I am incredibly disappointed to inform you that Habermaass Corp. (Haba) is voluntarily recalling several baby toys, some of which were sold by Clementine NW. All of these items have now been pulled. The good news is that there were no injuries involved with any of the toys and many are being recalled simply as a precaution. All of the information can be found on Haba’s website as well as a link to a recall form with instructions on how to return any of the recalled items. Postage costs are being reimbursed by Haba as well for any item needing to be returned.

I am assured that all other Haba products maintain the highest quality and safety standards.

From Haba: We place great demands on the quality and safety of our products, particularly on the careful selection and processing of the materials. That is why we constantly monitor the materials we use. Our toys comply with European Standard EN 71 ’Toy Safety’. And whenever necessary our products are checked by authorized, independent institutes to ensure their safety.

If you have ordered one of the toys from us, I apologize and you will be receiving an e-mail soon.

CPSC Press Release

Product Recall Information

Recall Application Form

Declaration of Product Safety

All links appear to be working now…

We just got in the wonderful Adiri Natural Nursers in stage 1, 2, 3 and a 3-stage multi pack! This bottle has won several awards, including the 2008 Medical Design Excellence Award and 2008 Red Dot Design Award for it’s innovative design. It’s about as close to the breast as you can get in a bottle. Plus it’s 100% polycarbonate, phthalate and bisphenol-a free making it a safe choice for baby. Plus they are on sale, so go check them out now!

This is the last week for our summer sale (it ends August 31st)! There are still lots of good deals to be had and we’ll be adding even more in the next day or so….

Portland area mamas can now get a free Mother Tree Birth Bucks coupon book with any purchase! Click here to add a Birth Bucks coupon book to your shopping cart! Birth Bucks is filled with great savings on various local businesses, including us! Especially great for new and expecting mamas.

Sample Savings:

* Free Childbirth Series
* Free Classes: childbirth preparation, prenatal yoga
* Free Exercise Band & Exercises
* Free Photography Planning Session & $100 off sitting fee
* $50 off Aqua-baby swim lesson
* 50% off home cleaning service
* $40 off your first order of organic baby food
* $40 towards a ring resize or jewelry cleaning
* 30% off first naturopathic well baby visit
* $20 towards a postpartum lactation consultation
* $20 towards your next acupuncture treatment
* $10 off a spa treatment
* $10 towards a prenatal massage
* Hundreds more savings

While supplies last.

It’s likely that most people have heard of the Do Not Call Registry, but ForestEthics is looking to spread the word about a new registry. The Do Not Mail Registry will not only eliminate annoying unwanted junk mail, but also curb the junk mail industry’s massive contributions to global warming and the destruction of endangered forests.

Some facts from www.donotmail.org:

1. It takes more than 100 million trees to produce the total volume of junk mail that arrives in American mailboxes each year.
2. The manufacture of junk mail releases more greenhouse gas emissions per year than the emissions released by 9,372,000 million average passenger cars.
3. It would take the equivalent of over 500,000 garbage truck loads to dump all junk mail into landfills and incinerators each year.
4. The Canadian Boreal is being logged at a rate of 2 acres a minute, 24 hours a day to produce junk mail and other paper products.
5. Junk mail in the United States accounts for one-third of all the mail delivered in the world. Even though 44% of that mail goes to the landfill unopened, we still spend 8 months of our lives dealing with it all.

Yikes! I am an avid recycler of all the junk mail that reaches this house, but even so, to know how much the creation and mailing of junk is affecting our environment to a vast majority of people that don’t want it and often don’t even read it is appalling!

As of now there are 62026 signatures on ForestEthic’s petition to create a national Do Not Mail Registry. Are you on the list?

I am exhausted. Caring for a newborn is hard enough, but throw in two rambunctious boys and it’s enough to drive anyone a little crazy. My two year old is being a typical two year old I am sure: into everything! My spirited four year old is really trying my patience with some meltdowns thrown in for good measure. My newborn is having tummy troubles and not sleeping well, plus breastfeeding is still pretty painful from a bout of thrush and then mastitis.

So my Parents magazine came at a perfect time with a “Memo to Mommy” reminding us to take the time to stop and enjoy our kids no matter what kind of trouble they may be causing in the moment. Here are some of my favorite bits of wisdom from the perspective of your little one:

“Love me, even when I’m naughty. I’ll only be this age once.”

“Be patient. I do everything for a reason, but I don’t know enough words yet to give you an explanation”

“Don’t expect too much of me. I want to do what you ask and make you happy, but I’m still little.”

“Keep your promises. It’s all about trust. When I’m a teenager, you’ll understand why it’s so important.”

Just looking at those little faces (when they’re not screaming, crying, whining) makes me want to be a better person for them. Take more time with them. Be more creative with them. Just look what they can do:

2 year old’s picture:

4 year old’s picture:

What are your favorite things about your kids? What is your favorite thing to do with them? And what reminds you of these things when you they are making you crazy?

Source: Parents

I saw a post about an Ecological Footprint Quiz over at The Good Human and thought it would be interesting to see how I fared. The results of the quiz let you know how many earths we would need if everyone in the world had the same lifestyle as you. I was a little surprised at my results, even though I do know that my family can do better. Lots of things that would decrease our footprint we plan to do or hope to do in the future, like a vegetable garden and composting. Some things we are not going to change in the near future, like the size of our house. Interesting to see where we compare though.

Check it out at myfootprint.org and see what your ecological footprint is!

Has anyone tried the new milk jugs being sold at Costco, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club? I think the idea is great. Any green decisions made by giants like these retailers is a step in the right direction! The new shape eliminates the need for a crate, which then have to be taken back to the dairy and washed. It allows for more milk on each truck, reducing the use of fuel. The milk arrives at the store faster and fresher. And the jugs are cheaper, hooray!

The New York Times reported mixed reviews on the new jugs back in June. We got our first square jugs when we went to Costco over the weekend. They really are annoying to pour. I spill every time. I guess I need to try the slow tilt technique instead of the old lift and pour… I think it’s worth a little spilled milk to have a greener and cheaper jug!

Update: I managed to pour the milk this morning without spilling!!

I love the Olympics. I love the ideals of the Olympics. I love watching the sports I already know and love and learning about others.

Unity between the continents, as symbolized by the Olympic Rings, has been less than ideal. There have been boycotts, political turmoil, and violence. The Olympic motto: Citius Altius Fortius – Faster, Higher, Stronger- has been marred by doping scandals. This is all an unfortunate part of the modern Olympics that one would hope will not continue.

This Olympics is no exception. I know the Games have been controversial from the torch relay, to the heavy hand with protesters, to the air quality in Beijing. I know that all the building and expense that went into the preparations are definitely not green. I still want to watch anyway. I have to say that China did an amazing job with the Opening Ceremony, and I look forward to watching my favorite athletes and sports in the following days (well the way things are going round here lately, more like middle of the night!).

World Breastfeeding Week 2008 started August 1 and runs through August 7th. This year’s theme is “Mother Support: Going for the Gold”. 120 countries will participate in The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) celebrate the signing of the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding. WABA is using the upcoming Olympics to tie in their theme and hopefully to increase support for breastfeeding mothers.

In conjunction with the Olympics next August, WBW 2008 calls for greater support for mothers in achieving the gold standard of infant feeding: breastfeeding exclusively for six months, and providing appropriate complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond.

As every country sends its best athletes to compete at these global games, it is important to remind ourselves that, in a similar fashion, a healthy young athlete can only emerge from a healthy start on life. There is no question that optimal infant and young child feeding is essential for optimal growth and development.

Of course most of us in this country have heard that breast is best and all about the many health benefits to breastfeeding and yet many women still don’t have the support to develop a successful breastfeeding relationship with their babies. Breastfeeding does not necessarily come naturally. There can be numerous obstacles that can make it frustrating or painful. Without support many women might give up and I don’t blame them.

I have had three babies now. My first attempt at breastfeeding was incredibly difficult. My son was a sleepy baby and started out little. He lost a lot of weight and we had to work really hard at getting it to work. If I had not had the support from my family, doctor and a great lactation consultant, I am not sure I would have been able to breastfeed him well past a year.

My second was much easier thank goodness! Now with my third I am right in the middle of dealing with thrush. So not fun. Luckily we got to see the doctor today and will hopefully start feeling better in a couple of days and it won’t come back! I know that breastfeeding her is what is right for her, me and our family and that is what keeps me going even when I want to cry.

I wish that every woman who chooses to breastfeed her child had the support that she needs to stick with it. That can make all the difference in the world.

Here are some great breastfeeding resources:

What are your ideas in how to help support women who choose to breastfeed?