Archive for the ‘Naturals’


Pondür This

pondur organic reviewI dig finding new & unique shops from which to clothe my kids, and I dig even more finding shops that are eco-friendly.

Pondür is a 100% organic and 100% stylin’ shop that started with a childhood passion. Owners Shanna and Christy are dedicated to inspiring the world, one tiny thought at a time. The Pondür shop features organic tees & onesies printed with thought-provoking and inspirational quotes.

My personal favourite and the one my daughter wears regularly - Take care of me, Take care of the world.

So true, my friends. So true.

Pondür’s unique, environmentally friendly baby apparel not only inspires the little one wearing it but also everyone who sees it.

With every purchase you make from Pondür, you’re making a difference for kids.

Save 20% at Pondür with the code TOP20.

Pondür is a proud member of the TOP Shops, where they and many others are giving you great deals just for being an Opinionated Parent!

Win it! Pondür is giving away a tee to one TOP reader in your choice of size, quote and colour. Value $23.

To enter, leave a comment on this post with your choice for all three - size, quote and colour - should you be the randomly chosen winner.

Contest closes May 14 @ noon MST.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules. Maximum 4 entries per person.

CONTEST CLOSED

Snikiddy Takes A Huge Bite of the Organic Snack Market

snikiddy organic snack reviewSnikiddy is “a new line of organic food products designed to embody and encourage a healthy lifestyle for children. Packaged with fun activities that promote physical and mental wellness, these organic foods are healthy snack alternatives that parents can feel good about giving to their children (or eating themselves!).” The name Snikiddy is a shortened form of the word persnickety, meaning choosy or picky - a trait that embodies childhood eating!

snikiddy organic snack reviewFounded by Janet Owings and Mary Schulman ~ a mother and daughter team ~ Snikiddy snacks are only snacks in that they’re easy and quick to eat. They’re completely contrary to what most of us think of when we thing of pre-packaged snack foods. My son loved them, but he didn’t get very many because I’m a bad mom and I ate them myself. Oops! The cookies were definitely my favourite, but he preferred the cheese puffs. They were good, but too messy for my liking.

Snikiddy are currently available in 6 flavours. Read on to see what some of our reviewers thought.


Snikiddy…what can I say to do them justice? I’ll start by saying that my 9 year old daughter is begging for more. They lasted only 10 minutes from the time they arrived in the mail!

We tried out the Grilled Cheese Cheese Puffs (Gluten Free) and the Chocolate Chippers Cookies. They were both wonderful! My 7 year old is extremely picky and even she loved them! They have already asked that these snacks be added to our grocery list. Too bad we have to go so far to get them though. The nearest store that carries them is over an hour away from us. I’ll be glad when they are more widely known and we can get them in our town. For now, I’ll settle for ordering them online. To get a 100% Organic snack that my kids will actually eat is amazing! I do not currently buy snacks at all but these are worth getting! I can’t wait to try out their other flavors, especially the Pizza Pie Puffs and the Banana Nibbles! Yum!

Thank you Snikiddy for considering the health of our children and making your products taste so great! - Gina


snikiddy reviewMy 3 ½ year-old son, Jonas, helped me check out Snikiddy Snacks . I was a little worried because I have a great love of health food but my son has never been much of an eater. He has been this way his entire life. Really, he only likes marshmallows and would eat them all day if allowed. [Ed: wouldn't we all?]

I gave him a bag of the Snikiddy Chocolate Chippers while we were riding in the car. His response? “CHOCOLATE! When I get home, I can get another bag!” When I asked if I could taste one, he replied very sweetly, “No, thanks.” These cookies got the picky child seal of approval!

I did sneak a taste out of another bag when he wasn’t looking and they are very good. They don’t taste like something is missing as a lot of healthy prepared snacks do. I can usually pass on a packaged cookie, but I could definitely eat an entire bag of Snikiddy Snacks! And that would be okay, because the entire (.85 oz) bag only contains 5g of fat and 120 calories!

We also tried Snikiddy Grilled Cheese Puffs. You know how many puffed cheese snacks pale in comparison to the original? These are actually BETTER. They are the right density, have a good flavor, and don’t leave a greasy aftertaste. I have seen my child pass on processed cheese snacks after only a few bites, but he steadily munched on the Snikiddy Snacks until they were gone! I was also impressed that one (.06 oz) bag of Grilled Cheese Puffs contains only 3g of fat and 80 calories!
So while you can feel good about giving Snikiddy Snacks to your kids (and being sure that they will definitely eat it), Snikiddy Snacks are also good news to us snackin’ parents out there who need to watch our waist lines! - Candice


When my daughter started eating table food I vowed she wasn’t going to be one of those kids who ate a lot of sugary snack foods; I was only going to offer her healthy choices. For the most part I’ve been pretty good about that. We don’t have a lot of sugar-loaded snacks in the house and she does like fruit. We have fallen into a “snack rut” with the same old stand-bys. Living in a small town with no health-food store, it’s hard to find snacks that don’t contain a lot of sugar, calories, or high fructose corn syrup.

I was excited to receive the samples from Snikiddy. My family tried the Chocolate Chippers and the Grilled Cheese Puffs. They put all of the good information right on the front of the package “low in sugar,” “no trans fats, no hydrogenated oils, no corn syrup, no preservatives” and “USDA Organic” - wow, these sound like a great, healthy snack!

The Chocolate Chippers are mini-cookies; perfect size for small hands to hold. One bag’s serving size contains only 2 grams of sugar. My husband and I don’t normally care for crunchy cookies, and these are crunchy, but they were very tasty and we both liked them. My daughter had her own bag to sample and she really liked these cookies. “Mmmmm” was all I heard from her!

I’ve never given my daughter Cheese Puffs; they just aren’t something we buy as neither my husband nor I like them…and I don’t like the orange powder that gets all over your hands. These cheese puffs are little round balls (great for practicing the pincer grasp!) and come in a nice size serving bag. The white powder does come off on your hands, but it brushes off easily and doesn’t leave a huge mess on your fingertips (unless your kid is like mine and can make a complete mess out of any food!) My husband still doesn’t like the texture of cheese puffs, but he said the flavor of these were actually pretty good - I agreed and I shared the bag with Kayla who thought they were pretty good too.
You CAN have a great-tasting, healthy snack food without high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, perservatives, and ingredients you can’t pronounce! - Michelle


As a health-conscious mom, I am always scouring the market for new products that don’t contain nasty, unnatural ingredients. Not only are artificial and chemical additives suspected to cause hyperactivity in children (among other things), who knows what health problems they may be linked to in the future. I was uber-conscious about what went into my mouth during pregnancy, simply because I knew what I ate, baby ate, too. Why stop when baby’s born? Or even when baby’s done with pureed food? And why have to sacrifice flavor and convenient packaging just so be able to serve up natural snacks to your youngsters?

That’s why I was tickled to find out about Snikiddy Snacks. There are so many health foods for kids popping up…but I must say that this company’s approach, packaging, and philosophy really grabbed my attention.

The first thing my 3-year-old son said when I handed him his first packet of their Grilled Cheese Organic Cheese Puffs was, “I really like that cool boy on the bag!” This company knows that kids are visually driven and can be marketed to most easily by attractiveness and likability. First brownie point scored!

That was even before the bag was opened. Hands down, we all adore the cheese puffs. They are just as good as…no, better than…the unhealthy fat-laden varieties available for years, and they have no artificial colors. (Read: No fluorescent orange powder staining everything in sight!) Hooray for “fanatically clean moms” everywhere! These snacks are also gluten-free.

Their Organic Chocolate Chippers are also a big favorite around here. Both of my children are chocolate lovers. (Perhaps “chocoloate snobs” is a better title….just like their mother,) I knew these cookies had to be great in order to win them over. I have to admit I was a little skeptical of whole wheat flour being among the ingredients. I’ve had quite a few baking mishaps when I’ve tried to substitute some of this for regular flour. No worries! The cookies were melt-in-your-mouth delicious, smooth, and tasty….they didn’t even taste “healthy.” [Ed: I use 100% whole wheat flour in everything and have never had a problem!]

All of Snikiddy Snacks’ products are certified organic by Oregon Tilth. They have no GMOs, no hydrogenated oils, no high-fructose corn syrup, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, and no preservatives. They are sweetened with evaporated cane juice (Rapadura), which unlike most sugar, is not separated from the molasses stream during the manufacturing process.

One of the best things about Snikiddy Snacks is their nifty packaging. Their snacks come in individual Snack Pack sizes (enough for one child), Adventure Packs (boxes of five Snack Packs), and Sharing Packs (four to five servings per container). Sharing Packs! How cute is that?

You owe it to your family to pick up some of these snacks next time you go shopping. “Delicious, Mom!” was my 3-year-old’s exuberant response to these tasty treats. I’m sure your kids would agree! - Meg


We are not 100% organic or 100% healthy at our house but I try to give the kids have a good balance between yummy junk and healthy snacks. I make sure apples and other fruits are washed and ready to grab from a bowl they can reach in the fridge and I usually keep the less healthy temptations up out of sight so I have some control over when they eat them ( I say some control because occasionally I have little monkeys that climb up to the top cabinets). I do like to buy some prepackaged snacks for when we are in a rush to get to school and its hard to find a variety of healthy choices with those. We get pretzels usually because they are one of the better choices but every now and then I buy things I’m sure have some not so great ingredients. I can never pass up a free snack so I was happy to test out Snikiddy Snacks with the kids. I never buy store bought chocolate chip cookies (I make my own) so I wasn’t sure what the kids would think of Snikkidy’s Chocolate Chippers. I thought they tasted good with a nice crunch and so did Ben and Jamie (we downed 2 packs in minutes). Ethan, my pickiest kid, didn’t like them and only ate one cookie, but remember he is only used to homemade cookies. I didn’t think they tasted healthy and thats just what you want in a cookie BUT they are organic and have no hydrogenated oils, no corn syrup and no preservatives. Definitely a good choice for those mornings when I am in a rush to pack the kids snacks, although I’d give Ethan the Snikiddy Grilled Cheese Puffs instead. These were a big hit with all 3 of the kids and me too. They also boast a healthy label while still being yummy and the bonus is that they don’t leave little fingers gross and cheesy like regular cheese puffs. Both of these snacks come in handy single serve packs or bigger 4-5 serving sizes. I will definitely look for these in my store to take the guilt out of purchasing prepackaged treats. - Heather


Finding nutritional (and yummy) snacks for my little man has been a real struggle since he was old enough to eat them. Every type of snack that is good for him, he hates…And I must admit, I’ve tried some of them and they are pretty bad! However, I think I have finally come up with a solution that pleases us both!

Snikiddy snacks are certified USDA organic, but have the same yummy taste as all those “bad for you” alternatives! They are made from original family recipes and the finest natural and organic ingredients available. Every Snikiddy treat is absolutely free of hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives! In my book, it doesn’t get much better than that!

We had the chance to try the Chocolate Chippers and the Grilled Cheese Puffs, and were very pleased with both. The Grilled Cheese Puffs taste very similar to a yummy grilled cheese sandwich, a favorite of my little man. So needless to say, they were gone in just seconds! They are gluten-free and are the only USDA certified organic puffs on the market. These were very yummy to everyone in our house! The Chocolate Chippers were a BIG hit as well for our family! They are the only commercially available cookies made without refined sugar. My little man has a sweet tooth, so I have to say that these were his favorite! I was able to snag one from him before he gobbled them up and I was impressed as well…They taste just as good as those “bad for you” snacks, and leave me feeling much less guilty!

Thanks, Snikiddy Snacks for introducing such an awesome “snack-time solution” for our family! I recommend these snacks to all families, but especially those who have picky toddlers! Snikiddys have really mastered a snack that is nutritional without losing great taste. My little man loves them, and I feel good in offering him a snack that is much better for him! - Sara


When it comes to food, do you have persnickety kids? Are you looking for Certified Organic and Certified Kosher snacks that are delicious and healthy to feed those persnickety kids? If you are, then Snikiddy Snacks may be for you!

Snikiddy Snacks were started in 2005 by a mother and daughter team. The mom (now a grandmother) formulated the fantastic recipes in her kitchen, using only high quality, organic ingredients. Snikiddy offers sweet and savory varieties of their snacks to please even the most “snikiddy” of kids! My 2 year-old daughter and I tried the Chocolate Chippers and the Grilled Cheese Puffs.

The Chocolate Chippers were the perfect little bite size cookie for us! They are crispy and crunchy, yet their flavor is sweet but delicate. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the sugary sweetness that I find in most “store bought” cookies. By using organic Rapidura sugar in their recipe, Snikiddy is able to provide a rich sweetness with a hint of molasses flavor. I was in love the minute I popped one in my mouth. My toddler felt the same way. She was asking for cookies all night long!

The Grilled Cheese Puffs are yummy too! While they don’t appear to be overloaded with cheese, you can tell very quickly that they are addictive. My daughter and I ate the snack sized bag very quickly, eventually licking our fingers because we wanted more! She liked them because they were easy to chew and tasted very cheesy. I liked them because they were delicious and made with wholesome ingredients. I can’t wait to try the other flavors!

Check out the freebies that you can get by collecting UPCs to send in. You can get T-Shirts and Art Supplies for your little “Snikiddy Snacker”. - Christy


snikiddy organic snack reviewAs an experienced mother of two, I am fully aware of the extreme importance of bribes. When shopping or attempting finish any task having healthy snacks at my disposal is of the utmost importance. We put Snikiddy Snacks to rigorous testing and this is how our family graded them.

Taste - A-
Ingredients - A+
Packaging - C
Mess Factor - D+

Becca was very excited to try a new snack. As a preschooler she is forever hungry and loves “snack” food. The Organic Cookies disappeared very quickly (I helped!). We both agreed that they were really yummy! We tried the Organic Cheese Puffs and decided they were great but not as good as the cookies. Becca even chose to save some for her Dad, something she would not been able to do if they were more than good.

I really like the fact that the ingredients are organic, free of artificial colors and flavors. As a family we are trying to do our part in supporting organic foods and farmers, so knowing we can do that with these snacks makes me happy.

I am not a huge fan of individual packages. I like to control how much snack food the kids get. Plus if I buy one package then package it myself there is less waste as an end result. The individual packages are not recyclable.

These snacks were very messy. Not only was my preschooler coated with crumbs and chocolate, so was my coffee table and carpet! We both had to wash up once we finished our snack. This is not my ideal for an on-the-go snack. I would not allow either the Organic Cheese Puffs the Organic Cookies, in the car for example.

Overall, Snikiddy Snacks are a great concept, with a lot of potential. They taste great and my preschooler gobbled them up. They could create less waste and mess for this mom. I am not sure about availability, but I will be watching for them at my grocery store! - Chelle


Snikiddy Snacks aren’t yet available in Canada (let’s get working on that Snikiddy!) so we hope our American readers enjoy them! And if anyone feels like sending me some cookies in a care package, I wouldn’t object.

I love my little BoobyDooby

boobydooby clothing reviewI buy a lot of organic clothing for my kids. It’s just one small thing I can do to make a difference for the earth (and for the people working in cotton fields who aren’t being sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.)

BoobyDooby is one of my newer finds and I’m loving their style and their philosophy. A company that gives back and also makes great statements with their clothing is my kind of company.

My personal faves? For girls, I love the “Trust Your Inner Voice” tee pictured at right. What a great lesson for all humankind to learn, but it’s especially necessary for young women. It’s super soft with a great long body (adding the lesson “People don’t need to see your belly button” to the whole ‘inner voice’ thing.) For the guys, I love the Peace themed tee. And check out all of the awesomely soft destroyed black vintage tees for the ladies. I can’t even pick a fave from there, but can vouch for the buttery softness of these inspirational shirts.

BoobyDooby charges only $4 for shipping for all orders!

Win It! We’re giving away a Just Giggle organic onesie valued at $24. To enter, leave a comment before May 1 @ noon telling us your favourite BoobyDooby tee(s) not mentioned in this review.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED

Stuff For Sprouts - Just Good Stuff for Kids’ Skin

stuff for sprouts reviewI’ll readily admit that I’m a skin care snob. It’s not the label - what I buy is generally not expensive. It’s the ingredients that count. I won’t put strange chemicals, colours and noxious fragrances on me or my children. I’ll use straight up organic grapeseed oil before I’ll put most of the common brands of baby skin care products on my babies.

With my discovery of Stuff For Sprouts, though, I can retire the grapeseed oil for everywhere but the diaper area. Developed by mom Kristen Bassick, Stuff For Sprouts currently offers luscious lotion for crunchy kids, fabulous cream for extra crunchy kids and my favourite lip stuff of all time. It comes in a wide tube so one swipe covers the lips and the area surrounding them - no more wrestling!

The scents are kid friendly while being totally inoffensive to adults. Unlike many other brands I’ve smelled, these actually smell exactly like the label says they will. Front lawn? Exactly like what you’d smell when lying on a freshly mowed and organically fertilized lawn. Blueberry muffin, chocolate, PB&J and frosting - just like the real thing! None of their products contain nut butters (yay allergy parents!) or mineral oil, soy, chemical, sparkles or any of the other nasties that creep into mainstream brands. (We dig the transparency of ingredients.)

Stuff For Sprouts offers a money-back guarantee, too. You won’t need it, though.

Use the code OPPARN15 for a 15% discount through April.

Tear Free Doesn’t Mean Chemical Free

This is a guest post from Jody Graziano-Jonas, opinionated parent and owner of the fab BabyBam Collection reviewed here.


How many of us have felt proud that we are keeping our babies best interest at heart when we buy “tear free” shampoos? A lot. Myself included.

However keeping baby’s eyes from burning and stinging is just the beginning!

Did you know that a lot of the “gentle” products on the market actually contain many harmful chemicals? Yes, that’s right.

If you are wondering how safe your diaper rash cream or lotion is, check out The Environmental Working Group’s Children’s Product Guide. They do a great job of wading through the products and rating them on a “hazard” scale.

They warn you about ingredients to avoid such as:

DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals
Ceteareth and PEG compounds - Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities

And remember our Little Lathers collection is 100% organic, handmade of only the finest all natural ingredients!

Here’s to keeping baby’s eyes, skin and bum healthy!

BabyBam

If you read T.O.P. daily (if you don’t, you’re missing out on some great stuff!) then you know how much we love all things natural, safe and soft. And so it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to my newest find, BabyBam Collection.

baby bam collection

Eco-friendly babies and parents alike will love the unparalleled softness that BabyBam offers in their bamboo & organic cotton combination. This fabulous mixture is hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and thermal regulating. All of the BabyBam apparel is natural in color, using no bleaches or dyes, and the silkscreens and tagless tags use low impact dye.

Currently the clothing line includes a onesiea, pants and a sleeper style pajama, both of which are amazingly soft & silky and just the thing I’d recommend putting against your new baby’s delicate skin. After washing I’d swear that they get even softer!

They also have a new line of bamboo body products in their bath time line including the best bum cream I’ve ever tried. Seriously? I’d use it on my own butt if I could get away with it. ;-)

baby bam collection bath towelsAlso part of their bath time line, BabyBam has recently added a brand new hooded towel & washcloth set to their collection. It’s incredibly absorbent and fast drying and is completely free of pesticides and chemical treatments so there’s no concern about skin allergies and irritations. Bamboo is also naturally anti-bacterial and odour free which is great for the wet environments in which you’d generally need a towel.

All of these fabulous products are available for purchase at the BabyBam Collection online shop and select stores.

Founded by mom of two Jody Graziano Jonas, BabyBam Collection is the kind of company we really like to get behind. Watch for upcoming guest posts on the subject of raising a green baby written by Jody and cross-posted from her own blog. As part of her environmentally responsible policies, she packages all of the BabyBam products in recycled, re-used, or recyclable packaging - everything from the tissue paper to the ribbon to the box it is shipped in. In addition, BabyBam regularly makes contributions to The Arbor Day Foundation and the Sierra Club. Love it!

You can win a onesie and pant set from BabyBam Collection with your choice of pink, blue or green heart on the pants. To enter the random draw, send one email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with BABYBAM (copied exactly) in the subject line and tell us which of the gift sets is your favourite. (Go to the BabyBam site, click through to the “online store” and click on “gift sets.”)
You must include both the answer and your complete mailing address in your email to qualify for the draw.
Contest closes at midnight MST on Friday, February 8, 2008. The winner will be contacted via email. Congratulations Danielle M.!

Mei Mei Baby

Those Aussies know what they’re talking about when it comes to skin care. If they didn’t, they’d all be wrinkled cancerous lumps instead of the unusually gorgeous sub-species that they are. So it makes sense to turn to them for baby skin care ideas, no? The well known Mei Mei line from Australia has now been brought to North America and we’re pleased to introduce you to Mei Mei Baby USA.

mei mei baby care

Sixty percent of what we put on our baby’s skin is absorbed into the body, and parents everywhere are becoming more conscious of what they put on their children’s skin. Mei Mei Baby (pronounced “May May” - just like the sound that sheep make) offers a range of head-to-toe baby products that is all natural, safe, and free of petrochemicals, parabens, and sodium lauryl sulfates. Their products are 100% made in Australia. That means no lead either! ;-)

We tried samples of their line and were very impressed with the quality. The samples were tiny, but in those quantities showed no sign of irritating either newborn baby or toddler skin.

Check out Mei Mei Baby USA for the complete line which should be available early 2008 - that’s right away!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Silicone is where it’s at!

Merry Christmas Eve! Between waiting for a baby to arrive and entertaining both side of my family (with a lot of help) I’m hoping to be able to continue to pump out a few reviews and contests over the holidays so be sure to check your RSS readers or pop in each day to see what great things we’ve got to share with you!

If you get something great over the holidays, be sure to send us your guest reviews so we can help make you famous. Or not, but we’ll definitely do our best!

Merry Christmas, from all of us to all of you. Enjoy the most precious people in your life this holidays season!


Silikids is a company run by two moms that specializes in cool silicone products for kids. So far there are four products in their line up, each of which are equally cool.

SiliskinsWhether you put breastmilk or a substitute in to a bottle, you’ve got to be concerned about all of the chemicals from plastic that we now know without a doubt leach into the liquid and are linked to all kids of horrible illnesses. We know that glass bottles are the best if you choose to use a bottle but, though they’re thick and safer in many ways than plastics, it’s still a little scary to put glass in the hands of a child. Especially once they learn to throw.

Siliskins, pictures at right, come in 4oz. & 8 oz. sizes and are translucent silicone ‘bottle condoms,’ for lack of a better term, that are microwave safe, hypo-allergenic and dishwasher friendly. They allow you to easily see how much is in the bottle, make it easy & safe to hold and also protect it if it should fall. As a test, we dropped one from a height of 5 feet onto both a carpeted and a linoleum floor and there was absolutely no damage to the bottle or the skin.

Some bottle covers can only be used with a proprietary bottle but Siliskins are designed to fit the Evenflo glass nurser which is easy to find across the continent. The 8 oz. retails for $12 and the 4 oz. for $10, and both include one bottle.

SilipadsIf you’ve got a little crawler, check out these awesome Silipads - silicone knee pads. If you’ve tried it with your kids, you are well aware that crawling can hurt! Silipads are super cute and available in four hip & bright colour combos (seen at left), easy to get on and off and machine washable. Now that’s what I’m talking about! Silibibs

Last but not least in the Silikids lineup is the Silibib - a food grade silicone bib that lies completely flat against the chest and didn’t even stain when we used it at a spaghetti dinner. Miraculous? I’d say. It wipes clean easily with a wet cloth or you can just toss it in with the dishes for a thorough cleaning.

I think I’m in love with silicone and, therefore, with Silikids.

We’ve got one 4 oz. and one 8 oz. bottle in Siliskins to give to one lucky reader. To enter the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Silikids in the subject line by midnight MST on 12/31/07 and tell us one good reason to use silicone (from the website, please). Congratulations Lucinda!

Please include your full name and mailing address with your entry, and a blog link if applicable so we can link you up if you win. Entries without a mailing address are invalid. (Please note that these are deleted after the draws and are never sold or given to anyone.)

WeeGo Goes Where You Go…Safely.

weego bottleMy first child never once drank from a bottle. To be honest, it never concerned me at all because I nursed until he self-weaned onto a cup and I was never away from him for more than a couple of hours anyway. I was just going for a back up plan should anything have happened to me so that my child wouldn’t starve. I really didn’t want him to eat out of anything plastic anyway.

However…for the next one soon to arrive, I’m hoping for slightly more success on that front to allow me to spend some 1-1 time with my oldest that doesn’t revolve around the hourly nursing sessions that are bound to happen. However, being the *ahem* …persnickety…mother that I am I will not be putting my ‘liquid gold’ into a plastic bottle that leaches carcinogens. I’ve looked for glass bottle and they’re rather hard to come by in Hickville, Canada. When I have found them they were not very attractive (granted, not the most important factor) and didn’t look all that safe to me past the point of feeding a baby that literally doesn’t move in your arms.

And that’s why I was giddy to find the newest bottle on the scene from BabyLife - the Wee Go bottle. It’s your typical (recyclable) glass bottle with a non-toxic, non-plastic silicone sleeve that not only helps babies and parents keep a solid grip but also protects the bottle from breakage in all but fairly extreme drops. The bottle, sleeve and new French nipple can both be boiled or can go through the dishwasher together or alone. (If you have an old sample like the one we’re giving away below, the non-toxic silicone nipple needs to be hand-washed.) The ring, plug and cap are plastic, but are food grade, polycarbonate-free and also recyclable. At $18 for each bottle they’re not for everyone (or not several days worth anyway, but one or two might be do-able) but they’re certainly the best option I’ve seen for older bottle-lovers and out-of-the-house bottle feedings. And persnickety moms like me.

WeeGo bottles will be available in early November.

We’re giving one away in “sky” along with a white 3-6 month onesie from BabyLife. To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with WeeGo in the subject line before midnight tonight and tell us the name of one other sleeve colour that’s available. Congratulations Shaila!

Little Marmara Organic Childrens Wear

little marmara gift set 3I’m always on the hunt for new organic kids clothing that’s different than the usual and I am loving Little Marmara. Founded by parentrepreneur Gabrielle Ackerman, Little Marmara items are all made from 100% chemical-free organic Turkish cotton and you just can’t get better than that. And apparently it’s hard to get softer than that. Contrary to much of the older organic fabrics which were slightly on the scratchy side (think wearing a hemp necklace all over), this fabric is amazingly soft. (And if you’re curious as to why I love organic fabrics so much, read Gabrielle’s page on organic cotton. The knowledge gained is well worth the minute it will take you. Go on…I’ll wait.)

The camel caravan, the stork and the lion on gorgeous tees and amazingly soft (and totally-safe-to-rest-your-precious-head-on) pillows and bags make up the Little Marmara introductory line, but there’s much more to come including pants, blankets, sweaters, hats, washcloths, towels and even toys, all of which will be made of the finest Turkish organic cotton.

Judging by both the quality and style of the products I’ve seen and touched, I can’t wait to see what’s coming. I see big things for Little Marmara.

Win a gift set #2 in size 12-18 months valued at $56 USD (pictured above). To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Little Marmara in the subject line by midnight MST tonight and tell us the Little Marmara tagline found at the top of each page of the website. Congratulations Karen!

Get 20% off with the code HOLIDAYSAVINGS until December 5, 2007.
(See the coupon below.)

little marmara coupon

Little Marmara is currently offering free shipping on all gift sets to US addresses.

Good for the earth, good for women and oh so good for you.

lavender soothe gift setI love the spa. It’s a definite addiction. However, I can only afford to go there in my dreams now that I’m a mother so I also love products that can recreate the spa at home. Pharmacopia products do just that - and in an ever so wonderful organic manner.

Their luxurious product line supports sustainable and organic agriculture through the use of organic and all-natural ingredients and the company also supports fair trade via their trademark grass baskets which are handmade by Philippina women. Anyone as opinionated as we are is bound to love this company, but what’s policy without product?

Even more important than these admirable business practices is the fact that these products are fabulous! Several of us tried out the citrus scent and love it. It’s light and refreshing and doesn’t irritate the senses in the least. The body & massage oil is amazing added to the bath, and we all were floored by the smoothness of the lotion - the perfect follow up to the aromatherapy bath. The shea butter hand cream was amazing after a long day working with paper and, though I’m sure it was my imagination I think it may have actually helped my nails grow without cracking!

Enter to win a “lavender soothe” gift set (pictured above) from Pharmacopia by sending an email to theopinionatedparent@gmail.com before midnight MST on 10/20/07. Put “Pharmacopia” in the subject line and tell us what four scents are available from the website. Congratulations Lois!

LunaPads (Not gross at all, actually)

by Reesh

Back in my theatre days I did a lot of touring. There were often 5 of us traveling in the same van and up to 3 of us sharing a hotel room each night. You had no choice but to become intimately involved with every little aspect of your touring mates’ lives, and you had to be okay with the things you’d rather not know about otherwise it was just going to be a painfully long tour.


So when Melanie got her period, we all learned about Lunapads. We had little choice as they were hanging in our hotel bathroom to dry 7 days of every month. Needless to say, by the time the next tour rolled around, it was me who was drying my Lunapads and educating both male and female about the wonders of cloth pads.

Many people when they hear that I use only cloth pads think that it’s too much work for them. After 4 seasons of touring, never being in your own bathroom, but having to greet Aunt Flow once a month regardless, I can honestly say that using Lunapads is a piece of cake.

Lunapads are washable menstrual pads made from 100% cotton flannel and highly absorbent fleece. They are machine washable and dryable and last for about 3-5 years. They fasten to your own underwear with small plastic snaps and they come in all different sizes and thicknesses depending on your flow and your underwear type.

Recently Lunapads has added Lunapanties to their repertoire of wonderful feminine products. Lunapanties are 100% Cotton underwear with an extra layer of absorbent fleece sewn in to the crotch. Being pregnant, and this being my second pregnancy, I’m sure many of you are familiar with the not so pleasant “leaking” that accompanies motherhood. These panties provide just that extra bit of protection I am finding myself needing at this time. There is also the deluxe Lunapanty which is compatible with Lunapads removable liners.

So yes, there is a bit of a transition to make from disposable to reusable, but after one cycle I found it to be a rather delightful experience. I even felt fresher and after 2 or 3 cycles I seemed to bleed less. Then of course there was the added bonus of knowing I wasn’t dumping large amounts of pads into our landfills each month. Lunapads are just as small and compact as disposables, so leaving the house with them can still be a stealth like operation if you so desire. You will need to add a small Tupperware container to your bag however. Just place your used pad or liner in the container and stick it in your bag or purse. When you get home you can soak the used pads in cold water before throwing them in the washing machine or rinse them in the sink, hang them to dry and re-use them the next day. Your body, the environment and your wallet will thank you for the little bit of extra effort. Yes that’s right, reusing your pads can save you a ton of money too.

Now that I have a daughter whom I will one day have the pleasure of explaining how our amazing bodies work, I am so glad that I will get to teach her about reusable pads. There will be no embarrassing trips down the menstrual pad aisle for us. Instead, we will go online and pick out her favourite colours and styles together. She will no doubt feel very in touch with her changing body right from the very start of her journey as a new woman.

Lunapads is a woman owned business based out of Vancouver, Canada. They have a wonderful website which will answer any of the questions you may find yourself asking. Check out www.Lunapads.com.

Want to win a Lunapads intro kit to try them yourself? Email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with LUNAPADS in the subject line and the correct answer to the question “What are the names of the Lunapads’ owners’ 3 children?” Contest closes Friday 6/8/07 at midnight MST. Congratulations Katie! (The one from GA - not the other 7 Katie’s who entered. Sorry!)

Eco-friendly babies make an eco-friendly world

My Conservation Baby is a new online venture for conservation enthusiasts Ellen & Michael McNeill. They offer hip and upscale onesies, onesie sets and toddler tees with conservation-inspired messages like Stop Global Warming and Protect the Environment in both organic and conventional cotton.

Since our babies are the ones inheriting this great earth from us, it’s important that we teach them to respect it and protect it from the very beginning. By using the tips from the website, setting an example at home and wearing socially responsible clothing like what’s available from My Conservation Baby you’d be heading in the right direction.

Like any socially responsible company, My Conservation Baby has a great selection of organic offerings. I was struck by how thick and soft the cotton was before it was even washed. The natural onesie set pictured at right is the perfect baby gift for the eco-conscious parent (and really, shouldn’t we all be?) along with the awesome ninja set with ties at the sides for truly effortless diaper changes. I’m also kind of in love with their pink camo gift sets.

Also worth checking out - the offer for free baby clothes from My Conservation Baby. Who doesn’t love free clothes?

My Conservation Baby has a completely hassle free return & exchange policy so you can shop with complete confidence.

Receive a free gift with orders over $100 and a free gift and free shipping for all orders over $150.

TOP readers also receive 10% off with the code OPINION

My Conservation Baby is TOP’s newest sponsor.
Check out their ad in our premium sidebar space!

It’s a “good day” when a fave goes organic.

Il Cocco di Mamma, a favourite store of opinionated parents everywhere, has added some 100% combed organic cottons to their already fabulous line of signature tees. Currently available in the gender neutral Good Day, Sweet Like Honey & Heaven Sent images in sizes from 6-24 months, these tees would make a fabulous gift for parents who are both eco-conscious and linguistically aware. They’re designed by Il Cocco owner & designer Donna Bottari and retail for $24. With their generous fit and itch-free tagless design, they’re sure to be a hit.

We’ve got a Bonjour organic tee in size 24 mos. to give away. To be entered, email theopininionatedparent@gmail.com with Il Cocco in the subject line and tell us the name of Donna’s first nephew who inspired her to start her awesome store. Contest closes at midnight MST on May 31/07. Congratulations Rheanna!

Mother-Ease

Lots of crunchy, semi-crunchy and wanna-be crunchy parents choose to use cloth diapers. What used to be the norm is now viewed by some as too much work & too much mess. I can tell you definitively that it’s not much work, and if you’ve got too much mess you’re either not doing it right or you’ve got the wrong diapers.

I’ve always been an all-in-one girl (the lazy way to protect the environment) but I’ve been testing out Mother-Ease diapers & covers for the last month. Honestly, I always thought covers would be a huge pain in the you know what, but they’re not.

The Sandy’s diapers have lots of elastic at the legs & back of the waist and they fit like a dream - even on my skinny mini kid. They’re amazingly absorbent. Even after several hours (oops!) the outside of the diaper was not wet. These are my favourite cloth diaper ever. I’ve never had a leak - ever! (And, sadly, my way-too-expensive all in ones from a major brand leaked out the leg holes all the time.)

The Mother-Ease one size diapers really do fit everyone. Strategically placed snaps are manipulated to accommodate your baby’s growing needs, and are reinforced to ensure that they never pull out of the diaper. They’re easy to use, soft & absorbent and the cute covers aren’t a pain at all. They’re super easy to use, fit great and aren’t made of that nasty plastic that the box store covers are. (And they now come in some cool eco-themed prints!)

We’ve got a Mother-Ease Introductory Package to give away, including a one size diaper, an absorbent snap in liner and one air flow cover in the eco-Savanna print. To be entered in the random draw, simply email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with MOTHER-EASE in the subject line and tell us one of the diapering accessories available from Mother-Ease. Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/5/07. Congratulations Cara!

It’s a Snap(pi)!

by Candice

When I was preparing for the arrival of my first born, I, like every mother, had a lot of decisions to make about how I would care for my bundle of joy. And, like many mothers, I read countless books and did my share of internet searching as well.

I became interested in cloth diapering and decided to give it a try. Parents who have researched this option know that there is a huge variety (and price range) of cloth diapering possibilities. All-in-ones? Pre-folds? Hemp? Cotton?
It became clear early in my search that All-in-Ones, while the Cadillac of cloth diapers, were not in my price range. I resigned myself to the “cheap” old-fashioned nappies called “flat diapers” (think “burp cloth”) with a semi-fancy Velcro cover.

But pins? Could I fasten a cloth diaper onto a squirming newborn using pins? My gut instinct told me “No!”.

Luckily there is an option out there for squeamish vegetarian mothers like myself.

Behold: The SNAPPI Fastener!

The Snappi fastener is a product invented and manufactured in South Africa. It is made of a stretchable non-toxic material. The Snappi Fastener is in the shape of a “T” and has grips on each end. These grips embed in the diaper fabric to create a good fit while still allowing natural movement for the baby.

The Snappi Fastener is affordable (suggested retail price is $2.49), and also economical. I purchased only 3 of them and never had to replace one. Now I’m waiting for my second baby to arrive so I can use them all over again!

The best thing about it is that it cannot hurt the baby in any way (provided, of course, that you use them correctly. They always need to be under a cover.)

Snappi Fasteners are available in 9 colors. The Snappi Company strives to contribute towards the well being of its home community in South Africa, with an ongoing involvement in social upliftment and welfare projects.

Snappi products are available at retailers across North America.

We’ve got 3 Snappi Fasteners for 24 lucky TOP readers! If you’d like to be one of the 24, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with SNAPPI in the subject header and tell us one other Snappi brand product. Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/5/07. Congratulations to all 24 of you!

It’s Sage, Baby.

It’s a well known fact even among the least environmentally conscious of us that chemicals are harmful. Susan Gluck-Pappajohn & Francesca Olivieri started Sage Baby NYC with the mission to help new and expectant parents take the next step –beyond organic food– in creating a healthier environment for their babies and children.

As new mothers, they saw their peers diligently serving organic milk and food to their children so that they are not exposed to numerous toxins and chemicals, only to turn around and unknowingly expose their children regularly to a variety of other toxic chemicals in their households and elsewhere. Through their company they have searched the world to identify the very finest and most stylish organic and non-toxic products, like this limited edition rattle hand-turned from pesticide free old-growth applewood. Wow.

Sage Baby began in 2005 selling only to NYC locals via trunk shows. With that success under their organic cotton belts, they decided to launch their website and have been live since March 2006. They offer a huge assortment of products including organic cotton clothing, bedding and towels; organic skincare; non-toxic toys; non-toxic cleaning products and air purifiers. And their site also contains some great advice and links to some great non-toxic resources.

There’s nothing Sage Baby carries that I wouldn’t buy. I’m especially loving this limited edition organic Soho Baby ’see-hors’ set from the speesees line. It comes with a kimono (3-6 mos.) or long sleeve tee (6-12 mos.), yoga pants in a gorgeous shade of pear and a matching terry-lined bib.

And for that extra sensitive newborn skin, check out their organic preemie and newborn selection.

Enter to win this adorable limited edition Soho Baby Set (size 6-12 mos; value $49; pictured above). Simply email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with SAGE BABY in the subject line and the correct answer to the question How many children do the two moms behind Sage Baby NYC have between them? Contest closes at midnight MST on May 2/07.