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:

1) Join I am Not a Guinea Pig, a campaign to protect Americans from toxic chemicals (and if you’re so inclined, grab some more knowledge here);

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.

Let the good times drool.

Hello Friends of the Bambino!

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.)

Hello Friends of the Bambino!

We’re back with another highly anticipated GB deal to make you squeal.  But first…

Did you know: that 93% of Americans over age 6 were found to have BPA in their urine?  Yikes!  (You can bet the other 7% were living off the grid somewhere.)

What’s more disturbing?  That the level of BPA exposure considered safe by the federal government was set 22 years ago!  One more for you…if you are exposed to high levels of BPA when pregnant with a girl, research suggests that your daughter’s own eggs could end up corrupted, leading to issues for your grandchildren!  (Chemicals aren’t too good for your boys either…a 2008 study found that women exposed to high levels of phthalates while pregnant were more likely to have sons with small penises.  Hey, we’re just passing this info along.)

Curious to read more?  Check out Time’s gripping new article, “The Perils of Plastic”.

Heard enough and just want to steer clear of the bad stuff?  We’ve got you covered…

From now through Friday, April 16, receive 20% off all baby bottles and bottle accessories at Greeno Bambino.  Just use the following discount code at checkout:

bpafree

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.

Hello Friends of the Bambino!

We’re a bit conflicted about February.  Spring is close enough to start dreaming about, and the weather is still cold enough for giant snowballs and supreme skiing.  On the other hand, Spring seems painfully far away and it’s so cold that the last thing we want to do is be outside.  But one thing we’re not conflicted about is this week’s Fab Five Faves, because you folks have been ringing up some of our personal favorites:

	1.  Clean Well Antibacterial Foaming Hand Wash Clean Well makes such delicious smelling soaps that we keep begging them to go into the food business.  Alas, they’re sticking to what they know best: offering up eye-catching antibacterial soaps and sanitizers at unbeatable prices.  No more begging your kids to wash their hands after a breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup.  (Speaking of which, who thought it was a good idea to make such a sweet treat so sticky?  Really.  I’d like to have a word with them.)
	2.  Safe Starter Stainless Steel Baby Bottle Some people are just more comfortable with a clear bottle, and that’s cool.  But those of you who’ve given the Safe Starter a shot have been coming back for more.  Featuring non-leaching, food-grade stainless steel and encased in an easy-grip, insulating non-toxic silicone sleeve (which may be left on during heating), this dishwasher safe standout is available in blue, green and pink, in both 5 oz. and 9 oz. versions.
	3.  BabyGanics Loads of Love Laundry Detergent Psst, did you hear?  We’re so sure you’ll love BabyGanics line of non-toxic cleaning products that we’re offering 25% off when you buy any 2 (or more).  Loads of Love is a 3X concentrated, odor-eating, grass-stain-defeating, clothes-cleaning powerhouse.  Good for 35 loads, it rinses completely free for use with cloth diapers.
	4.  Supergoop! Doctor T’s SPF 30 Quickstick Some of you are lucky enough to be planning a vacation to a warm-weather paradise, while others had the foresight to live where the sun shines year-round.  Whichever camp you fall into, lots of you are taking advantage of our winter sale on sunscreens to stock up on this go-anywhere stick of 100% natural protection from Supergoop!
	5.  Elsie’s Original All-Natural Germ Fighter Spray If there’s one item in the store we’ve always expected to sell more of, it’s Elsie’s All-Natural Germ Fighter Spray.  Why?  Because it’s a quick and effective germ and odor fighter with a beautiful lavender scent that you can spray on toys, highchairs, diaper pails and anywhere else you think germs may be lurking.  Well, it seems people are finally catching on.

That’s 5 faves to fit any fancy…We hope you’ve found something you like.

Hello Friends of the Bambino!

We’ve got favorites to suit every flavor – from fun to fragrant and furnishings to funtainers.  So come along now, let’s have a look at this week’s Fab Five Faves…because there’s nothing wrong with being popular:

	1.  Green Toys Tool Set Who said it’s not cool to be a tool?  This adorably-packaged 14-piece set – crafted from 100% recycled milk jugs – will help your kid tackle home improvement projects big and small.
	2.  California Baby “I Love You” Aromatherapy Bubble Bath Shower (er, bathe) your kid with love this Valentine’s Day with Cal Baby’s special blend of ylang ylang, sweet orange and pesticide-free essential oils.  A bubbly treat, even if you have no clue what ylang ylang is.  (Some say it possesses the fragrant scent of custard.  Yum, custard.)
	3.  Ecotots Surfin’ Growth Chart We love Ecotots’ U.S. designed and made furniture for it’s ease of assembly, durability and timeless style.  This surfboard-shaped growth chart (offered in four colors) is a super-cool addition that will liven up any kids’ room.
	4.  Dandelion ReUsable Forks & Spoons (8 Pack) We’ve been shipping lots of Dandelion lately, and we think we know why…it’s well-designed, made for everyday use, snappy-looking and really affordable.  This set of forks and spoons are made primarily from corn and suitable for all your little ones. (The forks actually work without being sharp – imagine that!)
	5.  Thermos Funtainer Cool Camo Straw Cup Thermos’ Funtainer straw cups are prized for their durability, insulation, non-toxicity and dishwasher-safe build.  This spunky pink and purple camo version has always been a favorite, but emblazoned with a silver heart and the word “love,” it’s been elevated to must-have status in advance of this Valentine’s Day.

Gotta run; our warehouse just received a new shipment of clothing from Parade Organics and I’m jonesing for a look.  We’ll be sharing them with you real soon.  (I know, I’m such a tease.)

Hello Friends of the Bambino!

To finish out your week, we’re bringing you another edition of the populist Fab Five Faves newsletter from Greeno Bambino, highlighting the 5 most popular items of the week as selected by you, our favorite fans:

	1.  Sam and Bellie Activity Apron/Smock Another brilliant offering from Sam and Bellie, these multifunctional aprons/smocks are equally at home in the kitchen and the playroom.  Available in three designs (Roadway, pictured here, Airplanes and Birds & Owls), they have a convenient tri-pocket across the front for holding all manner of supplies for your busy little boys and girls.
	2.  Dano2 Circus Teether Rings These teether rings were the first creation of the innovative family-driven design team behind Dano2, and they’re as good as ever.  Crafted from medical grade plastics are three individual teething rings of varying color, size and flexibility, all packaged in a compact translucent holding case.
	3.  Green to Grow Baby Bottles Green to Grow’s sturdy, adorable baby bottles (offered in both 5 oz. and 9 oz. and regular- and wide-neck versions) have always been a steady fan favorite.  But since we put them on sale last week (not just any sale, but a super-triple-fantastic sale), they’ve positively flown off the shelves.
	4.  Silibibs Elegantly simple, Silikids’ hypoallergenic silicone bibs (get them in red, blue or green) with a quick-snap two-position closure are great in the house and even better on-the-go…roll ‘em up small and wipe ‘em clean quickly.  Best of all – they’re dishwasher and washer/dryer safe.
	5.  Erba Organics Baby Shampoo The husband and wife behind Erba Organics are dedicated to creating top-notch organic body care products for kids, and their everyday shampoo is a home run.  An organic aloe base combines with the natural cleansing properties of oats and olive oil to create a rich lather, organic lavender and organic chamomile soothe before bedtime, and organic mandarin leaves seal the deal.

Three more quick hits today:

	1.  Clean Well All-Natural Foaming Hand Sanitizer With swine flu fears circling, Clean Well’s satisfyingly-foamy, quick-drying, non-sticky antibacterial has shot to the top of the list.
	2.  Safe Starter Stainless Steel Baby Bottle A recent introduction to our shop, Kid-Basix’s totally unique, totally durable and totally non-toxic baby bottle makes its first appearance in the Fab Five Faves. Welcome kid – you’re gonna be a star!
	3.  3 Sprouts Organic Storage Bins We can’t say we’re surprised about the continued popularity of these adorable storage bins from Canadian boutique outfit 3 Sprouts. But the number of customers beating down our (virtual) door for these bins since we introduced them last month continues to amaze – easily our most popular gift item recently.
	4.  Erba Organics Baby Lotion Cold weather = dry skin; thus, the popularity of Erba’s deliciously luxurious, everyday baby lotion.
	5.  Dano2 Bug Bite Teether This simple, smartly-designed, self-enclosed teether toy is the perfect antidote for a cranky, tooth-sprouting kid. And at just 6 bucks, it’s a steal.

Now for a few more highlights…

After 6 months of testing a slew of household cleaning products from a wide variety of manufacturers, we are very excited to introduce a full line from our hands-down winner, BabyGanics. Made in the USA by a New-York based pair of dads, BabyGanics’ products continually wiped the floor with the competition.

Also, if you missed this week’s launch of Cool Mom Picks’ 2009 Holiday Gift Guide, we’re proud to have been featured for our Green Toys Chef Set.

See you next week – with some Black Friday deals you won’t want to miss!

Some sad news this morning from one of our favorite partners, Adiri.  Without warning, Adiri sent us word that it was ceasing all business operations effective immediately due to financial difficulties.

If you’re not familiar with Adiri, it’s the small but forward-thinking company behind the Adiri Natural Nurser, a baby bottle designed like no other.  Meant to mimic the texture and shape of a woman’s breast, Adiri has generated a loyal, growing audience since the introduction of the Natural Nurser, and won the accolades of numerous design and parenting groups.

Unfortunately, creating a truly unique and breakthrough product was not enough to keep Adiri afloat during these tough times, and they’ve been forced to call it quits.  While many of you will take this news in stride, a good number of you will be affected by this news.  Please know that Greeno Bambino will continue to sell through its remaining stock of Adiri Natural Nursers and Warming Caps, but once they are gone we will not be able to secure additional inventory.  If you have previously purchased Adiri bottles from us and need product support, please contact us and we will do whatever we can to help.

Hopefully before long the talented minds behind Adiri will be back with something new and inspiring for us all.