An Eco Dream

Eco Baby Bonkie

2011-10-05T03:57:00.009+11:00

Babies, especially the newborns, like to be swaddled a lot. It makes them feel like they're back in the womb and keeps them calm and comfortable. During cold nights swaddling babies in blankets will create a warm environment and keep them safe from sickness brought about by the cold weather.

Today, most hospitals will teach new mothers how to firmly wrap their babies before they even leave the hospital. With all the things that mothers need to cope with while taking care of a newborn, remembering the crash course in swaddling is almost impossible.

However, with the Ecobonkie swaddle blanket, mothers won't have to struggle. The innovative design of the blanket makes it simple to swaddle your delicate baby. With its snap-on-snap-off velcro closures and its unique shape, the Ecobonkie is a no-brainer to use. In addition, the Ecobonkie's exterior material and inner lining are made of 100% pure organic cotton so it's safe on baby's sensitive skin.

The Ecobonkie is machine washable and comes in different designs to fit your baby boy or girl. It provides a functional and protective type of clothing for your newborn as well as keeps them safe, secure and extremely huggable.

Healthy Spring Cooking

2011-09-28T01:15:00.003+10:00

Ahhhh! We can all breathe a happy sigh as we say goodbye to winter and welcome many people’s favourite season of the year: spring. Not only is the weather warming up but spring is the season for some delicious fresh fruit and vegetables. Here is a link to a really handy guide to see what fruit and vegetables are in season at different times of year.

Here are some simple and healthy ways to use spring fruit and vegetables in your cooking.

• Perhaps the easiest and quickest way to use some fruit is to make a mini fruit salad with delicious fresh strawberries, lychees, mandarins, bananas, honeydew melon and any other fruit you can find in season.

• Make some frozen pineapple on a stick. Grab a sweet pineapple, slice it up and insert a wooden skewer. Dip in some pineapple juice and roll in shredded coconut and freeze on a tray for 1-2 hours.

• Kids just love spinach and cheese pastries and these are super-easy to make. Chop some spinach, add some fried onion, crumbled feta, ricotta and some eggs and mix together. Use filo or puff pastry and make logs, triangles, a pie – or any shape you want and bake until golden.

• Corn is a great spring vegetable that is a favourite with kids. You can make corn fritters, wrap a cob of corn in foil with a little butter and bake in the oven or throw on the BBQ or even add to the pan when cooking a roast dinner.

Head down to your local greengrocer or market and grab some wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables in season this spring and enjoy cooking up some delicious and healthy foods for your family.

Bambu Nesting Baskets – Naturally Lovely

2011-09-21T02:10:00.004+10:00

We are very excited to be adding organic and natural products to our new range of homewares. One of our favourites is the new set of nesting baskets made by Bambu.

These baskets have a wonderful contemporary style about them and yet their natural materials would also make them right at home with country and rustic décor.

These hand woven, double walled nesting baskets are made of 100% organically grown bamboo. They can be used to hold fresh produce, herbs, fruit, bread, toiletries or countless other items. Their unique construction makes them sturdy and lightweight and they are suitable for use in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and anywhere that could do with a little burst of colour.

The baskets measure approximately 15cm, 18cm and 23cm in diameter. Each basket is a different colour but all are in the lovely blue and blue/green shades of the sea. If you prefer a less colourful shade, you’ll be pleased to know that we also have this set available in natural.

Each basket is woven by hand by families in rural villages using 100% organically grown bamboo. All Bambu products are certified organic and produced using Fair Trade practices.

Add some sustainable style to your home with our nesting baskets. You’ll be surprised at how handy they are.

Seasonal Benefits

2011-09-14T00:55:00.004+10:00

We all know about the benefits of getting two and five when it comes to our daily dose of nutritional goodness. When we can more or less get whatever we want whenever we want (be it fast, fresh or frozen) should we pay any attention to what’s in season? As it turns out, choosing produce that is out of season can in fact make your attempts at being healthy somewhat less than fruitful.

Generally when you’re buying produce that’s out of season it needs to be grown under unnatural circumstances and with the help of chemicals. Alternatively, it may be brought in from another region where it is picked and packed before it should be and has yet to develop to its full nutritional potential. Produce that is in season locally will have more nutritional value and flavour.

As produce that’s out of season locally needs to be transported in from other regions, it also has an impact on our environment. Emissions come from the mode of transport used and the produce needs to be temperature controlled, for a longer period of time. Fresh, local produce doesn’t have to travel the long distance or require as much maintenance.

If that’s not enough to swallow already, the costs of trying to supply out of season produce ultimately gets pushed onto you, the consumer. Simply put, you end up paying more for something which might not be as healthy as you would have hoped.

Getting two and five for you and your family is good healthy practice – get the full benefit by eating fresh produce that’s in season locally. You’ll be helping your health, the environment and your wallet – not to mention local economy. For more information on what’s in season and when, try Environment Victoria’s fact sheet on Eating Green.

The Walking Bus

2011-09-07T06:18:00.004+10:00

Do you want to do something with your children that will help build a sense of community, an activity that is also educational, fun, and good for the environment too? A Walking Bus might be just what your looking for.

“What is a Walking Bus?” I hear you ask.

A Walking Bus is where a group of school children walk to and from school, accompanied by at least two parent driver/supervisors per 'bus'. One parent takes the lead and ‘drives’ at the front of the bus, whilst the second parent supervises at the rear of the bus. More parents can join the bus at any point and help to organise road safety and other activities along the way.

The walking bus participants decide on the 'bus stop' locations and the timetable for the walking bus. This makes it convenient to all using it. At days end the process is just reversed and parents and children take the walking bus home along the same route.

Enquire at your local school, they may already have a walking bus program but if not, ask if you can start a Walking Bus on a one-day per week basis to test the level of interest.

The benefits to the community include:

• a safe and healthy way for children to travel to and from school;
• an increase in the children's ability to socialise away from school;
• an opportunity to teach road safety rules;
• benefits to the environment; and
• the chance for families to build connections and a greater sense of community.

The Walking School Bus™ is promoted by Travel Smart, an initiative of the Australian Government.

So don’t just sit there, start enquiring about a local Walking Bus program, and help your community in a really positive way. Enthusiasm is the only thing you really need to get the program up and running.

We’ve Got An Eco Dream!

2011-08-24T14:48:00.005+10:00

We have a new name and a new range of products to bring you. Isn’t it exciting?

We are now called An Eco Dream and our range has expanded to include products for grown-ups as well as for your home. We are so excited at the new range of possibilities we now have to help you in your quest to make your environment eco-friendly.

We are currently waiting on some new stock to arrive but we are going to be able to offer you some gorgeous bamboo clothing for adults as well as children. (Why should they get all the softness?) It always bothered us that while we could provide organic and eco-friendly clothing for children, adults still had to wear mass produced and chemical-laden clothing. It seemed that we were not doing as much as we wanted to in protecting our world for our kids. Now we can.

Have a look at our fantastic new range of certified organic bamboo disposable plates and cutlery. They are the perfect alternative to the paper tray. Bambu's All Occasion Veneerware trays won't bend or buckle from the weight of food. They are excellent for formal or casual indoor or outdoor use because they look so good. They are far superior to the paper plate no matter how pretty they make it look. These are just a sample of things to come.

We hope you are as excited as we are about An Eco Dream. Don’t worry, it’s still the same team here running the business and we will give you the same, excellent service we always have. We just have a new name and now we can care for you as well as your kids.

Let’s have fun.

Caring For Your Pregnant Belly

2011-08-17T01:11:00.007+10:00

Being pregnant will bring on a lot of changes to your body but especially to your belly as it grows along with a baby inside it. The skin on your belly will grow and stretch with the two most noticeable changes being the often-feared stretch marks and itchy skin.

Stretch marks

These are probably one of the most talked about skin changes that occur during pregnancy. Called “pregnancy stripes” or “badges of motherhood” they appear as red, pink, purple or brown lines running across or down your abdomen and/or breasts. Stretch marks can appear as early as 16 weeks and putting on weight quickly can make them appear almost overnight. However, normal growth during pregnancy will also create them.

Photographs in the media present a flawless and blemish-free pregnant belly but the reality is that almost 90% of women experience stretch marks – so don’t worry! You are not alone.

Dry Itchy Belly

As your beautiful belly grows your skin stretches and tightens which can cause dry and itchy skin on your belly often accompanied by a very tight, uncomfortable feeling.

Tips to care for your belly:

• Keep yourself well hydrated – drink lots of water! Water will help your skin stay moisturised.

• You can take a nice oatmeal or goat’s milk bath.

• Eat a well-balanced diet high in anti-oxidants and healthy fats to maintain skin elasticity.

• Exercise during pregnancy is good for your skin and your overall health in general.

• A good quality gentle yet rich moisturiser will help considerably.

We sell a beautiful Pure Pregnancy Belly Butter made by Gaia which contains ingredients such as Shea Butter, natural vitamin E, pure cocoa butter and rosehip oil to deeply moisturise and nourish a beautiful growing belly.

Pregnancy can often feel a lot longer than nine months (particularly in the last stages) so it is important that you care for your body to ease any discomfort you may experience.

Surviving The Supermarket With Your Child

2011-08-10T00:57:00.006+10:00

There is nothing worse than going to the supermarket and your toddler throwing a tantrum in the middle of the toilet paper aisle. You feel the wary gaze of fellow shoppers look at you either in pity or disgust as you try helplessly to calm, quieten and cajole your child into a reasonable state. But alas, it doesn’t happen and you end up either giving up or grabbing the nearest item on your list and making a bee-line for the nearest exit.

Sound familiar? I can see you cringing and nodding in agreement – but it doesn’t have to be that way!

Here are a few tips on surviving the supermarket with your child.

• Don’t shop when your toddler is tired and/or hungry - avoid mealtimes and naptimes at all costs!

• Make a list and check it twice! Plan your dinners for the week and try to write your list according to aisles. That way you will avoid backtracking and wasting time going back to get things.

• Take a drink and a snack to avoid those cries for food.

• For older kids incorporate their help with shopping. Give them their own list of things to find or get them to choose a particular brand or product from the shelves.

• Select your store. Some stores have kid-sized shopping trolleys which are a fantastic way to occupy your kid. Others have the lolly-free checkouts which will avoid those meltdowns at the very end.

• Turn shopping into a teaching experience. Talk about the items you are buying and where they come from or what they are used for.

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, make sure you give lots of praise and positive reinforcement and this will model the behaviour for future tantrum-free shopping trips.

Avoiding the Additives and Chemicals

2011-08-03T03:00:00.000+10:00

We are so committed to helping you keep your food and your environment chemical free that when we come across some useful information, we share it. This time we have found some wonderful new books that we should all have in our libraries.

Organic Home: The Australian Guide to Clean, Green Living

This is a fabulous book full of recipes that have been tried-and-tested and proven to be effective. It also has some simple techniques we can incorporate into the way we live that will help ease the strain on our planet. It’s practical and very, very useful.

Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook: Easy Recipes for Natural Food

This book is a lifesaver if you are trying to teach your child about healthy eating by selecting only pure and organic ingredients. I know that toddlers can be fussy eaters, but these recipes are simple, tasty and perfect for that fussy age.

Chemical Free Kids: Raising Healthy Children in a Toxic World

I admit that it does freak me out when I look at the back of a pack and see nothing but chemicals, strange numbers and words that don’t mean anything to the average shopper. We have been such a trusting lot for too long now. It’s time to know exactly what is going into the products you bring home. They can make adults ill and be very toxic to little ones. If you want to know what is entering your home, this book will tell you.

The Chemical Maze Shopping Companion 4th Edition

This book is a must-have. It’s small enough to fit into your handbag when you go shopping. Learn to recognise consumer friendly foods and personal care products so you can protect your health and the health of your family.

These books are essential reading if you really want to know what’s going into the products we have in our homes.

Grow Your Own

2011-07-26T23:15:00.002+10:00

Many families don’t have the space for a traditional vegetable patch, but there is still a way you and the kids can grow your own veggies and herbs – in pots!

Growing veggies and herbs in pots can be very easy and the kids will not only reap the rewards of their own gardening, they will learn about reusing and recycling.

Choosing a container

Make sure you choose a good assortment of pots or containers- the two most important things to consider are drainage and size.

You can encourage the kids to get creative and find suitable pots from recycling plastics or other kitchen containers.

The “safe” plastic containers you can reuse to plant in will need to have the numbers 1, 2 4 or 5.

What to Grow

Look for ‘dwarf’ or miniature versions of plants – these will not only appeal to the kids but grow well in pots. Tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, cucumber, capsicum and carrots grow well in pots or containers.

Herbs are a great option as they grow well from seed.

You could also try some fast-growing plants such as sprouts, rocket or cress.

What Else is Needed

Look for certified premium potting mix as the soil is very good in quality and produces good results. Once you have planted water you plants in some Seasol or other diluted liquid fertiliser. It will give your plants a nice healthy start!
Then it is easy for your kids to look after them – with enough sun, water and nutrients you kids will be munching on their home-grown veggies in no time.

Eat Your Veggies, Baby

2011-07-20T05:10:00.003+10:00

Getting your child to eat vegetables is an age-old issue which frustrates many parents looking to convince their child to eat healthier. There are many ways in which you can sneak vegetables in to your child's diet, however, you also need to work on getting your child to eat their vegetables on their own volition.

Raw vegetables are a great place to start. Try carrots, broccoli, snow peas, cauliflower, capsicum or mushrooms served up with their favourite dip, yoghurt or cream cheese.

Get your child involved in meal planning and ask them to choose the vegetables they would like to eat for their dinner. Request their help in preparing the meals as this will go a long way in getting them familiar with the variety of vegetables there are.

Do not be overly concerned if your child does not eat a wide variety of vegetables. Concentrate on the ones you know they like such as corn on the cob, carrots and peas, introducing other vegetables on the odd occasion, to ensure that not every mealtime is a veritable vegetable battlefield. Presentation will go a long way in the appeal factor as well so try fun shaped vegetables or vegetable faces.

Dishes such as soups, stews, pasta, pizza and risotto appeal to kids generally and by serving up such dishes without necessarily hiding all the ingredients will also widen their vegetable repertoire.

Remember children tend to copy what they see around them! So if mum and dad are both enjoying their vegetables (or at least pretending to), it should only be a matter of time before a child will follow suit.

Introducing Gaia Naturals For Men

2011-07-13T02:08:00.013+10:00

New in store is the fabulous range for men from Gaia Skin Naturals.

Gaia Made for Men takes into consideration the specific requirements of male skin, using carefully selected organic vegetable oils, herbal extracts and pure essential oils. Known for their skin nurturing benefits, these ingredients help tackle typically male issues such as razor burn and in-grown hairs.

Our current range includes the Face and Body Wash, Shave Gel and Scrub. All of these three products make a great gift for dad and can be purchased individually or together and given as a natural skincare set as they all complement one another.

Ladies - the shave gel is also great for shaving legs and under arms too. It is enriched with Certified Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Certified Organic Wheatgerm Oil, Certified Organic Avocado Oil, Certified Organic Chamomile, Certified Organic Aloe Vera and Witch Hazel Extract. It is a low foaming gel that will leave your skin soft after shaving. It is also free from the harsh drying agents, sulphates and petrochemicals that can lead to rashes and razor burn.

A common complaint from the guys is that most natural skin care out there in the marketplace smells "girlie". Not Gaia - not a hint of lavender in sight! Certified organic lime, certified organic patchouli and certified organic spearmint pure essential oils will bring men a fresh and invigorating masculine scent which will stimulate their senses.

Gaia - making pure, natural, organic skin care suitable for the whole family.

Guest Post from ecoMILF: Flying Overseas with Small Children

2011-07-06T21:33:00.009+10:00

Meagan, from one of our favourite blogs ecoMILF, is first and foremost a mama to two gorgeous little ones, a wife, a green cleaner and vegetarian chef, a writer, a yoga teacher, an animal rights activist and creator of all things homemade. She enjoys shopping, vegan baking and her newfound hobbies- sewing, knitting and photography. You can find her playing hide and seek at the park, drawing with crayons, reading a book or feeding her newborn while sipping soy chai lattes and nibbling on fairtrade chocolate.

It’s hard to wrap your head around just how much stuff you need for your carry-on when traveling overseas with children. There are so many things to consider- entertainment, food, drinks, clothing, medicine...

Here is the mega list I compiled before flying with my almost-three-year-old and baby:

For Walking/Transfers:
* Adult’s small carry-on or Large backpack
* Child’s wheely backpack
* Your favourite carrier (I love the ergo because it fits toddlers and babies and they can go on your back and front).

For the Plane:
Food-
* sultanas (raisins)
* trail mix
* popcorn (if you can stand the mess)
* apples and bananas
* nut butter sandwiches
* cheese sticks
* rice crackers
* granola bars
* baby food
* sliced veggies
* bibs
* child-sized fork and spoon for each
* a few small biodegradeable plastic bags to put the rubbish in that you will accumulate throughout the flight
* my breasts! (for those who aren’t breastfeeding- bottles and formula)

Clothes-
* 2 sets of extra clothes for each child
* 3 sets of extra clothes for each baby
* 1 set of extra clothes for parents
* warm socks
* washable slippers for adults and children (you can wear these in the bathroom/on the plane and stick them in a plastic bag when you get off the flight and wash them when you arrive at the destination)

Entertainment-
* new toys- wrapped in newspaper or magazines- for example: mini cars; knit finger puppets; thin, light books; rattles and noisemakers (the white noise on the plane covers most of these annoying sounds)
* headphones that fit children’s ears (not earbuds!) for the plane’s audio/visual * entertainment or an iPad
* crayons, paper

Sleep-
* a blanket for each child
* lavender oil to promote calm
* blow-up U-shaped pillow
* the children’s small square comforters

Hygiene/Personal Care/Medical-
* adult toothbrush
* mini toothpaste
* mini hairbrush with extra hair elastics
* small baby nurofen for emergency sickness or fever
* thick baby moisturizer for dry cheeks
* one eco-friendly disposable nappies (diapers) for every 2-3 hours of travel from the moment you leave you doorstep to the moment you arrive at the destination’s doorstep (ie. keep in mind time in airports and cars as well as flight time)
* biodegradable wipes
* biodegradable plastic bags to put dirty nappies in
* 2 breastpads
* homeopathic and flower remedies that promote calm and sleep- we used Chamomilla 6C and Australian Bush Flower Essences: Emergency Essence.

Adult Valuables-
* precious jewelry
* computers, chargers, adapters
* cameras, lenses, chargers
* phones, chargers
* passports
* visas (even if you have a lay-over in another country, sometimes you need a visa for just a few hours of visiting)
* tickets
* pen
* printed itinerary
* cash for all countries you are traveling through and have lay-overs in
* credit card for emergency

Other things to consider-
* Requesting to sit at the “Bulk Head” of the plane. This is the spot where there are no seats in front of you. There are usually baby bassinets at the bulk head that fold down. There is also more foot space in that area where your toddler and baby can play without bothering people that otherwise would have been in the seat in front of them.

* Requesting specific meals: you can request children’s meals, vegetarian meals (which I think are far more delicious and nutritious on planes, although this may be a bias opinion) or any other special needs meals

* Letting Go: This was a huge one for me. In order to survive on my own for 30 hours with two little ones who quickly became overtired and filled with cabin-fever I had to let go of some of my day-to-day rules and expectations in order to survive and keep the plane ride exciting for the little ones. North was allowed to watch TV and movies on our iPad throughout the flight; he drank juice a few times and even had ice cream bar at one point. These are things he wouldn’t normally do or have at home, but these “treats” are what kept him happy in a very tedious situation.

*Keeping your routine: I don’t recommend keeping your child up all night long before a big trip in the hopes that he/she will sleep for the entire plane ride. This kind of a plan may backfire and you could end up with a very cranky, overtired child instead. I try to stick to our departure’s time zone until we have landed at our destination.

I hope this list is of help to anyone planning a trip in the next few months. Above all remember to breathe and to take each moment as it is. Try not to worry too much beforehand and trust that you know your children and will be able to cope with each challenge as it arises.

xo m.

Baby Massage

2011-07-06T03:00:00.004+10:00

Massaging your baby is not only a nice way to bond with your little one, it also has considerable benefits for your baby. It can help aid digestion, relaxation and promote better sleeping habits, including sleeping for longer!

Other benefits of massage include:

• A relaxed and settled baby including during waking hours
• Increased immune system
• Neurological development
• Increased brain-body development
• Helping tone muscle and aiding growth

How to Massage Baby

You don’t need to apply a lot of pressure when massaging baby. Apply about the same pressure you could stand pressing onto your closed eyelids.

For small areas, like palms of hands or feet, use the tips of your fingers or thumb. Larger areas, like tummy or back, can be massaged using your fingers or your palm. We also recommend using an organic, natural oil that is sensitive on baby's skin.

Things you can do

• Gently roll your baby’s arms or legs between your hands, or use long, gentle strokes with your whole hand, along the length of the limb.
• Using your thumb or fingers, gently draw circles on the sole of your baby’s foot, or palm of hand.
• Using your palm, gently move your hand in a clockwise, circular motion over baby’s tummy.
• Place your hands on your baby’s chest with tips of fingers touching and fan your hands towards their shoulders.
• Lie baby on their belly and starting from their shoulders, move each hand from shoulder to bottom alongside their spine. Be careful not to touch the spine. Alternating your hands means constant connection with your baby.

Overall, there are benefits to the emotional, physical and mental development of your baby, as well as the formation of strong bonds between you and baby. And really, who wouldn't want a more relaxed and settled baby who sleeps well?

Green Cleaning

2011-06-22T04:21:00.005+10:00

Many of us are doing everything we can to provide the cleanest, safest and healthiest foods and personal hygiene products for our families, and a broader awareness of harmful chemicals in household products has sparked a new focus on green and organic cleaning formulas.

With an estimated 10% of all reported exposure to poisons being directly linked to household cleaning products and more than half of those exposed being children, it is no wonder that parents are looking for safer cleaning alternatives.

Not nearly enough research has been done into household chemicals and their cancer and other health damaging risks, but what we do know about chemicals such as VOCs is enough to make us wary of all chemical exposure in our homes.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemical agents found in many products such as paints, insect repellents, aerosol sprays, varnishes, disinfectants, dry cleaning, cosmetics and cleaning products.

Exposure to VOCs can cause a range of serious symptoms from allergic skin reactions to nose and throat discomfort, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and nausea. Because many of these products are used within the confines of a room or house, the VOC concentration is said to be 100 times higher than if the product were used outside in the open air.

If you are like us and don’t want your babies and children to be at risk of any accidental exposure to these chemical nasties, it’s time to make your home into a chemical free zone and jump on the green cleaning bus.

We recommend B_E_E cleaning products as they are all made from plant based ingredients and natural minerals. They are also naturally fragranced with combinations of essential oils that leave your home and your clothes smelling absolutely divine.

You don’t have to make a whole lot of changes to your cleaning habits in order to make a huge difference to the safety of your family. Opting to simply switch to safer cleaning products is all you need to do to ensure a greener and more family friendly environment.

Going To Hospital

2011-06-15T03:00:00.002+10:00

Going to hospital when you are grown up, can be a scary experience. Imagine how a child feels – particularly those aged 4 to 8 - when they have a solid understanding about being sick, growing old and death. Also applicable to this age group, they have not yet learned to cope well with unfamiliar environments and it can be overwhelming when it involves disrupted routines and medical procedures.

To solve this issue and help ease the stress of hospital visitations for young children, a unique Hospital Familiarisation Program has been created for Melbourne based children. It is particularly designed with the early childhood settings of kindergarten, childcare centres and junior primary schools in mind and is presented by a professional hospital play specialist/counsellor.

The program involves taking the children through the admission process, role played with a doll and introducing them to medical equipment they would find in a hospital or doctor’s office. This introduction will also allow them to play with real medical equipment, dolls and play acting with medical dress-ups. Different coping strategies will be covered throughout the course of the one hour program and there will also be a discussion on the variety of medications which may need to be taken.

This Hospital Familiarisation Program will ensure that children are familiar with medical equipment and feel confident when dealing with medical settings and professionals. At the end of the program, each child is given a take home bag.

We believe that it is an extremely valuable program, however if you don’t believe us, you just have to read the Testimonials to see that it is a welcome addition to the programs offered to the community.

Win A Subscription To Barefoot Magazine

2011-06-08T03:00:00.000+10:00

Barefoot magazine is a quarterly magazine that focuses on conscious parenting from birth to adolescence. It covers such areas as eco-living, education, health, wellbeing and relationships. We at Modern Little Munchkins are huge fans of the magazine. It is informative, interesting, very practical and relevant to our beliefs. Because of this, we are offering a subscription to one of our lucky readers.

I would like to encourage you all to become fans of the Barefoot Magazine page on Facebook. We know that you will have a lot in common. There have been some great ideas and tips written on their page alone.

How to enter our competition:

• Once you have been over to check out the Barefoot Magazine page, return to our blog.

• Leave a comment telling us in 50 words or less why you want to win a subscription to the magazine.

• The closing date for the competition is midnight on 25 June 2011.

• Winners will be chosen using random.org and announced on our blog, as well as our Facebook page.

Good luck!

Telling a Story Without A Book

2011-06-01T04:00:00.000+10:00

We can get so caught up in the need to read to kids from a book. There’s a lot of talk between mums about what books we should be reading to our children and when to start teaching them to read.

Not all stories need to be read from a book, however, and it can be a lot more fun and meaningful for the children (and their parents!) if they are created from your imagination. They are even more so when the names of the children, and their friends and siblings, are included in the story. This makes them much more appealing.

Some of our best loved story books, including the Winnie the Pooh and Thomas the Tank Engine stories came from fathers making up stories with their children, using toys from their children’s bedrooms.

Interesting stories ideally have a catchy beginning, an interesting series of events, usually the main character – the hero – overcoming a series of obstacles and/or hardships, and conclude with a delightful outcome. If you can throw in a good moral or learning experience in the process, it makes the story all the more interesting and educational.

Telling a story is relatively easy and you can be guided by the child in terms of what they want to hear. What do they like or dislike, or are they adding their own direction, characters or outcomes in to the mix? You may even like to retell games you played with your friends as a child.

You can also add props to illustrate the story such as your child's favourite stuffed toys. These handknitted blabla dolls can make for interesting characters, adding depth, emotion and fun to your story. Stories can be created around these “characters”, with each developing their own personality, or playing different roles in each story you tell.

Other toys, such as dump trucks, or tea sets can play the part of prop, or have their own personality and be an active part of the story.

You really are limited by your own imagination – or your children’s!

Guest Post from ecoMILF: Amber Teething Necklaces

2011-05-31T20:11:00.009+10:00

Toys Are Great For Development

2011-05-25T01:00:00.000+10:00

Often we look at toys as a way to keep kids amused or occupied. There is actually a lot more to a toy than that.

There are toys for imaginative play. Eco Dough is great for that. Give a child some Eco Dough and just watch what he or she creates... from dinosaurs to rockets, sheep to snails. Or maybe they will turn them all into creatures from a story and then act it out. Could you do that?

Role playing toys are really interesting. Not only do they give you an insight into your child’s perceptions of the world, they allow kids to try a new experience. Having a tea set means that your child can pretend to be nanna or mum; or a tool box lets them be grandpa or dad for a while. These toys are a safe way to let your kids try new behaviours.

There are toys that help develop fine motor skills. Toys that stack and build or lace up which require delicate fingerwork and precision movements. Practice makes perfect.

There are puzzles that stretch the mind as kids work out which way the pieces have to go. Think about shape sorters and jigsaw puzzles. They aren’t just fun. Your child has to use their brain to work them out.

Next time you look through our range of toys, don’t just see fun – see development activities for your child and choose wisely.

What Is BPA?

2011-05-18T14:21:00.004+10:00

BPA or Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical that is used to produce hard plastic bottles known as polycarbonate, as well as beverage cans since the 60s. It is present in many of today's plastic items such as water bottles, baby bottles and plastic toys. Its unique combination of properties, such as high heat, electrical resistance and toughness, make it suitable for use on a wide variety of products, which includes CDs, DVDs, sports safety equipments and electrical equipments.

BPA is also found on epoxy resin products which are used on the circuit boards of electrical products, adhesives, paints and other protective coatings. To preserve the quality of canned food and drinks, the metal tin cans are lined with cured epoxy resins.

The world produces more than 2 million tonnes of BPA since the early 2000s - a testament to how much the world relies on this chemical compound in everyday life. However, over the last few years, new studies have given rise to fears of the harmful effects of BPA.

BPA is also one of the most tested materials in the world. In 2007, a panel of 38 experts concluded that the BPA levels found in humans are above those that can cause harm to animals. The next year, the US National Toxicology Program expressed their concern on the effects of BPA exposure on the behavior, brain, and prostate glands of fetuses and infants. In 2009 The Endocrine Society expressed concern over the current exposure levels of humans to BPA as well.

For more information, have a look at this great report featured on the Friends of the Earth site.

Noah's Ark

2011-05-11T07:00:00.004+10:00

Plan Toys are known for their eco-friendly and creative toys. They specialise in imaginative play, encouraging children to use their imaginations as we did when we were kids.

Noah’s Ark is a wonderful toy that combines a child’s love of animals with an exciting story of adventure. The tale of Noah and his animals is one they’ll love to hear and then replay through their own activities. Combine a great story with some clever toys and you have the Plan Toys Noah’s Ark set.

The set contains 12 pairs of animals, Noah and his wife. The roof can be removed for easy access and the gangway opens onto the roomy cargo-hold that has 3 portholes to allow children to see the animals inside.

This toy gives parents a fun way to introduce different types of animals so that your child learns to recognise and name them. If you follow the Bible you can tell the biblical story and start their religious education.

Best of all, this toy lets you teach children about natural disasters such as flood or fire, for instance. You can teach them about the importance of life whether human or animal and you can show how important it is that we all get along on the one planet.

Plan Toys are made using environmentally-friendly materials including chemical free rubberwood, non-toxic paints and recycled and recyclable materials.

Noah's Ark is a clever toy that will bring your children hours of fun and creativity.

Guest Post from ecoMILF: Watercolour Painting with your Child ~ Making Homemade Cards

2011-05-05T00:05:00.000+10:00

If they are old enough your child can help with the next step, otherwise once they are tired of looking at the paintings displayed on the fridge, sneak away with them and reuse.

Cut the paintings into your desired card shape, stamp and/or decorate, and write whatever message you’d like on them.

Send and share the love.

xo m

Throwing An Eco Party

2011-05-04T12:04:00.004+10:00

Birthday parties are usually a time when we indulge in everything colourful and fun that we wouldn’t normally consider purchasing, but there is a growing trend for a special occasion like your child’s birthday party to be a time when you embrace your ecological ethics.

There is no need to ignore your usual eco-friendly practices or to feel guilty when doing the post-party cleanup and discovering that you have overflowed your recycle bin with a mass of disposable items that don’t fit in with your environmental ideals.

By cleverly combining the simple and natural party treats and activities of the past with a bit of modern technology and know-how, you can give your child’s birthday a unique feel that fits in with your values. It will also help to inspire and educate both kids and other adults in a new way of looking at how to have a great time without all of the waste and unhealthy choices we normally associate with a children’s party.

Use any of the readily available natural food dyes and all organic and natural ingredients to encourage healthy eating. A creative party activity can be to decorate your own home-made cupcake or build your own pizza with natural ingredients provided.

By presenting fruit, vegetables and other healthy food choices in fun and interesting ways that suit your party theme, like fruit salad skewer swords or treasure map savoury toasts for a pirate party, you can turn everyday healthy foods into extraordinary party food.

When it comes to fun activities, it’s hard to go past a good pass the parcel game. You could use newspaper or recycle Christmas paper for wrapping the different layers and consider home-made or recycled items like felt finger puppets or vintage costume jewellery as gift prizes to include in the outer layers.

We all have our own levels of environmental consciousness, so tailor a party that fits in with yours. Search the internet for inspiring ideas and old fashioned games that you may be able to adapt to suit your available resources and browse through any old recipe books for simple and delicious wholefood catering ideas.

Whether you follow another theme or make “eco” your theme, there are endless ways to make a really great party that is both good for the guests and for the environment.

Make It!

2011-04-27T07:09:00.004+10:00

The weather is getting cooler and at this stage of the year we are looking for fun activities to do with our children. Crafting is a great idea and creating from your so called refuse can inspire even the most unimaginative child (or mum and dad).

Make It! is a book by Dorling Kindersley written by Jane Bull and shows you some inspirational ideas on how to reuse your rubbish. The book itself is even printed on recyclable paper and it is a great way to introduce the issue of recycling into your home. It even discusses the 3 R's - reduce, reuse and recycle - talking about it in a manner in which a young child can even understand. The book is suitable for children aged between 5 to 10 - however many of the crafts could be adapted for older or younger children as necessary.

Make It! offers fun activity suggestions for children who are interested in recycling everyday items and turning them into amazing crafts. Create a glam bag from your old jeans. Learn how to fold flat flimsy paper into a strong box. Recycle paper and turn into a scrap pot. Make an airplane or a robot. Design your own photo frame or rag mat. Or how about bottle top art?

Four fun filled sections are featured on paper, plastic, fabric and metal enabling you to recycle all kinds of unwanted household items. As the book says - don't trash it - treasure it. You may even surprise yourself with your own creativity.

Eco Easter Chocolate

2011-04-20T08:00:00.003+10:00

Kids LOVE chocolate! With Easter fast approaching, now is your chance to indulge your children and teach them about ethical, sustainable shopping! Giving lovely gifts and chocolate is part of the Australian Easter celebration. But have you ever thought of how that chocolate is made? Much of the chocolate we eat comes from East Africa, where more than a million kids work in appalling conditions on cocoa farms. Can you imagine your child labouring in the fields to provide you with an Easter Bunny to enjoy on Easter morning?

You can feel good whilst indulging your kids by purchasing Fair-trade chocolate. What is Fair-trade you might ask? Fair-trade is all about better prices, decent working conditions, and local sustainability for farmers and workers in the developing world. Fair-trade means an end to child exploitation and child trafficking in the chocolate industry. The Fair-trade label has been created to provide you with a guarantee that what you are buying has not been made using slave labour.

More and more companies are moving to Fair-trade as consumers demand that workers the world over are protected and rewarded appropriately! This Easter look for the Fair-trade symbol at supermarkets, Oxfam shops, online and anywhere else you may shop for your Easter goodies. You can also go to the Fair Trade Association Australia and New Zealand web site to find out more about Fair Trade.

So this Easter, think about how one very small action on your part can make a big difference to the lives of many. Whether you enjoy a block of chocolate from the supermarket, a big Easter egg or indulge in an Easter hamper or chocolate basket, looking for the Fair-trade label is your guarantee that your little pleasure is not at the cost of an innocent childhood.

Nudey!Rudey!

2011-04-13T08:00:00.001+10:00

We have written before about Modern Cloth Nappies, how amazing they are and how much we love them, for so many reasons!

Now when it comes to Modern Cloth Nappies you might have heard about a number of different styles also known as ‘systems’. Basically these are just varying designs differing in the way the nappy is made and how it works.

Our favourite is known as the ‘pocket nappy’. Pocket nappies have a waterproof outer and a stay-dry liner sewn together to form a pocket. The pocket is stuffed with absorbent material which can be adjusted depending on the absorbency required (for example stuff in more inserts for a night nappy or for heavy wetters). Having the ability to separate the inserts and the outer shell makes for a very fast drying nappy!

They can be stuffed ahead of time making them as easy to use as disposables.
Our favourite pocket nappy is the Nudey!Rudey! Made in New Zealand, they also feature an organic cotton/bamboo velour lining so there are no nasties against your babies precious bottom! The inserts are made of microfiber which has a high absorbency and is very quick drying.

You can purchase the microfiber inserts separately, as well as a hemp booster insert which makes it super-absorbent, ideal for night-time use.

And did we forget to say they are a one-size nappy, which means you need only one from birth to potty training. The plastic snaps can be adapted to 30 different size combinations so it will fit any sized little bottom!

For more information on the care and use of Nudey!Rudey! nappies visit here for a short video.

Modern Cloth Nappies

2011-04-08T07:00:00.001+10:00

Cloth nappies have come a long way since the days of old fashioned square nappies. We could rave forever about how fantastic modern cloth nappies (MCNs) are, but in a nutshell here are a few basic facts:

Cloth Nappies are not hard work at all!
Shaped to fit a baby with snaps or Velcro they are easy to fit. They do not require any soaking, scrubbing or ironing – simply flush any solid waste and “dry pail” in a bucket with a tight fitting lid.

Cloth Nappies are Reliable
MCNs are easy to use, better fitting, breathable and absorbent. The fabrics used range from hemp, bamboo, minkee, certified organic cotton, microfiber, PUL and wool means you can chose what is best for you and your baby.

Modern Cloth will save you Money
Did you know that based on the “average” cost of disposable nappies you will spend over $3000 per child from birth to toilet training? Setting yourself up with MCNs will mean in the long run you will save significantly.

Modern Cloth is Better for the Environment
Consider this alarming figure: approximately 3.75 million disposable nappies are dumped every single day in Australia and NZ alone. It takes hundreds of years for these wrapped parcels of plastic and chemicals to break down.

Disposable nappies use 2.3 times more water to produce than what it takes to wash a cloth nappy over the period of an entire year.

Cloth is better for your baby’s health
Disposables consist of plastics and many chemicals. There is very little research into the long term effects of disposable nappies but there is concern over the absorbent gels used, raised scrotal temperature, chlorine bleaching and airborne emissions being linked to respiratory problems.

Not convinced or want more information? There is a wealth of information available on the internet, a great place to start is Australian Nappy Network.

Guest Post from ecoMILF: Hot Cross Bun Recipe

2011-04-05T20:27:00.009+10:00

Meagan, from one of our favourite blogs ecoMILF, is first and foremost a mama to two gorgeous little ones, a wife, a green cleaner and vegetarian chef, a writer, a yoga teacher, an animal rights activist and creator of all things homemade. She enjoys shopping, vegan baking and her newfound hobbies- sewing, knitting and photography. You can find her playing hide and seek at the park, drawing with crayons, reading a book or feeding her newborn while sipping soy chai lattes and nibbling on fairtrade chocolate.

Easter is quickly approaching and a family tradition we have started is baking homemade hot cross buns. This is a perfect activity to get toddlers and children involved in, especially if breadmaking isn't something your normally do. They'll love to knead the dough, hide the sultanas inside, watch the dough rise, pound it down and of course, eat it! I still haven't figured out how to keep the crosses nice and white like the ones you get at the bakery, but ours still look visible and delicious.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 cup spelt flour
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 sachet yeast
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup raisins or currants or sultanas
3oz vegan margarine, (like nuttelex), melted
1 cup warm soy milk
warm water to add if needed

Crosses
2 tbs plain flour
1 tbs vegan margarine, chilled
Water

Glaze
2 tbs sugar
30ml water

Directions
Melt the margarine and add the soy milk to the pan until warm, put aside
Put all dry ingredients and sultanas in a bowl and stir
Add wet ingredients
Knead- dough should be wet and slightly sticky but not too sloppy. add more water to the dough if it is too dry.
Put back in a bowl and cover with a wet dishcloth and place in a warm place (an oven that is not in use but warm, a patch of sunlight etc, beside a heater or radiator) for an hour
After an hour punch the dough, take it out and knead again
Using flour so that the dough doesn't stick to your hands and surfaces, separate into 6 different pieces and shape into buns
Put each bun side by side so they are touching on a well-greased pan
Mix flour, margarine and some water to create a white paste, apply with a stick or brush or fingers to create cross markings on the buns
Glaze with a brush and sugary water if you'd like to

Pop into a preheated oven (preheat at 220˚C ) and decrease the temp. to 210˚C and let bake for 20-25 minutes until golden on top but not too doughy in the middle.

Enjoy!

xo m.

Looking After Baby’s Teeth

2011-03-23T12:06:00.004+11:00

To support a baby’s healthy diet, promote proper jaw formation, assist in speech development, and give the face a healthy appearance, you need to look after your baby’s teeth.

The best way keep the teeth healthy is to practice good oral habits as soon as their first batch of pearly whites appears, often around the child’s sixth month. So, arm yourself with the right tools to start your battle against cavities, namely a toothbrush and toothpaste.

For small babies we recommend a Silicone Finger Toothbrush by Green Sprouts. This soft and pliable finger toothbrush massages the baby’s gums as well as cleans the baby’s teeth and mouth. It is made from food-grade silicone and is free from chemicals such as BPA, PVC and Nitrosamine which can be harmful to your baby’s health.

The perfect companion for your baby’s finger toothbrush is Phyto Shield’s Ankle Biters Toothpaste. It comes in two yummy flavours – Wildberry and Bubble Trouble – so baby can have fun while learning how to brush. As babies like to eat anything that you put in their mouth, brushing their teeth with toothpaste allows them to freely swallow and can put your mind at ease.

Ankle Biters Toothpastes are free from synthetic chemical preservatives, bleach, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, parabens, and petrochemicals. It doesn’t contain sugar or any artificial flavorings which can harm your baby’s teeth. It is fluoride free and uses xylitol as the sweetener.

Just one thing to remember, it is best to brush baby’s teeth after their last drink of the day.

Signs That Your Baby is Teething

2011-03-16T07:00:00.001+11:00

How can you tell when your baby is starting to teethe?

In general, teething happens as early as 6 months and as late as 24 months of age. For some children, it can happen without much incident. For the unlucky ones, teething can cause quite a bit of pain and discomfort.

Often it all begins before you are ready for it, especially for first time mums. You realise that something isn’t quite right with your baby but can’t work out what it might be.

Here are the first signs that your child might be teething:

• A lot of drooling, which can occur up to two months before the first tooth appears
• Crankiness and increased irritability
• Gum swelling and tenderness
• Chewing on hard objects or their fingers a lot
• Loses his/her appetite and being particularly picky about food
• Rash developing around the mouth or chin (often due to the drooling)

To ease you baby’s discomfort you can massage your baby’s gums. Use a clean, damp washcloth to rub your baby’s gum with. You can also let them chew on a chilled teething ring to soothe any pain your baby is experiencing. You can also give them teething toys. Just make sure that when you buy a liquid-filled teether, it is durable and safe as it may break and leak from the pressure of your baby’s bite.

The perfect product to use is Baby Nova’s Magic Flower Teether. It’s a teether and toy rattle all in one! It twists in all directions which helps your baby develop his/her fine motor skills. It’s also phthalate, PVC, and BPA-free so you know it is safe to use.

Teething can be a difficult time to get through. Just be prepared and have the Magic Flower teether nearby.

Healthy Fundraising

2011-03-09T12:01:00.000+11:00

If you have any school-aged kids you will be very familiar with the idea of fundraising! How often have you been asked to take part in a fund raising drive and questioned some of the choices being offered to you – chocolates, lamingtons or other less than healthy options?

What if you could take part in a fundraising effort that was more educational, profitable, healthy and also fun for all concerned? Would you choose yet another lamington or would you consider a very exciting product that I stumbled across just the other day?

Seeds For The Future is a Melbourne based fundraiser that is quite different to anything that I have participated in before. Not only is it a healthy fundraiser, it is also an ethical and environmentally friendly one.

To raise funds for your cause you simply sell packets of organic seeds which are all sourced from Australian suppliers. The organic seeds come in a very attractive recycled paper packet and are printed with vegetable inks. All promotional material is also printed on recycled paper with vegetable inks and all of the packaging is recyclable.

Another benefit of Seeds For The Future is that they work with Disability Enterprises Australia, an organisation that provides real work opportunities for Australians living with a disability.

Seeds For The Future provides a platform from which we can teach our kids about a healthy and sustainable future. Why not give it a go the next time you need to raise some funds? What do you have to lose? Nothing! What do you have to gain? Everything as outlined above!

Guest Post from ecoMILF: The Sacred Bedtime Routine - Juggling a Baby and Toddler

2011-03-08T22:52:00.000+11:00

xo m.

Bamboo -Pyjama's with Style

2011-03-02T15:12:00.004+11:00

These gorgeous pyjama's are by Babyjo and made of 70% organic bamboo & 30% organic cotton. As the summer passes and the night temperature drops you can wrap your little one in the warmth and comfort of these stylish pyjamas.

The set consists of a beautiful kimono style wrap top, with contrasting "cocolatte" trim (adjustable depending on baby's size) and a gorgeous pair of relaxed pants with extra room for cloth nappy wearers. The waist is elasticised for comfort and to allow bubs to move without straining.

The set is available as single layer or double layer so whether it is warm or cool you will find a set to suit baby's needs.

Babyjo is an Australian owned company who design a luxurious collection of 100% bamboo fibre clothing and accessories for lucky bubs throughout Australia. Bamboo is an eco friendly and environmentally sustainable resource and is 100% biodegradable.

Benefits of eating organic food

2011-02-28T12:19:00.000+11:00

These days organic food is becoming quite mainstream: you can find organic baby food and formula, coffee, meat, dairy products, bread and fruit and vegetables in the aisles of your local supermarket.

So what are the benefits of eating organic food?

Keep chemicals off your plate and out of your body
The average non-organic fruit contains more than 20 pesticides. The chemicals used in conventional farming have been linked to several serious health problems including cancer.

Organically grown foods are richer in vitamins, minerals and fibre and they retain the levels of nutrients for a lot longer.

Taste
If a plant is taken care of and nourished without the use of chemicals it will clearly have an impact on the taste of the food. Organic food tastes fresher, is crispy and basically tastes like food should.

Environmental
Organic farming practices help prevent soil erosion, promotes bio-diversity and protects the water supply by preventing chemicals from the soil leaching into the water table.

Here is a recipe to try at home. The kids will love this especially when you use all organic ingredients. The taste is exciting!

Special Organic Macaroni Cheese
1 cup macaroni or other small shaped pasta (try wholegrain)
1 ½ cups milk
3T flour
2 cups grated cheese
1-2 cups assorted vegetables cut into bite-size pieces (such as cauliflower, broccoli, carrot)

1. Cook pasta according to directions on packet, drain and return to saucepan.
2. Gently steam vegetables until just tender
3. Whisk together milk and flour until there are no lumps
4. Put noodles back on stove and stir through milk and flour on low heat.
5. Continue stirring until mixture becomes thick and starts to bubble
6. Remove from heat and stir through cheese and vegetables.

The chemicals you DON"T see

2011-02-21T16:33:00.004+11:00

We spend a lot of time working out which products we can buy that are safe to use in our homes. on our bodies and around our children. What we sometimes miss are the simple things that look so innocent that they don't arouse our attention.

What am I talking about?

Let's think about cotton buds, for example. How innocent do they look? They are pure white and always associated with water and baby's skin so they must be safe, right?

That's where we mislead ourselves. The cotton used in those products comes directly from farms where they use pesticides. They then bleach the cotton to its lovely whiteness and process it through chemical-laden factories.

Why would you buy organic skin products only to apply them to your body using an applicator that is laced with toxic ingredients?

The Simpy Gentle range of applicators is made of pure, organic cotton. The company grows its cotton without artificial pesticides, while working in harmony with the environment to support biodiversity using a natural pest management system. Their farms have been certified by the Soil Association.

We stock Simply Gentle cotton buds, cotton wool and cotton pads. They are everything you will need for your bathroom.

Soft and Safe - organic cotton clothing

2011-02-16T06:56:00.000+11:00

In our previous post ‘What’s so good about organic products?’ We spoke in detail about organic farming vs. conventional farming practices and the reasons why you should buy organic food and clothing.

Aside from the farming aspect, when you look at and feel an item of organic clothing the difference is immediately obvious. With organic clothing the fabric lasts longer, is softer to touch, there is an obvious quality in the making of the garment, the fabric is more absorbent and there is a beauty, comfort and strength to the clothing.

And because absolutely no chemicals or bleaches have been used at any stage of the planting, farming, harvesting or manufacturing process you can be assured there will be no little nasties ingrained in the clothing you put on your baby and children.

All of our clothing is certified organic. This means that an independent organisation has inspected the company producing the clothing and they have met or exceeded the standards to be certified.

We have a gorgeous range of certified organic clothing, such as t-shirts from Barley and Birch which comes in some amazing colours and designs. There is a purple ‘Orca’ t-shirt, a blue ‘luna’ t-shirt and natural ‘polar bear’ t-shirt. All are coloured using water-based inks. They come in a range of sizes from 3 months up to 6.

Why not take a look at our great organic t-shirts and other clothing?

What’s so good about organic products?

2011-02-10T11:13:00.011+11:00

Many people have become conscious of what they are actually eating and introducing into their homes – chemical cocktails that can damage health and environment. They have started to think about organic products but for many it is a reactionary choice, not a considered decision.

What exactly is different about organic products? This description is from the website of Biological Farmers of Australia:

“Organic produce is grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals, fertilisers, or GMOs with a focus on environmentally sustainable practices.

Organic systems are an innovative method of farming and production focused on soil and land health, and balanced eco-systems. Techniques used in organic agriculture deliver a diverse range of benefits and their potential is increasingly being recognised in the development of sustainable food and fibre technology for the future.

Organic food is not just chemical-free. Organic farmers take a holistic approach to food production and handling, and the whole system is linked - Soil. Plants. Animals. Food. People. Environment. Health.”

What they are saying is that being organic means more than being pesticide-free. Organic products are created with respect to the environment and the people living within it. Organic farming means that the land remains healthy and full of nutrients so crops will grow well. It means that farm workers don’t have to risk their lives handling chemicals or tilling land that is laced with the chemicals of generations long gone. Did you know that there are more reported cases of cancer, respiratory problems and other major diseases in farm workers from non-organic farms? Sadly, some of these problems are only now showing up in the elder generations who were the children that were raised in these poisonous environments.

Why is it that farms and farmers children were always used as the image of health?

By now you are wondering how this applies to you. Well, it applies in exactly the same way. Every product that is grown with the aid of chemicals and fertilisers retains some of those chemicals within the end product. That means that the food you feed your children has traces of chemicals in it and the clothes that you buy are made of chemically grown and treated materials. These toxins make their way into your body and put you at risk of allergies and disease. Is that what you want for your family?

When you think about organic products, think past the fertilisers and look at the big picture. If we can do something to increase the demand for organic products we will reduce the damage to ourselves, the farmers, the manufacturers and the environment.

There is really no other choice to make, is there?

If you'd like to know more about why you should buy organic, go to Biological Farmers of Australia and find out some of the most important reasons that you should be buying organic.

The Totseat for Travel

2011-02-04T15:11:00.005+11:00

The Totseat chair harness is your perfect travel high chair. It adapts to fit chairs of various shapes and sizes, squashes into its own tiny travel pouch and it is completely machine washable.

Do you remember the old versions of travel high chairs? They were large and lumpy and very hard to carry around. They didn't fit every chair design, either, so there was no guarantee that you'd be able to eat wherever you went.

Sometimes parents had to take those seats that hook over the edge of a table and are held on by tightened screws. That is great until you attach it to a table that can't bear the weight!

This is the perfect solution. It is safe, portable and comfortable and is suitable for tots aged between 8 and 30 months.

While fabric "highchairs" have been around for years, Totseat has introduced some unique design innovations. Safe, comfy and funky, Totseat can be shortened or extended to fit all manner of high-backed, low-backed, stylish, traditional, weird or boring chairs. It fastens at the back with a fabulous plastic clip, which means dads won't get into a stew if a quick exit is required.

The unique detachable cummerbund provides back support, so the wee one will not slip backwards through the chair. It is completely washable, so juice stains, squashed broccoli and dribble are removed in an instant. Best of all, Totseat means that the lucky baby gets to sit in an adult chair and act all grown up.

The Totseat in our picture is made of a denim material but there are 4 other designs available in store now.

Guest Post from ecoMILF: what's all the fuss about BPA?

2011-02-01T21:23:00.016+11:00

BPA (Bisphenol A) is a key ingredient in the production of synthetic resins and polycarbonate plastics. It is believed to be harmful for our health because it is an endocrine disruptor which basically means it mimics our body's hormones (mainly, oestrogen). Latest research suggests infants and children are most sensitive to BPA’s effects because of their smaller bodies and their rapid rate of development.

We are exposed to BPA through canned foods, many plastic baby bottle brands and other household plastics. It has been found to leach into food and drinks especially if the plastic is reused and/or cleaned often (for example, bottles or anything else you load into the dishwasher on a regular basis). Although regulatory bodies have determined safety levels for humans, those safety levels are continually being reviewed as new scientific studies become available. Furthermore, many products are found to have levels of BPA that far surpass the recommended safety levels.

Green to Grow glass baby bottle

Although scientists have proved that we are very susceptible to ingesting BPA no one agrees as to how damaging (if at all) it is to our bodies. In my opinion, as a mother and environmentalist, the less plastic in my children’s lives, the better. We have replaced tupperware with glass and plastic bowls and cups with thrifted glass ones. But sometimes, there is no better alternative to plastic. For example, in the case of young infants and babies using cups or bottles, dummies, bowls, plates and cutlery. In this instance, I would urge you to choose BPA-free products.

Green Sprouts BPA free sippy cup

Above all else never, ever put plastic containers in a microwave. Plastics labelled ‘microwave safe’ are only labelled thus because they won’t melt, alight or burn you if zapped in the microwave. However, as they are heated, the chemical bonds (BPA) degrade and are released into your food.

Baby Nova BPA free weaning spoons

For more information on BPA see the Australian and New Zealand Food Safety site and go from there. I hope this was of help, cleared up a few questions you have about BPA and has given you a bit more information in order to make an informed decision as to what plastic products you allow to enter into your family’s daily lives.

xo m.

Eco-friendly Schools

2011-01-26T15:53:00.013+11:00

One of the great changes in recent times has been the increased emphasis and education within schools and kinders about the environment.

One school that has had a fascinating opportunity is a little Victorian school - Darraweit Guim Primary. Students were able to learn about platypus research and discover how scientists go about studying nature when biologists from the Australian Platypus Conservancy came to work with them.

Picture Source: einalem and Animal Photos!

The students were shown how to observe platypus in the wild and how to assess the quality of their habitat. The school is built on Deep Creek which is a known hangout for the platypus! The beauty of this project is that the children were learning about nature within their own environment. That makes it very real, doesn't it?

Not every school is lucky enough to be located in such an environment but there are still lots of things they can do to educate kids about their effect on the land. Eco Clubs are a great way to make it real. Eco Clubs encourage schools to plant vegetable gardens and create worm farms. They try to get kids as young as 3 involved in a 'hands on' way. That is the best way for children to learn, after all.

The school year is starting now. If your school or kindergarten doesn't have some form of environmental education why not suggest that they form an Eco-Club? The Eco-Club website has lots of ideas that suit children from Kinder age and up.

Looking after Mum when baby starts school.

2011-01-21T11:23:00.008+11:00

The first day of school or kindergarten is a big day in a child's life. As parents, we spend a long time preparing our kids for school, making sure that they have the right books and the right uniform for the day. We make sure that our children have a friend in their class so that they don't feel so alone. We even introduce our children to the teacher so that it isn't all too scary.

Gee that is a lot of preparation, isn't it? But you've forgotten something. What could it be?

Oh yes, you've forgotten about YOU.

This is a big day for you, too. Even if this is your 15th child starting school and you are used to the whole routine, you know you will still miss your child once they've gone.

Here are a few tips for mums whose children are starting school. Tney are written by experienced mums so they know what they are talking about.

1. Bring the tissues. No matter how relieved you think you'll be when they start school, the tears come out of nowhere. Don't be caught short. Keep some in your bag and some in the car.

2. Don't cry in front of your child. It will only confuse them and they will be feeling nervous enough already. If they haven't seen you cry before it will worry them a lot.

3. If your child cries just keep on going. They DO stop eventually and in most cases they stop as soon as you are out of sight.

4. Don't drive straight home. If you can't see clearly, pull over and have a good cry.

5. Before the big day arrives, make an appointment with your friends for morning coffee and support. You can all cry into your coffee together.

6. Make sure that your first week is a busy one. The last thing you want to be doing is sitting around missing your child.

7. Set your alarm clock for pickup time. Your times will be all out of whack for a while. The alarm clock will remind you to go and pick your child up.

Finally, we also have a few tips for the Mums who won't be teary on the big day.

!. It is not acceptable to kick your heels in the air and dance with glee in front of your child as you leave him or her behind!

2. Laughing at the crying mums is not acceptable unless it is accompanied by a soft shoulder or a hot cuppa.

3. Don't be surprised to feel a tear try to sneak out no matter how happy you are. It's OK though. You can fight it off with the thought of your first peaceful and uninterrupted coffee at home in years.

In all seriousness, this is a milestone for you and your child. Don't forget to give yourself some TLC.

Guest Post from ecoMILF: an eco-friendly day at the beach

2011-01-17T23:42:00.020+11:00

Meagan, from ecoMILF, is first and foremost a mama to two gorgeous little ones, a wife, a green cleaner and vegetarian chef, a writer, a yoga teacher, an animal rights activist and creator of all things homemade. She enjoys shopping, vegan baking and her newfound hobbies- sewing, knitting and photography. You can find her playing hide and seek at the park, drawing with crayons, reading a book or feeding her newborn while sipping soy chai lattes and nibbling on fairtrade chocolate.

An outing to the beach is something our family really enjoys on a Saturday morning. We pack up the gear (and let's face it, with every additional child there is a mass amount of 'gear' to bring!) and head out bright and early before it gets too hot.

eco-friendly beach toys made from recycled milk containers

Here is a little packing check list I have devised and that I go over before we head out to enjoy the sunshine and salt water

Essentials
towels
beach blanket
umbrella or tent
hats
sunglasses
bathers for everyone
beach shoes for North in case he wants to explore the sharp rocky area in the shallows
extra underwear and shorts for North
PUL bags (from cloth nappies) or little cloth bags for wet bathings suits
natural sunscreen
Indigo's nappy bag with cloth nappies, cloth wipes and water in a spray bottle (amongst other things!)

Entertainment
eco-friendly sand toys
spray bottles for chasing
a collector's basket or bag for North to put shells and rocks in
a newspaper
some knitting

Sustenance
stainless steel water bottles
lunchboxes filled with sliced fruit, cubed cheese, crackers and hummus
coconut water
our portable coffee cups in case we want to grab a takeaway coffee at the shops
a little plastic bag in case we have any garbage that needs to be thrown out

We carry as much as we can in mesh bags and baskets so that we collect as little sand as possible while we're out. We usually stay until about 11:15 and then after that it gets too hot for any of us to bear.

A nice change of beat is to occasionally go to the beach in the evenings with your little ones. They can watch the sunset (something young children rarely experience because of early bedtimes), observe the quiet calm and the soothing echo of the waves crashing. They might even see a few more creatures out along the beach like jellyfish, crabs and even turtles.

I hope you are all able to get to out with your little ones this summer, how lucky we are to live in a country with such gorgeous beaches!

xo m.

Time for a new Lunchbox?

2011-01-13T13:38:00.006+11:00

It is that time of year when parents are scrambling to gather books, pencils and uniforms in time for their kids to go back to school. No matter how environmentally aware we are in our buying decisions, the school lunchbox is often the one thing that slips through.

Supermarkets have shelves full of bright, colourful plastic lunch bags and boxes to choose from. The only problem is that they all cause damage to the environment and possibly to your children's health.

Our stainless steel ECO Lunchboxes are the solution. Manufactured using food grade 18/8 stainless steel, the ECO Lunchbox is waste free, plastic free, BPA free, vinyl free and PVC free. Independent testing has also shown that the ECO Lunchbox is lead free. Plus the stainless steel containers will not retain stains, odors or residues.

These are tough boxes that will hold a good sized lunch. They are great to toss into the school bag and you won't have to worry about them cracking, as plastic ones do over time. Even better, the lids are easy to get on and off and the clips won't hurt little fingers. The lids are pressure fitted to keep lunches fresh.

Our Eco Lunchbox Rectangle set is fantastic. It is a 3 piece set that clips together. You have 2 separate boxes and inside the top is a third and smaller box. One for sandwiches, one for fruit and one for snacks!

The ECO Lunchbox also comes in oval and while you are thinking about it, why not buy a stainless steel bottle to match? Just look through our range at 'out and about'.

Guest Post from ecoMILF: Why Choose Organic Cotton?

2011-01-03T14:47:00.013+11:00

Barley and Birch Organic Cotton T-Shirt

Cotton plays a huge role in our daily lives. As I look around the room right now, there is not a corner of my home that does not have something cotton-based. Most of our wardrobe, our linens, even toys, nappies and accessories are made from cotton. But, we’re not eating cotton, so why is it so important to choose organic? Here is some basic information about the cotton industry today to give you a bit more insight into how so many of our things are produced.

Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used more on cotton crops than any other domesticated crop.

Fertilizers ruin the natural productivity and nutrients in the soil, making it useless for any kind of agriculture after only a few years, contributing to the problem of desertification.
Pesticides kill everything in their path, including beneficial species of insects and animals. Pesticides also infiltrate the air, surface waters and food chain, building up over time in every living organism’s system (including human’s).
The use of pesticides and fertilizers expose farm workers to these harmful chemicals on a daily basis, negatively affecting their health, happiness and well-being.

Most conventional cotton is grown with genetically modified seeds.

*this puts the power of production into the hands of large organisations who patent the seed, and limit it’s biodiversity and natural evolution.

The Organic Trade Association (based in the USA) states that, “Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming.”

Although there are very few Australian Organic Cotton crops today, I believe it is still important to support the organic cotton industry by investing in ethically and responsibly grown and produced fabrics. As the consumer demand for organic cotton grows, the monetary support and research will be provided to support farmers to make the switch from conventional practices to organic ones.

Finally, from a purely materialistic point of view, organic cotton clothing and linen is, in my opinion far softer and more comfortable to wear. It is generally thinner and more breathable than it’s conventional counterparts.

For more, visit the Biological Farmer’s Association for loads of information about everything organic and Australian.

Make and Mend Organic Cotton Dress

Guest Post from ecoMILF: Dairy-Free Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

2010-12-21T21:02:00.008+11:00

Meagan, from ecoMILF, is first and foremost a mama to two gorgeous little ones, a wife, a green cleaner and vegetarian chef, a writer, a yoga teacher, an animal rights activist and creator of all things homemade. She enjoys shopping, vegan baking and her newfound hobbies- sewing, knitting and photography. You can find her playing hide and seek at the park, drawing with crayons, reading a book or feeding her newborn while sipping soy chai lattes and nibbling on fairtrade chocolate.

No Christmas holiday in our home is complete without enjoying some gingerbread. Here's a more healthy version of this delicious treat. The molasses are full of iron making this a great addition to a vegetarian family's repertoire.

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups spelt flour
1 cup white or whole wheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder1 tsp baking soda1/2 tbsp cinnamon1 tbsp ground ginger½ tsp nutmeg½ tsp clovespinch salt3/4 cup dark agave nectar¼ cup maple syrup
1 free range organic egg
1/4 cup sunflower oil1 tbsp vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat the oven for 180˚C.
Line baking trays. Mix dry ingredients together. Then add wet ingredients and combine. Add enough flour to create a dough that is not too sticky- you may want to add more
Roll out and cut into desired shapes. Add currants for eyes and buttons- but make sure they are well pressed into the dough so they don't dry out and burn.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Guest Post from ecoMILF: Alternatives to wrapping paper during the gift-giving season

2010-12-07T21:22:00.014+11:00

Meagan, from ecoMILF, is first and foremost a mama to two gorgeous little ones, a wife, a green cleaner and vegetarian chef, a writer, a yoga teacher, an animal rights activist and creator of all things homemade. She enjoys shopping, vegan baking and her newfound hobbies- sewing, knitting and photography. You can find her playing hide and seek at the park, drawing with crayons, reading a book or feeding her newborn while sipping soy chai lattes and nibbling on fairtrade chocolate.

Christmas is quickly approaching and we are all running around collecting presents for each and every loved one. Sadly, wrapping each and every present in shiny new paper is one of the most wasteful parts of the holiday season. So many of the presents we are giving are already overpackaged without the addition of another layer of paper to decorate. But, gift wrapping can be a little more eco-friendly with some creativity and inspiration.

Here are a few alternatives to wrapping paper you might like to use this season.

* Put your presents in beautiful homemade or bought green shopping bags- this way you are giving two gifts- the original and a bag for your loved one to carry her groceries in!

* Wrap with thrifted or repurposed fabric- if you know anyone who is crafty or who sews this is a wonderful way to save paper and offer your creative friend some more flair to add to her fabric repertoire.

* Recycle bows, wrapping paper and bags - no matter how many times I ask people not to wrap presents for our family, we still end up with piles of paper, bows and bags. If this is the case I very carefully remove the paper and save everything to use again.

* Although the greenest wrapping paper is no wrapping paper at all, if you feel you absolutely must wrap your presents, there are many companies that sell recycled tissue paper and gift wrap.

* Wrap it up with your children's art work. My son North, draws and paints at least once a week and there is only so much wall space for all of his creations. We have a little drawer in our home where I keep his old creations to use for gift wrapping on any occasion.

* Old Magazines and newspapers can be dressed up with ribbon, bows and yarn.

* Buy thrifted colouring books for your kids and wrap children's presents in colouring-in pages. When they open the presents tell them not to tear the paper and they can save it for drawing.

* Tie some thick yarn into a bow and wrap it around larger presents, you can embellish with a small brach off a pine tree, a flower or some beautiful bark for beauty, texture and a touch of nature.

* Make your own thrifted book gift bags. I posted this tutorial last year. I used old children's golden books from the Op Shop and some thrifted thread and ribbon.

Do you have any other suggestions? Please share them below!

Guest Post from ecoMILF: Frequently Asked Questions about Cloth Nappies

2010-11-22T21:18:00.006+11:00

I am so excited to introduce Meagan from ecoMILF as our guest blogger!

Meagan is first and foremost a mama to two gorgeous little ones, a wife, a green cleaner and vegetarian chef, a writer, a yoga teacher, an animal rights activist and creator of all things homemade. She enjoys shopping, vegan baking and her newfound hobbies- sewing, knitting and photography. You can find her playing hide and seek at the park, drawing with crayons, reading a book or feeding her newborn while sipping soy chai lattes and nibbling on fairtrade chocolate.

I started my first child in cloth nappies when he was 6 months old and I always say, I wish I’d made the change sooner. I immediately noticed that he had a smoother and drier bottom, but above all else that huge pit the bottom of my stomach, caused by throwing away countless bags of disposable nappies, completely disappeared.

When other mothers see me out and about changing my little one they often have a lot of questions about how cloth nappies work and of course I am happy to unveil the mystery behind them.

How do they work? Do you need safety pins?

The most commonly used cloth nappy is called an MCN- modern cloth nappy. MCNs include the liner which surrounds and wicks moisture away from your little one’s bottom, the outside waterproof shell and an insert to absorb the majority of the mess. They are usually done-up with plastic snaps or velcro, enabling you to adjust the size according to your munchkin. I highly recommend pocket nappies as they are easy to put on, can be readjusted depending on the size of your baby, are highly efficient and easy to clean. They come with two pieces- a liner/shell and an insert. After being washed you simply insert the liner into the shell and your nappy is ready.

How many nappies do I need?

We have two sets of nappies in our home- a set of 14 for babies from about 1 to 8 months, and a set of 10 for toddlers from about 6 months to 2 years. You basically want as many as you’d need for two or three days/nights worth of changing. That way you don’t have to constantly be washing them. I always keep three in the nappy bag with washable wet bags.

How do you clean them?

My newborn is still only breastfeeding, so her stools are still sweet smelling and small. I simply throw the nappies into a dry bucket (no need for soaking) and on washing day I chuck them all in (as they are) to the washing machine on a warm and strong setting. They always come out looking brand new. Because our son was older, and on solids when we started him in cloth nappies, I used a biodegradable and flushable liner in the mornings (when I knew he was due for a bowel movement) to eliminate most of the mess. Then when it came to washing day I put them on a ‘quick rinse’ cycle before washing them normally.

How much are they?

They can range from $20-$40/nappy which seems steep, but I assure you it’s a rewarding investment. If you buy a set of 14 (that lasts you a year, or often more) for $25 each you’re spending $350. A box of approximately 100 huggies nappies costs $45. If you use an average of 6 nappies/day (a very modest estimate), you’re spending $985.50 a year on nappies. That’s a minimum savings of $635.50.

Any other tips?

I always tell people who are interested in using cloth nappies to wash, wash, wash them before they start using them!! The more they are washed, the more absorbent the fabrics become. So, don’t be discouraged if you experience a few leaks for the first week or two. For nighttime wear you have the option of adding extra inserts if need be, but I never felt the need for this.

I absolutely adore our cloth nappies. I honestly believe this is one of the greenest and most effortless changes we have made as a family trying to tread a little more lightly on this earth. If you have any questions about our experience with them please don’t hesitate to contact me at ecomilf[at]me.com. It’s never too late to make the switch over to cloth. If you have a one year old, remember you still have at least another year of nappies to change. Not a lovely thought, but a better one when you take away all the waste involved with disposables.

The GREAT Kids Fashion Hunt!

2010-10-02T21:57:00.006+10:00

We are very excited to be part of the next GREAT Kids Fashion Hunt; brought to you by the fabulous girls over at Kids Fashion Review.

Starting November 1st, this game entails a free eScavenger hunt with hunters having the chance to win some fabulous prizes along the way.

Visit http://www.kidsfashionreview.com/ for more info. What fun! :)

MUSIC: Tim Orgias - Big Dream

2010-06-10T14:34:00.008+10:00

So I have recently stumbled across music by Tim Orgias; and I am absolutely loving it so I thought I would share the love with you fine folk! :)

I am a big fan of Jack Johnson and Tim's music is very similar - very soulful and earthy. Although he has one up on Jack Johnson - he's an Aussie. And I love to support everything local!!

You can hear the tracks from his debut album here, and purchase a copy here.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we are at the moment!

Have you seen the Amberease Baltic Amber Teething Bracelets and Necklaces?

2010-01-25T13:05:00.012+11:00

Firstly...............I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update the blog. The second half of 2009 went by in a flash with a new arrival to the Modern Little Munchkins family (our little baby Charlie was born in September) and then a crazy lead-up to Christmas and the New Year. So here we are, back on deck with a new product that we would like to showcase.............

Amberease Baltic Amber Teething Bracelets and Necklaces!

Wearing Baltic amber close to the skin is a traditional European remedy for baby teething. A natural analgesic, amber will help calm a baby without resorting to drugs. Used for centuries in Europe, amber's natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties are perfect to soothe teething babies. Amber is a fossilized resin, which warms against the skin, releasing its therapeutic properties safely and naturally.

Baltic amber teething bracelets and necklaces are made for wearing (not chewing) when a baby or toddler is teething. The warmth of the skin releases the active ingredient in the Baltic amber, succinic acid. Recent scientific research has proved that succinic acid has a very positive influence on the human body. It improves immunity and the balance of acids when absorbed into the bloodstream, it stimulates the thyroid glands to help reduce drooling and soothes inflamed red cheeks. Amber's anti-inflammatory and therapeutic properties are recognised by allopathic medicine as a natural analgesic, which will help to relieve teething pain and calm a baby without resorting to drugs. The skin's warmth releases healing oils from the amber, a resin, which is absorbed into the bloodstream.

The Amberease amber teething bracelets and necklaces are sourced directly from Poland and are made of genuine Baltic amber.

What is amber?
Amber is the fossilized resin of ancient trees. Although it is considered a gem, amber is a wholly organic material derived from the resin of extinct species of trees. It is found on the shores of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Amber is not a stone, so it is warm to the touch, and warm against the skin, and is comfortable and lightweight to wear.

SAFETY
The Amberease amber teething bracelet and necklace should always be used under direct adult supervision.
Amber teething bracelets and necklaces are designed for wearing against the skin, and do not need to be placed in the mouth for effectiveness. Please do not allow your baby to chew on the teething bracelet or necklace.
Please also note that as the amber teething bracelet and necklace have small beads, the Australian distributors (Ethman Enterprises Pty Ltd) are legally required to recommend that bracelets and necklaces are not suitable for children under 36 months. However, each bracelet and necklace has been handcrafted, using the highest quality materials with babies and toddlers in mind. All bracelets and necklaces are fastened with a screw clasp, designed to break if placed under stress, although it shouldn't break during normal use. Each bead has a knot before and after it, so that in the event that the bracelet or necklace does break (and it will do if the need arises) only one bead will come off. In the event that a bead is swallowed, please be assured that amber is a non-toxic natural product. Traditionally, amber was ground and taken internally in medicinal mixtures.
Never leave your baby unattended while wearing the amber teething bracelet or necklace, and please remove the bracelet or necklace for sleeps and any period when your baby is unsupervised.
In the unlikely event that your baby has an allergic reaction, rash, itching or discolouration of the skin, please discontinue use.

When can my baby begin using the teething bracelet or necklace?
Babies can use amber bracelets and necklaces from birth. Although teething does not usually begin until babies are a few months old, if you start using the bracelet or necklace early, your baby will become used to it and not notice that it is there. Likewise, an older child can use the bracelet or necklace while it fits.

Caring for your amber bracelet and necklace
Before using the amber teething bracelet or necklace for the first time, please wash gently in soapy water, rinse with lukewarm water and allow it to airdry. Please do not use any harsh cleaners on this product.
Prolonged contact with water is not recommended, so as to keep the cord in the best condition. Please remove the bracelet or necklace before having a bath or swimming.
With correct care, amber teething bracelets and necklaces will last for a long time, and can be used on more than one child.

What does amber do?
Amber can reduce red, inflamed cheeks and drooling. It has been reputed to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, accelerate wound healing, reduce inflammation of the throat, ear and stomach, and assist with respiratory infection. Amber is considered to be a powerful chakra cleanser and healer and have calming, healing and uplifting effects. It may also help children who are dealing with pain, inflammation and stress.
You can warm the beads in the sun before your baby wears it to increase the effectiveness of the amber.

Has there been any research done on Amber?
Yes. Pharmacists and doctors have long known about the healing properties of amber which include calmative, analgesic, antispasmodic, expectorant, and febrifuge (anti-fever) functions. The active ingredient in amber is succinic acid, which was analysed by the pioneer of modern bacteriology, Nobel-prize winner Robert Koch (1886), who confirmed its positive influence. Recent scientific research has confirmed that succinic acid has a very positive influence on the human organism.
In the 1930s and 40s, European biochemists discovered that succinic acid is an amino acid created naturally in every cell of the body capable of aerobic respiration, participating in the citric acid, or Krebs cycle. This is how carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are metabolized into energy. A powerful antioxidant that helps fight toxic free radicals and disruptions of the cardiac rhythm, succinic acid has been shown to stimulate neural system recovery and bolster the immune system. It also helps compensate for energy drain in the body and brain, boosting awareness, concentration and reflexes, and reducing stress.

Interestingly, in Austria, Switzerland and Germany amber bracelets and necklaces are sold in local pharmacies.

Now, if you have any questions at all in relation to the Amberease products, please email us at info@modernlittlemunchkins.com.au.

Ecobonkie by Baby Bonkie

2009-08-22T13:32:00.011+10:00

I am so excited about the fact that we now stock the entire range of Ecobonkie's made by Baby Bonkie!

The Ecobonkie swaddle blanket is designed to help infants stay wrapped up through the night allowing more uninterrupted sleep. The innovative design makes swaddling simple thanks to its unique shape and Velcro closures. All Ecobonkie swaddles are machine washable and have 100% certified organic cotton exteriors and linings.

They come in a great range of designs and are very popular as a gift for a newborn.

Fabric swatches:

And they are so easy to use:

Step 1: Place the Ecobonkie on a flat surface. Lay your baby so that his/her legs are in the enclosed circular bottom portion.

Step 2: Starting with left flap, fold over and fasten with Velcro tabs.

Step 3: Now fold right flap and fasten with Velcro tabs.

Easy peasy!!

Green to Grow BPA-Free Baby Bottles - "Just the milk, please. Hold the chemicals."

2009-07-16T12:20:00.005+10:00

Green to Grow BPA-Free Baby Bottles are now available at Modern Little Munchkins!

BPA stands for Bisphenol A, which is a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, from which most baby bottles are made.

From the founders of Green to Grow:

"Our decision to launch Green to Grow with a line of bisphenol A-free plastic baby bottles grew from our alarm as we read reports that highlighted the potential dangers presented by polycarbonate plastic, which contains the hormone disruptor bisphenol A—a neurological, developmental, and reproductive toxicant—and from our frustration over the lack of options. We believed concerned parents like us would welcome safer alternatives, even if they cost more due to the higher price of the raw materials used. And to ensure the highest level of quality and safety, we decided to have our bottles periodically spot tested for bisphenol A, phthalates, and lead at an environmental laboratory in Chicago, Illinois."

I used the Green to Grow bottles for my son, Harry and have just got them out again in readiness for bub no. 2. They look as good as new and have never leaked - definitely worth the investment (and piece of mind knowing they are BPA Free)!

Massive Half Yearly Clearance On Now!

2009-06-12T21:08:00.015+10:00

Grab yourself a bargain in our Half Yearly Clearance which is on from now until June 30 or while stocks last. This is our biggest sale ever!!

There is 70% off Abe Jones Designs, Eco Peko, eight3one, Heavenly Creatures, Tkxi Surf, Willow & Finn, Wonderboy and selected Itch Design.

For the boys, you can't go past the Wonderboy Santorini Button Up shirt for $16.49!

And for the girls check out the Abe Jones Designs Runway Bubble Skirt which is also $16.49!

The complete range of funky eight3one tees is also on sale - priced at $9.89!

Mathilda's Market

2009-05-30T14:24:00.010+10:00

Mathilda's Market is a fabulous niche market that offers unique, stylish and affordable baby & kids goods that are lovingly handmade or from limited production line. The retailers are hand pick to ensure an exciting product range, and most of them do not have a shop front, so you know you'll find something special, not available anywhere else. Mathilda’s Market is coming up in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth in June & July. With up to 70 gorgeous stalls, yummy food, free kids entertainment, this is a fantastic day out for young & old. For a sneak peek, have a look at the gallery on Mathilda’s Market website (http://www.mathildasmarket.com.au/) and enjoy browse through past Markets.

Fabulous 5K Giveaway!!

2009-04-14T12:08:00.008+10:00

Check out this great competition from Baby Bites, Skout, Style Collective & Tot Trends Weekly!

Introducing Babyjo Bamboo Wear

2009-04-13T05:14:00.012+10:00

Babyjo Bamboo Wear is now available at Modern Little Munchkins. Bamboo has the most luxurious feel to it; it's so soft - perfect for baby's skin! It actually "wicks" moisture away from the body to keep baby's skin clean and comfortable.

Their gorgeous range includes clothing essentials and beautiful 2 layer bamboo/organic cotton blankets for summer or winter. (I will definitely be holding onto one of these for bub number 2).

Babyjo Bamboo Wear is an Australian owned business - started by a mum who's baby suffered from eczema. After falling in love with bamboo fibre she decided to provide a range of bamboo items perfect for all little ones. (This range would be perfect as a gift for a newborn!).

Some facts about Bamboo:
* Organically Grown
* Eco friendly and 100% Biodegradable
* Softer than the softest Cotton
* Naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antistatic
* 3 times more absorbent than cotton
* Odour resistant
* Soothing for eczema and allergy sufferers - has shown effective relief for these problems
* Highly breathable and thermo regulating - 2-3 degrees warmer or cooler in summer or winter * UV Resisting

Great News - Little Innoscents Price Decrease!

2009-03-02T10:32:00.010+11:00

Antonette Golikidis at Little Innoscents has given us some fantastic news; all the beautiful certified organic baby products in the Little Innoscents range are now even more affordable - yes the price is going down, not up! (With the economic climate shift and more consumers tightening the spending belt, this decrease has come at a perfect time).

Antonette has said the following: "Our products continue to have the same great ingredients and the same level of certified organic content but are now more affordable. It is our sincere hope that you will still enjoy the benefits of our products and continue to promote them as an Australian made babycare range that is setting the standards and making a difference".

The Little Innoscents range is not only organic, but effective in treating ailments, environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

Check out our website for the new prices; free samples are available with any order - in the "Special Instructions" box at checkout please let us know what you would like to try (up to 3 per household).

Facebook Fundraising for the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal

2009-02-17T11:17:00.004+11:00

Along with a number of other fine businesses, Modern Little Munchkins is supporting the Red Cross Victorian Bushfires Appeal by donating 20 cents for every person who signs up to our Facebook page before 25 February 2009.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Modern-Little-Munchkins/68747731398#

Check out the wall post for other businesses that are participating in this great initiative! Thanks for your support. :)

WOTNOT Baby Range

2008-12-23T21:17:00.020+11:00

WOTNOT is a fantastic Australian brand that offers parents natural and environmentally friendly baby products; their products are free from sulphates, petrochemicals, parabens, artificial preservatives and fragrances.

In addition to the WOTNOT Baby Wipes (which I love!), I am pleased to say that we are now stocking the WOTNOT Sunscreen and WOTNOT Bio Nappy Bags.

The baby wipes are 100% biodegradable and compostable. They are enriched with Australian certified organic aloe vera to gently cleanse even the most delicate skin. They are 100% chlorine free. They are generous in size and I have found them to be quite 'tough'.

The nappy bags are 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable; perfect for using with biodegradable nappies. Before switching to WOTNOT I was using bio nappy bags that I bought from the local supermarket; they were so thin that most times I needed to use two bags per nappy. This is definitely not the case with the WOTNOT nappy bags!

The 30+ SPF sunscreen contains 100% natural and organic ingredients. It is free from Titanium dioxide which can cause the skin condition miliaria, provides broad spectrum protection against UV-A and UV-B and is self preserving - no artificial preservatives. (Sunscreen is so important for babies delicate skin all year round!).

Growing Up Green blog

2008-12-11T19:07:00.004+11:00

Growing Up Green is a fabulous Australian blog that finds all types of quirky eco products for kids. I love visiting it to find out what new items Raquel has discovered. (How cool are the "Beeswax Colouring Blocks for Little Hands").

Check out what she recently said about our eight3one 0rganic onesies

Welcome, welcome, welcome!!

2008-11-28T15:10:00.005+11:00

Welcome to the first post of the Modern Little Munchkins' blog and my first blog post ever!!

I will be using this blog to showcase our designers and brands and for general chat about kids fashion, living green and whatever else may come up.

Along the way, if there is anything that I can help you with please let me know by emailing info@modernlittlemunchkins.com.au or calling 1300 781 918. (I am always keen for a chat!)

Stay safe!

Louisa