Fabulous Wall Art for the Nursery!

Dish and Spoon Productions



We are so excited to introduce Dish and Spoon Productions Wall Art! This fabulous collection is now available at GreenPea Nursery. We have just started to load the products to the website but you can get a glimpse of what is coming by clicking here. Dish and Spoon Productions, LLC is a dedicated team of talented artists offering an extensive collection of sophisticated and whimsical wall art designed to bring magic and style to your child's nursery, bedroom or play room. They have over 800 works of art, including name plaques, wall hangings, clocks, banners, growth charts, portrait decor and more. Their artwork has been featured in Sunset Magazine's popular decorator books, Ideas For Great Baby Rooms and Ideas For Great Kids Rooms, ABC Extreme Makeover Home Edition, People Magazine, Access Hollywood, and Designer Showcase Homes. So come on by our baby store in Apex, just outside of Raleigh, NC or go online now to check it out!

Jamie Rae Hats For Your Christmas Pictures

What a cute Christmas picture! Check out Piper sporting the Jamie Rae Hat in Black Velvet.

Jamie Rae Hats Never Looked So Cute

Our Jamie Rae Hats fly off the shelves here at GreenPea Nursery and just look at this adorable picture of one of our customers Piper Kate and you will see why!

What a cutie!












Many styles and colors available. You can view some of them online but we have many more including cute hats for boys like our black rocker hat.

Green Nursery

One of our fabulous customers just sent us pictures of their Green Nursery in the works. It is absolutely beautiful! They are using the Pacific Rim Arts and Craft Crib and Three Drawer Dresser. They put down bamboo flooring and they used Yolo paint. Here are links to the items:

Check out the Pacific Rim Furniture here!


The paint was Yolo brand paint (> http://www.yolocolorhouse.com/index.php) for the walls and EcoTimber flooring http://www.ecotimber.com/woven-bamboo-flooring-honey.php).

Super special on Bratt Decor crib

In a hurry? Here's the scoop:

• 40% off the regular price for our display model Bratt Decor Heritage red crib with airplane finials and/or bookcase.
• Double rewards points on any new Bratt Decor nursery furniture you order through December 15 (on a crib purchase, that would be like receiving a $60 or more gift certificate for other baby items!).
• And awesome new Bratt Decor crib designs...

Why are we excited about Bratt Decor cribs and nursery furniture?
At first, we were very disappointed to hear that Bratt Decor was discontinuing several of its very stylish baby cribs... but since it means the finishes are going to be tested to confirm their safety, and 2 great new styles, we really couldn't complain -- and now that we've seen the new Manhattan series, we're pretty darned excited for our customers!

The Manhattan nursery furniture line includes 2 cribs -- see photos above-- the Soho Crib and the Park Avenue Crib, and all the storage pieces you would want: dressers, changing top, etc. The Park Avenue has a very graceful, classic look. The clean-lined Soho could fit either contemporary or classic tastes, and is also available in a very handsome four-poster/loft style. White or sable finishes give you two great foundation options from which to design the rest of your nursery decor. These are primarily wood, with some MDF Grade 0-1 (the lowest amount of formaldehyde measurable). There are three other beautiful lines available too, so take a look at the Bratt Decor section on our site, and feel free to call if you have any questions.

And, if you're in the Raleigh, NC area come see examples of their quality craftsmanship (and that adorable brick red 4-poster crib with the airplane or globe finials and matching bookcase is 40% off -- until someone snatches them up). Plus, place your order for any new Bratt Decor items before December 15 and we'll double your rewards points (equivalent to receiving a $60 or more gift certificate for other nursery decor and baby items when you buy a crib!)

Sneak peek at Be-utiful Be-hatted babies

Last week we were thrilled to have Christa Hook of Creative Clicks Photography in our light-filled front room for 2 days of adorable babies participating in our Jingle Baby of the Year contest. Here's a sneak peek at some of these little ones -- and keep an eye on our blog and/or hers so you can participate in voting for your favorite choice...

The Jingle Baby contest winner gets a super-duper holiday photo session, great images of their be-uti-ful baby, AND they'll model our holiday duds in photos we'll have in-store and on our site. Best of luck to all the cuties who visited us last week! And many thanks to Christa for all her great work!

(Also, voting begins in October for our Funny Face of the Year contest... stay tuned!)

Interactive books for kids

Quick note: here's a neat resource for adding a little reading to your little one's day; thanks Kidoons for tweeting about it: Free Interactive E-books for kids... Visit Mrs. Ryder Rabbit in READING MADE FUN!

Here's the main page for this series: http://www.madisonrabbit.com/story_enter

Let us know if you enjoy it, and if you have other favs. And have a happy, healthy day!

We love this new take on an old kid-safety idea

I'm always a little anxious whenever we're at a crowded amusement park, festival or other people-packed event with Cailee. Even now that she's older and knows her phone number, I have read that when someone is upset or scared, even the most familiar facts can fly right out of their mind, and I imagine that getting lost in a crowd would be enough to cause trouble!

As the autumn event season kicks into gear, with HollyFest, the NC State Fair, Halloween and other outings approach, I recommend keeping one or two packs of Write On SafetyTats on hand for some added peace of mind. What is the Safety Tat? These clever innovations in kid safety are fun rub-on tattoos, pre-printed with "if LOST, please call: "... just rub it onto your child's arm, and write your mobile number in the space provided. A waterproof-ink pen is provided too. The tattoo is waterless, so you can apply it quickly and easily, even while you're out and about. It's waterproof, so even getting caught in the rain won't obscure it. AND it's super durable -- one will stay on up to 2 weeks if necessary-- yet peels off readily if needed. They've even got ones to alert people about your child's allergies!

I'll be keeping a pack in each of our cars from now on. Because we know that taking care of babies makes keeping track of older siblings a little more challenging, you can find SafetyTats at our store for babies and beyond: GreenPea Nursery, in Apex NC or online.

Healthier Car Seats

Here's an important item from a report released this week by HealthyStuff.org, a nonprofit environmental research organization:

Children's Car Seats – Infant and child car seats contain chemical additives that can have adverse health effects on babies and young children. Over half (58%) of car seats contain one or more hazardous chemicals, including PVC, BFRs and heavy metals. Three examples of car seats that had none of the chemicals tested for are: Baby Trend Flex-Loc; the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat; and the Graco Turbo Booster. Despite the toxic chemicals, it is vital to use a car seat for your child because they do save lives.

That's just one of the categories they studied, in addition to pet products, back-to-school products, automobiles, and women's handbags. (You can read their whole press release at:
http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/stuff/press.releases.php)

While we don't sell car seats right now, when we hear of better choices, we want you to know about them -- and this is obviously an important product to all parents! As we often say, it's almost impossible to find chemical-free options in every category; 'til recently this has been one of them. Thanks for the news, Healthy Stuff.

Buy Local Buy USA

It is a frightening statistic.  According to the United States Census Bureau, the United States had a 27 billion, yes I said billion, trade deficit in June 2009.  I decided to look into our trade with other countries after hearing story after story from manufacturers that it is just too expensive to manufacture here.  Because of our principles, we actively seek to carry products that are Made in the USA wherever possible so we always question where a product is made and why.  So many fabulous companies have told us that they just could not get retailers to buy their product at the price point that would be required if the product was made in the United States.  Before owning a store myself I would have probably thought that this was a cop out and that they just wanted bigger profits.  However, now that I am the middleman bringing products to consumers, I can see that it is not just about profit but about survival.  After purchasing several clothing lines that were made here, we soon realized after they sat on the floor for months on end that the majority of people were not willing to pay the higher prices.  I assume that part of that is due to the economy but I know that a lot of it is that we have became a country pursuing lower prices and more stuff.  As the country emerges from this recession, I hope that we can all, including myself, put more thought into quality versus quantity.  The more we demand products made here, the more companies will consider moving manufacturing back here.  I live in North Carolina.  It used to be a major manufacturer of furniture and textiles.  Needless to say, the majority of furniture companies now make their products in Asia.  This is not just losing jobs but the loss of a trade in furniture making.  You can find an inexpensive crib on the internet for under $200 or you could buy an American hand-crafted crib made from solid wood for around $710.  Pacific Rim has been making furniture in Eugene, Oregon since 1981.  

Our goal is to bring you better choices and unique finds.  We actively seek products that are healthier such as organic cotton or products free of harmful chemicals.  It also means that we look for superior quality and durability.   We also love to bring you unique finds that you can't find at big box stores.  

Thank you for shopping with us!

Earth Day Special at GreenPea Nursery. Shop 4/22 and receive 10% off your purchase including sale items. Enter EarthDay at checkout! Don't miss out!

Join us tomorrow for Earth Day for our Hip and Healthy Baby Show that airs at 11:00am EST. We will be learning more about cloth diapering. Find out more at http://ping.fm/TTA2t

The Beaba Babycook will be here at the end of April! The Beaba is a steamer, blender, warmer, and defroster for making homemade baby food. The product is BPA-Free. Look for more information coming soon!

Testing our ping.

New Study Finds Your Baby's Bath Products Could Be Toxic

A recent study conducted by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in March 2009 found 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, two known carcinogens, in dozens of bath products for babies and kids. It just amazes me that in the United States of America we do so little to protect our children.
In Sweden and Japan formaldehyde is banned in cosmetics and toiletries. The European Union and Canada have placed limits on formaldehyde concentrations. According to the study, two samples of Baby Magic "Soft Baby Scent" lotion had high enough concentrations of formaldehyde that they would require a warning label in Europe. Unfortunately, in the U.S. there are no restrictions on the levels of formaldehyde allowed in any body care products.
In the European Union and in Canada, 1,4-dioxane is banned in cosmetics. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that even in trace amounts, 1,4-dioxane is a cause for concern. The EPA has classifed 1,4 dioxane as a "probable human carcinogen". However, the FDA has not set a safe level for 1,4 dioxane in cosmetics. In the study conducted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, 67% of the products tested contained 1-4 dioxane. When various chemicals are processed with ethylene oxide to make them more soluble or gentler, 1,4-dioxane can occur as a byproduct. It is relatively easy to remove through a process called vacuum stripping. However, based on the results of the study, it does not appear that manufacturers are doing this.
It is time that we wake up in this country and demand better labeling and removal of harmful chemicals from the products that we use on our bodies. Trying to decipher the ingredient label on a product is not easy and very time consuming. Most parents assume that someone else is looking out for their safety. I see it all the time when I speak to a customer about healthier options. Other than lead and BPA, most people do not realize that there are chemicals in products that could harm them or their children. Did you know that more than 80% of chemicals in cosmetics have never been assessed for safety by the FDA? This study is a wake up call to parents. The list of well-known products tested that contain one or both of these harmful chemicals will be shocking to many. As parents we need to take a stand for our children. To find out more read the complete study.

Need help choosing products for your baby? Check out the Environmental Working Group's Parents Buying Guide.

Source: No More Toxic Tub: Getting Contaminants Out Of Children's Bath and Personal Care Products by The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics. www.safecosmetics.org.

Toxic Bad Guys

I searched and searched for a skin care line that would be pure and natural, not make my child's hair greasy and one that she would like. After spending a small fortune and trying almost every natural line on the market, I came across TruKid. All of TruKid's ingredients are natural and free of toxins. Check out their Toxic Bad Guys list. This list shows many of the ingredients found in the majority of skin care products that have been reported to have detrimental effects on the planet and human health. Many have been linked to one or more of the following: cancer, neurological damage, and developmental/reproductive toxicity.

Toxic Bad Guys: 10 Most UNWANTED Ingredients:

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Found in 90% of products that lather)
2. Petroleum (cold creams, lipsticks, baby creams, etc.)
3. Phthalates (listed under fragrance) - Can be found in plastics, nail polishes, creams, lotions (anything containing fragrance/parfum ingredient)
4. Avobenzene (aka: oxybenzone, benzophone, dioxybenzophone or benzophenome-3; and Parsol-1789) Can be found in chemical sunscreens as UVA absorber
5. Triethanolamine (EDTA) Found in shampoos, toothpastes, sunscreens, hair color and moisturizers
6. Parabens - Found in 75-90% of personal care products
7. Diethanolamine (DEA) - Found in creams, shampoos, lotions and other cosmetics
8. Propylene Glycol (PG) - Can be found in cake mixes, soft drinks, lotions, creams, baby wipes, shampoos, deodorants and other cosmetics
9. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) - Can be found in most skin cleansers, toothpastes and oven cleaners.
10. Formaldehyde Derivatives - (DMDH Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea) - Can be found in shampoos and cosmetics to prevent molds, mildews and bacteria spoilage.

Source: TruKid

Remove Harmful Chemicals From My Children's Products

Moms are instinctively protective of their children. When a new mom brings home a beautiful baby from the hospital, this protective instinct can go into overdrive. They don't want anyone around the baby, they are afraid to take them out in the cold, they have baby monitors to hear every breath, they buy thermometers to make sure the bath water is not to hot...the list could go on and on. We do all these things because we now hold this beautiful miraculous human being that we love more than anything in the world. We have seen many changes in safety recommendations over the years. My first baby slept on her stomach because it was safer if she got sick. By the time I had my second child, I was placing him on his side with pillows to keep him in place. By the time I had my third child, I put her on her back to sleep, removed any blankets or pillows and swaddled her in a blanket. We are moms and we listen and learn and adapt to create the safest environment for our children. Thanks to the efforts of numerous non-profit groups such as the Environmental Working Group and Healthy Child Healthy World, moms are learning that there are also hidden dangers that they need to be aware of. They are learning that there are chemicals in products that can be harmful to their children. Just look at the awareness of the dangers of Lead, Bisphenol A and Phthalates to name a few. Many parents are starting to ask questions and read ingredient lists. They want to know what is in a product. There has been huge growth in the demand for organic products as more and more parents seek purer more natural choices for their children. One of the best resources to find out if a skin care product is safe for your baby is to check the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Safety Database. They even have a great printable buying guide to take with you shopping with a list of ingredients to avoid. It is easy to pretend that something that we can't see could possibly do harm. However with the rise in asthma, autism, cancer and birth defects in children, I think we owe it to our children to take the time to research and listen to organizations that are dedicated to protecting our children. If you have 15 or 20 minutes, please take that time to listen to this video from the Environmental Working Group.

Are Your Fish Safe To Eat?

Fish can be an excellent low fat source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients. It can also be a source of mercury and polycholorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Mercury can damage developing brains and nervous systems. Mercury is stored in our bodies so it is important that women who are even thinking about getting pregnant avoid high-mercury fish. For pregnant women, nursing mothers or young children, the FDA and EPA have advised eating no more than two or three meals, or 12 ounces total, of fish or shellfish a week. High-mercury fish to one serving per week and avoid Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel or Tilefish. Polycholorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are neurotoxic, hormone-disrupting chemicals that were banned in the United States in 1977. However, PCBs accumulate in animal fats and are still found in fish from polluted bodies of water. One of the best resources we have found is provided by Healthy Child Healthy World. They have a state by state advisory list and you can also find this information on the EPA website. For instance, on the North Carolina page, I learned that high mercury levels have been found in black crappie south and east of Interstate 95 and in blackfish, catfish, jack fish, warmouth and yellow perch south and east of Interstate 85.

Do you have a preschool or elementary age child? Check out this fun, interactive site to teach your children about what fish are safe?

Is Your Baby Mattress Safe?

As many of you know, GreenPea Nursery refuses to carry any crib mattress that contains phthalates or flame retardants knows as PBDEs. As of February 10, 2009, the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) requires the removal of certain types of phthalates from crib mattresses. Wow this is great! I can now sell more brands of mattresses. Not so fast. You see the CPSIA requires the removal of three varieties of phthalates (DEHP, DBP, and BBP) for use in baby and children’s mattresses and other baby products. Crib mattress manufacturers are still allowed to use three other types of phthalates known as (DINP, DIDP, and DnOP). These phthalates are only illegal for teethers and other items that are expected to be placed into a child’s mouth. According to Naturepedic, another phthalate chemical known as (DnHP) which has been known to cause cancer has not yet been banned at all. So although three of the bad guys have been removed, other phthalates may be used in vinyl covered crib mattresses.
Naturepedic does not use PVC (vinyl) for the waterproofing of their mattresses. They use a food-grade polyethylene which is naturally soft and does not require a plasticizer additives.

Read more about phthalates and what the CPSIA means to crib mattresses in this article provided by Naturepedic.

Oh That New Car Smell!

How many times have you heard someone say that they love the way a new car smells? They even make a fragrance that you can select when you wash your car that gives you back that new car smell. Have you ever thought about what is creating that recognizable scent? It is a toxic soup of chemicals such as brominated flame retardants, chlorine (pvc and phthalates) and lead to name a few. One of our customers was concerned about the car seat that she had purchased and the new smell that continued to off gas from the product. She told me about a site called HealthyCar.org. This organization is the consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars. The next time you are going to buy a new vehicle or a new car seat, you have to check this site out. You can compare cars and car seats against each other and see how they rank. If you don't have a lot of time, go to their best/worst list and you can have your shopping list in a matter of minutes. You can even find out if the car seat you already purchased is safe.

Test my car seat now!

Watch these videos by HealthyCar.org to learn more.

CPSC Grants One Year Stay

Breaking News Today!

Today the CPSC granted a one year stay of certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products. The CPSC implemented the stay in order to buy time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve some materials from the lead testing and to fine tune the testing guidelines.

There are four areas that the stay does not apply:

1. Lead in paint and other surface areas.
2. Standards for full-size cribs, non full-size cribs and pacifiers.
3. Ban on small parts.
4. Lead content of metal components of children's jewelry.

Click here for the full article.

There is no doubt in my mind that we need to look at the products on our shelves and ask questions about all the unnecessary chemicals that we are exposing ourselves and our children to on a daily basis. Manufacturers that are more concerned about providing cheap plastic toys with little regard to their safety should be the ones that are punished not the manufacturers who care. This new law is a step in the right direction but it was given very little thought as to what the impact would be on smaller businesses and the homemade goods industry. Parents are becoming more and more aware of what to look out for in products. Those companies that are dedicated to providing safer products already test. They are proud to tell you that there product does not contain phthalates, BPA or lead. As a parent and a store owner, I ask you to support those businesses that care.

Baby Rattles

I am so excited about our new baby rattles. With all the plastic junk in the market it is so nice to be able to carry a line of wooden toys that is made in the U.S.A. Maple Landmark Woodcraft has been around since 1979. They are a family business dedicated to quality constructed toys and gifts. Companies like Maple Landmark have been doing it right all along. Their rattles are made from select hardwoods. They have non-toxic finishes and they offer a lifetime guarantee. When I think back about all the toys my kids have went through it makes me sad. What if I had bought a quality wooden rattle for my oldest daughter that I could have passed down to my younger two children? I would love to be able to tell my youngest daughter that she was playing with a toy that her older sister had when she was a baby. Although my kids are beyond the rattle stage, I am determined to really think about the purchases that I make. It is hard with a five year old that is bombarded with commercials. She wants everything that she sees on television. It is my job as a parent to teach my children the difference between quality and junk, wants and needs. It is also important that I teach them about the resources that are used to make a product. Our goal as a store is to bring healthier choices to parents. We also strive to find companies that are concerned about their impact on our environment. Maple Landmark is a great example of this mission. Where else do you find toys with a lifetime guarantee?

Evenflo High Chair Recall - Health Alert

Evenflo has recalled 95,000 high chairs because screws can become loose and fall out causing the seat back to suddenly fall back or detach. The high chair that is recalled is the Evenflo Majestic made before January 23, 2007.

Check the white label on the seat back for the production date and seat model. The following models are recalled:
3001395A, 3001583, 3001633A, 3001669, 3001700A, 3001713, 3001713A, 3001730A, 3001732, 3001732A, 3001733, 3001742, 3001742A, and 3001756

The CPSC recommends that parents and caregivers stop using the chair immediately. Contact Evenflo at (800) 233-5921 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for a free repair kit. You can also visit www.majestichighchair.com for more information.

You can find the complete Consumer Report here.

Nymbler

If you are pregnant and you are struggling with coming up with the perfect name for your new one on the way, you have to check out Nymbler. Basically you type in a name that you like and it comes back with names it thinks you will love. I typed in the name Lily. This was my grandmother's name and I really liked it although my husband was not to fond of it. Needless to say we chose another name for our daughter, Maddie. In reality, the name Lily would have been way to gentle of a name for our head-strong little girl. Anyway, back to Nymbler. From the name Lily it came back with names like Stella, Ava, Olivia, Grace, Sadie and so on. Many of the names I really liked and probably would not have thought of on my own. You can specify if you want girl or boy names or both. It is a great tool and I recommend it highly over baby name books because it is so much more fun!

Moms Meet

Kiwi Magazine is one of my favorite resources for finding ways to live a greener and healthier lifestyle. The magazine is packed full of great articles and helpful tips. Recently, Kiwi has partnered with Earth's Best to create Mom's Meet. Mom's Meet provides the information, articles and ideas to help facilitate a mom gathering. Anyone can sign up to become a mom ambassador and start their own group. Each month, the ambassador is emailed a new topic of discussion. The ambassador takes this information and uses it to start discussions in their group. It is playgroup with a purpose. I think it is a great way for moms to share their green and healthy ideas and inspire others to try some new things. I am very excited about this opportunity and have personally signed up as an ambassador for this area. Look for more posts or entries on our calendar to find out about our first meeting!

Ask Questions Before You Buy!

The CPSC recently recalled the Munire "Newport Rubbed Black Cribs" and matching furniture because it violated the lead paint standard. This product is made in New Jersey not China. A child actually ingested the paint and was diagnosed with lead poisoning. Children are even more susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning and it may lead to lower intelligence and other serious health problems. Apparently the red paint under the black rubbed finish was the culprit. If you think that you may own one of these cribs or furniture pieces you can find out more information at the CPSC website.

Lead is not only found in products. There are other places that our children can be exposed without us even realizing it. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, there are over 16,000 industrial facilities across the country, including power plants, smelters and cement kilns, that emit lead into the air. This emissions eventually settle into soil and dust. Over 300,000 children today suffer from lead poisoning. For some ways to help reduce the chance of lead exposure the Natural Resources Defense Council suggests some simple steps. You can even locate your state to find out if there is a lead polluter near you.

Consignment Stores Are In the Clear!

I know that it may seem crazy that a new store would be excited that consignment stores will still be able to keep their doors open. After all, if people buy used clothing they are not buying new right? Just think of the impact if there was no where to take all your child's outgrown clothing and toys. Can you imagine the landfills? The fact of the matter is that we need both used and new stores to exist. I frequently buy used clothing for my children. My son goes through jeans at about a size a week. I would go broke trying to keep him in clothing. I am so excited that the CPSC has decided to exempt used products from the new lead requirements. It would have been silly for consignment stores to be forced to test used products to make sure they did not exceed the new limits. It would have put them out of business. Hopefully this is a good sign that the CPSC is moving towards making even more exemptions. For more information on this story click here.

New Blogger

Well I finally decided to jump into the blogging world. I had dabbled with it before through our site greenpeanursery.com but it wasn't until I started blogging on other sites that I finally started to see the light. Basically, it is just another way for me to talk and if you have every met me---I love to talk! I love that moms all over this world are sharing their experiences and finding common ground with other like-minded moms. So here I am. I hope that you will find my blog to be a great place to learn about what is going on at our store and in our lives.

Preemie Onesie Drive

There are some things in life that we will just never understand. There are things that happen in people's lives that you know are just so unfair. What always interests me though is how a person comes out of a tragedy. Do they turn the negative into a positive. I was recently contacted by a lady by the name of Rachel Mays. This woman has suffered tremendously. Her daughter was born with a heart defect and lived in the NICU at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, NC for 4 months before passing away. In memory of her daughter she has started a Preemie Onesie Drive. She is hoping to get enough onesies to give to each family at this NICU. I think it is a wonderful thing that she is doing. When a baby comes early, families are not always prepared for their arrival. And with a baby in the hospital, they are often unable to leave to go shopping for those essentials. A nice blanket or outfit for their baby is a wonderful gift. We are happy to contribute to this cause.

For more information or see how you can donate, you can check out her website at www.preemieonesiedrive.blogspot.com.

You can also watch a news story on it at http://news14.com/content/local_news/charlotte/602991/clothing-drive-to-benefit-premature-babies/Default.aspx?ap=1&Flash.

Storewide Clearance Sale

It is that time of year--time to clear out the shelves to make room for the new Spring lines that will be arriving soon. Both in the store and online we will be expanding our clothing line to bring in more adorable organic products. We will be carrying clothing up to 4T this Spring. We have added a new page to the site that includes all of our sale items. You will find great deals on diaper bags, winter clothing, skin care products, leg warmers and much, much more. These specials are available both online and in our local store.

Safer Products? At What Cost?

If you haven't heard yet, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 was signed into law this past year in August. The Act imposes stringent safety standards for consumer products. It specifically targets children's products and restricts the use of lead and phthalates in them. In addition, products that are subject to these new rules, will also have to be tested by an independent third-party. Exciting news--right? While it is great that our Federal Government is finally seeing the light and taking steps to remove harmful chemicals from children's products, there are some unfortunate unintended consequences for manufacturers and retailers. What products will be included? Any product intended for the use of children under the age of 12 and Child Care Articles, products intended for a child under the age of 3 for the purpose of sleeping, feeding, sucking or teething. This is more than just toys. It could also include products such as educational materials, jewelry, books, clothing, game boards, etc. What will be removed from products? As of February 10, 2009, children's products cannot contain more than 600 parts per million of lead. For paint and surface coatings, as of August 14, 2009, the amount must be reduced from 600 parts per million to 90 parts per million. As of February 10, 2009, three phthalates known as DEHP, DBP and BBP are prohibited in children's toys and childcare products in concentrations of more than 0.1%. What other changes will the new law include? Mandatory testing--as of November 12, 2008, the new general certification requirement goes into effect. This will require manufacturers to issue a "supplier's declaration of conformity". This basically says that the manufacturer has undergone a "reasonable testing program." Third-party testing will be required in addition for all consumer products intended for use by children under the age of 12. Products will have to be tested by an independent third-party accredited testing lab. A certificate will be issued stating that the product meets all applicable Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements. The third-party testing will be phased in as follows: December 22, 2008 - Lead Paint January 2009 - Cribs and Pacifiers February 2009 - Small parts Tracking Labels will be required on all children's products as of August 14, 2009. The label will contain the source of the product, the date of manufacturer, etc. Labeling Requirements for Advertising Toys and Games. If a cautionary statement regarding a choking hazard is required on a product due to small parts, balloons, marbles or small balls, the advertising of that product through the internet or catalog must also include the statement. What does this mean for the consumer, the retailer, the manufacturer? On the positive side for the consumer, this is a step in the right direction. After all, harmful chemicals are being reduced or removed. It will be easier to find out that a product is safe. However, due to the third-party testing requirements, some of their beloved products may disappear. Not because they are harmful but because the manufacturer is small and can't afford the hefty price of testing every product that they make. This includes even products made from natural materials. For the retailer, it means spending an enormous amount of time and money verifying that their products comply. This includes items that they have in stock. For the manufacturer, it means additional costs that may put them under - especially the smaller manufacturers. For others it may mean no longer selling in the US market. My thoughts... With one law we have seen the complexity of this issue. It is not just about safer products. It is also about our economy. I want to see safer products in our stores more than anyone. We should not have to worry about things like lead, phthalates and BPA in products that our children play with, wear, or is absorbed into their skin. However, is this law the answer or are more companies going to go under, including those who have been dedicated to providing healthier alternatives all along but can't afford the testing? Let's not punish those who have worked so hard to provide families with better choices. We have always been about bringing healthier options to our customers both online and in our store locally in Apex, NC. We search out products that do not contain harmful chemicals. It is the core belief that our store was built upon. Here are just a few of the items that you can find at GreenPea Nursery: stainless steel sippy cups, Green Toys, organic clothing, safe feeding products, Greenguard Certified cribs, Naturepedic organic mattresses, and green cleaning supplies.

What is a Mom to Do?

Sometimes life can be so confusing. You hear one report say one thing and then the next week someone says something else. Where is a mom to turn? Are plastic bottles safe? Now they are saying that Bisphenol A can leak out of can linings and into your food? Should I just throw out everything plastic and all my can food. Do I donate my cans to a food drive knowing that they contain this controversial chemical? I just bought a new can opener--I guess I will not need that anymore. What do I say the next time I go to the dentist and they want to put sealants on my child's teeth? That's right--BPA is in dental sealants. Where do I turn?

According to an article in The Green Guide, "The Bisphenol-A Debate: A Suspect Chemical in Plastic Bottles and Cans" by Catherine Zandonella¹

Here it what we know:

• BPA was found in 95% of Americans that were a part of a biomonitoring study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2004.

• It can be found in can linings of food and soda, dental sealants and baby and other bottles (polycarbonate)

• BPA mimics naturally occurring estrogen. These hormones control things like the brain and reproductive systems in a developing fetus.

• Frederick vom Saal, Ph.D., a developmental biologist at the University of Missouri published a paper that showed the following results:

• Industry Funded Studies - 11 in total - 100% found no harmful effects from BPA
• Government-Funded Low-Dose Studies - 104 in total - 90% found harmful effects from BPA

All I can say is hmmm!

There is no doubt that we are exposed to this chemical. Yet it all comes down to the "safe levels." The FDA has stated that the chemical is not harmful.

According to the Washington Post, a very critical report was released today that stated that the FDA did not use adequate margins of safety in their assessment of BPA. They did not use enough infant formula samples and did not take into consideration a multitude of studies that linked BPA to health problems in animals such as prostrate cancer. For the full Washington Post article click here.

For the complete report click here.

Personally, while the FDA is trying to figure out what level of a known hormone disrupting chemical is safe enough for my children to be exposed to, I think I will take matters into my own hands and reduce our exposure as much as I can. Here are some of the things that we have done around our house.

GreenPea Solution:

1) Remove plastic storage containers from your home. If you can't remove them all at once, remove the ones that are showing wear (cloudiness, rough texture, stains, cracks).

2) Buy soup in cardboard cartons.

3) Never use a plastic container in the microwave. Use glass or ceramic.

4) Use waxed paper or a paper towel to cover food rather than plastic wrap.

5) Make sure that the bottles and sippy cups that you buy state that they are BPA free. We carry the Safe Sippy which is a stainless steel sippy cup as well as BPA free plates and utensils.