Thanks so much for posting.
I also read the article titled "Out of the Mouths of Babes", by Mary Brune, in Mothering Magazine. I am involved in a mommy group in my town and we have a local website where we post events and information like this. So I am going to post this link for our mommies to read, if you don't mind.

I found the following information in the article helpful for me. As far as what to avoid, the article suggests:

for baby bottles and sippy cups: avoid Polycarbonate (#7) plastic bottles, which can leach BPA. It is recommended to only store and heat food in glass. Makes you think about all your tupperware, doesn't it???

For toys, bibs, and teethers: avoid PVC (#3) plastic products, which contain phtalates.

For baby-care products (shampoos, lotions, etc.): avoid ingredients which include substances listed as: dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl ester, plasticizer, or fragrance. Also, benzophenone-3 (may be listed as oxybenzone). This substance is apparently known as a developmental and reproductive toxin. The author also suggests avoiding parabens in baby-care products, such as methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben.

Some great baby-care and adult-care products that I like and use, and that are listed in this article are:
Aubrey Organics, Aura Cacia, Avalon, Burt's Bees, California Baby, Dr. Bronner's, Hyland's, Jason, UV Natural, and Weleda.

Also, check out www.pvcfree.org for a list of companies that have taken a PVC-free pledge.

Another website to check out:
www.lifewithoutplastic.com

My next challenge is how to suggest to our families not to buy us all the latest plastic toys (which they seem to be great fans of) for Christmas. Maybe I'll pass around the above-mentioned article at our family dinner on Sunday along with a list of suggestions of what we would like for our baby??

Medelas bottles are also safe.

I loved that article in Mothering! It's a lot of responsibility to be the guardians of our childrens health, but you are doing a great job! Thanks for posting your favorite organic clothing shops. My second child is due in 2 weeks and I am searching everywhere on-line to find quality childrens clothes.

P.S. Have you heard of the Safe Sippy? Nice tapered body that seems easier for little hands to hold...

I loved that article in Mothering! It's a lot of responsibility to be the guardians of our childrens health, but you are doing a great job! Thanks for posting your favorite organic clothing shops. My second child is due in 2 weeks and I am searching everywhere on-line to find quality childrens clothes.

P.S. Have you heard of the Safe Sippy? Nice tapered body that seems easier for little hands to hold...

and then again there is that amazing little boy! xxx
p.s. which necklace are you wearing -- joy?

Jen Grey may rock, but so do you Babe!!

Andrea,
I LOVE this picture of you and Ben. You are looking radiant!

I had to pick out a gift for my nephew who just turned two at the end of Sept, and I was so worried about whether the gift I chose had lead in it. I had a difficult time picking out something. Thanks for this list! It will come in handy at christmas time.

thanks so much for posting all these links, andrea. i am just now starting to research all the baby items and want to be as organic and safe as i possibly can when my wee one arrives in april. this is the type of new parent advice i love! hee hee. xoxo

delurking to say you guys look so happy in that picture :)

Great to have this information! Thanks so much. I am going to fire this off to several parents of young children.
That Ben - one adorable little guy:) Did you ever imagine that you could love a child so much?

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! Have you heard of Rosie Hippo? Fun wooden toys!

Thanks so much! I love it when you link to products! There are so many out there that I had no idea existed.

awesome!
thanks.

Thank you for the tips!

you are such a good mama

I read your blog often and have left comments periodically. As I see the choices you make in your mothering, I was wondering if you are familiar with Waldorf schools? It just seems like something you might want to look into for Ben...I am a Waldorf teacher and through your blog, my class will be participating in next year's parking day in Old Town Pasadena, CA. When I told my students about Parking Day, they went through the roof-they are planning several scenarios for their "parks." We are planning to do some of the work over the summer, so we will be ready for the September date! Thank you.

This is so important - thank you...I was reading the same Mothering magazine and doing the same thing!!! It's great you're making it a priority to tell the masses! :)

one mama to the next!
xoxo