As both a parent and the lead researcher for Greeno Bambino, sometimes I get a bit frustrated. Just when I find a way to protect my (and your) kids from one thing, something else nasty rears its head. In a live Twitterview on Wednesday, Richard Denison, a senior scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund, placed my feelings in elegantly simple context – when it comes to protecting our kids from chemicals, we’re all playing a game of Whack-a-Mole. And here’s why…
Did you know: that according to the EDF, out of approximately 82,000 chemicals used in the U.S., only a few hundred have been required to be tested for safety?
Well, that explains why it’s so easy to feel like your always behind the 8-ball. So if you’re sick of your kid being a guinea pig, we’ve got two ideas for you:
2) Stock up on some non-toxic new baby bottles from Green to Grow.
Whether your kid prefers splits (5 oz.) or tall boys (9 oz.), wide necks or regular, from now through Friday, August 6, enjoy discounts of over 20% on all Green to Grow baby bottles and replacement nipples. No secret discount code necessary – this is just a sweet, straight up special.
We’re really excited to share our new find with you this week…it’s the perfect compliment to your baby’s room, and an item we expect to become one of ourbest-selling gifts. But first…
Did you know: thata recent studyindicated that infants who nurse typically ingest 77 times more dioxin than is considered safe? It’s no surprise really, given that adults are exposed to dioxin levels 1200 times higher than proposed guidelines. That’s bad news, because even low-level dioxin exposure has been linked to cancer, endometriosis, diabetes and hormonal imbalances.
How did we get here? Well, dioxin is a byproduct of all sorts of good stuff, like pesticide manufacturing, incineration and chlorine bleaching. And with regulations so behind the times in this country, this is what we’re left with. Unfortunately, if you think you’re doing your kid a favor by opting to formula feed him instead, think again. Turns out that formula isn’t just chock full of nutrients, but dioxin too. (Your babe will also get a nice dose of it while still in the womb.)
While we’re usually full of solutions, sometimes we just want to inform, and frustratingly, dioxin exposure isn’t something you can easily avoid. (Reducing the amount of shellfish, meat and dairy you eat may help some.) But while you may not be able to do much to make the outside environment more hospitable, making your child’s home environment more welcoming is entirely within your control. Which is why we’re juiced aboutToast Slice, an inspired line of original wall art that’s just hit our shelves.
Designed and assembled by hand in Berkeley, California, each 8″ x 8″ piece is printed on sustainable bamboo paper with non-toxic inks, and mounted on stunning bamboo plywood with acid-free adhesive and a thoughtfully integrated keyhole for easy hanging. Offered in 7 varieties (giraffe,frog,pig,lamb,dalmatian,bunnyand zebra), they make a beautiful gift and a warm addition to any kids’ room.
In fact,we’re so convinced that you’ll fall in love withToast Slicethat from now through Thursday, July 29, we’ll give you a $5 store credit for every print you purchase.
So, did you miss us? Sorry for skipping out on you last week, but we’ve been busy poring over all the thoughtful responses we received to our recent survey. Tons of good stuff there, but there were two overwhelmingly consistent themes:
-You really, super badly want us to have a gift registry (so do we, and we’re working on it)
-You wish we carried more stuff (ditto)
While we’re burning the midnight oil to deliver the goods, here’s another question for you…
Comically, Kellogg’s had earlier tried to temper fears by announcing that, “The off-taste and smell is caused by a slightly elevated level of substance commonly present at very low levels in the waxy resins used to make the packaging materials.” And that’s supposed to make us feel better? In the words of Cher Horowitz, “As if!”
While we hope Fruit Loops and Apple Jacks aren’t a mainstay of your kids’ diets (though we’re guilty of sneaking an occasional Oreo in the lunchbox ourselves), this stuff makes us ill. And we didn’t even get a bad box of that artificial goodness.
Since it’s our goal to simplify the job of keeping your kids healthy, we’ll keep talking the talk so it’s easier for you to walk the walk. Speaking of goals, on the heels of the World Cup we’ve got a special on some cups of our own…
I don’t know about you, but I like convenience. Not convenience store-type of convenience – except maybe the occasional slushie. I’m talking about the convenience that comes from being able to make quick decisions about things without having to worry. Which is why we do what we do at Greeno Bambino.
Our #1 goal is to take all the stress and questions out of the shopping experience by doing the work for you, so you don’t have to worry about whether you’re getting the best, safest, most effective products for your kids. If you’re here, you are. Which is why we get really burned up when things are intentionally misleading. For example…
Did you know: that China has become a significant contributor to the world’s production of ostensibly “organic” foods? Well, as with many things produced in China, labeling can be a bit meaningless. According to a recent story by Public Radio International, regulation of organic farming practices in China may be so lax that a meaningful percentage of Chinese “organic” goods are organic in name only.
Now, we sincerely hope you’re buying not just organic food, but local food as well, because buying organic food shipped halfway around the world is surely no good for the environment. But the point here is that consumer confusion and corporate hypocrisy are hallmarks of commerce, and so it helps to buy from companies you can trust.
Which is why we’re so excited that one of our favorite toy companies, Green Toys, has moved into the kitchen with a new line of BPA, phthalate and PVC free plates, bowls and utensils.
Like Green Toys, well, toys, these are made in the USA (yay!) from 100% recycled milk jugs (high-density polyethylene, one of the safest, cleanest plastics around.) Every step in the manufacturing process occurs in close proximity in California, thus reducing the energy required for production. Best of all, they’re extremely sturdy, dishwasher safe, and, frankly, ridiculously cheap.
Andfrom now through Friday, July 2, we’re making them even cheaper. Simply enter the following code at checkoutfor 25% offall Green Toys feeding items:
eatyourgreens
Just in time to serve some great July 4th grub to your kids on plates worthy of what they’re holding.
While listening to the radio on the ride home a few days ago, I heard an interview with Devo founder Gerald Casale. If you don’t remember Devo, it’s the new wave/punk band with, among other oddities, the love it or hate it 1980 hit “Whip It.” Devo is set to release its first album in 20 years, entitled “Something for Everybody.” Which got us thinking…
Did you know: that kids who use bottles for too long are more likely to develop problems with their teeth? It’s true. Exposure to sugary liquids – including milk and formula – leads to acid buildup in the mouth, which can cause little teeth to develop what’s sometimes called “baby bottle decay.” The best way to prevent this is to transition your kids off the bottle at a reasonable age, preferably to water filled sippys or regular cups. But lots of kids have trouble with this shift.
And that’s where Devo comes in. It occurred to us that, well, we didn’t have something for everybody. In particular, we didn’t offer parents a great training cup to help transition kids off the bottle and onto sippy cups. Until now…Introducing the newest addition to our store, the thinkbaby Training/Sippy Cup.
Featuring highly durable, non-toxic polypropylene, an extra-soft, slow flow, no-spill silicone spout, generously sized removable handles for easy gripping and a convenient travel cap, it’s the perfect new friend for your little bottle addict.
And to make amends for making you wait so long, from now through Friday, June 25, knock off 25% from the price of these orange-hued bad boys by entering the following code at checkout:
worththewait
Because like Devo predicted, sooner or later, you must sip it. (Or something like that.)
While most of our focus here at Greeno Bambino revolves around helping you find fabulously designed kids’ products that are free of harmful toxins, we advocate a holistic approach to your children’s well-being. That’s why we were so glad to hear about the new legislation, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010, just introduced yesterday to clean up your kid’s school lunch. Which is a really good thing, because…
Did you know: that approximately 35-50% of children’s daily caloric intake occurs during the school day?
That’s a whole lot of food consumed way outside your zone of control. And while you may only have wee little ones not yet ready for school, hopefully this new legislation will help reverse the sad state of affairs in lunchrooms in time to help your kids. But if you want to take matters into your own hands, check out these great resources:
-foodnews.org, where you’ll find the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides;
-Fooditude, a new venture sharing healthy recipes and food finds for kids and their grown-ups;
-Feeding America, where you can help stamp out hunger close to home.
In the meantime, if you’re looking to make mealtime more fun, from now through Friday, June 18, we’re offering 25% off all Sam and Bellie Bibs and Chalkmats.
Just enter the following code at checkout:
eatright
Now you can make some homemade pizza and have some dough left over for yourself.
