Have you noticed more attention given to natural rubber products recently? From yoga mats to natural baby toys, what’s new about it? Natural rubber is the new (natural) substitute for the old (unfortunately toxic) substitute. From rubber to plastic and back. Plastic Like Rubber Though there were some plastic toys created before World War II,…Read the full article.

If your little ones have gone off to school while you are left to care for your toddler during the day, you may be wondering, what now? Buy a new toy that will entertain for minutes while you get some work done? No! Don’t do it. Toddlers love to explore. You don’t need passive, commercial…Read the full article.

As locals in Coquitlam, BC, wonder if their throwaway diapers will stink as they wait for trash day, one letter to the editor reminds them that they can avoid the wasteful garbage stink with cloth diapers. Just think how such a responsible decision will help to save us from environmental collapse, landfill collapse — or…Read the full article.

Breastfeeding is natural. It is what breasts are for, obviously. But breastfeeding does not necessarily come naturally. Breastfeeding is a learned skill that can easily be passed on woman to woman from the experienced mother to the new mother. So, the question for a new mother becomes, how do I find that group of experienced…Read the full article.

Since our post last week on what parents can do about children and consumerism, I see crazy and questionable marketing to children everywhere. Granted, tis the season to sell to children, but I’ve been really surprised what I see now that my eyes are open wider. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will hold a public…Read the full article.

With the focus on reusability and lowering impact, it makes good sense to choose natural toys for children. Not only are the natural materials renewable, but open-ended natural toys get long-term use from children. When a friend told me that she was handing out stickers for Halloween, I told her that I would be handing…Read the full article.

A lot of natural toys and other children’s products are are made by small crafters. In the U.S., small crafters have been trying to understand the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) since 2008. During this past year, as the Handmade Toy Alliance, a grassroots alliance of toymakers, toy stores, and children’s product manufacturers have…Read the full article.