Why Choose Organic Cotton?

Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic chemicals and is certified by an accredited independent organization. Instead of using toxic chemicals, organic farmers use insects, crop rotation, compost and other eco-friendly methods to grow their cotton. They start by using untreated seeds and build soil through crop rotations and retain water efficiently with organic matters. They physically remove weeds and control weed through cultivation instead of using herbicides and insecticides to kill weeds and pests. The result is a softer, better cotton for your children.

Babies and children are most vulnerable to chemicals and pesticides and choosing organic cotton clothing and products reduces their exposure to toxic and persistent pesticides on their skin. Anyone with sensitive skin should choose organic cotton since it enables them to avoid allergens contained in chemically grown and synthetic products.

The farming of organic cotton is also kinder and gentler to the earth than conventional cotton. Conventional cotton farming uses approximately 25% of the world’s instecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides. It takes roughly a third of a pound of chemicals to grow enough cotton for one T-shirt.  According to the world health organization, 20,000 people die of cancer and miscarriages each year in developing countries as a result of the chemicals sprayed on conventional cotton.

Organically Hatched sources the best organic cotton products for your babies and children from all around the world. Their products are made with certified organic cotton and are produced in sweat-shop free factories.

Cloth or disposable diapers – which is the cheaper alternative?

A lot of people ask this question and so i thought i would run through the average costs of both. Of course, cloth diapers are better for the environment and better for your baby but we are now seeing more eco-friendly alternatives in the disposable diaper category. Organically Hatched sell a line of diapers made in Sweden called Nature Baby Care that is made from absorbent pulp from sustainably harvested Scandinavian forests. These chlorine free, plastic free line is a great eco-friendly alternative. Organically Hatched also now carry a bamboo diaper which is probably the softest diaper ever. It comes with three rows of snaps so it fits newborns all the way up to 33 pounds so you don’t need to buy different sizes. So here is cost comparison between the bamboo, organic cotton and the ec0-friendly disposable diapers we carry.

First 6 months (on average 6 diapers a day needed so you will likely need about 12 cloth diapers):
bamboo diapers: $359.88

Organic cotton diapers: $217.98 based on all size medium of the ultima, all in one organic cotton diapers
disposable diapers: $725 based on an average of 35 diapers in each package

As you can see, the organic cotton diapers work out to be the cheapest option followed by the bamboo diapers. Given that the bamboo diapers are one size and so soft, these are worth the extra money. You will likely need to buy different sizes of the organic cotton diapers as your baby grows out of these so the cost of the bamboo diapers are probably the same as what you would end us spending on the organic cotton diapers. Disposable diapers are more than double in cost so if you can deal with the regular cleaning and care of cloth diapers this is definitely the cheaper alternative.

Choosing the best Easter Chocolate

There are a lot of chocolates out there right now for Easter, but not all are healthy or good for you or your children for that matter. It’s important to read the ingredient/nutritional labels to choose the best ones. A lot of the common chocolate have ingredients like fructose/glucose, modified milk ingredients, polyglcerol polyricinoleate, artificial flavor and modified palm oil. None of these  ingredients are good for you and you will not find these types of ingredients in quality chocolate.

Organically Hatched carry organic Easter Chocolate and the first ingredient is organic chocolate, made from organic sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic cocoa power. Pure and simple ingredients that you recognize are a good test to whether it is quality chocolate. The higher the cocoa butter content the higher the quality so always look for cocoa butter to be listed as the first or second ingredient. Avoid anything with chemicals that you cannot pronounce or don’t understand. It’s great to enjoy a little chocolate now and then, especially for  Easter however it’s important to read labels and pick the best quality of chocolate!

Benefits of Bamboo Products and Clothing

Bamboo clothing is an excellent organic choice and it has many benefits and advantages over cotton. Bamboo fabric is softer than cotton with a texture similar to silk. It is a naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic product grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. It is also quick to absorb moisture, therefore keeping you dry and odor free. Pure bamboo clothes can dry twice as fast as cotton clothes. Bamboo clothes can be worn all year round as they keep you cool in summer and warm in winter.

The environmental benefits of bamboo clothing are numerous. Bamboo plants are very quick growers and do not require fertilizers or pesticides for a successful crop. They also require very little water and they can survive drought conditions as well as flooding. Bamboo is a sustainable and renewable resource as the bamboo plant is self replenishing. New shoots are continuously growing, ready to replace the old ones.

Another benefit of bamboo products is that it releases a significant amount of oxygen into the atmosphere, more so than trees. Planting bamboo can help reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the air as well as reducing soil erosion and desertification. The complex root system of bamboo plants makes them an excellent choice for planting in high erosion areas such as riverbanks and areas subject to mud slides. They are also suitable for planting in areas which have suffered significant soil degradation and deforestation.

Bamboo fabric is created from bamboo pulp. The fabric is bleached without the use of chlorine. Bamboo fabric is easy to dye and is done so without the use of harsh chemicals and using methods which use less water than conventional dyeing methods.

The production of bamboo fabric and clothing therefore has a lower impact on the environment than conventional cotton farming methods.

There are a number of places where you can buy bamboo clothing but if you are looking to buy online we recommend Shirts of Bamboo. They sell both bamboo and bamboo cotton blends. Their range includes:

• Bamboo Bath Towels
• Bamboo Bath Robes
• Bamboo T-Shirts
• Bamboo Underwear and Socks
• Bamboo Scarves
• Bamboo Yarn

Yucky Ingredients in Most Halloween Candy

Look at ingredient labels on most of the halloween candy in the store and you’ll find the following ingredients: glucose/fructose, corn syrup, not to mention some other ingredients that i can’t even pronounce.

Because of this fact, last year,  i was left giving out play cards, pencils and notepads, but i agree with my husband that halloween is all about edible treats and candy, so after searching high and low for candy that i would feel good about handing out, i found Yummy Earth lollipops and drops that are certified organic and kosher. There are no added chemicals, artificial flavors or corn syrup. Best of all, they are delicious and come in 8 assorted flavors.

The family sized bags are perfect for halloween as they contain about 60 lollipops and 150 drops.  Yummy Earth pops and drops are also nut-free, kosher and certified organic. Looking at the ingredient list, you will notice that they have organic evaporated cane juice and natural flavors.
I’m quite happy with my find for halloween and i will actually feel good about handing these out this halloween.

Baby Bottles and Accessories Safety Tips

Safety Tips Do:

• Wash your hands before preparing your baby's bottle.
  
• Have someone else introduce your baby to the bottle about four weeks into your nursing regimen if you're breast-feeding but want to begin using a bottle. Your baby may associate mom with breast-feeding and may resist if you try to give her the bottle yourself.
  
• Get tough with glass. Thoroughly clean glass bottles by washing them in the top rack of the dishwasher, or wash bottles in hot tap water with dish washing detergent and rinse them in hot tap water. You can also use a sterilizer or boil glass bottles in water for 5 to 10 minutes.
  
• Thoroughly clean plastic and polycarbonate bottles by hand with hot soapy water, not in the dishwasher. Bottles may be termed "dishwasher safe," but polycarbonate bottles can leach BPA after being exposed to high heat. Also avoid putting any plastic product into the dishwasher, a bottle sterilizer, or microwave.
  
• Wean your baby from a bottle by 12 months old, if possible. By that time, he will be ready to drink from a sippy cup-just make sure it's not made with polycarbonate. Prolonged bottle use (after 14 months) can cause your baby to consume too much milk and not enough food, and may delay the development of feeding skills.
  
• If you choose formula, protect your baby's teeth by wiping them off with a washcloth or gauze pad after every feeding so that a layer of dental plaque doesn't get the chance to form.

Safety Tips Don't:

• Heat formula or breast milk in the microwave.
  
• Give your baby a bottle of milk or formula to suck on during the night or at naptime. The habit can cause baby-bottle tooth decay, which is painful and difficult to treat and can cause problems for permanent teeth. Give your baby a bottle only at feeding times and don't allow baby to associate bottles with being in bed.
  
• Prop up your baby with a bottle. This feed-yourself practice can lead to choking, ear infections, and tooth decay (yes, again), as well as less cuddling and human contact, which all babies crave.
  
• Give your baby a bottle to carry around and "nurse," , especially a glass bottle, even with a silicone sleeve. Not only is it dangerous (babies have been known to throw their bottles), but this practice can lead to tooth decay, drinking too much, and sharing bottles with little friends, increasing the risk of colds and other infections. The contents of the bottle can spoil, which can cause food-borne illness such as bad stomach bugs, which are no fun for your baby or for you.

Baby Bottles and Accessories

Organically Hatched currently offer four lines of BPA free baby bottles:

Green to Grow offers a variety of baby bottles and accessories that are Bisphenol A and Phthalate free.

Think baby bottles offers a range of baby bottles and accessories that are free of Bisphenol A, PVC Phthalates, lead and nitrosamines.

Wee.go glass baby bottles are covered with a modern sleeve that will help protect the bottle from breakage and also prevent bumping into other articles in your diaper bag.

Thermobaby glass baby bottles are manufactured in France and Thermobaby has been offering innovative products which comply with safety requirements for over 50 years.

Green to Grow Baby Bottle

5 oz regular neck baby bottles are made from PES plastic, which gives them a natural golden color. They are free of phthalates and free of bisphenol A – a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, from which most baby bottles are made.

Bottles are tested in the U.S. to ensure they meet the highest standards for quality and safety

• Free of lead and PVC
• Includes a Beginner (slow flow, 0-3 months) nitrosamine-free silicone nipple
• 100% recycled packaging
• Dishwasher safe (top rack)