Stonyfield and Ecostore USA Winners

The winner of the Stonyfield Prize pack is:

Thank you for responding Julie.

The winner of the $25 Ecostore USA gift certificate is:

You have been contacted by e-mail and have 48 hours to respond, otherwise a different winner will be chosen. Thanks everyone for participating and come back later for more giveaways!

Original Rubber Duck Review

My darling 10 month old loves playing with rubber duckies during bath time. My only concern was that the duckies she was playing with were not real rubber duckies, they were plastic. Though they might look alright, nobody knows what is lurking in the toxic material - phthalates? BPA? All of the above? I would never know. It wouldn't be so bad if she was just playing with them, but she chews and kisses, and smothers them! So I fortunately stumbled upon the Original Rubber Duck, made of the natural latex of the rubber tree. Before the onslaught of plastic, many toys and pacifiers were made of natural rubber. I even remember them from my childhood days in Russia.

Rich Frog was kind enough to send us the Original Rubber Duck (standing) for review. You should have seen my daughter's face when she saw it! Moreover, her face when she took it in her hands and it squeaked! Oh the delight! It is officially her favorite toy. This is not you average duck, it is very very soft. Think of a latex glove. Now think of this material being similar but about five times thicker. That makes it very squishy. With the squeaker it makes an airy squeak sound reminiscent of rubber ducks from long ago, before they were made from PVC.

Though it is not recommended for children under 3 (in the event the squeaker comes out), it really is great for teething. I never leave my girl with it unsupervised and it has been great for soothing her irritated gums. My daughter does not have a single tooth, but we actually had a play date with a girl who already has teeth and is two months older. When she came over and saw the Original Rubber Duck she would not let it go for the next hour! I was concerned she might chew something off, not a chance, this rubber ducky can withstand some serious gnawing!


At around $8 it is a great stocking stuffer or part of a baby shower gift. In the link below you'll see they have several options of ducks sitting, standing, reading, cooking, as well as the giant rubber duck! For the adults on your list who are children at heart ;)

Original Rubber Duck from Rich Frog

Livie and Luca Review

Aren't baby shoes the most adorable thing?! If you're not sure just take a look at the Livie and Luca shoes! They are so stinking cute I wish they made them in my size ;) If only technology would catch up and I could let you feel how buttery soft the leather is!

Livie and Luca sent us the London Boot in orange for review on Eco-Babyz (thank you!). Here is the thing with baby shoes. I know that the best thing for baby feet is natural materials, like leather, and of course flexible soles. I also know that baby's feet grow so quick, they only wear a pair of shoes a few times - if you have several pairs. So based solely on my [self proclaimed expert] opinion I will tell you that all your baby needs is one or two pairs of quality shoes for each season of the year. Well, three at the most depending on the weather (here in the Northeast it changes every hour). This is much more practical, cost effective, and healthy for your baby's feet than having many pairs of poor quality shoes that are uncomfortable to wear. Not to mention more sustainable than consumerism tendencies.

Quality & Design: The moment you take these into your hand and look at them closely you will know that these are high quality shoes. This does not come out of your average factory in China, but yes they are from China. For more clarification on that read the sustainability section and visit their website. They are very well stitched, of the highest quality leathers, and very well designed. I've come across many baby shoes that are poorly designed and leave no room for little toes. These on the other hand are not flat in the front, there is room for those chubby little feet like my daughter's. As for looks, they are truly adorable, and my daughter thought they were something to nibble on when she first saw them. Before we received them I actually showed her the picture on the website and she clapped her hands - a sign of approval! I love that each pair is truly one of a kind because they are handmade! They have a very authentic artisan feel to them, like something you would buy in a European village tourist market.

Fit & Comfort: Unfortunately, I could not try these on myself to tell you how comfortable they are! They are a little big on my daughter as you can see in the photos, but I was surprised that despite the size she was walking (holding on to me) in the them better than in her well fitting but cheap fabric shoes/slippers with suede sole. She seemed to have a lot more confidence in her step with these. I have only one small concern with putting them on. While it wasn't too much trouble now that they are a little big on her, I anticipate that when her foot fits these shoes it will be hard to put them on as the opening is a little narrow. The velcro makes it an easy on and off, but if it opened out just a tad more, even a quarter of an inch, it would help immensely. Maybe my baby just has really chubby feet? ;)

Company: I am all for companies started by moms. Who knows, maybe one day I would launch my own product! Livie and Luca is the child of three mothers who could not find affordable, high quality, comfortable, and attractive shoes for their babies - hence they decided to start this company themselves and fill the void of children's shoes that fell into all those categories. Even if I would have to pay a couple of bucks extra it seems as though it is worth supporting such a company with my future purchases. They help communities through fundraisers and have a program for donating gently worn shoes to children in Honduras, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Also, 10% of their on-line sales is donated to charity.

Sustainability: Livie and Luca are setting a great example to other companies with their sustainable practices. First let me address the China issue. The company owners have personally spent extended periods of time in the factories where these shoes are made to be sure they are satisfied with the process, the treatment or workers, and the management. Actually looks like the workers in that factory are better off than most Americans today. Competitive wages, seven hour work days (6 days a week), and housing for those who do not live locally. You can read more about it on their website. Personally, I would love to see some photos of the process and the workers at work on the website as well. It would make it more personal. It is great to know that they use high quality leather scraps that would otherwise be discarded, the landfills are full as is. They also use non-toxic shoe glue. Oh, and if you noticed in the photo - the cute reusable bag is the packaging!

VISIT LIVIE AND LUCA

Disclaimer:

I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service. The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

Richard Gale and Dr. J. Anthony Morris on the Flu Vaccine

Each time I think of a blogging subject I end up writing about something serious. Oh when will the day come when I can write on light-hearted topics? I just can't keep my findings to myself. I feel like I would be betraying my readers and contributing to the number of people who are unaware of our government toying with our health.

There are some things to consider about the so called Swine Flu before you even think about getting vaccinated against it. No, this is not something your doctor will discuss with you. In fact, it is likely you will know next to nothing about what is injected into your bloodstream unless you do your own research. I am not telling you not to get vaccinated, I am telling you to educate yourself before you make such a bold decision about your health. I am no doctor and this article is not to be taken as medical advice!

Richard Gale is a former Senior Research Analyst in the biotechnology and genomic industries. He and Dr. Gary Null write about the widespread media tactic of highlighting the 'scarcity' of the vaccine to frighten people into getting vaccinated as soon as a dose is available for them. The fact remains though, swine flu statistics are not facts, they are guesstimates. Since August nobody tests for swine flu anymore, so even if you just have some fever and sniffles you'll be counted into the swine flu bunch! How is that for sound science? The CDC itself only notes estimates on their website, and no matter how accurate a projection model they make - they cannot tell you anything true, as they themselves state that the flu is unpredictable.

Are you familiar with Dr. J. Anthony Morris, the former Chief Vaccine Control Officer and research virologist, US FDA? He is not the first to loose his government job because he put his conscience above profits. I'll quote him:

"There is no evidence that any influenza vaccine thus far developed is effective in preventing or mitigating any attack of influenza. The producers of these vaccines know that they are worthless, but they go on selling them, anyway."

"There is a great deal of evidence to prove that immunization of children does more harm than good."

What we do know though is that in the case of Britain, the health authorities' original worst-case scenario -- which said as many as 65,000 could die from H1N1 -- has twice been revised down and the prediction is now for around 1,000 deaths, way below the average annual toll of 4,000 to 8,000 deaths from seasonal winter flu. Don't you think that an overestimate of 64,000 people is significant?

In Europe skepticism about the validity and safety of the H1N1 vaccine abounds and Polish Health Minister Eva Kopacz sums it up well in addressing the Parliament (you will have to keep up with reading the English subtitles):

Ecostore USA Review and Giveaway {Closed}

In case you haven't heard, household cleaning products are among the top contributors to indoor air pollution. Yes, the air inside your home is on average 50 times more polluted than the air outside (even if you are in NYC). The thing is, once something is inside your house, it is stuck there and has no place to go. I am not up for airing my house with the windows open 24/7. So to keep air pollution to a minimum we only use natural household cleaners with no formaldehyde or other toxic substances. After all, nobody else will look out for my baby and I don't want to be dealing with allergies and asthma down the road.

Ecostore was founded in New Zealand and you can read their story on their website. With the plant and mineral based ingredients it is no wonder that many parents witnessed that their kids' allergies, eczema, and other chronic conditions were subsiding after switching to Ecostore household products. Ecostore supplied us with their Dishwash Liquid and the Pure Oxygen Whitener to test. Here is our experience:

Dishwash Liquid: This natural dish liquid contains palm and coconut based ionic, non-ionic and anionic surfactant, mineral hydroxide, and natural citrus oil. At first I was disappointed that it didn't foam the way I like, but foam is not a reliable sign of the product working. I turned on my bright over-sink light to see just how this stuff cleans. I was amazed just how well it cuts through grease - without a whole lot of foam. So the way I see it, your average toxic dish washing liquid foams a lot but that only distracts you from how it cleans and gives you the impression that it is working. With this Ecostore liquid I don't have to scrub, it just dissolves everything. That is considering the fact that I ditched my synthetic sponge and now use biodegradable bamboo wipes instead. It is really great on glass as well and leaves them sparkling and transparent with no residue. It smells citrusy, very pleasant, as if you are making a smoothie with lemons and oranges!

The Dishwash Liquid is priced at $8.50 for 17 fl oz. Remember, a little goes a long way.

Pure Oxygen Whitener: I never liked the task of doing laundry, just not my thing (who does?!). It is not so much the act of doing it as it is the thought that it will never end :) But the more I use non-toxic laundry products the more I like doing it! We wanted to try the whitener because I will never ever use bleach but I want to somehow get our whites whiter and not so dingy. The Pure Oxygen Whitener contains carbonates (simple mineral salts), sodium percarbonate (oxygen producing whitener), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), citrates (from citrus, highly biodegradable surfactant), and natural citrus oil. I'll be honest, I only used it twice. The first time I just added it to the wash and while it did make a bit of a difference, it wasn't very significant. The power of this magic powder is revealed when you [follow directions] and let the clothing soak in for at least a couple of hours or overnight. I stopped the wash on the soaking cycle and left it for a few hours. The result? My 'haven't-been-white-since-I-bought them' kitchen towels are a lot whiter now. I can't say it looks like new, but in the photo below you can see the one washed with Pure Oxygen Whitener on the left and the dingy one on the right. It also made a visible improvement to my husband's white undershirts. Now I am looking forward to doing an over night soak and making our clothing as good as new!

The Pure Oxygen Whitener sells for $12 for 35.3 oz. All you need is 1-2 tablespoons per wash, so it will last a while.

Ecostore USA just launched at the Big Green Apple Duane Reade drugstore at 1350 Broadway in New York! Plus a selection of Ecostore USA products is now available at Meijer stores throughout the Midwest ... that's all 185 Meijer locations in five states. You can always get it on the website too.

Ecostore USA is generously giving one Eco-Babyz reader a $25 Gift Certificate!

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Mandatory Entry (both parts are mandatory, in one comment please):

1. Go to the EcostoreUSA website and tell us in a comment which other product you like
2. Follow Eco-Babyz on Blogger or let us know you already do (see sidebar, bottom left)

Additional Entries:
(only counted if mandatory entry is completed, each one in separate comment please)
3. Follow @EcoBlogz on Twitter (or let us know if you already follow)
4. Follow @ecostoreusa on Twitter
5. Tweet about this giveaway (include a link to this post in the tweet). You can tweet once a day for extra entries.
6. Visit the Ecostore USA blog and subscribe to the Newsletter.
7. Subscribe to EcoBabyz or let us know you already do (feedburner, top right sidebar)
8. Add the EcoBabyz button to your site or include EcoBabyz on your blog-roll (3 entries, provide link to your blog/website)
9. Blog about this giveaway and link to this post (gives you 3 entries, please leave link to your blog post)

You can also become a fan of Eco-Babyz on Facebook or a fan of Ecostore USA just for fun. That will give you zero entries though because Facebook has new rules for promotions and giveaways.

Contest ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday Nov. 27. The winner will be selected using Random.org on Saturday, Nov. 28, and notified by email (so please be sure I have a way to get in touch with you). Open to US residents only. Thank you!

Disclaimer:

I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service. The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

Preston's Pants Review

I am a clothdiaperaholic. After all, it is a necessity for us since we quit disposables because of horrible diaper rash. No, these are not some boy's pants. I came across Preston's Pants and their tag line caught my eye: "Where cloth becomes an obsession." Just take a look at the custom embroidered cloth diapers below and you will understand why! Preston's Pants were kind enough to send us two one-size pocket diapers for a test drive. When reading the review keep in mind that cloth diapers fit and perform differently on different babies. My experience is unique but will give you a good idea if Preston's Pants are a good fit for your cloth diapering needs.

FIT: These one-size pocket diapers are highly adjustable. Even though I only tried them on my 17 pound 9 month old, I think they would fit great on a newborn and they will fit my baby well into toddler-hood. Hopefully we will be potty trained sooner than later. The fact that these have an adjustable rise is essential, that keeps the bulk down on smaller babies and makes for a perfect fit. Right now I have the rise on the second biggest setting, it makes the diaper nice and trim on her. The only issue we had is with the inserts being a tad too long. They do fit in the diaper lengthwise, but when it is on the baby the insert gets bunched up because of being a little long. I think just one inch shorter would make a big difference. I love the third snap that keeps the wings from drooping (see diagram at top).

We got to try both the old and the new version of Preston's Pants and there is significant improvement. In the photos the chocolate one is the old one and the melon one is the new version. While you can't really tell from the photo, the new ones are a lot more pliable and not stiff (because of the way the snaps are backed). The inner fabric that touches the baby's skin is also a significant improvement. It is softer, thicker, and more plush.

PERFORMANCE: Preston's Pants stand up well to leaks and have great absorbency. I have tried both the microfiber insert and the hemp booster, they work great on their own and in combination for night time. We had no problems with leaks except for when I left the diaper on too long for a trip (a no no with any diaper). It performed as well as other similar popular brand cloth diapers (no names). Since we practice elimination communication, I've only had two instances of her going #2 in the diaper, it washed out very well and left no trace. The microfiber inserts are super absorbent, the most absorbent of all inserts I own.

EASE OF USE: These are not your grandmother's cloth diapers. They are easy to put on and easy to wash. Stuffing them is a piece of cake as well. If you have them pre-stuffed then they are as easy as disposables. The key is using the right detergent and not too much of it (something non-toxic and that doesn't leave residue). I find these to be lower maintenance than cotton because poop peels of very easy and doesn't stick to the diaper (excuse me for being graphic, but if you are reading this chances are you are a mom and you've seen your share of stuff).

VALUE: These one-size diapers run from $20.95 to $23.95 depending on the print. The more you buy though, the more you will save. If you buy three diapers, you save $2.25. If you buy 6 you save $6. Buy 12 diapers, save $15. Buy 18 diapers, save $27. Buy 24 diapers, save $23.20. If you buy more than 25 diapers you save $50. It is a great deal if you are buying for a newborn, you'll need a lot of diapers, trust me! :P Consider that is the first and last time you shop for diapers, that does save you money. Though they are a little more expensive than some other cloth diapers I know, you are paying for top quality US made product. I know that is important to many parents these days.

Disclaimer:

I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service. The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

Stonyfield Farm YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals Review & Giveaway!

I have always loved Stonyfield Farm yogurt as long as I can remember. Before buying organic was popular and before I knew just how conventional food is made, I would resort to Stonyfield yogurt just because it tasted better than the fat free stuff that lined the store shelves. Back then I didn't look at ingredients (gasp!). Besides, I needed the fat, I was always skinny. I would eat YoBaby yogurt just because it is made with whole milk.

Today, organic just makes sense to me, my husband, and our little daughter. Though she had a milk protein allergy when she was born and she can't have any dairy just yet, I had the opportunity to taste the new YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals myself (courtesy of the company). This new line of yogurt is out to celebrate 10 years of Stonyfield! A very delicious ten years I might add :)

If you have ever tasted the Stonyfield whole milk Cream Top yogurt with fruit on the bottom, then you have a pretty good idea of what YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals are like. The difference is that it has both fruit and veggie on the bottom. What a great combination for moms struggling with getting their babies to eat veggies (fortunately that is not me). In case you are wondering, no, you don't have to be a baby to eat it! But essentially that is the target market. It is sold in a 6 oz cup just like the adult yogurt, that is 2 oz more than regular YoBaby yogurt.

The taste is very yummy. It isn't very sweet, which is good for babies. The yogurt itself is rich and creamy, just like you would expect from whole milk organic. There isn't that much fruit and veggies on the bottom though, I wish there was a little more. I almost had to search for it :) I do think that 0.99 cents (or even more at other stores) for one 6oz cup is really pushing it, especially considering it isn't very different from the Cream Top whole yogurt that is cheaper. I just don't know of any parents who have that kind of money to spend on [yummy organic] yogurt. It would do well at Whole Foods though. I also know that moms will do anything to have their babies and toddlers eat nutritious food that is good for their little bodies. If you look at it that way then it is worth it!

My love affair with Stonyfield continues...

Stonyfield is generously giving one of my readers a prize pack that contains:
1 Yobaby travel bowl with lid
1 Yobaby organic cotton bib
1 Eric Carle growth chart
3 free Yobaby Meals coupons

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Mandatory Entry (both parts are mandatory, in one comment please):

1. Go to the Stonyfield website and tell us in a comment which other product you like
2. Follow Eco-Babyz through Google Friend Connect or let us know you already do (see sidebar, bottom left)

Additional Entries:(only counted if mandatory entry is completed, each one in separate comment please, include links!)3. Follow @EcoBlogz on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (or let us know if you already follow, include a link to this post in the tweet). You can tweet once a day for extra entries.4. Follow @Stonyfield on Twitter5. Subscribe to EcoBabyz or let us know you already do (feedburner, top right sidebar)
6. Add the EcoBabyz button to your site or include EcoBabyz on your blog-roll (3 entries, provide link to your blog/website)
7. Blog about this giveaway and link to this post (gives you 3 entries, please leave link to your blog post)

You can also become a fan of Eco-Babyz on Facebook or a fan of Stonyfield just for fun. That will give you zero entries though because Facebook has new rules for promotions and giveaways.

Contest ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday Nov. 20. The winner will be selected using Random.org on Saturday, Nov. 21, and notified by email (so please be sure I have a way to get in touch with you). Open to US residents only. Thank you!

Disclaimer:

I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service. The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

Do you have an Etsy shop?

Eco-Babyz will be publishing an Etsy Gift Guide later this month. We will be picking 10 to 20 Etsiers to be featured. If you would like a chance to be on our list that will be read by parents from all over, just use the contact form to send us a message! We welcome products for babies, kids, and parents. Preference will be given to Eco-friendly creations.

If we pick you, all we ask is that you send us one of your products to be featured along with a paragraph about your shop. We don't want all the Holiday dollars going to mass produced plastic toys, Etsiers deserve a piece of the pie! Please contact us ASAP to be included, feel free to pass this message on to other Etsiers.

Britax Advocate CS Review

Until my husband and I had our own baby I always thought that parents were overprotective. Well, I still think some are. But when it comes to motor vehicle safety, I think you can never overdo it. Even if you are a very safe driver, there are a lot of crazy people out there! The statistics always seem to be against you when it comes to car crashes. While all children's car seats pass standard safety tests and they do the job - there are some that go above and beyond what is considered safe. Britax is one company that imagines the unimaginable so that you don't have to. Some people look to buy cars with exceptional safety ratings, shouldn't car seats be the same?

When our daughter was born we drove her home in a Britax Companion. It just looked right to me. She was cradled on all sides, snuggled up comfortably. It wasn't just labeled safe, one look and I knew it was. Of course every car seat is as safe as it is properly installed. Then I discovered just how fast babies grow and I started looking for a convertible car seat because she was getting too big for the infant one (not to mention it was way too heavy to pick up). Thanks to Britax we were able to test drive their latest model, the Advocate CS. We had an incredible experience and I truly wish all parents could have the same, that is how it would be in my perfect world! I hope my review is informative and helps you make a conscious decision for money well spent.

COMPANY: Britax has been in the business of child safety for over 35 years. As one of the best selling car seats in Europe, Britax has also won the heart of American parents since it was introduced to this market in 1996. No other car seats undergo such rigorous testing as does Britax in their five worldwide testing facilities. So as you can imagine, these folks know what they are doing. In addition to car seats they also make a full-size stroller, a lightweight stroller, and special needs car seats and equipment.

SAFETY: Just like with the Companion (now replaced by Chaperone), when I was browsing through car seats at a store the Advocate CS stood apart. It just doesn't look flimsy like many other car seats. For comparison, I see the Britax Advocate CS as an Audi Q7 in the world of cars. It has superior crash test ratings.

Among the safety features of the Advocate CS is True Side Impact Protection as well as the Side Impact Cushion Technology. It isn't some lofty terminology, that is something you can plainly see if you do a side by side visual comparison of the Advocate and some other generic car seat. Many car seats pass safety tests but do not take into account that side impact crashes are very common and often result in injury or fatalities among children. Easy installation is an indirect factor that makes a car seat safe. Also, a rear facing car seat is always safest for children, the longer they can stay rear facing the better. A baby can stay rear facing up to 35 pounds in the Britax Advocate CS.


QUALITY: This is a solid car seat that would last a lot longer if car seats didn't have the six year limit on use. Not only are all the parts and 'hardware' solid, even the plush cover is very high quality and will withstand years of use and washing.

As for the sustainability of materials, I hope that Britax will lead the way for this in the future the way they are leading the way in safety today. Among car seats they would be the first because I don't know of any car seat manufacturers that disclose the source and content of all materials. I don't mean just 'made of plastic and polyester'. We are talking about a break down of everything contained in the materials. Does the plastic contain phtalates? Does it off gas anything? An increasing number of parents want to be sure that not just the children's food and toys are safe, but baby gear as well. Paranoid? Maybe. But for too long this has been ignored and I think it is in the best interest of everyone involved to have baby gear made out of non-toxic materials. I can attest to the fact that when the car seat arrived and I opened it, the only thing that smelled toxic was the large plastic bag, the car seat itself had no smell. I was a little surprised about that because when my new Kolcraft Contours stroller arrived, the stench was horrendous :) So kudos to Britax for using non-stinky materials.

EASE OF USE: Thankfully I never had my share of howintheworldamIsupposed toinstallthisthing car seats. We never had an issue with the Companion and likewise the Advocate CS delivers. I will emphasize, no matter what car seat you have, installation is everything! It has to be done right, it really is a matter of life and death. When the car seat manufacturer makes an easy-to-install seat they have already done half the work for you. We read the directions and installed ours in less than five minutes with the LATCH system. It really was a breeze. The base is compact and fits nicely into the 'bucket' of the seat. The recline is adjusted easily. It is no wonder the Britax Advocate CS is the winner of the iParenting Media award, parents worldwide can attest to how easy it is to use this car seat. I was also wuite surprised it fit so well in our Honda Accord, which doesn't have a huge interior. I can't tell you if three in a row would fit, they might not because of the Side Impact Cushion.

In addition to easy installation it features easy operation as well. The head restraint is adjustable with the twist of a knob. No annoying re-threading to adjust harness height, thanks Britax for realizing that babies grow fast and it is hard for parents to find the time to re-thread the harness. The harness straps also have a place to get them out of the way when you are putting the baby in. The cover is easily removable and washable. I really like the Click & Safe feature, along with the harness it makes for an easy in-and-out.

COMFORT: Lets not forget that the comfort of the child is very important too. The Advocate CS gets an unbeatable thumbs up on this! For me, car seat comfort is defined by two things: head support and seat contour. You probably noticed in the videos that the head support is exceptional. When our baby falls asleep in the car seat her head gently lays on one of the head 'wings' and doesn't slump on her shoulder. The height of this headrest is adjustable as well so it will grow with your child. The plush contoured seat looks so comfortable I wouldn't mind riding in it! I really like the infant body pillow, not only does it make the seat comfy for smaller babies, it works great holding the harness straps back as you put the child in so that they don't get in the way. It is not wonder munchkin falls asleep in this seat so fast, I would too. I also really appreciate the pads on the shoulders that prevent harness marks on the neck. I am convinced the HUGS chest pads make the chest buckle a lot more comfortable, especially on impact (which hopefully we will never get to experience).

The only issue we have is with the belly pad and strap being a little too far back in the seat. As far as I understand there is a reason why it is where it is, for a newborn it would have to be in that spot. For an older child it just means you will have to fish for it under the baby's bottom once you seat the baby in. I always have to look for it under her; it would help if this was somehow adjustable from newborn to toddler. In the photo below you will see that it is meant not to be directly on the belly, but a little lower to protect the child on impact.


STYLE: Britax doesn't skimp on style either. The Advocate CS comes in four attractive color combinations. We have the Opus Gray, it goes very nicely with a black fabric or leather interior of the car. There is also a girly Kathryn, a fun Opus Tan, and a classic Onyx print. The only thing that I don't like about the looks is the color of the plastic parts and Side Impact Cushions. I wish it wasn't white/light gray, but a dark gray or black instead.


VALUE: If you really wanted to, you could get by with one car seat from birth to 65 pounds with the Advocate CS. That would really give you the most bang for your buck. But of course with an infant it really helps to be able to carry the sleeping baby in and out of the car without disturbing him or her. So in our experience a convertible car seat is only good after 7 months, when the baby has complete head control, sits on his own, and weighs more than you want to carry with an infant car seat. What makes the Advocate CS a great value is ultimately the weight and height range. There are very few car seats on the market with a range of 5 to 65 pounds. It was also important for me to have our daughter rear facing as long as possible, Britax makes it work for us since the rear facing weight limit is 35 pounds. She is 17.5 pounds at nine months so I am glad she can stay rear-facing well past one year old.

The MSRP on the Advocate CS is $369.99. But onine you can actually get it for under $300 with free shipping.

For more information please visit the Britax USA website.

Disclaimer:

I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service. The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

Boba Organic Review

Before our baby was born we decided we want to give baby wearing a try. Now at nine months our little girl enjoys being in a baby carrier and we love it too. She has been in one since birth and it is a great way to soothe our rarely fussy baby. Although I haven't tried many, I have come to love the Soft Structured Carriers for their ease of use. Recently I had the opportunity to try out the new Boba Organic carrier made by NAP, Inc., the same people who brought us the Sleepy Wrap. Here is a little intro to my review:

FIT: The fit of a baby carrier is important because it will determine the level of comfort for both the parent and the baby. It looks like the people at NAP, Inc. thought things through really well. I am reassured they did when I read about the thought process that led to the design that met the needs of their toddler son. I can say that it is very comfortable for me to wear and it fits well on my husband too. He is a foot taller than me. So it is very versatile. I also think my husband likes it because it is not 'feminine' but very gender neutral and stylish. The fit on the waist/hips and shoulders is great. I do wish the waist belt was a little softer, it seems a bit stiff. At the same time it feels very secure with the baby in it because of that feature.

What makes the Boba stand apart are the foot straps. They are designed to take the pressure off the hamstrings for longer toddler legs. That feature alone makes this the perfect toddler carrier. It also has a taller rise to support the back of toddlers.

QUALITY: My first thought when I took it out of the box was "oh it is so soft!" It truly is an amazing material, a very soft yet durable organic cotton. The stitches on all the seams and where the straps meet the carrier is top notch and ready for years of use. I truly believe that there is a different level of quality for products made in the US, this is what you will get with Boba.

EASE OF USE: If you are intimidated by wraps and slings with five page directions on how to put it on, the Boba is for you! It is basically like putting on a backpack with some parachute buckles. Of course you have the added factor of the baby. It will not be nearly as complex as the carrier you saw in the beginning of the video above! For me the tricky part is putting her in the back carry position on my own since she doesn't understand yet when I say 'hold on to mommy' and she is very wriggly. So back carry takes some practice or you do it when someone is around to help you. Front carry is a piece of cake really, that is what I use most of the time. As with anything, practicing a few times makes things a lot easier. For me the hard part is reaching for the chest strap to buckle and unbuckle it when she is in the front.

VALUE: For the quality you get in this particular Soft Structured carrier, it is very competitively priced. You will not find another carrier made from organic cotton at $99. It comes in six stylish color combinations. Although you can't use it from birth (only starting at 15 pounds), it will last you through the toddler years though other carriers would be too small already. I do wish this carrier also had the option of the hip carry position, which I found a lot more comfortable when the baby is 6 to 8 months of age. Overall I think the combination of the Sleepy Wrap and the Boba will get you from birth to 4 years comfortably and as a cost effective option.

COMPANY: NAP, Inc. is a company that I as a natural parenting advocate, am happy to endorse. Their company mission is something that resonates with me as a green living advocate and with my motherly instincts. "NAP, Inc.'s mission is to provide comfortable and durable baby carriers to parents throughout the world and give them a helping hand in raising confident, joyful and compassionate children." This really sums up the baby wearing support provided by NAP, Inc.:

"When a mother shares her life and space and moves with her baby through her day she will fall in love with her child. She will naturally treat her baby with understanding, compassion and respect from which will blossom a loving relationship based on trust. This "trust" is critical as it is the basis not only for a child's healthy neurological, behavioral, and social development, but sets the stage for which that child will build and form all of his subsequent relationships throughout his life."

They also support many natural parenting organizations. They are an advocate for home birth, doulas, breastfeeding, elimination communication, home education and unschooling, etc. The perfect match for EcoMama I'll have to add :)

Use code ecobabyz10 for 10% off through December 8th

Disclaimer:

I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service. The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

EWG Tests Cleaning Products

We often wonder just how bad household cleaners are for children's health. Can they be that bad? Do they really help cause asthma? A little can't hurt, right? Well, EWG gives you a pretty good idea of the answers to those questions and just how much household cleaners affect the air we breathe.

EWG tested over 20 cleaners used in California schools and found that they released over 457 chemicals - many not listed by the manufacturer. You'll find that Febreeze contains acetaldehyde, which is on the California's Prop 65 List for cancer and reproductive toxicity. You'll also find that Comet contains formaldehyde and seven cancer causing ingredients from that same list. Reason enough to get rid of it now!

It is perfectly legal for manufacturers to hide the ingredients in their toxic potions. If we have the right to know what is in our food and skin care products we need to demand to know what is in cleaning products as well. We breathe this stuff and eat off of surfaces treated with these potions. The least you can do is buy non-toxic cleaners and protect your family's health, but we should take action as well to demand responsibility from ruthless companies.

To make maters worse, children are especially sensitive to toxic chemicals. Our government does not protect them. Many states have their own legislation for safe cleaning products in schools, but things need to change on the federal level.

These toxic chemicals are used to clean your kids' schools across the country.
Do you see something wrong with that?

VISIT THE EWG REPORT FOR MORE DETAILS

Exclusive Discount Codes

Don't forget that my Eco-Babyz readers get exclusive discounts at select online stores! I know the name is similar, but those are two different stores and they are not in any way related. Check them out!

Sprout Baby offers a great selection of non-toxic baby products, cloth diapers, eating utensils, organic baby food, and more.
15% off first order anytime at Sprout Baby: SB002197

Sprout Soup is a natural baby boutique that offers cloth diapers as well, furniture, toys, and baby carriers.
15% off at Sprout Soup: EcoBabyz
(Excludes Ergo Baby Carriers, Beco Baby Carriers, BumGenius Diapers and Gro Baby Diapers, ends November 10!)

Chunks of Energy Review

So I am in the market for healthier snacks and sweets. Lets face it, I just can't eliminate them entirely from my diet. With a baby in the house I live off of snacks. I like to buy organic whenever possible. I am into vegan, but that didn't happen by choice - I grew to like a lot of vegan food when my infant was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy. I am also dabbling in raw foods even though I know I would never go full blown raw, I just know that food is much more nutrient rich if consumed raw.

I stumbled upon Chunks of Energy on Twitter and decided to give it a try. They were kind enough to send me four pieces (total) of three different flavors, not a whole lot - but enough for me to know how delicious this stuff is. I tried the Organic Carob SuperGreens, Chocolate Almond Chip, and Organic Raw Cacao. Oh and for me these really rock because they are made right here in Massachusetts.

Taste: Let me tell you, this is yummy! By taste and texture I would say it is a cross between an energy bar (like a PowerBar) and dark chocolate candy. You see though, I despise most energy bars, they just taste so fake and intensely sweet to me. Chunks of Energy are different, it is not the same kind of sweet. Maybe that is because they are sweetened with things like dates, agave, and honey. I would still need a drink with these, but to me they are edible, regular power bars are not. I wasn't a fan of Organic Carob SuperGreens, so that one was ok - you have to like carob to like it. Chocolate Almond Chip was really delicious with a nice balanced taste of almonds and chocolate. Organic Raw Cacao though was a hit for my taste buds! Soooooo goooooood! The raw cacao has a sweet/bitter taste, just the way I like my chocolate.

Nutrition: First of all, raw is always better [insert documentation here to support such a lofty statement]. Some of the ingredients you will find in Chunks of Energy are as follows (all organic): brown rice, alfalfa sprouts, oat grass, barley grass, wheat grass, dulse, spinach, kale, parsley, broccoli, kamut sprouts, cilantro, beets, spirulina, etc.

Value: These run about $5.50 to $5.90 per pound. Definitely beats your average packaged energy bar. They are very convenient to eat too, you can have just one or two pieces instead of downing en entire bar. Built in portion control! You can buy them in 5 (about 110 chunks) and 10 (about 220 chunks) pound bags. Each chunk is about 1" square.

How to eat it: I thought of several scenarios of how I would eat Chunks of Energy. This is the perfect mid-day slump pick-me-up. Right around 3 pm (if you work first shift) you often feel as though 5 pm will never roll around and the munchies kick in. Instead of an unhealthy Twix or Milky Way, reach for some Chunks of Energy for a healthy treat that will help you last until dinner.

As a busy mom, these are great for me in all the in-between moments when I don't have time to eat a meal right away but need energy. I would take it on walks, car rides, playgrounds, and play dates. I also thought this is a great candy substitute for older kids! Imagine packing all that nutrition into them, they don't need to know there is broccoli and sprouts in there! Though I am an advocate for teaching kids to like to eat that kind of stuff.

CHUNKS OF ENERGY WEBSITE

Disclaimer:

I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service. The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

Kids Konserve Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Kids Konserve Food Kozies is:

This was really tough to figure out, I had to sit down with pen and paper and count the entries that actually followed directions! It was my fault in a way because I had three mandatory parts - too much to handle for some people. I'll try to make it a little easier next time! But please please please read all the directions before hastily commenting. Thank you!

You have been contacted by e-mail and have 48 hours to respond, otherwise a different winner will be chosen.

Thanks everyone for participating, come back later for more giveaways !