Want to give party favor bags at your kids’ birthday celebrations, but want to avoid all the disposable plastic stuff?

Here are a few ideas for homemade, re-purposed, and planet friendly favors that might take more time to assemble but won’t break the bank.

• Seed packets, with or without recycled milk jug flower pots.

• Homemade play dough in bright colors (gluten free if kids are allergic!)

• Melted crayons made from collected crayon bits

• Homemade stickers

• Felted barrettes

• Superhero capes!

• Hanging birdseed feeders

• Homemade bubble bath

• A small plant.  Kids can decorate the pot with paint or by gluing on buttons or other found items.

• Eco-friendly chocolate or other treats

And here are some great ideas for favor bags and other containers!

Disposable diapers are the third largest source of landfill waste.  They take hundreds of years to decompose, and the average household will use 6,000-9,000 diapers in a child’s first three years of life.

But not everyone wants to use cloth diapers or a diaper-free method.  Those are all the choices, right?

Maybe not!  We found a cloth diaper service in Massachusetts which offers a compostable diaper option to its clients.  We asked Mother Herb Diaper Service owner and founder Angela Gregory to explain how this trend setting service works.

How does your compostable diaper service work?

Our compostable diaper service provides the convenience of a disposable diaper without negative environmental impacts. Our service is set-up to create ease for diapering. When you sign up as a client, you can place an order for biodegradable diapers, wipes, and bags and we’ll deliver them right to your home on a weekly or monthly basis. Each week we come to collect the dirty biodegradable diapers and bring them to a commercial composting facility to be professionally processed.

The composting facility is able to turn these plant-based diapers into nutrient rich soil in just three months! Conventional disposables, and even biodegradable diapers, thrown into a landfill will take over 250 years to decompose, and continue to leach petroleum, plastic and pathogens into our soils and waterways. We have yet to see the first disposable diaper decompose. One can imagine with a ton of diapers generated per child how quickly a landfill might cap.

You run a cloth diaper service.  What made you want to offer a compostable diaper service as well?

Mother Herb diaper service is mainly a cloth diapering service. We loan and launder premium quality organic diapers and utilize a baby and earth-friendly washing process. We’re happy to see diapers re-used, but understand that the demands of the modern family may lead some to need to supplement with disposables, or use them solely. After seeing this trend with our clients over the course of a few years, we recognized that to best service our diverse range of clients, we needed to find a way to provide an earth-friendly alternative that aligned with our vision. A compostable project was launched this winter where we tested the diapers, not only for their integrity, quality, and ease of use for clients, but also to run them through the compostable processing to ensure they were in fact breaking down. We are so excited to be able to offer this alternative today!

Can people compost their own diapers at home?

I think the question about composting your own diapers at home is a common one. It’s highly discouraged, as it is unsafe. Reaching the high temperatures required to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens found in human waste is difficult and inconsistent when using common home composting techniques. To ensure that the soil produced when our products are composted is 100% safe, we only offer our diapers and wipes as part of our inclusive service whereby the products are composted in our regulated industrial composting facility, using Federal PFRP standardards for pathogen removal. Your municipal compost is only meant to handle organic matter like kitchen scraps, lawn trimmings, and cardboard. Your diapers contain bio-solids, so these products would be unfit in the municipal stream as well.

We’re so excited to share our Re-Play line of tableware with you!

We know you’ll love Re-Play’s  utensils, divided plates, spill-proof cups, and bowls.  They’re made from recycled milk jugs, right here in the U.S.

The colorful forks and spoons, and the divided plate’s deep walls are perfect for little ones learning to feed themselves.  And the spill-proof cups have one piece, easy clean silicone valves to keep your child’s travels leak-free!

All of Re-Play’s products are:

• Made of FDA-approved recycled plastic
• Dishwasher safe
• Perfect size for toddlers
• Tested for safety
• BPA, PVC and phthalate free
• Affordable
• Manufactured, assembled, and tested in the USA!

How does Re-Play turn milk jugs into tableware for your toddler?

We use curbside collected HDPE plastic. The recycled plastic is sanitized using a patented, proprietary process that cleans the plastic and removes anything that was absorbed by the plastic. Our recycled plastic is FDA approved food grade material.

Re-Play’s packaging is also made from recycled paperboard. The minimal package design does not use plastic blisters, twist ties, or any other extra restraints that can create more waste.

Want to check out Re-Play products?  Order online or find a store carrying them.

Find Re-Play on Facebook and Twitter, too!

We were dismayed to see this recent report, Hidden Hazards in the Nursery, authored by The Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States.

The report details the results of testing of foam in a number of commonly purchased baby products.  The authors purchased 20 common baby products at major retailers and had them tested at Duke University.  The results: 17 tested positive for toxic flame retardants, some of which had been phased out of children’s pajamas in the 1970′s because of their potentially harmful effects.

The report found flame retardants in bassinet pads, nursing pillows, changing pads, and car seats.  The most commonly found flame retardant was chlorinated Tris (TDCPP), found in 80% of the products.  The report states that “California recently classified chlorinated Tris as a carcinogen, and evidence links the chemical to neurotoxicity as well as hormone disruption.” The full list of tested products is here (pdf).

The Coalition notes that there are safe means of achieving flame resistance without the use of Tris or other chemicals known to pose health risks.   The Eddie Bauer Pop-up Booster Seat, Balboa Nursing Pillow, and First Years Co-Sleeper all tested negative for Tris, and the report states that several other companies are known not to use it (Boppy, Orbit Baby, and Baby Bjorn).

The Washington Toxics Coalition offers some tips for lowering your family’s exposure to Tris.  And you might consider joining the Safe Chemicals, Healthy Families campaign.

How many different kinds of baby products could you make with an old sweater?  We looked around for upcycling inspiration and share what we find!

We thought that these were a nice eco-friendly twist on some traditional baby gifts.

Baby blanket.  You can often find cashmere at thrift stores – what could be cozier?

Baby hat.  Warning:  very cute picture.

Baby pants.  These can be just adorable!

Baby leg warmers.  Instructions show adult size, but use a baby sweater and it should work!

Baby booties.  Made from a felted sweater

Diaper covers.  Wool is breathable and keeps babies’ bottoms warm in winter!

Prefold diapers.  A cheap and eco-friendly alternative

Stuffed animals.  Requires a pattern.

Nursing pillow cover.  Instructions are for use with fabric – you’d have to sew together sweater pieces.

Even nursing pads!

Snow is finally falling in many areas of the country.  We hope you’ll enjoy getting cozy with our line of snowmen!

Our Build a Snowman book is oversized for little hands to manage.  Its soft velour pages crinkle and are secured by candy cane knots.  It features bold colorful pictures of everything baby needs to build their own special snowman.  It’s velour with organic cotton fibers and filled with soft corn fibers.

Our Plush Snowman is a puffy plush friend wrapped with with knots for tugging and teething.  This Snowman is ready for warm cuddles and quiet take-along adventures.  He’s velour made with organic cotton fibers and filled with soft corn fibers.

The irresistible Snowman Cuddlie teething blanket is so soft and squishy.  His cute knots, pillow-soft stuffed head and stitched details, make him perfect for safe teething and soft hugging.  He’s velour made with organic cotton fibers and filled with soft corn fibers.

All are machine washable, so they’re made to be carried and loved everywhere!  We hope you’ll brighten up the winter season with these safe, organic toys for baby!

For those of you living in colder climates it might sound like a challenge this time of year, but we hope you’ll consider this green resolution for 2012:  Stop idling your car, especially at school.

Idling your car is detrimental in many ways.  It’s hard on your car, it releases greenhouse gases, wastes gas, costs you money, and creates health hazards.  Idling near schools is especially dangerous, as young lungs are more vulnerable to asthma and other diseases caused by poor air quality. For these reasons, the Environmental Defense Fund urges us to turn off our engines after 10 seconds of idling.

If you’ve already kicked the idling habit, consider using this “It’s Not Cool to Idle at School” toolkit from the Oregon Environmental Council.  It was created to help 5th to 8th grade students launch campaigns to end idling at their schools.

We thought that this video made by elementary school students sums it up nicely!

If you’re thinking about year-end charitable giving this week, we hope you’ll consider donating to some wonderful organizations we support.

1% for the Planet.  1% for the Planet is helping to tilt the scales of giving toward the thousands of under-funded nonprofits dedicated to the pursuit of sustainability, to preserving and restoring our natural environment. We are proud members of 1% for the Planet. As a member, we are contributing one percent of revenues directly to some of the approved non-profit environmental organizations in the 1%’s network.  Over 1,600 non-profits worldwide are included in the 1% program.

Ocean Conservancy.  One of the organizations we are supporting through 1% for the Planet is the Ocean Conservancy.  The Ocean Conservancy promotes healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems and opposes practices that threaten ocean life and human life. Through research, education, and science-based advocacy, Ocean Conservancy informs, inspires, and empowers people to speak and act on behalf of the ocean. In all its work, Ocean Conservancy strives to be the world’s foremost advocate for the ocean.

Nature Conservancy.  One of the organizations we  support through 1% for the Planet is the Nature Conservancy. The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The Nature Conservancy uses a science-based approach aided by more than 700 staff scientists. Furthermore, The Nature Conservancy pursues non-confrontational, prgamatic solutions to conservation challenges and partners with indigenous communities, businesses, governments, multilateral institutions, and other non-profits.

Feeding America.  As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, Feeding America provides food to more than 37 million people facing hunger in the United States.  Food is distributed to individuals and families in need through a network of more than 200 food banks in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, which distributes more than 2.5 billion pounds of food and grocery products annually.  Member food banks support approximately 61,000 local charitable agencies and 70,000 programs which provide food directly to people in need.

Carbon Fund.  Carbon Fund is the leading nonprofit carbon reduction and climate solutions organization, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact by supporting third-party validated renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects. Carbonfund.org has over 450,000 individual supporters and works with over 1,400 business and nonprofit partners.  By becoming a partner in Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree® Partner program, Dandelion has joined a national movement of businesses and organizations that are leading the fight against global warming. Programs like the Million Tree Challenge are great opportunities to be a part of this large global movement.

As members, we also support the Organic Trade Association, the Natural Products Association, and the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (the science of birds) wants help tracking winter birds in North America.  You and your kids can join Project Feeder Watch and become citizen scientists!

Your observations of backyard birds will help the lab understand what is happening to populations of birds – whether their habitats and migrations are changing, and whether their numbers are declining.  According to the lab, this is information about bird population “that cannot be detected by any other available method.”

All you have to do is order a kit, put up a feeder, count the birds who visit it, and report your observations to the project.  They do request a $15 donation to offset the cost of the kit, which includes a bird identification poster, instructions, and a newsletter.

And your kids’ observations are used for real world purposes.  For example, data from this project, which showed a steady decline in the population of Painted Buntings in Florida.  This information helped lead the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to begin systematic monitoring of this species to see how they could be protected.

And the Cornell Lab wants you to have a free 2012 “Bird-Watching Days” calendar, (while supplies last) whether or not you participate!

We’re so pleased to share a podcast interview with Caroline Blakemore, co-author of Baby Read-Aloud Basics.

Tanya spoke with Caroline about the many reasons to read to babies, tips for reading to babies, how reading aloud changes from the newborn to toddler period, and more.  Caroline shared why, as a reading specialist for older kids, she became such an advocate for reading to babies, as well as her opinions of programs that claim to teach babies how to read.

You can listen to the podcast using the player below, listen with Quicktime, or download it at our free iTunes store!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

 Tis the season for toy catalogs and commercials galore – here is an idea to help your kids avoid the “gotta have it all” attitude and reuse some of toy books at the same time! 

Rather than resisting the catalogs, allow your child to look through the pages and think about what they really might like.  Ask them what toys their siblings, friends and family might like.  This can lead to some great conversations! Then, depending on your child’s age, either allow them to cut out the toys they are most interested in receiving, or have an adult provide some assistance. 

Once the pile of toy pictures is complete, recycle the remaining catalog and begin the process of “editing”.  Decide on an acceptable size for child’s wish list/letter to Santa.  Explain that if all the toys that were cut from the catalog don’t fit, then choices need to be made.  This allows your child to really think about what he wants and get creative arranging the pictures into a collage.  When the list is complete, if a new picture comes along it needs to be pasted on top of an existing picture.

A Santa collage allows younger kids who wouldn’t be able to read a written letter to Santa to see what they have chosen for their list. 

Do you write letters to Santa with your kids?

We’re very happy to share an interview about toxic materials in toys with Jennifer Taggart, author of Smart Mama’s Green Guide: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Child’s Toxic Chemical Exposure.  Jennifer runs the website The Smart Mama.

As many of us get ready to buy toys for holiday gifts we thought we’d explore the issue of toxins in toys, and try to answer the question:  “How do I know that this toy is safe?”

Jennifer talked about the chemicals of concern, which types of toys are of particular concern, how toxins in toys are regulated, and resources to help consumers avoid buying toys with toxins.

You can listen to the podcast with the player below, listen with Quicktime, or download and listen from our free iTunes store.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Planning to hit the Black Friday sales this week?  Why not change the color and the impact, and make it a Green Friday instead?

Here are a few ideas to help you make this holiday shopping season green:

• Make donations to honor someone.  Consider making a donation in a loved one’s name.  Here are some organizations we love and support.

• Give time or skill, not stuff.  How about a gift of date-night babysitting, a home cooked meal, lawn mowing, or laundry for a month?  Or if you have a special skill like gardening, massage, scrap-booking, video editing, or musical skill, how about giving a gift of one of those talents?  Who doesn’t want their family pictures finally organized?

• Buy gently used.  Wonderful and less-expensive presents are easy to find in consignment stores, used bookstores, online, and even in thrift stores, and you’ll give an item a second life instead of a ticket to the landfill.  If you’re looking online, Craigslist, Freecycle, and eBay are good places to start.

• Upcycle.  If you’re handy, buy presents at thrift stores and spruce them up a little.  See this site for some creative inspiration and guides to upcycling just about anything you can think of!

• Buy sustainably-made products.  Look for products made with recycled or renewable materials.  Steer clear as much as you can of plastics, and instead go for gifts made from natural, organic materials.  Another way to reduce impact is to buy items that will last, and can be handed down to others in good shape.  When buying for kids, check out Healthy Stuff to make sure that your gifts are free of toxic chemicals.

• When you go shopping, remember your reusable bags, take public transportation if you can, and have fun!

This time of year, as things get hectic and there are toys and temptations at every corner it’s a great time to slow down and focus on the many blessings in our lives.  Having conversations with our children about what they are thankful for can be heartwarming and at times even comical.  Creating a book to detail these stories is easy, and makes a wonderful keepsake or gift for a loved one.  Even the youngest of children can help with this project, which makes it even more special. 

Take blank scrap papers and fold each of them in half.  Using a hole punch, make several evenly spaced holes just inside the folded edge.  Thread the paper together using string, yarn, ribbon or whatever you have on hand. 

Crease each of the pages open to form a fold and have your child decorate each page.  If they are old enough to write, they can write a note or tell a story. If not, you can ask questions and fill in the story for them.

Just don’t forget to make one to keep for yourself!

Do you use paper towels to clean up every day messes?  Want to cut down to save money and resources?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that paper accounts for the largest share of household waste.  In 2006, 34% of our trash was paper.

Paper towels are one source of paper waste, and most can’t be recycled once used.  Their production uses resources, from plant fiber to petroleum in the production process.  Some paper towels are bleached, which adds dioxins to our environment.

There are more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as recycled, non-bleached paper towels, but why not try to ditch or dramatically reduce their use altogether?

What are some alternatives to paper towels?  It depends up on the job.  Here are some common uses and alternatives:

• Wiping counters, tables, high chairs:  Use dish towels, rags, old clothes or sheets, cloth diapers, or burp cloths.  Don’t have enough dishtowels?  Look for them at thrift stores.

• Cleaning windows:  Switch to newspaper and you’ll love how streak-free you can get you windows.

• Napkins:  Switch to cloth napkins, which you can get cheaply at Ikea (49 cents) or make yourself.

• Soaking up grease when frying:  Try newspaper or scratch paper (save from school notices, outdated stationery from an office).  If newspaper cones work as french fry holders for the French and Belgians, why not us?

Do you have other alternatives to paper towels to share?