The fall air is crisp, and the harvest of the season brings us foods that are meant to boost our immunity. We love to enjoy all the flavors of fall with these delicious spiced mini muffins. Fall squashes, pumpkins, pomegranates, crisp apples, and tart cranberries all play a special role in feeding our bodies what they…
Baby
How to Navigate the Naysayers of Attachment Parenting and Eco-Conscious Living
Attachment parenting—like any style of parenting that goes against the conventional grain—might seem foreign to your friends and family members. The good news is, living an eco-conscious and holistic lifestyle doesn’t have to alienate you or them. “If you hold that baby all the time, you’ll spoil her.” “I let my kids have soda, and…
Eco Spotlight On: Integrity Botanicals
“Integrity” is a word Terri and Marc Hall take seriously. Brand new parents to little Jackson (born last week!), they know “less is more” when it comes to baby products… and how important it is to choose pure options when baby care products are needed. As owners of what is quickly becoming a one-stop shop…
Bypass Tantrums with Baby Sign Language
You’re in a restaurant or store when all of a sudden your 2-year-old starts kicking and screaming and letting the world know how unhappy he is. As parents, we all endure times when our babies and toddlers have a fit. Tantrums can be stressful for parents as well as “innocent bystanders.” As a result, moms…
What is placenta encapsulation and why should you consider it?
While placenta encapsulation is a more human-friendly way of going about it, placentophagy – the act of mammals eating the placenta of their young after childbirth – isn’t a new phenomenon. With the exception of sea lions, whales, and camels, all mammals consume their afterbirth. There are several theories as to why, but according to…
How to Make Your Own Herbal Baby Oil
Gardening is a family affair at our house. My toddler loves to pluck handfuls of tomatoes and strawberries and stuff his mouth to bursting. We call him the chipmunk. My four year old daughter helps me water and harvest a rainbow of yummy fruit and vegetables and then delights to help prepare them in the…
How to Make a Natural First Aid Kit for Your Family
For almost every common ailment or minor injury, there’s a natural treatment that will help you make your family feel better and make you feel better about treating them without chemicals and unnecessary preservatives. Here’s how to make a natural first aid kit for your family. While you may not put these natural treatments into…
Giving Diapers Giving Hope: The cloth diaper that came back
by Emily Glover of Giving Diapers Giving Hope Today there was a package at the back door. I recognized the name on the return address as one of the families as a client of Giving Diapers Giving Hope. In under a year, we have sent diapers to just under one hundred families. That may seem…
Your Toolbox for Breastfeeding Success
Breastfeeding can be hard. Or it can be easy. Our culture presents many stumbling blocks to breastfeeding success, which causes some mothers to believe it may be an unachievable goal. From the moment your baby is born, there are a number of ways you can help ensure breastfeeding success. It starts with having plenty of…
Positive Parenting: Creating Mindful Parenting Moments
As a parent, when you weave a web of mindful parenting moments with your children, you actually put a safety net of communication in place. Like a spider that feels the vibrations on her web when something is out of order, parents can build upon the intuitive bond with their children. Parenting offers us daily…
Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan Talk About The Honest Company
What happens when one of Hollywood’s biggest stars shifts her spotlight onto the subject of non-toxic and eco-friendly parenting? The mainstream world takes notice. Golden Globe-nominated actress and mother of two, Jessica Alba, is not the crunchiest mom you know – nor does she want to be – but her very public journey into motherhood…
My First Cloth Diapering Experience: The Past Four Months
I thought about cloth diapering my first son but didn’t know anyone doing it. And quite honestly, I didn’t seek out all of the information to make an informed decision. That was eleven years ago. When number two and three came along, again I thought long and hard about switching to cloth but convinced myself…
The Benefits of Cloth Diapering
With the rising concern of toxic chemical exposure in babies and children, and awareness of the environment, it’s easy to see why cloth diapers are making a comeback. Kelly Wels, author of Changing Diapers, explains that the industry transformed in 1999 when FuzziBunz brand diapers debuted the innovative concept of a pocket style cloth diaper…
Mayim Bialik On Parenting the Natural Way
If you grew up watching “Blossom,” you probably always knew there was something special about Mayim Bialik. More than just smart… she seemed wise beyond her years. Mayim is still acting. She plays the riot, Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory. But what you may not know about this mother of two boys,…
The Spring 2012 Issue of Green Child Magazine
You’ll find family-friendly ways to celebrate all the Spring holidays – Easter, Earth Day, Arbor Day – in the greenest ways possible. This issue also features interviews with eco celebrities, Mayim Bialik on her new book Beyond the Sling, and Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan sharing all about The Honest Company. Check out our second…
Holiday Decorating Safety Tips for Pregnant Women
Decorating for the holidays should be fun – especially when you add in the excitement of your expectation of a new little one. But many moms-to-be don’t realize that decorations often contain hazardous and toxic chemicals. Naturally, you want the healthiest environment possible for your own body, and your baby’s developing brain and body, as toxins…
The Environmental Benefits of Breastfeeding: Good for You, Baby, and the Planet
Much attention is given to the countless health reasons for breastfeeding, but have you ever considered the environmental benefits of breastfeeding? Human milk has everything a baby’s body needs—a perfect blend of calories, nutrients, and antibodies. Breastfeeding also provides benefits to the mother, including reduced rates of breast and ovarian cancer later in life….
Green Birth: An Eco-Friendly Hospital Stay
New moms now have a plethora of options for birthing their babies. It’s no doubt that most of us envision a completely lux, non-toxic, green environment that’s as beautiful as the bundle of joy that is soon to be in our arms. But for some, the best of the best is a bit out of…
How to Reduce Your Family’s Chemical Body Burden
The term body burden refers to the total accumulation of toxins in the body. From dangerous metals like lead or mercury to pesticides and food additives, our bodies can carry quite a heavier burden than they were meant to. You may eat only organic, limit processed foods, and try to buy more natural body care…
Are Plastic Toys Safe?
Are plastic toys safe? What are phthalates? Who let all these chemicals into baby toys anyway? We hear so many questions about the safety of plastic toys. Readers ask things like, “This says it’s free from BPA and phthalates, but what is it actually made of?” or “I’ve heard about BPA-free baby bottles and water bottles,…
