I thought for Earth Day 2010, I’d highlight some of our previous reviews and posts having to do with living greener. If you’re looking for more ideas on how to live greener, check out my 15 easy tips for going green and saving money.  I’d also like to recommend a couple of books for newbies (more experienced environmentalists will probably not get a lot out of these books, but they are nice to have as a reference):

• Do One Green Thing: Saving the Earth Through Simple, Everyday Choices — this is a good book if you’re new to green living and aren’t sure where to start.
• Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home — this book introduced me to cleaning with essential oils.  It has great tips, but you can also find these tips on the internet.
• If you live in Germany like me, I’d recommend 50 einfache Dinge, die Sie tun können, um die Welt zu retten und wie Sie dabei Geld sparen, which gives lots of tips that are more geared towards life in Germany.

And now, here are some of our past posts:

• Book Review: Maybe One — on the case for having smaller family sizes
• Magic Nuudles — Toys made from cornstarch
• Green Toys — A San Fransisco-based eco-friendly toy company
• Eco-Paint — Eco-friendly fingerpaints
• Eco-dough is an Eco-do! — Eco-friendly play dough
• The Mooncup Reusable Menstrual Cup — a way to stop contributing tampons and pads to landfills
• Crayon Rocks rock our world! –easy to hold, edible,  soy crayons
• Goldi pacifier — a pacifier made of pure, renewable rubber that is toxin-free

Do you have any tips you’d like to share?

You may also be interested in reading:

• Book Review - Maybe One (2)
• Magic Nuudles (2)
• Green Toys (1)
• Goldi Pacifier (5)
• Finding an acceptable balance bike (9)

Being an only child requires patience. There’s a lot of explaining about not having siblings, and about whether that was “strange” and about how Disneyland might have been more fun with a sibling but if I’d had a sibling my parents couldn’t have afforded to take me to Disneyland. It requires listening to people talk about how only children are terribly spoiled and trying to decide whether to enlighten them or not. It means I frequently listen out-loud ruminations on why anyone would ever choose to have just one. I’ve never minded the questions, but I’ve also never had much of substance to say, besides that my life seems to have turned out OK so far. But now I’ve got a few more answers.

Bill McKibben, environmental author and educator, wrote Maybe One after he and his wife made the decision to have only one child. It is, as the subtitle describes, a case for smaller families. He is a brave writer, and one of the few I’ve read who states directly that having more babies leads to overpopulation and therefore damage to the earth. That’s sort of a no-brainer, but it’s a controversial statement. Americans, as we know, are locked in a war over reproductive rights and responsibilities. China’s one child policy remains controversial. But it’s a highly relevant discussion topic, and he handles it gracefully.

Beginning with a chapter full of research on why the stigma of being an only child is undeserved, the book brings together a bevy of facts and clinical studies along with anecdotes on small and large families. As an only, I’m biased toward the idea that having a brother or sister doesn’t create a “better” person, but it was nice to read some data that backs up my hunch. And, speaking of his bravery, McKibben brings up religion early in the book as well. He argues that the commandment to “be fruitful and multiply” and “populate the earth” is as much an order to care for those we’ve produced as it is to have babies. And, in possibly my favorite line from the book, he notes that we can probably check “populate the earth” off our to-do list. Mission: Accomplished.

The largest portion of Maybe One is devoted to environmental issues. This section wasn’t the most compelling to me, for a couple of reasons. One: Like most Americans, I will consider environmental concerns as I choose my family size, but they won’t be the sole deciding factor. I care about population density, but I care about my child and my family’s immediate happiness more (a bit of a humbling admission, but I’m doing my best to be honest). Two: I only discovered this book recently, but it was published in the late 90’s. Many of the issues discussed are either in much worse or somewhat better shape than they were ten years ago, so it seemed a bit dated. But I got the point: family size (yes, even, and sometimes especially, in Western countries) has a huge impact on the long-term health of our planet and the human race.

The book ends with the acknowledgment that this decision is as much about parents’ emotions and beliefs and hopes as it is about our planet. McKibben has kind words for large families as well as small, and strives not to alienate those who choose to have a bunch of kids. He asks only that we think carefully about it first.

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• HABA Toy Food (4)
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• Book Review: The No-Cry Nap Solution (2)

On a recent trip to Minnesota, my step-mom bought The Boy a new toy to pass some time. Magic Nuudles look like styrofoam, but they are made of cornstarch. You simply wet the “nuudle” with a damp cloth, and they stick together and to other objects.  Once you are done playing with the nuddles, simply dissolve them in water and wash them down the sink!

The box said they were for ages 3+, but my two year old played with them without any problems. We kept an eye on him to make sure he did not try to eat them.  We had a great time on a cold day creating fun designs. I will be keeping some around for rainy days!

The box at my parents was purchased for $4.99 at Hobby Lobby, but you can also purchase them online.

You may also be interested in reading:

• Eco-paint (0)
• Green Toys (1)
• Eco-Dough is an Eco-Do! (6)
• The BVS Top Ten Toys of 2009 (2)
• The BVS Top Ten Toys of 2008 (0)

Green Toys is a San Francisco company that produces Made in the USA (California to be exact) toys. The company uses recycled plastic from milk jugs for their products. Green Toys’ website also states:

Our products pass a plethora of tests, including:

• Consumer Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
• Consumer Products Safety Standard Specification, ASTM F963
• California Prop. 65 restrictions on lead & cadmium
• FDA regulations for food contact
• Voluntary testing for no BPA (Bisphenol-A)
• International standards EN71 and ISO 8124

When Green Toys first came out, I was curious and skeptical. However, my mom was looking for a gift for The Boy, and I asked her to buy the Green Toys Cookware and Dining Set. The set comes with a stock pot and lid, skillet, 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 cups, and 4 “silverware” place settings of a knife, fork and spoon.  The package says for ages three and up, but we have been using it (supervised) since around 18 months.

At first, I thought the pastel colors would be a turn-off, but The Boy loves to pretend to cook, eat and serve me drinks. He serves up his Haba toy food like a master chef!

Green Toys has its 2009 products available to check out online, and I am especially impressed with the tool set and will be looking for it in a nearby store soon!

You may also be interested in reading:

• HABA Toy Food (4)
• Pedipeds Shoes - Review and Giveaway! (34)
• Not So Good Stuff: Bino Wobbly Stacker (0)
• Mutsy Grow-Up! Review and Giveaway (22)
• Mutsy EasyGrow Review and Discount (1)

Balance bikes are very popular in Europe and I’ve read that they’re starting to catch on in North America now as well.  They’re great because kids learn to balance on the bike without having to worry about learning to pedal at the same time, letting them bike at an earlier age (2 years old is the start age typically given by the balance bike manufacturers).

Last summer, the German consumer testing magazine Stiftung Warentest tested kids’ balance bikes (Kinderlaufräder).  I was really surprised by their findings: that 11 out of 15 were unacceptable due to harmful chemicals found in the handles, tires and seat, and 4 of those were found to have illegal chemicals (those four, marked by an asterisk below, are now off the market and if you bought one, you should take it back to the store immediately).  They also suggested that any bike purchased should have an adjustable seat that can be changed without tools.  For small children, a lightweight bike with a low frame that’s easy to mount was suggested.  Here’s their ratings of the tested bikes:

Good:

• Kettler Speedy 10″
• Kokua Likeabike Mountain

Satisfactory:

• Kokua Likeabike Jumper

Acceptable:

• California Products CP-Twister

Unacceptable:

• Firstbike Big Apple*
• Nic Runnic
• Prince Junior Draisy
• Puky LR1
• Big Bobby-Runner
• Velowalker
• Ferbedo Runbike Alu
• Coolproducts Rennrad 14″*
• Joey by Hudora Sauseschritt
• Monz Mini Viper*
• Kawasaki MX Trainer*

I went to each of the manufacturer websites to add the links above.  I was expecting, now that it’s 6 months out from the test, to find  “New and improved” versions of the above products, or completely new replacements, for the models judged unacceptable.  I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised that instead, I found many of the manufacturers had notes up that although they had received an unacceptable rating, there was no proof that, for example, phthalates are bad or chemical X is harmful.  I guess we should at least be thankful that they acknowledged the rating.

Still, this is a little frightening.  If even many of the wooden balance bikes, which I would have thought of as safer, have harmful chemicals in their plastic and rubber parts, what the heck are we as parents to do?

Since Oliver is approaching 2 years, and I do want to get him a balance bike, I did some checking.  In addition to the Kettler and Kokua bikes which rated well, I added to consideration two untested bikes, the Skuut wooden balance bike and the Wishbone bike ultimate pre-bike, two eco-friendly companies.

The CEO of Skuut left us a comment after I posted this review, stating:

The Skuut has been designed with all safety precautions in mind. It has passed EVERY available test and has received every certificate necessary. There are NO harmful chemicals (including phthalates, lead, etc) in any of the parts. We are equally concerned about the environment, and childrens´health, so we are committed to absolute safety. Furthermore, to help protect the environment, we plant a tree for every Skuut sold, to have a net positive impact on the environment. Plus, The Skuut is substantially more affordable than any of our competitors.

I love the tree planting, and the US price is hard to beat, at $99 ordered direct off their website, however, I’m in Europe, and the only European distibutor listed is in Denmark and I can’t read Danish (although I can see that it’s marked down DKK100 to DKK599,00 right now).  I did a Google.de search and was unable to find any German retailers as of February 19, 2009.

So I checked out the Wishbone.  According to the Wishbone website:

Every Wishbone Bike has 60% post-consumer recycled plastic wheels, is made from sustainably managed woods and is bonded and finished with eco-friendly products.  The Bike box and all printed material inside is recycled and printed with non-toxic inks.

This, and the fact that it starts as a trike, then can be transformed to a small balance bike, then later to a taller bike, making it usable for kids aged 1–5, has made up my mind.  As soon as spring arrives, I’ll be ordering a Wishbone pre-bike for Oliver.  It goes for €189 in Germany from Babydeluxe.de or $249.99 from the SkipHop website in the US.  Wishbone is a New Zealand company selling worldwide.  International distributors are listed on the Wishbone website.

You may also be interested in reading:

• Moov: Make your own vehicle (2)
• Book Review - Maybe One (2)
• Too wide waistbands? Make them fit! (4)
• The SAH vs. working parent debate (18)
• The BVS Top Ten Toys of 2009 (2)

I loved Eco-dough, so trying Eco-kids eco-fingerpaint ($20 per tube) seemed like a natural progression.  Eco-fingerpaint is made of all natural ingredients.  The powder arrives in a tube like eco-dough and contains additional small dishes to mix the paint in.  The tube and tubs are compostable. Unfortunately, the lids fell off during shipping, so some powder spilled and created a big mess when I opened the tube.

What I Did Like

Compared to fingerpaints by other manufacturers, my son was far more creative with eco-fingerpaint and LOVED playing with the paints. Additionally, he loves to help mix the paint and enjoys using the paints as food he is cooking. He tells me he is making soup, and good soup at that. He uses a spoon to stir the paint in its little tub, dumps the tub out at just the right time, and mixes and matches colors at his own pace and desire. He was incredibly creative and in hindsight, I feel guilty for reacting the way I did to the paint as I tried to mix it properly and move it to different containers for storage.

What I Did Not Like

When I first tried eco-fingerpaint, I wondered if I was doing something wrong. The powder is hard to measure exactly, so achieving the proper consistency takes practice.  However, once I got the mixing right, my son LOVED the paints, so it’s a trade-off, and his enjoyment continues to win out.

Once on paper, the paint dries dull and cracks, so if you are looking for a masterpiece for your wall, this paint might not be for you.

The Big Picture

If you want fingerpaint like the fingerpaints you probably grew up with, don’t order this product. If you want something more natural, give eco-fingerpaint a try.  I was surprised by my son’s reaction, and it was a reminder to me that my preconceived notions of play are a limiting factor not an enabler.

You may also be interested in reading:

• Magic Nuudles (2)
• Green Toys (1)
• Eco-Dough is an Eco-Do! (6)
• The BVS Top Ten Toys of 2009 (2)
• The BVS Top Ten Toys of 2008 (0)

Eco-dough ($20 per tube) is a natural alternative to play-dough for parents who do not have the time or desire to make their own craft dough. Eco-dough is made with plant, fruit and vegetable extracts and without artificial coloring, metals or chemicals. Eco-kids also produces an eco-dough that is gluten, dairy and soy free for kids with allergies.

When the Eco-dough arrived, I was impressed that the package was stuffed with old newspaper instead of bubble wrap or foam pieces, so I can recycle or compost it all! The tube and tubs are also compostable.

What I Did Not Like

The tubs that hold the dough do not close easily or tightly and falls off often, which makes re-stacking the dough in the tube a challenge. That’s the only thing I did not like.

What I Did Like

Besides the packaging that I mentioned above, the dough is easy to mold and play with for my two year old.  In the past, we have tried “other” store bought play-doughs, but my son has struggled to roll it in to balls and grew tired of it easily. Eco-dough was much easier for him, and he plays with it for longer stretches of time without needing assistance. We used cookie cutters on the dough, which was also a hit! I also purchased their bamboo roller ($4), which made rolling the dough fun for both of us.

The dough was not crumbly, did not dry out even after we inadvertently left the lid off, and comes with instructions on how to re-moisturize it if it does appear to be drying some (add olive oil).

Overall, I love eco-dough and will be ordering it for gifts and when my son needs more dough.

Eco-dough is available in the U.S. and will ship outside the continental U.S.A.

Coming soon… a review of Eco-paint!

You may also be interested in reading:

• Magic Nuudles (2)
• Green Toys (1)
• Eco-paint (0)
• What's in My Carry-On? (2)
• The BVS Top Ten Toys of 2009 (2)

I’ve been trying to live a greener life, so in that spirit, I figured it was time to give up all the tampons and sanitary pads I was throwing away every month and try out one of the reusable menstrual cups that are on the market. While the DivaCup is quite popular among Americans, I chose the Mooncup, because it is manufactured in Europe.

The Mooncup is made of medical grade silicone and is inserted into the vagina like a tampon. It then collects the menstrual flow in its 1 ounce (30mL) cup, which is about a third of the entire typical menstrual flow. You should be able to get by with emptying it every 5 to 8 hours, as it holds quite a bit more than a tampon would. When dumping out the cup, you can clean it with mild soap and water, or if it’s not convenient, just rinse it with water or wipe it clean with some toilet paper. It should be more thoroughly cleaned though in between periods.

The first time I tried the Mooncup, it took me a couple tries before I got it in place properly, but that was really the only time I had problems with placement. It was uncomfortable at first, but you are supposed to trim the stem gradually until you get the right fit. I cut half off, then ended up cutting off the whole stem. During the first few days, I was aware of it, similar to how it feels when a tampon has moved out of the proper position and is sitting low in the vagina. With regards to mess, I don’t think it made any more of a mess than using a tampon, especially if you are not flushing the tampon (which you really shouldn’t do), but are wrapping it and disposing it in the trash.

I knew I had a heavy flow, the website says most women have a flow between 2–4 ounces, so I figured I’d be at the upper end of the chart. Well, whoa Nelly, I learned a lot about my period in my week-long trial. I learned that I’m off the chart there. During my heavy flow, I wasn’t able to go all night without leakage. During the day I was having to empty the cup every 2–3 hours. Instead of being completely horrified by this (which you may be right now, too much information?), I found it kind of empowering. I’m a science/biology geek, so getting this in touch with my body was pretty fascinating. Then again, I can see that if you’re the squeamish sort, this might be a hard product to get used to using.

I will never use a tampon again. I’ll still probably need a couple pads every month as backup on my heavy days, but outside of those days, I wasn’t using any backup at all, and it was wonderful. I highly recommend this product to every menstruating woman. Not only is it less hassle than dealing with pads and tampons, it’s better for the environment. A couple of other pluses: you can go to a nude sauna during your period without worrying about about the tampon string showing, and if you have pets in the house, you don’t have to worry about them going through the trash and tearing up your used sanitary pads.

The Mooncup can be ordered in Europe for 20 Pounds (or 25 Euro) from Mooncup.co.uk, and in the US for $22.90 from Amazon.com

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Not so long ago, my mom purchased The Boy some Crayon Rocks. I admit to planting the seed after seeing them on another blog, and they are wonderful. For young hands, they are easier to hold, encourage the tripod hold for older children, and color beautifully.

Crayon rocks are made of soy wax and minerals. The information that came with our box says they are edible, which was nice to read considering our toddler, at the time, enjoyed eating his crayons as much as coloring with them. He has not, however, taken a bite of his crayon rocks.

Aside from coloring, we also use our crayon rocks to practice recognizing colors and counting.

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One of my favorite European online shopping sites is the UK-based Lula Sapphire. In addition to carrying great products from the likes of Boob, DwellStudio, Ida-T, Katvig, Manhattan Toy, Stork Sak, Swaddle Designs, and Zutano, among many others, they claim to be the first carbon neutral mother and baby retailer in the UK. They deliver worldwide and I’ve been quite pleased with their service and delivery times the many times I’ve ordered (too many times to admit to).

You may also be interested in reading:

• The Mooncup Reusable Menstrual Cup (8)
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• Review: Stokke Tripp Trapp (2)
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