Luxe Baby Shower Giveaway Event | $1400+ in prizes!

Are you expecting a baby or already holding your little new arrival? You are going to love this amazing event in partnership with six luxurious baby brands! We are excited to share it with you and to give you an opportunity to own these wonderful, high quality products. 

It's hard to find the best and most functional products for baby in an overwhelming sea of cheap disposable consumer goods. We have hand-picked some of the best "Luxe Baby Shower" items that are consistently well rated by other parents, saving you some time researching. A little bit about each of these great sponsors and prizes... 

Jané USA: The winner will surely be impressed with the fully loaded Jané Rider that radiates elegance and ease. The patented fold on the Rider is designed for those of us who often find our hands full and our minds elsewhere, compressing the stroller to 30% of its upright size. With the kick of your foot you can unfold your stroller with the seat on or off and forward or rear-facing.

Adjustable rear suspension, adjustable handlebar with six settings, corrosion resistant anodized aluminum chassis, and long stroller basket are among the superb features. High quality washable fabrics and a water, wind, and stain resistant canopy to top it off. The seat is built for children around four months of age all the way up to 40lbs. and with the addition of the Micro bassinet or Link-Fix adapter you can begin to use your Rider from infancy on. 

While other manufacturers make you pay for essentials like the diaper bag, rain cover and cup holder, Jané includes them standard with each Rider purchase. The Rider screams style and exudes convenience.
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Woolino: These 100% natural baby sleeping bags are made with the world's most superior natural fiber - silky soft allergy-safe Australian Merino wool and organic cotton. Perfect for children, merino breathes, regulates body temperature, manages moisture, is naturally fire resistant, non-allergenic, antibacterial, easy care and durable. The Woolino sleep bags are economical since only two sizes are needed from 2 months to 4 years old, it grows with baby and is durable enough to be passed on to younger siblings. The value and high quality makes it easy to see why it is rated a #1 BestSeller on Amazon among baby sleep bags .  

New for this fall, Woolino now also creates a baby-safe Lambskin Cuddle/Play Rug and you're among the first to find out! This new product that is not yet available on their website. Medical studies actually show that babies sleep in or on merino wool settle more quickly, wake and cry less, sleep longer and gain weight faster! Lambskins have been used worldwide for centuries to keep babies warm and comfortable in any environment. It's also the perfect playmat and is functional even when kids grow older!
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LILLEbaby: The LILLEbaby COMPLETE carrier is ergonomically designed for the healthiest hip position for baby, whether they are an infant or toddler. There truly is no "babywearing gap" for when this carrier cannot be used. Featuring adjustable neck support, an adjustable sleeping hood, a long adjustable torso, wide padded waist belt, unique lumbar support, and padding on all straps - it is a complete design. It is convenient to nurse in and evenly distributes the weight of the baby so you can babywear pain free longer. The design of this carrier truly takes into consideration the comfort of both baby and parent and behind it are years of design development and testing. An entire team of moms and dads from many vocations contributed to the making of LILLEbaby COMPLETE 6-in-1 baby carrier.
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Haba: HABA is a family owned and operated company located in Bad Rodach, Germany. Owned by Mr. Klaus Habermaass, whose father started the business more than 72 years ago, the company has grown to more than 1,400 employees in Germany, with additional distribution facilities located in the United States, France, UK and Asia.  HABA prides itself on the fact that children love playing with its toys, blissfully unaware of how this fosters their development. HABA products have been bestowed honors by virtually every German toy award and virtually all of the prestigious American ones, as well.  Their design intentions are simple: provide value and quality. HABA is one of the only toy companies that obtained the world renowned PEFC certification.  All their wooden toys that are manufactured in Germany are made from reforested timbers.
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Lässig is also a sustainable, family owned business located in Germany, dedicated to creating consciously-crafted diaper bags, kids' bags, bibs, dishware and other high-quality accessories for the modern family. In addition to being sustainable, Lässig ensures that their products are durable and made to last. Lässig production adheres to strict quality control measures and is constantly monitoring production standards. The Lässig brand embodies an ideal blend of versatility and innovation, with convenient features and chic details to combine fashion, safety and sustainability.
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gDiapers: gDiapers is redefining the diaper inside and out by giving parents the convenience of disposables and the confidence to build a better future. On the inside, our Disposable Inserts are Cradle To Cradle Certified (cm) Silver, flushable and break down in home compost (wet ones only). On the outside, the soft cotton gPants are designed to let baby’s skin breathe and come in colors and prints that parents love. The winner will have the choice of a Newborn Bundle or the Sweet Bundle (small, medium, or large), a great way to start an easy sustainable diapering routine.
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Puj: The Puj Tub is the easiest bath tub ever! Made from a soft foam that folds and conforms to almost any sink, the Puj Tub cradles and protects the baby during bath time. Hang or store the tub flat anywhere you would like...even on the back of your door and out of sight! The Puj Tub cradles and comforts baby, is mold and mildew resistant, fits in standard-sized bathroom sinks, works with pedestal and counter top bathroom sinks, Hangs flat for easy and convenient storage.
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Enter to win this amazing Luxe Baby Shower Package through the giveaway form below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this post. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. By entering, Entrants agree to a complete release of Facebook. Entrants are providing information to AnaB Social, not to Facebook. Must be 18 years of age to enter. Open to U.S. residents. Void where prohibited. Participating blogs and AnaB Social are not responsible for sponsor prize fulfillment. 

Baby E's New Milestone!

I thought this day would never come! You know how sometimes your kids can't do something for what seems the longest time, and then they surprise you and finally "get it"? Love those moments, they are like precious pearls from deep down in the sea. So guess what? Baby E is finally riding her big girl bike without training wheels!

I thought it would take us months. She just seemed so scared by the entire concept. 

Here is the back story. She has been riding her wooden balance bike since she was two (here is our review from eons ago). She was still riding it comfortably with the seat all the way up when she was 5. At that point we decided we should get her a 16" 'big girl bike' and we found a great one on Craigslist for a steal of $40 - it's almost identical to this one. It doesn't have the bells and whistles, but it had training wheels that we thought we needed. 

So last fall she tried the big bike and it just seemed too BIG. She barely reached the ground with her toes, though the pedals were placed just right for her height. With training wheels this bike seemed really cumbersome and not very easily maneuverable. So she kept riding her balance bike as it is so light and easy for her to handle. Spring rolled around and I was afraid she would just keep riding her wooden bike even though it's time to pass it on to Baby T. 

A few weeks ago she said she wanted to learn to ride the big bike. So I hauled it outside for her on several occasions to let her ride with training wheels. She hated it! The loud rattling of the training wheels made her nervous. So I promised her we would buy knee and elbow pads so she could try it out without the training wheels, so we essentially skipped them altogether. 

I first got her this set of knee and elbow pads, which turned out to be great quality but huge and better suited for teenagers who are into BMX (duh, the name should have rang a bell). Then I ordered this set and it turned out to be perfect for her. It will later be passed on to her brother along with her helmet. 

The day finally arrived! She was all decked out in her helmet and pads, ready to ride. With Baby T in the stroller, we set out down our street. She kept walking the bike down the street, afraid to get her feet on the pedals. I had to set Baby T on the lawn, buckled into his stroller so he doesn't run away while I alleviated Baby E's fears by running down the street and holding the bike in the back. This gave her a confidence boost and some security and she finally got the feet on the pedals. She insisted that I do not let go!

After three brief runs up and down the street I asked "Do you want to try it yourself?" She said no. I said that I can't keep running, I'm exhausted, and her brother can't sit there and watch all day. So I got the stroller and we started walking toward our playground. She was walking the bike. I kept nagging for her to put the feet on the pedals. She said she is scared. So I remembered a song she loves from a Russian Christian Kids CD that she loves to listen to, the chorus is along the lines of "you can do anything if you simply believe". So we started singing it with her. I stopped nagging and giving her pointers. We just walked slowly and I let her process it herself. 

A minute later, just like that, she accumulated some walking speed, picked up her feet, placed them on the pedals, and the look on her face was priceless! She was checking to see if I was watching, how could I miss it?! I immediately remembered when I first learned to ride my bike, I was about 7. Baby E is 5. She beat me. 

I firmly believe that riding the balance bike for three years was what made this transition so easy. She did not need to learn to balance, she just needed to master those pedals and that's much easier to learn than two things at once. 

The next day she learned to turn and now I look at her and it seems like she's been riding that big bike for years! So proud of my not-so-little girl! I'm learning to let go a little, watching her ride the bike reminds me that soon enough a day will come when I'll have to let her go. 

What's your experience with 'big bike' transition for your kids? Did your children ever try a balance bike before switching to one with pedals and no training wheels? 

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you and helps offset some of the cost associated with pouring our time and energy into this site. Thank you!

10 Unique Books My Kids Love

I've always loved books as a child and want to pass on that love to my children. I remember like yesterday, sitting in a chair and getting lost in reading a fable or story, at the mercy of my own imagination. I sure hope reading books is not becoming a lost art among future generations. I know I'm not the only parent reading to my children every night before bed time. 

Baby E and Baby T most likely could care less what I read to them, but they never fail to get excited about a new book or story! Our library card gets used a lot. I used to choose books for them based on my taste and now that they are older we are also choosing them based on their interests at any particular moment. Excavators. Victorian dress. Horses. Biblical times. Travel and geography. Cultures around the world.

Our home library is filled with Russian books, since it's something we can't grab at the library. Baby E is now fluent in Russian and English. Not sure how we managed that - it just happened organically, we always speak Russian at home as it is our native language and she speaks English with some of her cousins, kids at the playground, and adults we meet throughout the day. We love to read in both languages and to my delight she can translate back and forth with ease! 

There are many books in English that they love, though Baby T cares for the images and pictures only at his tender age of two. Over the past couple of years there are a few books we came across that impressed us to the extent I would consider adding them to our permanent library. Books that inspire, captivate, many of them beautifully illustrated. Here they are in no particular order, and I hope your children enjoy them as much as we do! 

1. "Journey" by Aaron Becker:  My kids love this book! It is perhaps one of both their and my personal favorite ones from this list. If you borrow a book from the library or buy just one from this list - make it this one. It's a very simple story that indeed needs no words - the illustrations tell everything. We just love the way it stirs the imagination! *Warning: there is a little boy who draws on the wall in this book.

2. "Building Our House" by Jonathan Bean: Kids always want to know how something is made. Have they ever asked you how a house is built? This was the perfectly illustrated story to answer just that. It may not be how a house is built in every country, but for much of U.S. this story will hold true. It a great read if you are embarking on the adventure of building your own home with your family!

3. "Wow! Ocean!"  by Robert Neubecker: Less about the story, more about the illustrations. It's a great learning tool about ocean life and has all the names of dozens of sea creatures that your kids are fascinated with. I learned a thing or two myself! Bonus, they loved looking for the little dog on every page - sort of like Waldo.

4. "King Midas and the Golden Touch" by Charlotte Craft and Kinuko Y. Craft: My daughter loves reading about kings, palaces, princesses (not the Disney kind though). She really enjoyed this story and it has a great lesson to teach the children - that the love of money and possessions does not make one happy. The illustrations are beautiful, they are like elaborate paintings.  

5. "Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken" by Kate DiCamillo and Harry Bliss: An adventure loving chicken? Brilliant! My kids loved hearing about her travels and wanted to read it again and again. The illustrations are fun!

6. "Sailing Off to Sleep" by Linda Ashman and Susan Winter: A great bed time book for any age with a little adventure, wildlife, and love. It's great both for my 2 year old and my 5 year old, a perfect book to read with both of them. The watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are beautiful and very cozy.

7. "The Sea Chest" by Toni Buzzeo and Mary GrandPré: We all absolutely loved this story! There is suspense in it, compassion, and lots of love, all accompanied by beautiful oil painting illustrations. It's a coastal legend from the shores of Maine, a great read for kindergarten and elementary age children (but even my 2 year old enjoyed it, though he may not understand it all).

8. "Castles, Caves, and Honeycombs" by Linda Ashman and Lauren Stringer: Do your kids ask you where a beaver lives, a snail, or maybe a butterfly? These beautiful illustrations with short phrases and rhymes show the different homes and habitats of various creatures.

9. "Bub: Or the Very Best Thing" by Natalie Babbitt: My daughter loves the setting of the book, I love the story, and my toddler can relate to the little boy in it. The King and Queen try to figure out, what is it that a child needs most? The answer is simple and right on, we always get and give lots of hugs and kisses at the end of this book!

10. "Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose" by Scott Gustafson: This is a book we actually have on our shelves and the only one on this list that we didn't discover at the library, it was a gift from a friend that has since moved to far away lands overseas. Beautiful illustrations accompanied by nursery rhymes as old as time, all in a large format book.

What are your and your kids' favorite books?! We'd love to discover more! 

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you and helps offset some of the cost associated with pouring our time and energy into this site. Thank you!

HABA MOOVER Dump Truck Review {Gift Idea}

As you know Baby T turned two a couple of weeks ago, my big boy! I wasn't sure whether I wanted to get his a birthday present, after all - he doesn't need anything. I knew presents wouldn't fit in our budget at this time, so I was really excited when on a whim I asked about this amazing HABA MOOVER Dump Truck and they agreed to let us review it! Thank you HABA for Baby T's birthday present!

I wasn't sure who was more excited to open it! Baby E couldn't wait to get her hands on it! We waited until the day of his birthday to open it. He loves the box, isn't that what 2 year olds prefer, right? We unpacked the flat package and my husband quickly assembled the truck, took him about five minutes after I previously showed him the assembly video demonstrating how easy it is. 

Both Baby T and Baby E absolutely love the MOOVER dump truck - it's one of those toys that will always get lots and lots of use! One reason is that it isn't small and you can't lose it among other toys. The other is that it really is open ended and they always think of some way to use it in the play, whether actually pretending to be a dump truck driver or pretending to be a mail carrier, a farmer, or an auto mechanic. I only wish I got it for his last birthday, it would have been perfect for him to ride when he just learned to walk. But since even my 5 year old is playing with it, I know we'll get many years of use out of it. 

I was nervous when five year old Baby E sat on it and started riding around, I thought it isn't made for holding that much weight so I made her get off. I was wrong! I looked at the box and it said up to 5 years old or 38 kg, which is 83.7 pounds! So it's great for siblings to play with and although it was a present for Baby T, they both get a lot of play out of it - it's like a collaborative toy that sort of brings them together, teaches them to take turns.

The quality and details on this truck are evident, you can even tell from the photos. My husband was amazed at how it just snaps together but is designed to be strong without any screws, it's quite innovative! The kids love the back that opens to reveal a hiding place for their cargo, they have stuffed so many things in there! The truck is narrow and very comfortable for a toddler to sit on and ride, that's Baby T's favorite way to use it and get around the house. It is also easy to turn and he doesn't get frustrated with it, the pivoting peg separates the two parts of the truck and makes it flexible. It's not something for riding around outdoors, though you could on nice pavement, but it's really designed for indoor use - which is very welcome for our relatively long New England winter! I'm guessing it will be the most used toy in this house through this winter season.

This line of MOOVER ride-ons also has a few other choices - the baby truck, walker, doll pram, and rocking horse. All of these comes in two color choices, natural and red, and the price range is from $90.24 to $170.99 for these heirloom quality wooden toys. They are available for purchase on their website or at Amazon.

Haba is a sponsor in our Eco-Babyz 5 Year Blogiversary, go ahead and enter to win some great prizes!

Check out the Haba Moover Toys

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Eco-Babyz 2013 Holiday Gift Guide: KIDS

Part two of our Holiday Gift Guide is here! This one is great for your kids ages 4 and up, although many of these brands also carry items for littles. Whether your child needs some new clothing, loves crafting, or enjoys challenging toys, you'll find something for them on our hand picked short list. Once again, most of these are brands we love and use or wouldn't hesitate to spend money on. If you have an off-the-beaten-path gift idea for kids, and I'm sure you do, please feel free to share in the comments!

Have a little one? Check out the BABY Gift Guide!

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READING HORIZONS

Give the gift of reading to your preschooler or first grader, and you open up the whole world before them. We highly recommend the Reading Horizons Discovery Software for an effective and fun approach to learning to read. It is especially effective with dyslexic learners, but works for any child. Baby E has made great progress with it and follows the program at her own pace - even with irregular use it taught her to read and she isn't even five! She thinks it's fun and loves the reading games that come with it. Check out our Reading Horizons Discovery Software review. 

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GREEN KID CRAFTS

Does your child love making crafts? Do you ever wish that craft ideas and supplies would just magically show up at your doorstep so you can just spend quality time with your little one? You'll love Green Kid Crafts! We had a chance to try out their craft kits with Baby E and we had a blast. I loved having everything ready to assemble and with easy to follow directions. Plus it's nice that they avoid including toxic materials for these kits and they are kid safe. See our Green Kid Crafts review.

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LITTLE MOSO

We absolutely love the bamboo/cotton blend clothing from little MoSo. The leggings and bolero wrap that Baby E has received from them are some of her favorites to wear. They have since expanded their line and have many options for girls, boys, and baby clothing, and yes, even some for you!

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STONZ

While Stonz is knows for it's soft winter baby booties, did you know they recently launched a line of kids Winter Bootz? If your little one has outgrown the baby ones, these are a great option for anyone up north that needs to keep those kids' feet toasty. These lightweight high performance boots are available for 1 to 14 year olds and are priced at $55 to $64. They are made in Canada!

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ECOLUNCHBOXES

Still packing lunches in plastic containers? Maybe it's time to invest in an ECOLunchbox, non-toxic stainless steel bentos and lunch kits. Safer for your child without toxic chemicals, waste free, petroleum free, just the way anything in contact with food should be. They have both the containers for carrying food and bags made from fair trade textiles for carrying your lunch. 

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TEA COLLECTION

Quite possibly our favorite clothing brand for kids, who doesn't love Tea? When their catalog arrives, Baby E always points out to me the 31 or so dresses that she would like. If you have a boy and have never seen their boys styles, you must! It can be so hard to find decent clothes for boys, but Tea has so much to choose from and it isn't all dark or with cartoon characters.

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THE LAND OF NOD

You're going to love the huge variety of unique, high quality gifts you'll find at Land of Nod. Everything from toys to furniture and room decor, a ton of options. Plus for a limited time you can get $4.95 shipping on all toys and gifts. Their gift guide is organized by age and price range, so it's easy to find what you want. They have items that cover all interest: drawing, building, sewing, music, pretend play, and more. 

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UMI

Kids always need shoes, can't go wrong with that. Plus if your kids is like Baby E, they get really excited about new shoes. One of our favorite shoes brands is UMI, we love the quality and comfort of these shoes. Both of our kids are usually wearing a pair of Umis year round and they withstand a lot of wear and tear. Check out our UMI Shoes review. 

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TEGU

Last but not least, we wanted to share one of our favorite building toys with you. It's great for older kids because it can be challenging to build with. Tegu magnetic blocks require you to think creatively and out-of-the-box. Architect, engineer, designer, what does your child want to be? Hey, adults like playing with them too! Check out our Tegu review. 

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We hope you enjoyed the Baby and Kids Holiday Gift Guides, come back next week for the Home & Family category and some goodies For Her. 

Please do share your gift ideas below!

Disclaimer: I received some compensation or product in return for featuring some of these brands. Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you and helps offset some of the cost associated with pouring our time and energy into this site. Thank you!

Eco-Babyz 2013 Holiday Gift Guide: BABY

Can you believe it's almost November? Have you started your holiday shopping yet? We wanted to share with you some brands, products, and businesses that we love and use ourselves that you may want to consider too! These are hand picked items that you will not find on the "Best Toys of the Year" lists, kids only play with those for a few hours anyway. Here are some practical, high quality gifts and some places you can find more. We will have four Gift Guides and today we're starting off with BABY!

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POMONA PANTS

Hands down the best fitting pants Baby T owns are his Pomona Jeans! He has been wearing them since April several times a week! With the fold down cuffs and adjustable snap waist, they will easily fit him for another half a year. So there, 18 months of wear for one pair of super awesome Pomonas. I definitely wouldn't hesitate to spend less than $30 on these amazing pants. They have so many styles to choose from, and shorts too. Best of all, they have a superb fit on any diaper, cloth or disposable, we love the Trim Fit ones! It even fits on the bulkiest diapers we have.

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ZUTANO

Looking for baby and toddler clothing that stands up to the rigors of babyhood? Zutano makes clothing for newborns through 4T and it's made to last through wash after wash, to the point it will still look great to pass down to siblings. The fun, vibrant colors, prints, and designs are a favorite of both parents and kids. Baby E and Baby T have a few Zutano pieces and they are some of their favorite clothing to wear because they are just so comfortable!

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WEE CAN TOO

Have you ever wished that art supplies were edible as you watched your baby lick their fingers after finger painting or nibble on a crayon? Then you must check out Wee Can Too Art Supply! Finally a safe way for baby to explore textures and get creative. My kids love their sidewalk chalk and we've used the finger paint before. They also have tempera paints and veggie egg dye. Prices range from $12 to $35.  

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THANKS MAMA

If you're looking for some practical gifts like cloth diapers, feeding supplies, organic bedding, skin care, or things like Eco-friendly baby toys - Thanks Mama natural parenting store has a vast selection of all those items. You can also save with sales and rewards points for your purchases. We have some of the diapers they carry as well as a few toys, their customer service is exceptional and shipping is free for orders over $60 and really fast. 

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KNOTS by BELLARINA

Custom made knitwear can make a wonderful gift and heirloom and I highly recommend Knots by Bellarina for any of your crochet fantasies. Whatever you have in your head, the talented shop owner can make come to life. The shop doesn't have any ready-to-ship options, but now is a great time to order custom in advance. She recently sent us some newborn photography props and you'll see more of it on Eco-Babyz! The photo on the left is from a recent photo session.

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ERGOBABY

I don't think I even need to introduce ERGObaby, I'm sure you're familiar with them. The original soft-structured baby carrier is also a great gift - but not just for baby! Mom will love it just as much, having her hands free. They also have a nice variety - organic carriers, travel carriers, and even the new swaddlers. I've used our ERGObaby carrier with both children, I purchased it in like-new condition locally. It has served us well and still practically looks like new 5 years later! I think it's ready for another baby... 

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 BOBA

This carrier brand is a close competitor of the one mentioned above, but Boba does have subtle differences. The Boba Carrier 3 G can actually convert to an infant carry without an infant insert, it has convenient purse strap holder and storage pockets on the waist belt. There are also removable foot straps that are great for toddler to rest their feet on. We had a chance to try it out in person and loved it!

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MAGIC BEANS

Now if you want a really vast selection of quality toys and gear, you might want to check out Magic Beans. I love that this store is actually local to me, they are Boston based. But their online selection is huge and they often have great sales going on. Like right now you can get a Baby Jogger City Select Stroller with a free second seat! Or a City Mini with free car seat adapter.

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SOFTBABY

Dreaming of super soft, natural clothing for baby? Well of course Softbaby is exactly what you are looking for. This clothing line is designed in New York and made from certified organic cotton with original patterns. While conventional cotton is loaded with pesticides, you can feel safer putting baby in Softbaby clothing that's easy on their skin.

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WOOLINO

High quality wool products for baby can be hard to find. If you read my blog, I'm sure you've heard of Woolino and how much we love this brand! We have their pajamas and sleep bag and we absolutely love it. Merino is naturally breathable (no sweating), hypoallergenic, fire retardant, soil resistant, and much more. The sleep bag allows for easy transfer between car and bed and it even grows with your baby, making the most out of your investment. It's a must-have I recommend to anyone who wants better sleep for baby, which is better sleep for you!

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We hope you enjoyed our featured brands! Come back later this week for the Kids Holiday Gift Guide and next week for the Home & Family and For Her guides. 

Disclaimer: I received some compensation or product in return for featuring some of these brands. Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you and helps offset some of the cost associated with pouring our time and energy into this site. Thank you!

Pure Simple Organic | Green Toys Airplane Review

Baby T's latest obsession? Airplanes! He points out every single one when we're outside and we live near an airport, so I pretty much hear it all day long. Even when we're eating a meal he will hear an airplane and let everyone know. We were all really excited when Pure Simple Organic sent Baby T the Green Toys Airplane for review. We got the blue one that's red on the bottom and Baby T didn't waste any time, started making 'plane sounds' and flying with it right away. 

Baby E got so upset when her brother wouldn't let her play with the plane at first. Though it was good for both of them as they eventually learned to share it. We love how durable this airplane is, and generally all of the Green Toys products are. We also have the Sand Play Set and it's holding up strong for 3 years already, no matter how much it gets stepped on and abused. Baby E and Baby T love playing with this plane indoors and outside, it's a great items for imaginative play. We had a lot of fun snapping these photos! The plane is also so reasonably priced for such a good quality toy, just $12.99. In case you didn't know, all Green Toys are made in the USA from recycled milk jugs!

If your little one is into something other than airplanes, there is a lot to choose from at Pure Simple Organic. Besides toys they also have a great selection of natural skin care products for kids and adults, cosmetics/makeup, natural home cleaning products, pet products, fitness, natural healthcare items, and a variety of non-perishable natural foods. So as you can see, they pretty much have anything you may need! Orders over $100 ship free.

PS: At the bottom of their website, sign up for their newsletter to save $10 on your first order!

This week Pure Simple Organic is one of the sponsors for the Bringing Home Baby Event that starts Friday!

Check out the Pure Simple Organic website

Purchase a Green Toys airplane at Pure Simple Organic

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Bambo Nature: The Best Eco Disposable Diaper

As you know, we are a cloth diapering family. When we travel however, I prefer disposables simply because as is, I have enough things to worry about when going places with kids. My problem was finding a disposable diaper that doesn't contain toxic chemicals, that can handle a blow-out, and one that isn't made by a huge corporation with too many wrongdoings on their list. 

So in short,  I set out to find the best disposable diaper on the planet. Guess what? I found it! You've seen me mention it before, but now I'm devoting an entire post to it! Have you heard of Bambo Nature? That's my little guy Baby T wearing one above during a hotel stay. You can kind of tell it's full, the kids were frolicking in bed when they woke up and I snapped some photos before changing him. 

Performance wise, this is the kind of diaper you don't have to change the first second in the morning so it doesn't leak everywhere. Never a wet sheet or pajamas in sight. In fact, just to illustrate my point, recently my 21 month old slept in one for 12 hours and I left for an appointment in the morning forgetting to change the diaper, the kids stayed with hubby. Of course he thought I changed it! So I come back and the diaper has been on Baby T for a total of 18 hours!!! No leaks, no rash, no chemical stink. M-I-R-A-C-L-E!

Maybe the average big brand diaper can perform like that? Maybe. But it would be pumped full of toxic, carcinogenic chemicals and they cannot claim is this:

• Guaranteed and third-party certified 100% free of dangerous chemicals and all known allergens
• No chemicals are used during raw material sourcing and production, which guarantees there is no water or air pollution when converting trees to wood pulp or similar activities
• No additives, guaranteed to contain no allergens - i.e. dyes, inks, latex, glue, odor eliminators, perfumes, essential oils, preservatives, plant extracts, lotion, moisturizer, etc. 
• Manufactured in Denmark with machines owned and operated by the company unlike other brands in undisclosed factories and countries
• Holds the Nordic Swan Eco-label, the FSC label, Asthma and Allergy Association label, the rare ISO 14004 Certification (all waste is reused, under 2 % waste produced), and the company has signed the UN Global Impact.
• Awarded #1 Best Diaper in the US by BabyGearLab.com and rated the most Eco-friendly diaper at EthicalConsumer.org
• 95% commercially compostable
• All ingredients are disclosed
• Made by Abena, an open and transparent company that's audited and investigated

In fact, as I was digitally combing through the stack of files and certifications provided to me by the wonderful people at Bambo Nature, I wondered how other disposable diaper manufacturers have the audacity to claim their diapers are 'green' or 'Eco-friendly' - with nothing to show for it. Really, it's all just claims with no proof and many so called 'green' disposables are anything but! I saw the comparison chart of the top 8 'natural' or 'green' disposable and Bambo Nature certainly blows them all out of the water in terms of ingredients and allergens. Now I certainly see why Baby E, before we started cloth diapers, had a horrible rash from one of the popular 'Eco' disposable diapers. Oh, not to mention Bambo Nature is one of only two disposables that can claim to be GMO free.

Bambo Nature are not the cheapest disposable diapers, and they have every reason not to be. In fact I'm amazed they aren't more expensive! Since we use them sparingly, we go through a package of 50 diapers every 2.5-3 months. I buy a 3 pack (150 diapers) on Amazon for an average of $70. If you do the math, it ends up to be $0.47 per diaper for the older version. Depending on the size, package, and where you are purchasing, you're looking at $0.42 to $0.57 range per diaper. 

So while we love our cloth diapers and have been faithfully using them despite battles with hard water and ammonia stink, we are sticking with buying Bambo Nature for travel and visits to grandparents. For us, it is easy to justify the price of these diapers considering it's the only one that is free of toxic chemicals and will stand up to an entire night for a heavy wetter baby boy - and then some!

Next week we'll be giving away a case of Bambo Nature diapers valued at over $80!

Check out the Bambo Nature website

Purchase Bambo Nature diapers in their store, on Amazon, or from Diapers.com

Connect with Bambo Nature on Facebook and Twitter 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bambo Nature. Opinions are genuine and 100% my own, I only share products I love and believe in with my readers!

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Svan Signet Complete High Chair Giveaway | $249

We are really excited that our blogging friends Viva Veltoro and Thrifty Nifty Mommy are celebrating some blogging milestones!  

Viva Veltoro has reached 10,000 Facebook followers and Thrifty Nifty Mommy 

hit 25,000 Facebook followers, now they're doing what they do best - hosting a great giveaway event!

They are featuring 10 days of giveaways so make sure to check them out.

First in the lineup of 10 days of giveaways is a Svan Signet Complete High Chair! 

The Signet Complete High Chair makes mealtime easy and enjoyable for baby and parent alike. Signet seats little ones as young as six months up to the table for enjoyable interaction with the rest of the family, turning mealtime into family time!

This award-winning, beautiful Scandinavian-designed bentwood high chair grows with your child from infant to young adult.  Starting as a traditional high chair, the Signet Complete High Chair can function safely with or without the tray to seat infants at the table. The safety guard can later be removed to allow preschoolers and toddlers to step up into the chair on their own. Once a child outgrows both high chair configurations, the Signet converts into a full-size chair for teens and adults.

With maximum adjustability and a five-point safety harness, the Signet Chair allows for supportive, safe and comfortable seating at any age. The chair’s seat height and depth fully adjust to provide optimum torso and leg support while its fully adjuxdstable footrest allows for ergonomic seating. For added safety, the chair comes with a five-point harness, helping to keep active children safely seated even during those restless moments at meal time.

The Signet Complete High Chair comes with a removable tray that conveniently stores on the back of the chair and a dishwasher-safe, BPA and phthalate-free plastic tray cover. It boasts a small footprint and portability, in addition to a user-friendly design that allows for easy assembly and adjustment.

photos adapted from Svan.com

Made of sustainable wood, the Signet is available in a wide variety of lead-free finishes. The epitome of true Scandinavian style, the sleek lines of this high chair complement any décor making it a perfect fit for any home.  Recommended retail value is $249.95

One lucky person is going to WIN a Svan Signet Complete High Chair!

Connect: You can connect with Svan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Pinterest.

Buy it: You can purchase the Svan Signet Complete High Chair on the Svan website.

Open to the US only.  Ends 9/9/13 at 11:59 PM EST.

Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below.  Good Luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway.  The participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment.  

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