Hanna Andersson has a sale on summer clothes for babies and kids. A lot of their clothes are made from 100% organic cotton. Plus, the catalog indicates which items are certified by Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (a European certification process that tests garments for more than 100 potentially harmful substances). Some of Sweet William’s most adorable [...]
Archive | May, 2011
New Report on Exposure to Flame Retardants
In the late 1970s, flame retardants, suspected to be carcinogenic, were removed from children’s pajamas. Today, research chemists report that flame retardants appear in 80% of the 101 baby products they tested. Nearly one third of the products contain chlorinated Tris, which mutates DNA and may be carcinogenic. Some contain TCEP, which California has designated [...]
Play Dough
I came across this recipe for play dough on the website of Peapods, a St. Paul store that carries natural toys and baby products. PLAY DOUGH Combine in a small pot: 1 cup flour 1/4 cup salt 2 tbsp cream of tartar Add: 1 cup water 1 tbsp vegetable oil Stir until combined, then (if [...]
What is an Endocrine Disruptor?
The endocrine system regulates growth, development and maturation through a network of hormones and glands. It controls sexual development, which begins in utero, continues through infant puberty (when sex hormones help organize the neurological system) and restarts at adolescent puberty. An endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical that interferes with the body’s normal functions by [...]
Science Lessons
Moms and dads may know there are potentially dangerous substances in our food, our environment, and our children’s toys, but I’m not sure we always understand exactly how they pose a risk. I often feel intimidated by the complicated science involved and have therefore stuck to a “to be avoided” list without pursuing a deeper [...]
PlanToys Activity Blocks
Sweet William clearly had a favorite travel toy on our recent trip: his PlanToys Activity Blocks. The compact set of nine blocks includes three that make noise, three with fabric textures, and three with eye-catching lenses. They come in a pouch that easily fits in a diaper bag. PlanToys is a Thai company that produces [...]
Where’s the Chicken?
Today’s New York Times offers an encouraging report from the cafeteria at the Family Life Academy Charter School in the Bronx, where a professional chef serves small portions of fresh, hot food — no ketchup, no processed foods, no sweets. The kids are devouring it. School co-founder Francisco Genko-ji Lugoviña pushed for a new menu [...]
Car Seats
Whew! We made it to New Orleans with Sweet William’s 24-pound Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL Car Seat. Our trek became complicated due to tornado damage in Alabama, and while it wasn’t fun to transfer this moose of a seat from a taxi to a train to two rental cars, the peace of mind was worth [...]
About Elizabeth
I'm a writer and the mother of William and Fergus. Before dedicating my work to children's environmental health, I earned an MA in Cultural Reporting and Criticism from New York University and was a photography editor at The New Yorker. My family is preparing to move to New Orleans, where my husband, an architect, is building us a non-toxic home.
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