Category Archive for ‘Uncategorized’ at Healthy Tot

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Toys for a road trip

Published

on August 5, 2008

. 2 Comments

We are about to head out for a week long road trip to Maine. It will be a combination of vacation to visit some family and attend my cousin’s wedding, where my 2.5 year old daughter will be a flower girl. Yes, we’ll have to see how that goes. But it is about a four hour trip in the car for us and this week I have been brainstorming on what to bring her for car entertainment. (we do not have a car DVD and am resisting the purchase, I am not totally against them, I would definitely get it if we were on a x-country trip)

So I headed to my neighborhood toy store Creatoyvity in Providence, . The store is small but the selection is big so I know I will always find something to fit my request. I hunted around the store, and the first thing that caught my eye was a vinyl sticky board. They had these when I was a kid, made by Colorforms. This one, made by Mudpuppy has a fold out board and pictures of people and items that can decorate the room pictured on the board, they call it a play scene. It looks so cool, some of the cutouts are pretty small, so they might get lost or eaten so use you best judgement if your kido puts lots in their mouth still.

Next I grabbed a ring flash card set, also made by Mudpuppy, this one was for the alphabet, but there was an array of subjects that will appeal to just about any kid. I liked the ring, because she won’t play 26 card pick-up with them. They look easy to hold and manipulate on her own.

I wanted one more attention occupier… so I turned to the staff and explained my objective. Helpful and nice, they brought me over to a display with a bunch of car friendly toys. There was one brand in particular Lauri, that had a number a good traveling toys. There were small rubber puzzles, lace cards, stacking pegs, peel and stick boards, and more. I decided on the Primer Pack. It had a good selection of items, lace cards, a rubber alphabet puzzle, and some simple small puzzles. To top it off it comes in a little carrying case my daughter will easy tote around. Want to know more cool stuff about this company, the toys are made in the USA and they sell replacement pieces!

I am not giving her these new toys until we hit the road, that way they will be more exciting and attention grabbing. I suggest doing the same, the entertainment value is higher on something that is new to them. You need not buy new, you can always borrow something from a friend to accomplish this, or make it, here’s how to make your own lacing cards. Buy some thick, colorful card stock and cut out some fun shapes, punch holes long the edge of the shape, get some yarn and cut about 14-18 and finish the ends with scotch tape. And they’re ready to get lacing!

More ideas for a fun car ride:
Crayon and Notebook Roll-up from Apple Blossom Baby
I Spy Bag from Ainsley and Oswald
Car Valet by Alex Toys
DIY Travel Toys at She’s Creative

The HealthyTot store…

Published

amy

on May 2, 2008

in Uncategorized

. 2 Comments

If you been coming here for a while you’ll have noticed that there is a new tab up top… The HealthyTot Store. It came from a little inspiration from my friend Jenn. She emailed me one day and mentioned she was on the hunt for some safer dishware and utensils for her son. I do a lot of research on this stuff and know a lot of sites to head to when in need for items like this - so I provided her links to some of my favorite blogs with “stores”. Then it hit me, I should have a store where I can hand-pick the products I like, use, trust and research so people like Jenn can come and find what they need.

The store is in its baby stages, but my aim to add more categories and larger product lists of safer, high quality items. You’ll see an assortment of goods- many focused on BPA and phthalate free products, but also just some good quality stuff that have passed a personal test of some sort. I am using Amazon as my base, so there are some great products that will be missing from the store because they just aren’t available there. When that is the case, I will still post stories about great products from smaller producers and companies with a link where to buy them. For example, you won’t see any diapers bags in there, I just don’t love any they have, so you’ll have to get yours at Abba Dabba Bags at Etsy. As always- I love feedback and if you have a products you’d love to tell me about- please do and I will add it to our store for other moms and dads to find.
Happy shopping!

Finally, some great stroller reviews…

Published

amy

on May 2, 2008

in Uncategorized and strollers

. Closed

As a follow-up to Strollers 101, written by my sister-in-law and my article Registering for Baby, one of my favorite sites, Kidoinfo, just did a comprehensive review of some of the most popular strollers out there. In our articles, we talk about trying to make the right choices in some of the big purchases you’ll make for your baby- specifically here- strollers. Used by the reviewers and their families, each carefully look at all the pros and cons of the tested brands and give an honest write up of what you’ll want to know: Is it heavy? Hard to use? How does it maneuver? How much space does it take in my trunk? and Does it look good?

Their article, “Walk on the Stroller Side” was a week long expose/review session on 7 top brand strollers. With a toddler and an owner of 3 strollers, I still am interested in what they have to say. They are great unbiased reviews- which is hard to find with strollers. As they say in their article and I have said as well- there is no perfect stroller and doing the preliminary ground work helps make the right choice for you and your family.

The list of the reviewed strollers from Walk on the Stroller Side includes:
Bumbleride Indie
The Mutsy Urban Rider
The BOB Revolution
The Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico
The Phil & Teds Sport
The UPPAbaby G-Lite
The Quinny Buzz

Don’t miss their contest to win a lightweight Mutsy Spider!!

If I did it all again- I think I would go with the Mutsy. If we have two- I’d go for the Phil and Teds, and for running still keep my BOB…

BPA update…

Published

amy

on April 18, 2008

in Uncategorized, eating and safe products

. 2 Comments

A few days ago, my sister forwarded me article that appeared in the New York Times, about the likelihood that Canada will list bisphenol-a (BPA) as a toxic plastic ingredient. This is an amazing development that I hope (as I am sure you do too) will lead to pressure the US government to take similar measures. Instead of linking to the article, as the NY Times has you sign-in, I am including some important excerpts here.

- The Canadian government is said to be ready to declare as toxic a chemical widely used in plastics for baby bottles, beverage and food containers as well as linings in food cans.
- “If the government issues a finding of toxic, no parent in their right mind will be using products made with this chemical,” said Rick Smith, the executive director of Environmental Defense, a Canadian group that has been campaigning against B.P.A. “We will be arguing strongly for a ban on the use of this chemical in food and beverage containers.”
- “The first thing is that it’s an endocrine disrupter, there’s no question about that,” Professor Bend said, referring to the chemical’s impact on the hormonal system. “Should people that are exposed to these low levels of this chemical be outrageously concerned? I’d err on the side of not creating panic. We simply don’t know. But we should find out.”
Professor Bend added that the impact of B.P.A. on the development of human fetuses was worrisome. It may prove to cause damage in much the same way as early exposure to mercury, he said.

The article ends with a comment regarding the report from the American Chemistry Council “affirms that there are no serious or high-level concerns for adverse effects of bisphenol-a on human reproduction and development.”
Hmmm, weren’t there cover-ups regarding the dangers of tobacco and lead poisoning- which have all come to pass as harmful to humans.
In my month or more of research and attention on BPAs, I came across this book called Deceit and Denial, The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution which looks at how historically corporations and at times the government attempted to cover-up, mislead or downplay the dangers of lead and various other harmful chemicals. It is fascinating and could turn out to relevant to our quest to get to the bottom of the dangers associated with BPAs.

For more info on this book and the mission visit the Deceit and Denial website
And just in the from the Boston Globe Bottle firm halts use of plastic tied to tumors
More info on this matter from SafeMama and The Soft Landing

Safer Wipes- for little hands and bums…

Published

amy

on March 21, 2008

in Uncategorized and healthy ideas

. 5 Comments

A few weeks back you might have read my post about phthalates in shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions, etc. One area that I missed (apologetically) was baby wipes. And since I am talking about wipes mind as well talk about hand wipes - the sanitizing sort. As you know I have a toddler so we go thru lots of wipes. And I thought I was doing the right thing for my daughter by using Pampers, Unscented Sensitive, but I just checked it out at Skin Deep and well they are rated 3, moderately hazardous (not terrible, but I’d like better).

So I am looking into safer options and I am striving to be in the low hazard level with any products I use. And for wipes there aren’t too many that qualify- the top 3 lowest are See the Dawn Angel Mist Baby Spray, Seventh Generation Unscented Baby Wipes with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E and Tushies Baby Wipes with Aloe Vera, Unscented. Both the Seventh Generation and Tushies are sold at Whole Foods and natural groceries, See the Dawn is available online.

For safer sanitizing hand wipes- there is Clean Well, an all natural hand sanitizer. I got a sample of the spray quite some time ago is a goodie bag from Whole Foods and Stroller Strides, and it is great. I am happy to know that they have hand wipes as well. (I prefer the wipes on my daughter as I feel like it actually might wipe something off) Its the ingredients that are the great- all natural, no alcohol or any funky chemicals.

Here is more information on these wipes:
The Daily Green
Green Mom Finds
CleanWell at Amazon
CleanWell Site