Did you know: that tap water in the U.S. is more stringently tested than bottled water?

Check out this thought-provoking new 7-minute film, The Story of Bottled Water, by Annie Leonard, the author of The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession With Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, Our Health – and a Vision for Change. We promise that it will open your eyes to the health, financial and environmental benefits of ditching your family’s water bottle fix for some straight up tap.  (I’ll take mine filtered please.)

As if Annie’s video doesn’t provide enough impetus, here’s some more…We just received our latest shipment of Thermos Funtainer straw cups, and we’ve got two awesome new designs in the house, one for your special little lady and another for your wild child.

What, you need more motivation to trade in your plastic for some stainless?  Oh, alright.

From now through Friday, April 2nd, receive 20% off all Thermos straw and sippy cups.  Just use the following discount code at checkout:

tapwater

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.

	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.
	2.  BabyGanics Air Freshener & Odor Remover ($5.99) 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.
	4.  Clean Well All-Natural Travel Hand Sanitizer ($3) 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.