Ask Non-Toxic Kids, and Guest Writers

Hello, dear readers.

I made a vow this year to connect more with readers. I want to know more about you, hear your comments, and start up a dialogue about how to keep our kids safe and raise them as naturally as possible.

I read every single comment that comes in to this blog, and I try to respond to them directly when I can. I value each one of your thoughts.

I also want to encourage you to send me your questions. I would like to know what is concerning you and I will try answer each one as best I can.

And I'd love to hear from other green mamas (or papas) interested in guest posting here at Non-Toxic Kids. I'm constantly amazed by the wealth and depth of green parent bloggers, and I would love to feature some here.

Please email me at non-toxic-kids(at)comcast(dot)net anytime about guest writing, or your questions.

image: Vieja Maquina de Escribir. / Old Writing Machine. by Gonzalo Barrientos on Flickr under Creative Commons

Environmental Working Group's New Shopper's Guide to Pesticides

Good news from the hardworking folks at the Environmental Working Group. They've just released their updated Shopper's Guide featuring the "dirty dozen" (produce to avoid because of the high pesticide amount used) and the "clean 15" list.

This guide is really valuable for parents trying to limit their families' pesticide intake. And we all have good reason to do this. According to the EWG:

"The growing consensus among scientists is that small doses of some pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood. Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides."

This information is especially important for expectant and nursing moms, and for families with young children. You can significantly decrease your families' exposure to pesticides by using this guide.

"EWG's computer analysis has found that consumers can reduce their pesticide exposure by 80 percent by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating only the cleanest." 80 percent!

Why are pesticides so bad for children?

According to the EWG,

"Protecting our families' health from chemical exposures can start with minimizing children's exposure to pesticides. It is now well established that pesticides pose a risk to vital organ systems that continue to grow and mature from conception throughout infancy and childhood. Exposure to pesticides and other toxic chemicals during critical periods of development can have lasting adverse effects both in early development and later in life. The metabolism, physiology, and biochemistry of a fetus, infant or child are fundamentally different from those of adults; a young, organism is often less able to metabolize and inactivate toxic chemicals and can be much more vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides. The nervous system, brain, reproductive organs and endocrine (hormone) system can be permanently, if subtly, damaged by exposure to toxic substances in-utero or throughout early childhood that, at the same level, cause no measurable harm to adults. The developing brain and endocrine system are very sensitive, and low doses at a susceptible moment of development can cause more of an effect than high doses. It is especially important to reduce pesticide exposures of babies and young children so as to minimize these risks."

You can download this small handy guide and keep it in your purse for use at grocery store. You can read more about the study and data at EWG, including the full produce list. Thanks again, EWG! Your hard work is helping us all make safer choices for our families.

Green Moms Carnival Takes on Non-Toxic Spring Cleaning!

The Green Moms Carnival for March 2009 was just posted on the blog Tiny Choices and it is full of inspirational and practical advice for eco-spring cleaning. Check it out and get ready to be inspired!

Winner: ChicoBag 4 Pack

Thanks for the many comments I received on the ChicoBag giveaway. I so wanted to give every one of you these bags! I too carry big stained and ugly canvas bags (except for the beautiful Skeeta bag from my dear friend- you should check these out) and would love these as well.

The bag set goes to......Statia! She said, "I know that it's horrible of me, but I'm totally guilty of forgetting my bags when I go to places like Target, or places anywhere other than the grocery store. All of my shopping bags are crumpled up and various sizes and are a pain to drag around with a toddler. And what's worse is that the people at Target, no matter how much I remind them, will put 2 items per bad, leaving me with 7 bags to carry out. It drives me mad. I've been on the lookout for a decent sized bag that's easy to store."

I hear that. I despise the quick stop at the store on the way back from somewhere, when I don't have my bags. It feels awful to bring home dead trees or plastic!

Congrats, Statia. I hope this makes life just a bit easier and more guilt free for you.

Green Spring Cleaning (Green Moms Carnival Submission!)

(This post is part of the Green Moms Carnival. Tiny Choices will host this month's Green Mom Carnival. Read all the Green Moms sounding off about spring cleaning on March 10th.)


I really don't like cleaning. Really. And all spring makes me want to do is roll down the windows and travel. I don't ever want to clean. The spirit never strikes.


That said, when my mom is visiting, or other friends are coming over, I have to get to it like all of us do. And I want to do it as green and healthy for my family and for the earth as I can.

That means no nasty chemicals, scents, or extra anything. I want to do it as fast as possible, as little as possible, and move on with life.

I do like to take advantage of the energy of spring to purge. As a recovering pack rat, this is hard. So here are my tips for green spring cleaning (and purging):

*Find all that is not being used: toys, small clothes, housewares, etc., and move it along to someone who needs it! Take the pile (we have a BIG one in the basement) to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or to a consignment store (better yet, a friend who is expecting or has a new baby).

*Clean green. My favorites include any Seventh Generation product. They, unlike many companies, label all the ingredients in their products on every label, and work hard to promote environmental health for everyone. And remember the Dixone 1,4 controversy last year? The Organic Consumer's Organization found the carcinogenic chemical in many of our favorite green cleaning brands. But they've released a new report and study with newly reformulated cleaners, many of whom are completely free of this chemical now. They are also working towards a more clear and better labeling system, similar to the process for organic foods.

The Coming Clean campaign is: "focused on cleaning up the organic personal care industry by ridding of fraudulent labeling that is misleading consumers. The OCA believes that organic body care standards should mirror organic food standard.

This means that:
*Certified organic agricultural feedstocks are utilized in the manufacture of the key basic cleansing and conditioning ingredients, versus petroleum or conventional feedstocks.

*Manufacture of such ingredients is ecological.

*The toxicity of each ingredient is minimal

*Non-agricultural water is not counted in any shape or form as contributing to organic content," according to the OCA.

Wouldn't this be amazing? Join OCA's Coming Clean effort here.

I also love Simply Neutral's non-abrasive cleaner. I use this everywhere that needs a little more cleaning (let's just say if you wait as long as I do, you need this stuff). It doesn't mark up any surface, and scrubs out soap and toothpaste scum in a second (sorry to sound like a commecial). The stuff is green (no odor), safe for your lungs and your kids in the same room.

*Air out your house. All those nasty indoor air quality issues! We've got flame retardants in dust, fragrance chemicals, VOCs and who knows what viruses are lingering. If you can, open up the windows and air it out.

*Vacuum. I RARELY do this. And when I took a survey about indoor air quality, it is where I got in trouble. Turns out, chemicals like flame retardants cling to dust and stick around, to be ingested by little hands. Vacuuming regularly cuts this down. I've read this, I understand this and I still don't vacuum much. Maybe you will have better luck!

*Purge your stuff. This one is hard for me, but I am getting better. If you haven't worn it in a year (okay, maybe two) move it along. Send those books over to the used book store.

*Set up that compost pile. If you've stopped composting for the winter, now is the time to get it set up again. There are lots of resources online to help you with this!


Readers, what are your tips for green spring cleaning? I'm sure you are all better house keepers then I (not hard), so please, comment and share here!

image credit: The Bridge to Spring - Part 2 by WisDoc on Flickr under Creative Commons