to all manner of toxins – from BPA and phthalates to teflon and canned tuna – in order to determine the chemicals’ adverse effects.  Though the experiment may be a little bit unscientific, the book contains some compelling revelations and we urge you to check it out.

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  • Greeno Bambino Spreads the Love

    February 26th, 2010

    As we mentioned in last week’s Fab Five Faves, we received a wealth of fantastic feedback from the survey we sent out a couple weeks back.  One of the the things we heard loud and clear was that you’d like us to feature more deals and discounts in our weekly newsletter.  So here’s what we’re going to do…

    The Fab Five Faves (which you can always find right here) will now be hitting your inbox every other week.  On alternate weeks (beginning today), we will dedicate our newsletter to a super-special promotion.  (Don’t worry, we’ll still let you know about ongoing deals in the FFF.)

    To start us off on this delicious deal-ified journey, we’re going to spread the love in hopes that you’ll spread it some more.

    Starting…now…we will automatically apply a $10 credit to your Greeno Bambino account every time you refer a new customer to our shop.  (And by customer, we mean someone who actually buys something.  Because, you know, that’s what we do here.)  There are no limits to how many credits you can earn.  Refer 20 friends and you’ve got yourself a $200 shopping spree, on us.  (For those of you who have signed up for our newsletter without actually creating an account on Greeno Bambino, not to worry – you can set up an account in 20 seconds right here.  Really, we timed it.)

    All you have to do is tell your friends to type your full name (that’s first and last) in the order comments section at checkout, and we’ll give you all the credit in the world (ten dollars at a time).

    And for the next seven days, as an added enticement, tell your friends to use the following coupon code at checkout for 20% off their order:

    spreadthelove

    What the heck, you can use it too.

    Did you know…that conventional crib mattresses are often made with toxic flame retardants that can permanently alter a child’s behavior and development?  A particularly nasty one called deca will be phased out by 2013 under a recent agreement between federal regulators and U.S manufacturers.  That’s right.  2013.  And that’s only deca – there are countless others.  That’s why we strongly urge people to use natural and organic alternatives, like our favorite Naturepedic mattresses.

    Finally, for those of you wishing for larger sizes of our California Baby Shampoos & Body Washes, they’re here!

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  • Does this bug you?

    February 26th, 2010

    Just curious to hear from some parents here…are you bothered by the example set by the victorious Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey team last night – swigging beer and smokin’ stogies on the ice – or is it much ado about nothing?

    95657668JD366_Ice_Hockey_Wo

    http://bit.ly/cXsiVW

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  • Fab Five Faves – Feb. 19th Edition

    February 19th, 2010

    Hello Friends of the Bambino!

    As you know, last week the Fab Five Faves took a short vacation while its understudy – Greeno Bambino’s first survey of 2010 – got a chance to shine.  The response was tremendous and tremendously enlightening.  Thanks so much to all those who offered their thoughts; we are working hard to implement your super suggestions.

    Now, on to the good stuff.  In this week’s edition of Fab Five Faves, we’ve got fun, sun and a little something for everyone:

    1.  Green Toys Jump Rope ($10)

    • Made from 100% recycled milk jugs, Green Toys’ jump rope is a hopeful reminder that Spring is on its way.
    • Whether heading out of town or searching for a perfect little gift, this is a pick that won’t let you down.  Inside a reusable mandarin orange trimmed zipper case you’ll find travel size containers of Erba’s chemical-free body wash, shampoo, body lotion and diaper cream.
    3.  California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion (sale price $11.95; normally $18.50)

    • Unbeatable protection, unbeatable price.  What else is there to say?
    4.  3 Sprouts Organic Storage Bins ($38)

    • 3 Sprouts’ adorable storage bins are one of our hottest-selling items virtually every week.  They’re the perfect antidote to a messy playroom, and a fitting gift for kids of all ages.
    5.  Thermos Foogo Sippy Cups (sale price $9.95; normally $15)

    • We know how costly it can be to purchase the everyday stuff, so we like to periodically offer deep discounts on staple items like Thermos’ Foogo sippy cups.  Pink or blue, with or without handles, these are among the most sturdy, well-made sippy cups on the market, and we think you’ll find our current sale price hard to beat.
    If you missed our recent blog post about efforts to overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act, please click on over.  It’s a quick, interesting read and, for those so inclined, gives you an opportunity to support the passage of stricter limitations on the use of chemicals in children’s products.

    Once again, a big thanks to everyone who participated in our survey and to all of you who supported relief efforts in Haiti over the past few weeks by purchasing Miss Brittany’s Organic Preschool Fundough Kit.

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  • Overhauling the Toxic Substances Control Act

    February 16th, 2010

    We recently read excerpts from a fascinating interview with Environmental Defense Fund scientists regarding ongoing efforts to overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  The TSCA is intended to protect consumers (and has obviously failed to do so) from harmful chemicals in all sorts of products, including children’s gear.  It is clearly outdated and outmoded, not to mention outhustled by greedy special interests.  Please check out this illuminating (though brief) article.

    Even better, here’s an easy way to make your voice heard.

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