Author: MichelleH
How Would You Like A Golden Ticket?
Do you remember the excitement on Charlie’s face when he won a golden ticket and had the chance to go to the Chocolate Factory? Well, Baby Age is giving you the chance to win a Golden Ticket! You won’ t end up at a chocolate factory, but you will end up with great baby gear! From strollers to bassinets to Elmo potties and walkers – you could be in baby gear heaven.
It’s very easy to enter. Check out Baby Age for more information!
Edible Play-dough
Who hasn’t grown up having hours of fun with play-dough? Here at Kolcraft we were talking about all the “works of art” we made out of play-dough so we had lots of fun “test driving” today’s fun Friday activity; edible play-dough! This simple activity is easy to do, edible and good for the environment!
What you will need*:
- 2 cups of peanut butter
- 6 tablespoons of honey
- Nonfat dry milk or milk plus flour
- Cocoa or carob for chocolate flavor (optional)
- Edible treats for decoration (we used strawberries)
*We used organic ingredients 
Directions:
- Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix adding enough dry milk or milk plus flour to reach of the consistency of bread dough.
- Add cocoa or carob if desired
- Shape, decorate and eat!
Share your fun play-dough ideas with us in the comment section or post your edible play-dough art in our Magical Moments Gallery!
Earth Day, Soybeans and Crib Mattresses – Oh My!
What do earth day, soybeans and crib mattresses have to do with each other? More than you might think! As we celebrate earth day we look at different ways we can care for our earth. One of those ways is by buying earth-friendly products such as those made from soybeans. Several Sealy® crib mattresses are made from soybean foam.
What is soybean foam?
Soybean-based foam is more of an earth-friendly foam than conventional foams. By using a percentage of natural soybean oils to create the foam, less petroleum and crude oils are needed.
What are the benefits of using soybean-enhanced foam in a crib mattress?
- Environmentally friendly: Soybean-enhanced foam has a smaller carbon footprint because soybeans are a natural and renewable resource that farmers can grow year round. Instead of drilling for oils or shipping petroleum from overseas, locally grown soybean oils can be used. There is a decrease in energy consumed to make the product and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
- Economical: The soybeans used in the foam are grown in the USA, supporting the American farmer, and depending less on foreign oils to create durable foams. Soybeans are the USA’s second largest exported crop, second only to corn. Technology such as this help increase demand, planting, and incentives for farmers to grow soybeans.
- Durable: Soybean-based foams are high-density and firm to support sleeping infants. Soybean-based foams offer:
- Reduced sagging
- Improved durability and lifespan
- Comfortable sleeping environment
We love our Sealy® Soybean Foam-Core Crib Mattress that is made with lightweight high-density foam made with soybeans!
Some eye-catching features:
- Soybean foam is CertiPUR-US® certified and has been tested for indoor air emissions, durability and substances including phthalates, formaldehyde, PBDEs, lead and other chemicals
- Entire cover and lock-stitched binding wipe clean preventing allergens from clinging to the mattress
- Mattress is lightweight making it easy to change sheets
- Lifetime warranty on workmanship and materials
- Entire mattress is phthalate and flammability compliant and does not contain toxic fire retardants
Our Sealy Soybean Foam Core crib mattress is available at Walmart.com!
Have a question or comment about our soybean mattresses? Our crib mattress team is ready to answer any questions you may have!
Check out our other soybean crib mattresses – Sealy® Posturepedic™ Springfree® Soybean & Latex Foam-Core Crib Mattress and our Sealy® Select Soybean Dream™Crib & Toddler Bed Foam Mattress
Teaching Your Child About the Environment
Teaching your child about the environment and caring for the earth helps shape their perspectives, values and how to interact with the environment. It also nurtures a sense of wonder, imagination and creativity. It exposes them to beauty and helps them remain active. A few simple ways you can start teaching your child about the environment while having fun:
- Gazing – Grab a blanket, lie on your back and look up. Ask your child what he/she sees in the clouds. Ask him/her why they think the sky is blue. If you want a night adventure, ask what stars your child likes. Look on the internet what planets will be out that night and see if you can find them. You may even see a shooting star while you are gazing!
- Wildlife Habitat - Create a wildlife habitat in your backyard for your children, grandchildren or neighbor’s children. Invite them over to observe changes in the wildlife refuge especially with the different seasons.
- Explore – Check out the bugs, butterflies and birds in your own backyard or neighborhood. Grab a magnifying glass and notebook and let your child record her/his findings in their very own bug adventure book!
What are some ways you educate your child about the environment?
Teaching Your Child To Be Green
As we continue to celebrate earth week, this Tip Tuesday we are featuring easy tips to teach your child how to be green and care for the earth. Being green is something that everyone – no matter how young or old – can do. Your child learns so much from you from values to lifestyle, so why not incorporate these few easy tips to teaching your child how to care for the earth from a young age?
Water – Teach you child that a little water goes a long way. When brushing his teeth or washing hands, a pencil-thin line of water will do.
Light – When leaving the room, have your child turn off the lights. If your child is too small to reach the switch, pick her up so she can flip the switch off. It can become her special job when you leave the room.
Walk – Instead of running errands in your car, walk to the store. This will give you time to bond with your child and get exercise. Be sure to bring your stroller in case your little gets tired!
Recycle - Make recycling fun by putting your child in charge of recycling certain items like paper towel or toilet paper rolls, paper or cardboard. If you don’t have a special recycling container for these items, let your child decorate a container. This will give your child ownership over their part in recycling.
How do you teach your child to recycle and be green? Please share your comments with us!
It’s a “Green” Mom Monday
This week we are celebrating Earth Day. We thought it would be fitting to feature a “green mom” on our Mom Monday interview. Today we are lucky to have the earth-friendly, eco-minded, ever-so-green mama Maggie from Dexter’s Super Savvy Mommy.
You started your blog because of the economy and the lack of jobs open to educators while Dexter was still a little guy. What would you say you have learned through this unplanned twist of events?
Unplanned is right. I have learned that I can never take anything too seriously. Before becoming a parent, I thought I knew what I wanted. My plan was to travel around Europe after graduation and then settle down to look for a job. Well, I never travelled abroad but I did look for a job. I remember the day I found out I was pregnant I thought, I can’t be a teacher because someone else would have to watch my child. Putting Dexter in day care was never an option for me. I wanted to be there for every little moment and that, to me, is the greatest gift ever. Now that I am expecting baby number 2, I am still not hunting down a teaching job. My education is something that no one can ever take away from me, but the same cannot be said for the years when my children are babies and toddlers. I wouldn’t give up what I am doing for anything, not even a trip to Venice.
Your blog is defiantly earth-friendly and you are a “green-mom.” Can you tell us what that means for you and how you became so passionate about it?
Being green, to me, means that you are aware of the impact that you make on the environment. You are conscious about the decisions you make and the products that you use. To me, being a green-mom is more about doing what is right for my family rather than what is popular.
It wasn’t until after I became a Mom that I woke up and realized that the products that I was using on Dexter may have been “trusted by Moms for over 100 years” but that those Moms were unaware of the damage that they are causing their own children. I constantly have friends and family asking me about products, ingredients, etc. because they are trying to be more aware. For instance, in my household you will never see a product that contains parabens, phthalates, SLS (sodium laurenth sulfates) or petrochemicals. Why is this? Because these toxins/chemicals have been shown to not only cause cancer and cause premature puberty, but also because they can disrupt many your body’s natural functions. Did you know that when a baby is born, there are about 200 chemicals present in their blood? Of those 200 chemicals, 180 of them are known carcinogens! That is shocking but whats more….you can do something about it. By purchasing more all natural products you are protecting not only yourself but the lives of those around you (and inside of you).
ecoSTORE USA is an amazing Michigan-based company that loves Mommy bloggers. I worked with them eons ago on a couple of reviews and they are the people responsible for teaching me about chemicals that are found in virtually all household cleaning products and health and beauty products. I thank Lyne and ecoSTORE USA for their commitment to the health of the environment and for the health of my family.
Has Dexter picked up on your earth-friendly habits?
Funny that you ask. Even for a 2 year old Dexter is very aware. The other day he picked up an empty toilet paper roll and correctly put it into our recycling bin. That was one of my proudest moments.
Some people find it difficult to be green as a parent. How have you overcome the seeming “inconveniences” of finding and using green parenting products?
I don’t think it is hard at all. Being green doesn’t mean that you have to be a freak. It just means that when you are able to recycle, you do. When you aren’t in a room, you turn the light off. It means using products that help contribute to the health of the planet. These products are certainly not hard to find when you know what you are looking for. Education is the key.
Also know that when a company claims to be green, they don’t need to prove it. BUT, when they are claim to be organic they have to hold up to the US Government’s standards. Also, full disclosure of ingredients is key to knowing exactly what is in the products that you are going to use to clean or bathe yourself or your home. You wouldn’t want to eat something before you saw the ingredient list, right?
What tip would you pass along to someone who wants to be more “green” in their parenting, but doesn’t know where to start?
Knowing what certain ingredients are in the products that you buy is, in my opinion, a great place to start. This webpage is a wonderful resource to help you get started!
Familiarize yourself with your community and know where your local recycling center is. Having separate containers for plastics, glass and cardboard help to streamline your trip so you aren’t sorting it at the facility. Lucky for me, I live in a pretty green city. We have several recycling centers and the closest to me is only a couple of miles down the street! Dr. Greene’s books are also wonderful resources. He wrote Raising Baby Green and Feeding Baby Green.
Now for a quick glance into Maggie’s life.
What is your favorite earth-friendly baby product? There are too many to choose from but I really adore ecoSTORE’s Baby Body Wash, BornFree Glass Bottles and Fuzzi Bunz Cloth Diapers.
What is the one product you will never see in your house? HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup)
What is your favorite vacation spot? I love Door County, Wisconsin, New York City (BlogHer 10 here I come) and Mexico (anywhere warm really). I hope someday to add Italy to this list.
What is your greatest accomplishment? Hands down, without a doubt, becoming a Mom. I went into motherhood the hard way by choosing no drugs during labor/delivery and I breastfed. I did all the feedings for the first few months, but it was all worth it. I look at the child that calls me Mommy and I know that even as lucky as he feels to have me to kiss his boo boos and tuck him in at night that it is me who truly is the lucky one!
What’s the one thing that always motivates you? Besides my family, it would definitely be me. I want a lot of things out of life and I know I can’t depend on anyone but myself. Obviously I can depend on my husband for most things, but it is the inner dreamer in me that keeps me working as hard as I do to achieve all that I can!
Thanks Maggie for your insight!
What green-tips for parents do you have? Please share them with us in the comments.
Also check out Ecostore USA. This month they have a special 2 for 1 deal!
Fun Projects for Your Active Toddler
Do you have a toddler who is active and likes hands-on fun? We have the perfect art activity for you that we like to call container art.
Here is what you need:
- Empty container with a secure lid. We suggest an oatmeal or grits container.
- Piece of white paper
- Broken crayons
- Non-toxic paint
What to do:
- Put the piece of paper inside the container.
- Take the broken crayons and dip them in paint. (They don’t need to be dripping in paint. A little will do.)
- Put the crayons with paint in the container and put the lid securely on the container.
- Let your toddler take the container and shake it up and down, roll it or even kick it to make the crayons move around inside.
- After a few minutes take off the lid and see your toddler’s masterpiece of modern paint splats!
If you try this activity with your toddler, feel free to post pictures of it in our Magical Moments so everyone can see your child’s masterpiece!
All About Crib Mattresses!
Crib mattresses come with all kinds of options – innerspring, foam, latex, and the list goes on. What is a parent to do? Over a few of our Kolcraft Thursdays, we are going to talk about the befits of different crib mattresses.
Kolcraft has become the largest crib mattress manufacturer in the United States manufacturing everything from the Sealy® Tender Vibes Soothing crib mattresses to Contours® and Sealy® two-stage crib mattresses.
The concept of a two-stage crib mattress originated with Kolcraft over 20 years ago! This innovative crib mattress has come a long way from its inception. Our extended life product provides a full and firm supportive sleep surface for infants. When baby becomes a toddler, parents can flip over the mattress for a more resilient side for active toddlers!
Our Sealy® Select Springform Eco-Plush two-stage Infant-Toddler Innerspring Mattress is a dual-firmness mattress with a firm innerspring coil system, organic cotton side for infants and hypoallergenic latex foam side for toddlers. The Oeko-Tex Certified organic cotton cover is water-resistant.
Some of the features we love:
- Oeko-Tex Certified organic cotton cover is enhanced with Crypton® Select for an eco-friendly liquid, stain and allergen barrier
- Natural fibers remain soft without the use of plastic coating
- USDA-certified organic cotton and hypoallergenic layer support infants
- Luxuriously thick hypoallergenic latex foam top layer offers comfort and support for toddlers
- Latex foam is tested for safety and is Oeko-Tex Certified
What do you look for in a crib mattress? Please share your thoughts with us!
The World of Babies
This Mother’s Day weekend the movie Babies will debut. This movie chronicles the lives of 4 babies from around the world – from birth to first steps. The featured babies from varied backgrounds and countries are: Ponijao from Africa, Bayarjargal from Mongolia, Mari from japan, and Hattie from the USA. Throughout the film we see unique and universal characteristics of babies.
Focus Films has done a great job of engaging the audience around their film. Check out their movie page for contests, apps for capturing memories of your baby, group rates to see the film and much more.
We obviously love babies here at Kolcraft and have popcorn in hand ready to enjoy the adventure and journey of Babies.
Are you planning on seeing the Babies movie?
Helping Your Baby Crawl
It’s amazing how babies seem to go from not being able to roll over to all of a sudden crawling and then walking. If your baby is learning to crawl you can encourage him by sitting on the floor in his line of vision. Cheer him on by calling your baby by name, clapping and smiling. You will find that your baby enjoys and responds to your encouragement and you will love his response to you!
What tips or insight do you have from when your baby began to crawl? Please share them with us!
