Coffee Cup Sleeve Waste-no-more

According to HelpingHaven.com, "It’s estimated that 14 billion cups of coffee are served every year wrapped in a single-use, cardboard coffee sleeve, which adds up to 2.8 billion pounds of trash."

Personally, I made it my mission to bring reusable shopping bags to the grocery store to help eliminate plastic bag waste from landfills. It is a simple step in cleaning up our world that many of us have successfully accomplished.

As I buy at least 3 cups of coffee per day, and do try to bring my own cup, I still fail at the cardboard sleeve part. I save them when I can and have a little stack in my car that I do reuse.
But, it's these little things that really make a difference! Starbucks sells reusable sleeves now and I have also been tempted to knit my own, as I have seen on Canadian Living.

I was able to make the reusable shopping bag thing a habit. My new mission: I'm breaking out the crochet hook. No more cardboard sleeves for me. AND, I'm making one for all my friends.
This one I just whipped up in under one hour. Of course, it's green :)

A Greener Little Lunch ~ "Reduce your daily lunchprint" with LunchSkins

Durable, reusable and easy-on-the-eyes isn't all these little LunchSkins have going for them.

Made responsibly in the USA, these reusable sandwich/snack/just-about-anything bags are replacing the plastic bags that get thrown out daily. In fact, in just one year, LunchSkins customers have eliminated more than 12 million plastic baggies from the landfills!

Aside from giving back to nature, Three Green Moms is donating 1% of online sales profits to the C&O Canal Trust, an organization formed to protect and restore the historic C&O Canal near the nation's capital, a trash-free national park (canaltrust.org for more info)

Right now online, you can save 20% on select styles. Visit the website to purchase LunchSkins for your little one's lunch. It's the little things that make a BIG difference in OUR world.

Cradle Cap~ a natural, at-home treatment

More often than not, babies will develop a condition commonly called Cradle Cap, or Seborrhoeic dermatitis. According to medical professionals, it is very common, and is not necessarily linked to an infection or poor hygiene.

Rather, Cradle Cap is the result of overactive oil glands in the scalp, and may be related to the baby's mother’s hormones still circulating in the child after birth. As skin cells renew themselves, the dead cells fall off. In the case of Cradle Cap, cells are renewing themselves faster than they shed, so the dead cells get trapped under new skin.

The condition can range from mild to extreme, and may even move from the scalp down into the eyebrows. Scales are yellow, crusty, greasy patches, often itchy and irritating. Cradle Cap usually appears when baby reaches 3 months of age, and disappears by their first birthday. It can remain for longer and may even re-appear later in life.

An at-home, natural treatment:

Should Cradle Cap appear on your baby’s scalp or eyebrows, dab the area with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and let sit for at least one hour. Olive Oil is an excellent choice as it has a thick, slippery texture. It tends not to absorb as quickly as some other vegetable-based oils, allowing it to sit on the scalp, or Cradle Cap, longer and do its work. It also does not clog pores, allowing the skin to breathe, unlike a petroleum-based mineral oil. The best part~ it is natural and edible, so if baby rubs their head and their hand heads straight for their mouth...it is o.k.!

Once Cradle Cap scales are softened, use a fine-toothed baby comb or soft-bristled baby brush and gently comb through the hair to scrape off the cradle cap. Massaging the area in a circular motion with a damp washcloth is also very effective and a little more gentle.

Once the area is clear, wash baby’s hair as normal using a mild, unscented shampoo. Shampoos that contain fragrance or foaming agents may irritate the skin further, particularly if baby suffers from infant eczema or allergies. Try to avoid washing baby’s hair too often. Once per week is usually sufficient, unless they are experimenting with food that ends up in their hair...and everywhere else!

Repeat this home treatment once a week, or as needed. You may need to seek a professional's help in initially diagnosing the skin condition, particularly if the Cradle Cap is not improving over time.

References and further reading:

WebMD.com: Cradle Cap-Topic Overview
Seborrheic dermatitis: an overview. Schwartz RA - Am Fam Physician - 1-JUL-2006

copyright Jen Casey, 2009

Stink free, yet Chemical free: A recipe for natural diaper pail deodorizer

When you consider the thousands of chemicals that we involuntarily breathe in daily, immerse our bodies in, slather on our skin, or 'freshen' a room up with, it is only natural to want to keep as many chemicals out of baby's room and body as possible.

According to a study by the EWG*, an average of 200 chemicals, including pollutants and pesticides, are present in the cord blood of a baby's umbilical cord at birth. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning. Like it or not, chemicals are found in products, food, and even the air we breathe. After testing the chemicals found in baby's cord blood, the EWG study showed that the majority of them were carcinogenic (cancer causing), toxic to the brain and nervous system, cause birth defects or abnorbal development.

The difference between a baby and an adult being surrounded by all these chemicals is that a baby's system is not fully developed, nor can their body process and eliminate these toxins. The skin is the body's largest organ and has the potential to absorb many chemicals. They head right into the bloodstream when a cream or bubble bath laced with chemicals (fragrance, parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate) is slathered on or soaked in, particularly on a daily basis.

Aside from chemical-laced personal care products, are household cleaners. Many 'air fresheners' are bottles of chemicals. Even the ones that bear a 'Lavender fragrance' on the label are made up of thousands of chemicals that eventually resemble a Lavender smell.

We can reduce the amount of chemicals and toxins from our family's lives by buying organic and natural, reading labels, educating ourselves on ingredients and their origins, and going back to the basics when it comes to household cleaners and personal care.

'Going back to basics' refers to using the ingredients that the earth gave us. One of the most
common and effective odor eliminator is Sodium Bicarbonate, or Baking Soda. This mineral compound has been used since ancient times as a cleanser and natural deodorant. As it is edible, it works well as a cleaning agent for the teeth and mouth, and works at the other end of the spectrum as a bathtub cleaner.

Baking Soda is most commonly used to neutralize odors. Most boxes of Baking Soda live in refridgerators and freezers, used to absorb food odors.
Being so effective in freshening a space, imagine the effect Baking Soda has on eliminating the smell of a diaper pail in baby's room!

To create an effective, 100% natural diaper pail/room deodorizer, combine in a stainless or glass bowl:

• 2 cups Baking Soda

In a separate glass measuring cup, combine:

• 10 drops pure Tea Tree essential oil (acts as an antibacterial agent)
• up to 1/4 cup water

Slowly pour the water/Tea Tree mixture into the baking soda and stir until you create a thick paste. Be careful not to add too much water or the soda will begin fizzing and dissolve.
Pat the thick paste into approximately 6 muffin tins lined with paper cups and let sit for up to 24 hrs, or until completely solid. Remove from muffin tin and wrap or store the 'pucks' in a cookie tin, away from moisture, until ready to use.
These pucks work well at the bottom of a dry diaper pail that contains a bag, behind a toilet, under a sink, or anywhere that needs some natural freshening.

Creating your own room freshener is a responsible way to eliminate odors in baby's room, without having to introduce more chemicals in the house.

copyright Jen Casey, 2009

*EWG Report, Body Burden 2: The Pollution in Newborns

Lavender~ A Mom's Best Friend

Straight from the earth grows Lavender. A fragrant evergren shrub, which holds healing properties, calming effects, and is edible...all in one ancient plant.

Derived from the Latin word, 'lavare', meaning to wash, is traditionall what common Lavender, or Lavandula angustofolia, was used for. It can be infused in oil or water to make a fragrant and healing tonic for the skin. As a healing agent, Lavender in it's essential oil form, helps to reduce scarring and heal burns.

With so many practical uses, Lavender has a place in every prepared mother's bag of tricks. From calming an upset baby with Lavender room spray to dabbing Lavender onto a child's wounds, here are some essential tips to making this herb every mom's best friend.

• Fill a silk or muslin square pocket with dried Lavender flowers for a perfect little children's pillow, or insert under baby's mattress for a child who has trouble sleeping.
• Lavender essential oil, extracted from the fresh flowers of the plant, has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Combine 2 drops of the oil with a mild carrier oil, such as Grapeseed or Olive oil, and dab onto minor cuts, scrapes, and bug bites.
• Add up to 5 drops of Lavender essential oil to your child's bath to help calm their mood before bed.
• Dry a handful of fresh Lavender, tie into a bunch, and rest in the bottom of your child's chest of drawers or in with baby's bed linens for naturally scented clothing. Using Lavender this way also helps to deter moths!
• Carry a little bottle of pure or organic Lavender essential oil (not fragrance oil!) in your diaper bag or purse to use in case of emergency. Have some on hand to dab on boo-boo's or bruises, or rub on to your own temples in case of a headache.

Although Lavender is a natural herb, it may still cause a reaction or allergy in some individuals with sensitivities. Essential oils and herbs should be used with caution, particularly where children are concerned. Do a patch test on your child's arm to eliminate the possibility of an allergic reaction.

Tip: Choose organic Lavender flowers and essential oil whenever possible, which is free from pesticides.

copyright 2009, Jen Casey

More reasons to practice cloth diapering

Calling all cloth diapering, cloth-curious parents ~ the cloth diaper industry is a boomin'.
Thousands of parents are switching to cloth for several reasons:

• the environment (disposables can leave behind an average of 2/5-3 tons of garbage per child)
  
• cost effective ($500 average per child, compared to approx $3000 with disposables) See New & Green Baby's Cost Comparison Sheet for more info!
  
• convenience (how many times have you just set baby down for their bed time diaper change only to find that you are out of diapers!!)

If you're not convinced, you can usually test out cloth diapers. Most cloth diaper shops offer a kit containing a couple of each brand or style of diaper so you can see which one works best for you before you make a big purchase.

Don't forget~ when you are ready to make the switch, you cannot use a zinc based diaper cream with cloth diapers as it creates a waterproofing on the diaper causing 'stuff' to run out the sides. Zinc is also difficult to wash out, hence ruining your diapers in the end. The natural choice...
BUM BUM BALM! A zinc-free, chemical-free, cruelty-free diapering salve available everywhere.

Happy diapering! and read on for more info,
Bottom Feeders: The recession has created a boom in the cloth-diaper business—even for used diapers. | The Big Money



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