Well, it is time to announce the winners (random.org) of the Boon and Sassy BPA free feeding gear packs. Congrats ladies!!

Melissa of comment #9 wins Prize Pack #1 - A Boon Groovy – Interlocking Plate and Bowl Set & Boon ModWare – Toddler Utensils.

Stephanie of comment #55 wins Prize Pack #2 – Sassy Baby Mealtime On the Go Feeding Set & Sassy Baby Less Mess Toddler Spoon 2 Pack.

Enjoy!

Welcome back! Remember to subscribe to my RSS feed. You can also subscribe via RSS reader or email (right). Thanks for visiting!

Last night my hubby and I watched Supernanny. Yes, we do watch a little of TV and I actually really like the show Supernanny….I think Jo Frost (aka the nanny) has some awesome ideas about parenting peacefully. Of course now I risk the lambasting I got last time I mentioned a TV show…when I got a seething email from a reader who said she couldn’t read the blog of a loathsome TV watcher.

So….I was quite upset by the show last night. The parents on the show were predictably clueless as is normal for the show but these parents we cruel too. I was shocked when the father screamed at his two year old and hit him in the head with a fork. I was irked when the mother let her five year old leave the home unattended without even bothering to check to see where he went. I was saddened to see the boys play video games that were marked M for Mature and which made recreation of murder and crime. I was about ready to strangle that mom though when she decided to make her oldest son eat liquid soap after he said “butt crack”. She made him open his mouth and he got a squirt of liquid soap, right down his throat.

Now mind you they allow these boys to play video games were swearing is commonplace and they even swear at their boys but saying butt crack I guess is an offense worthy of drinking poison I guess. I could not believe it.

Liquid soaps have so many chemicals in them it is outrageous…especially the antibacterial varieties. I just can’t fathom making a child consume chemicals as punishment for anything. The Supernanny also couldn’t believe it and she asked the mom rhetorically “Are you insane?!” She also implied that punishing a child in such a way expresses a conditional love. Jo also offered some of the soap to mom…because surely if she would have her kids eat soap then she wouldn’t have an issue with eating it to.

Well, the mom bugged out, said she didn’t see what the big deal was and stormed out of the house. She has some nasty things to say about Jo and didn’t want to continue the show. She also refused to eat the soap herself, saying “it’s not alright for me”. They did finish the show but you could see that things were strained and tense from that point on. I felt horrible for those boys after the show.

I know the “washing of the mouth” with soap thing was a popular parenting technique of long ago and perhaps I would not have had such an issue if it were relatively non-toxic bar soap but liquid soap??

Personally I wouldn’t do it. For one thing liquid soap is chock full of dangerous chemicals and kids have no business ingesting it. Second, I find that I don’t like to deal with kids in a manner that I cannot be proud of. If I can’t or won’t treat an adult in a certain manner (hitting them, slapping them, forcing them to eat soap) then I won’t treat a child that way either. In my family the principle of equality is very important. The thoughts, feelings, and needs of each individual (parent or child) is equally valued and equally considered. Golden rule parenting dictates that I give the respect I hope to get back.

My hubby on the other hand was not so mortified by the soap incident. Until I mentioned the chemicals in liquid soap he didn’t bat an eye. What are your thoughts?

[tags]Supernanny, soap in mouth, parenting, discipline[/tags]

Attn: Giveaway at the end of the post!

I have not been a fan of conventional laundry detergents for a long time. My general fondness of natural detergents and laundering methods was cemented when I did the research for a cloth diaper detergent chart on one of my other sites. You should check out the chart…it was meant for cloth diapers in particular but it is a good resource for detergents for ANY kind of laundry. I have basically taken a ton of different detergents and rated them based upon their use of enzymes, optical brighteners, dyes, fragrance, and fabric softeners….which are pretty much all bad news and I explain why at the bottom of the page.

Something always bothered me about even the most natural detergents though…..the packaging. It is very wasteful…especially the big plastic bottles of liquid detergent.

So I was jazzed recently to get to try Dropps Liquid Laundry Pacs finally. They are tiny little packs of natural liquid detergent with no enzymes, optical brighteners, or fabric softeners. The scented version has dyes and fragrance but the unscented has neither. So the detergent is healthier for humans and for the planet right off the bat but the packaging is also very cool.

A regular plastic jug of liquid detergent is only 2 times concentrated. That means it is 75% water. What a waste! The Dropps on the other hand are 6 times concentrated…so you aren’t paying for a teeny bit of detergent and a bunch of water. Also only 75% of that plastic jug is made from recycled plastic and the cap is not recyclable so 100% of those end up in the landfill.

The Dropps are tiny little baggies of detergent and you throw the whole thing in the wash. The plasticy film completely dissolves like those Listereen breath strips so there is no waste. The Dropps do come in  a larger plastic bag but I hear they are changing that aspect of the packaging so I am excited to see what they come up with. Overall this detergent means far less waste and after a few weeks I find that they clean just as effectively as my other detergents and without residue build-up, so Dropps are a big winner in my book. They are good for people with sensitive skin in my opinion too, because that is me for sure…I get hives when things irritate my skin.

I have a bag of unscented and dye free Dropps to give away! Just leave a comment and you are entered to win.

[tags]Dropps, liquid detergent, eco friendly, recycle, natural[/tags]

When I released my reports on BPA free sippy cups I had a large number of moms ask about regular cups (non sippy) as well as plates, bowls, and utensils. I can certainly understand why any parent would hesitate to give a toddler or young child a glass or ceramic cup and plate so of course it is important to highlight BPA free options for plates, cups, and utensils. Fortunately there are quite a few options! They are stylish and non-toxic. I have highlighted most of the ones I know of. If you have a lead on others…just let me know.

The ThinkBaby Feeding Set – This is a set of stainless steel feeding products covered in safe plastic. It contains a cup, two bowls, a bento box, lids, and utensils.  They are free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, lead, and melamine. It is a big hit in our home! Read our personal review of it here.

Boon Products – This company offers several BPA free products that parents will love. If you recall we just reviewed their Fluid Sippy Cup in our second report on safe sippy cups. It is a pretty snazzy looking cup. They also have plates, utensils, and feeding cups that are all equally snazzy.

The Catchbowl - Boon just can’t do anything ordinary it seems. This groovy shaped bowl works better than a bib and funnels runaway food back into the bowl rather than on the floor. A suction cup base keeps bowl securely in place. This is a good bowl for newbies to table food and the process of feeding themselves.

The Groovy – This is an interlocking plate and bowl set and a fun way to serve meals in a customizable configuration. This set includes a toddler-sized plate with two separate compartments plus two small bowls that attach to the edge of the plate in several different positions. 

The Snackball- This is a sphere-shaped snack container. Sooo much better than a plastic baggy or a toxic plastic container. The rigid form protects snacks from being crushed, making the Snack Ball great for travel. The two halves unscrew for easy cleaning and the lid snaps in place to keep snacks inside. Dishwasher safe.

Modware – True to their orange and blue theme these utensils are pretty cool looking. These are for toddlers that have mastered the Benders (below) and are not ready to move on to adult tableware. They too are soft with no sharp edges and they have an ergonomic design. Dishwasher safe.

Benders – They help children transition to regular utensils and develop motor skills with their sharp angles and easy grip handles. They are dishwasher safe.

Camden Rose Wooden Bowl and Spoon- Woot! Our top pick! What could be more natural than wood. This set is solid Cherrywood hand-rubbed with a non-toxic Beeswax polish. It inherits the natural markings of the parent tree’s grain pattern. They are handcrafted by an Amish Co-op and are perfectly functional and ready to serve. They should be handwashed. 

Laptop Lunchboxes – I have mentioned this lunchbox system many times but never in reference to being being BPA free so there is yet another reason to buy this awesome lunchbox! Read my review of it here.

Mini-Me Bamboo Bowls from Bambu – Hand coiled bamboo bowls. The outsides of the bowls are painted in several lovely colors. They also have bamboo flatware and plates.

Silicone Bowls – Silicone is BPA free and kid friendly. These bowls are so squishable and compact you can take them anywhere too.

Ikea Rainbow Tumblers- These are some very pretty, simple, and affordable cups from Ikea. They are made of Polypropylene making them BPA free and they are stackable and dishwasher safe.

The Dombo – Decor Craft  produces this two-handled cup. It is another unique design inchildren’s dinnerware. I have seen them in yellow, purple, and blue. This cup is very easy to grab and hold onto, with oversized “ears” on each side that make it as whimsical as it is practical. It’s non-breakable and dishwasher safe.

Baby Cie Tray Sets – Very cute! You can get a plain tray or one with cup, bowl, and utensils. There are many designs too like their Jungle set and their farm set. It has French words in the tray areas designed to keep food separate so baby can learn french while they eat, LOL. They are very durable and dishwasher safe.

Trebimbi Puppets Club 6-pc. Dining Set- This set includes knife, fork, spoon, egg cup/condiment holder, bowl and mug. It has a Stainless steel body with plastic handle for the best of both worlds. Set of 3 utensils snap together for easy storage; dishwasher safe. For ages 2–6 yrs. I have seen pink, blue, and orange. What is so fun about these is that they have little smiley faces like little puppet people….too adorable!

Sassy Baby – Sassy also has several BPA free options for tableware.

Sassy Stackable Feeding Plates - This set contains two divided plates, two standard plates and two snap-on lids in a rainbow of colors. 

Sassy Insulated Feeding Pots with Spoon  - This set has two insulated feeding pots that keep food cold or warm longer. Perfect for babies! They are dishwasher safe too.

Sassy Baby Less Mess Toddler Spoons – Cute spoons! The holes in spoon are to keep food on spoon longer and the soft grip handle allows child easier grip. They are dishwasher safe and come in multiple colors. See also the Toddler feeding spoons. 

Sassy Baby Less Mess Toddler Bowl – Comes with a suction base and storage lid and a uniquely shaped bowl to make it easier to guide food onto spoon. Dishwasher safe and comes in multiple colors.

On the Go Feeding Set - This is a baby Bento! Ya’ll know how much I love these. It is a 9 piece set with a large sectioned bowl with lid, three removable dishes with lids, and a toddler feeding spoon.

Baby Bjorn Plate & Spoon Set -These really are adorable. The shape of the plate kind of reminds me of Mickey Mouse and the utensils have little eyes. Very cute. They are designed to help children eat by themselves at an early stage and the three-leaf clover shape makes it easier for the child to scoop up food with his or her spoon and hold on to the plate. A rubber base prevents the plate from sliding

Stainless Steel Dish Sets – I often prefer stainless steel for drink cups so I was happy to find a complete stainless steel alternative to plastic. You cannot microwave these or put them in the dishwasher though so they aren’t for everyone.

I hope you enjoy this information!

Ugh…I thought maybe I would have a little more time before I got hit with this again the kids are already asking if we will be getting a pool this summer. Last year I dodged this issue more times than I can count and I am not looking forward to that again. But I can’t blame them. I had a pool growing up and I loved it so I know how they feel.

But I have two objections. First is the massive amount of work involved in keeping a pool clean and second is the chemicals required to keep the water clean and clear. I am not keen on either. I remember all to well the chlorine and acid my dad poured into our pool on a regular basis and how it stung your eyes and irritated the skin. Kids don’t want to hear about these things though.

So….I have been looking around a bit for alternatives to chemicals to clean pools and and I encouraged. I recently found this chemical free pool company called Eco Smart Pool. They offer a 100% chemical free pool and spa treatment that uses natural oxygen technology and a pool ionizer. It is kind of fascinating the way it works with a safe low voltage DC current being applied to copper electrodes.  Copper ions have the ability to pierce the protective outer membrane of a cell and disrupt enzyme balance which then kills algae. Although lethal to bacteria and algae, pool ionizers are completely safe for humans and much more effective and safe then a chlorine and acid cocktail.

These types of systems are credited with eliminating:

Toxic chemicals  
Health hazards  
Offensive chemical odors  
Damage to our environment  
Damage to pool equipment

I remember reading something similar and blogging about it….the water quality sounds heavenly. This same company also has info about salt water pools and how they are a bad idea. They also donate 5% of their profits to environmental charities.

I am looking into pricing now but objection number one remains unaddressed…having a pool is a lot of work! And of course drowning is no small concern! I pretty much let my kids run wild in our back yard and those carefree days would be long gone if we had a pool.  Ugh…anyone else have to face this recently?

[tags]chemical free pool, pool ionizer, pool safety[/tags]