What is Your Baby Drinking?

If there was a small thing you could do today to decrease you and your family's risks of cancer, would you do it?

In the past week, the Today show has covered an issue that we so called "hippie" mommas have known for a while: plastics can be toxic. (Read more on the MSNBC website about what Canada is doing about it ).Our children are drinking from plastic baby bottles, then plastic sippie cups (I have strong opinions about the need for those foolish things!), then plastic water bottles, and eating from plastic containers. But our disposable mentality is literally killing us. We are exposing our children to levels of Bishphenol A, a chemical used in many plastics, that has been related to early puberty (notice how girls are getting breasts younger and younger?), prostate and breast cancer (just look around you- I'm sure you know someone who has been affected by one of these). BPA is used in baby bottles, water bottles, and many many other types of plastic containers. It is also used in the lining of some baby formula packages (read more here)- another great reason to breastfeed our babies.

So what's a mom to do?
*Don't microwave foods in plastic
*Don't put boiling water in your baby's bottles
*Don't reuse plastic water bottles
*Stick to using glass for your drinking and cooking needs
*Check out our alternatives to baby bottles and water bottles
If you can't breastfeed, or you choose a bottle, or you work and need bottles for your little one, there is an alternative!
The Adiri Natural Nurser is a breast-shaped bottle, designed by doctors, nurses, midwives, and lactation consultants, and is completely BPA free. We are currently offering these bottles on pre-sale status. Check out our website, ask for your login information, and get yours today!
Don't have a baby? Your little one ready for cups and a water bottle? We will be offering a line of Swiss made aluminum bottles with clay polymer linings as well- again, on presale status for the next month. Just in time for summer, and bottles for mom and dad as well!

What's a presale? This is a discounted order for items that we are going to be stocking but haven't ordered yet. This helps us to meet the minimum order requirements as a retailer, and- because we're a small shop- helps us to increase our cash flow and continue to stay open! We order the items in bulk, then ship to you. This is not a buying co-op- you are still paying retail prices, but are getting a 10-15% discount for ordering first.

Product Review: Itsa Greener Clean

I've been using Itsa Greener Clean laundry detergent for about a year now, and I just thought I'd throw down my 2 cents on it!

As a cloth diaper detergent, it is hands down the best I have found. I have never had issues with buildup and it cleans better than I could have dreamed in my hard well-water. I do have to use a little extra than the directions state, but that's true for a lot of things at my house! Maia's diapers are soft and clean and fresh every time!

As a laundry detergent in general, I also love it! I completely weaned myself from harsh fabric softeners, and have no need for them with Itsa Greener Clean since it contains natural softeners! And because it doesn't leave any residue, is all natural and gentle, it can be used for the whole family. Since switching all of our soaps and cleaners to natural, my son's persistent exzema has nearly completely resolved without medication. (bonus savings there!).

As a general household cleaner, you can mix it with hot water to clean the kitchen, bathroom, floors, toilets, just about anything! Just be sure to rinse food surfaces before you're finished.

And, my recent experiment- it works great in a pinch in your dishwasher ;-) I don't know what the long-term affects it would have on the dishes, but I do have to say so myself that it works. Not as well as true dishwasher detergents (of course, that's not what it's formulated for), but I tried it because it doesn't suds up and I knew what a great cleaner it is!

Homestart Conference!

I recently was honored to be a presenter and vendor at Maine's Annual Homestart Conference. While I was there, I reconnected with some old friends and colleagues from Head Start, taught a 2 hour session on Yoga with children, had a great lunch, and sold lots of Melissa and Doug toys.

I also was blessed to hear our Attorney General- Steven Rowe- speak on the importance of investing early in child care and education. Not early like kindergarten early. He believes in the incredible importance of investing in PRENATAL early, quality care for infants and toddlers, and keeping our children safe in these most tender times in their lives. He also believes it's important to support parents in these times to give them the support and skills needed to be happy and effective parents. It's so nice to hear that someone in our government gets it. He knows that investing early will save so much money down the line because well-cared for and well-adjusted children make for happier teens and adults in society. He knows that mothers without support are more prone to depression and therefore less able to meet all their children's needs. And sadly, his term is ending soon. I hope he was able to get his message across to someone who can continue his mission. I would love to see more put into our child care system to pay those providers who are helping raise our children what they are worth. They are doing some of the most important work in society. And I would love to see more available for parents in those critical early years. Stay tuned for more updates on Western Maine Mothers' Center coming!

And for the rest of the conference- what fun I had! We did 2 hours of yoga- first for the providers to stretch and relax and find some new muscles they didn't know they had! Then, on to yoga for infants- how to relieve gas and tummy troubles, how to soothe a really fussy baby, and how to stretch and have fun with baby. Then- toddlers! Imitating animals and moving our bodies. And up from there to preschool and school aged. The big focus was integrating it into our routines in child care so it becomes predictable for children. Then, they can use what they learn about their breath, their bodies, and their emotions to help self-regulate, which is what we want for all of our children. To be able to recognize what's going on inside their bodies- both physically and emotionally- and to have effective strategies to deal with them in a healthy way. And to be moving their bodies and being physically fit as well!

I'm so excited about it- I've been teaching yoga for many years, and just now it's at a level that I wanted it to be! I'm teaching another class for infant/toddler teachers for KVCAP in April, and I'll be doing another one this summer for another program. Woohoo! I wanted to start another class for children this year, but time has been a little (OK a LOT) tight. Too much to do so far, so we'll see about it during the upcoming year. After the move, I'll have a bigger back room, so maybe...we'll have to see what God has in store for us!

Product Review: Organic Caboose

I've recently tried out some of the Organic Caboose products, and I'm in love! I've been using the Top N Bottom shampoo and body wash and Silk N Such lotion on Maia and myself for about 2 weeks.

Top N Bottom: On Maia, this gentle and all natural cleaner leaves her little hair and body smelling sweet like lavender and clean as a whistle! She also, having a tendency for excema, has not had any problems with it drying out her skin. On me- after a brief time of detox (when your hair begins to get rid of the waxy build-up from other shampoos and conditioners it gets a little coarse for a bit), my hair is now healthier and more manageable than it's been in a long time! Because it no longer has that heavy conditioner, it has a lighter feel to it, and more body and fullness as well (which is great, since it's thinner with all this breastfeeding!). My skin is happier, too! Makes a great body wash for mom, baby, and the whole family.

Silk N Such: This is a thick, rich moisturizer with no scent to overwhelm the senses. It goes on creamy and absorbs quickly, without a greasy feel. No alcohol to dry your skin out again, and all natural and organic ingredients make it safe for you and baby!

Buns n Stuff: Now this is a great diaper cream and sking ointment! Its extremely short list of ingredients is its biggest asset (no pun intended...teehee). Shea nut oil, jojoba seed oil, beeswax, shea butter. Nothing harsh, nothing scented or perfumed, nothing to worry about. I have had a really hard time finding something simple enough to put on Maia's most tender skin without an allergic reaction. Buns N Stuff IS IT! I love that I can put it on her as often as I want, and I don't worry about buildup on my cloth diapers (I use a flushable liner), and I can use it on any skin that's dry and cracked. My waitress hands sometimes need an extra boost of love and care, and I just slather some of this on for the night and wake up soft and refreshed. I also put it on Maia's Maine-winter distressed cheeks, and my son's teenage-distressed skin. It's our miracle cream.