Green Family - Parents

How to Make Your Own Birth Journal

Creating a birth journal is personal and meaningful. More than a photo album, a birth journal will prepare you for and document one of the most important and personal events of your life. Here is how to make your own special journal. 1. Make it personal. Choose a 3-ring binder with paper of your choice, a scrap book, photo album, or simply a notebook - whatever reflects your personality and feels comfortable to you. 2. Before your baby's birth, write your dreams and aspirations in the birth journal. Also include specific plans for the upcoming birth - when you are in labor, it is not easy to think straight and remember all those details that make up your ideal birth plan. Be specific, such as: -Where you want the birth to take place. If it is a homebirth, note rooms or areas of the house. If you are going to the hospital, note at what point during the labor you plan to go there. Some women like to go to the hospital at the first contraction; others prefer to wait until labor has progressed. -What medical interventions you do or do not want. Make sure others know this, too, so they can speak for ...

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Eco-Friendly Camping

Camping is inherently an eco-friendly adventure or vacation. Check out some ways to make your camping trip even more eco-friendly: Each camper should have a BPA-free reusable water bottle or canteen rather than using plastic water bottles. It's best to do some research beforehand and find out if there is a water source at your camping site. If there isn't one, bring a portable water purification system along with you. Most camping stores sell them. For new campers, try borrowing camping gear rather than making a slew of new purchases.  It's best to try it out first and see if camping is something that you will want to do regularly enough to justify owning your own gear. When you do make that decision to purchase camping gear, try to get it from a second hand store.  For those who have been camping for years, try donating your old gear to a second hand store when you replace it with new gear. Take extra reusable bags with you to your campsite for trash. That way, if the provided trash bins at the campsite are full, you will have somewhere to collect your trash and you won't be tempted to litter. Be aware if there are ...

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The Popularity Of Green Toys Is On The Rise

The popularity of green toys is growing because of the following reasons: • Prices are dropping • Toy stores are embracing them • The selection is expanding Green toys were featured on their own pavilion at the annual toy fair in New York, despite the fact that they represent a small fraction of the $22 billion toy market. In addition to this, Germany’s upcoming toy fair is planning on making sustainability a big theme. Consumer demand for green toys has led to the industry pushing for more eco-friendly products for kids. Consumers are concerned about toxic chemicals found in traditional toys, after a series of recalls of toys manufactured overseas. Many parents are now on the market for toys that are environmentally conscious and they are willing to spend an extra few dollars to ensure that the toys were made with safe products. Amazon.com is now selling numerous green toys that use recycled materials, organic fabrics, reclaimed wood, or vegetable dye paint. Amazon has separated green toys into a Green toy store section on their website. There is also increased demand for toys that educate kids about the environment. Some examples include Elenco snap circuits green alternative energy kits and Thames & Kosmos’ global warming science kits. There ...

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Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas For Babies And Kids

Nature Baby Organic Wool And Cotton Clothes Nature Baby is a family business in New Zealand that specializes in products that nurture both babies and nature. They started in 1998 with the goal of producing innovative products so their children may grow up in a more eco-friendly world. Some of their products include: organic cotton drawstring pants, lambskin booties, organic cotton long sleeve bodysuits, and organic knotted beanie hats. All of their products are high quality and very soft to the touch. EarthBall The EarthBall is 16 inches in diameter, inflatable, glows in the dark, and is made with child safe phthalate-free material. The ball was created using NASA satellite photos, and the cities of the world on it illuminate. The EarthBall is a great tool as a visual aid for teaching kids about light pollution, world population, and energy consumption. It comes with a Global Handbook that includes information and games. EcoZoo Natural Cotton Backpacks by EcoGear These backpacks are PVC and toxic free and come in the shape of a friendly zoo animal. These backpacks use natural cotton canvas and rope materials, non-toxic dyes, sustainable wood accents, recycled plastic components, and padded shoulder straps. Natural Paint Colors Glob It On Paints are made from organic ...

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New Green Products: Craft Items, Organic Dolls, Cookbooks and Baby Carriers

Inca Kids Handcrafted Items Inca Kids is a self-funded project through the Fair Trade Federation that works with skilled artisans in Peru to create natural and traditional Peruvian art. The project is committed to providing equal opportunities for men and women, as well as fair wages and a sustainable workplace. The goal is to support community-building initiatives that bring awareness of the fair trade movement. This awareness will help provide poverty relief and education. The prices for the high quality fair trade items are affordable and by purchasing them you are supporting Peruvian artisans. For Christmas time, Inca Kids sells hand-knitted ornaments for only $5 and colorful stockings for $12. Organic Dolls Dandelion organic toddler dolls are made with certified organic cotton fibers, which mean they are very soft as well as safe for children. The organic cotton used in the creation of the dolls does not yield any pollution. The organic doll is stuffed with corn fibers rather than petroleum-based poly-fill. It is also can be cleaned in the washing machine.  A portion of the proceeds from sales of this doll is donated to a childhood cancer organization. The doll is sold for $24.99. Cookie Cookbook Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-inYour-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich ...

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