BabyEcos 
Sunday, July 1, 2018
No doubt you’ve done the necessary prep work for your baby’s arrival. But all that stuff is fluff when it comes to making it through the early days of parenthood. That’s when you quickly need to acquire new skills, like breast-feeding, soothing a crying infant and surviving on no sleep. To help you ease into your first week, we’ve asked expert parents how to handle the most common challenges.
Yes, your newborn will snooze as much as 20 hours a day, but it won’t be in long stretches—think one- to four-hour spurts. It’s important to try to catch some zzz’s when your baby is sleeping. But, if you’re not wired for naps, enlist help, stat. Have your partner, a friend or relative take some night shifts with the baby so you can get some uninterrupted sleep.
Infants fresh out of the cozy confines of the womb crave constant holding and soothing, says Harvey Karp, M.D., author of the Happiest Baby on the Block. Don’t worry about spoiling your newborn—it’s not possible. Instead, re-create the sensations of the womb, which can trigger a calming reflex in your newborn, Karp says. To do this, he recommends swaddling, swaying, shushing, holding your baby on her side and letting her suck on your finger. “These steps performed individually or together can often be a virtual ‘off’ switch for the crying,” he says. Experiment to see what works for your baby.
It happens naturally, right? Not always. Make plans to see a lactation expert ASAP post-delivery, and ask her to come to your house to help you get the hang of nursing there. “Having an expert with you from the beginning to help you learn about latching, positioning and milk supply—and to boost your confidence—can make the difference between a beautiful breast-feeding experience and giving up," says Giuditta Tornetta, a doula, lactation educator and author of Painless Childbirth.
“Expect to feed the baby every one to four hours—that’s counting from the start of each feeding,” says Laura Jana, M.D., co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn. Since you’re going to be bound to a couch, rocker or bed while your baby eats, try to get as comfortable as possible. Use a nursing pillow to help position your baby and ease your neck, arms and back. Keep water and snacks close by and stock up on good books to read or shows to watch.
“The saying ‘slippery when wet’ applies here—many new parents are very nervous when giving that first bath,” Jana says. Relax and take it slow. Because you’ll want to work around the umbilical cord (the faster it dries, the sooner it will fall off), a sponge bath is the way to go at this stage. Plus, if your baby has been circumcised, you’ll need to wait for the area to heal before completely submerging it in water. Gather the supplies and have them within arm’s reach—this way you can have one hand on the baby at all times. Then place him on a towel and gently wash the areas that need cleaning with a warm washcloth and baby bath wash.
It’s normal to experience pain and exhaustion after giving birth. In time, your body will bounce back and you’ll regain your strength. But while you’re healing, designate a family member to take care of you—or at least to make sure you don’t overexert yourself. Recruit your partner, relatives and friends to pitch in with housework, baby care and meal prep while you recover.
Between lack of sleep, physical discomfort and plummeting hormones, even the most excited new parent can feel overwhelmed. Decide what’s most important to you—say, learning how to breast-feed, sleeping and cuddling your baby—and focus on those things. Then let everything else go for a while.
Try to go outside or get out of the house every day. The fresh air (or seeing other humans) can help you stay sane. Spirits still low? “Remember that it’s normal to feel the baby blues for the first couple of weeks postpartum,” says Liz Maseth, R.N., a nurse lactation consultant at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio. “Just make sure that your family understands about the baby blues—and that if your feelings of sadness or depression last beyond those first two weeks, your loved ones can assist you in getting the help you need.”
BabyEcos Friday, June 1, 2018
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on new toys for your little one this summer. Instead, you can get creative with fun, DIY toys your little one will love! Making toys is a great way to reuse and recycle materials you have at home, plus you can customize them with your favorite colors and designs.
Here are some simple DIY toys for your little one to enjoy this summer and all year long:
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Toilet paper roll cores (the recycled paper cores in ECOS™Treeless Toilet Paper work great), non-toxic paint or crayons, dry pasta or rice, tape and colored paper.
Paint or decorate the toilet paper roll core and let your little one help! Next, cut out two circles from the colored paper for caps for each end of the shaker. Attach one cap to the bottom of the toilet paper roll with tape to secure. Fill the inside with pasta or rice and attach the other cap to the top, securing with tape. Make sure to seal the ends nice and tight with tape to keep bits from falling out into your little one’s mouth. Check to make sure there are no gaps between the cap and the roll and let your little one shake away!
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Wooden blocks, sandpaper, glue, non-toxic paint, and upcycled decorative paper (like newspaper or magazine pages)
Sand the wooden blocks with sandpaper to create a smooth base for paint and glue. Next, decorate the blocks however you’d like with your upcycled decorative paper and non-toxic paint. Once you’re done decorating, make sure to seal the blocks with a baby-safe sealant and let dry overnight. Help cleanup go smoothly by using Baby ECOS™ Here & There All Purpose Cleaner.
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Leftover soft fabrics, thread and needle (or fabric glue), non-toxic permanent pen, and extra fabric or cotton for stuffing.
Cut out two sets (front and back) of fabric for bunny ears, body, hands and legs. You should have 14 pieces total.
Attach pieces with fabric glue or sew pieces for extra security. Before attaching legs, stuff the body with cotton or left-over scrap fabric. Finally, draw on an adorable bunny face with a non-toxic marker to complete the bunny. You can find a detailed guide here.
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BabyEcos Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Having a baby and a pet is double the fun, but it can be double the work, especially when it comes to helping them create a great relationship with each other. Whether you’re introducing a new baby or furry friend to the mix, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with a list of tips to help ease the transition!
If you’re introducing your little one to your furry friend for the first time, make sure to prepare in advance. The Humane Society suggests enrolling your pet in a training class to help them learn to remain calm in new environments. If your pet isn’t familiar with babies, ask friends and family members with little ones if they can visit for a supervised pet-baby playdate. You’ll get a feel for how your pet will react to baby, which could range from extremely excited to surprisingly avoidant. You can also help your pet get used to baby sounds by playing a recording of a baby crying in another room months before.
After you’ve gotten the introduction down, now you can focus on creating a lasting bond between your pet and baby. Create fun bonding time between them by going on walks together as they get used to each other’s company. Take the two of them out for a family picnic and enjoy the outdoors. As your little one grows older, you’ll want to communicate with them how to hold your pet gently and respect them during playtime. If both your pet and baby learn their limits, they’ll establish a safe and playful relationship in no time.
There’s bound to be plenty of messes with that much cuteness around! The changing environment might cause more messes from your furry friend, which is why you should keep a good eco-friendly cleaner around the house. Plant-powered Disney ECOS™ For Pets! Stain & Odor Remover uses enzymes to neutralize pet odors and lift tough pet stains from floors and fabrics. Many of our Baby ECOS™ and ECOS™ For Pets! cleaners are made with U.S. EPA Safer Choice-certified ingredients, so little ones can get back to playtime in no time after cleanup.
Follow us on IG and Facebook Baby ECOS™ to get more inspirations for creating an eco-friendly home!
BabyEcos Sunday, April 1, 2018
Get ready for April 22, one of the best and most important days of the year—Earth Day! Created in 1970, Earth Day now attracts over 1 billion participants around the globe. It’s the perfect time to show your appreciation for Mother Earth and get involved in protecting our planet. This year, teach your little one about the earth with these fun activities!
You can start to teach your little one about sustainability with fun children’s books like The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and Wump World by Bill Peet. Books like these are a fun way to teach baby about the beauty of nature. Even if they’re too young to read on their own, the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents to read to children in infancy because it stimulates brain function and strengthens parent-child relationships.
Switching to a green cleaner is a smart way to help avoid harsh chemicals in your home. Baby ECOS™ Here & There All Surface Cleaner is perfect for cleaning tables, counters, and furniture around the house and its certified Safer Choice by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.
Recycling can be exciting with a little bit of creativity! These Monster Recycling Boxes are an adorable way to introduce children to recycling. Each “monster” can be used to recycle a different item, like plastic, paper, or aluminum cans.
Kids love crafts—especially finger painting! It’s a great activity that encourages creativity for your little one. For Earth Day, you can get blue and green eco-friendly finger paints to create an earth-inspired painting! Draw a large circle on paper, or use a paper plate, and let your little one paint inside of the circle. You’ll have a beautiful painting of the earth! You can repeat this every year at Earth Day as your child grows older; you can even make it a family tradition.
Tell us what you’re doing for Earth Day this year on Instagram and Facebook.
BabyEcos Thursday, March 1, 2018
It’s no surprise that having a baby can add a few extra steps to your cleaning routine. Now that winter is ending, and spring is on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to renew your home with spring cleaning! That doesn’t have to mean tearing everything out of the cabinets and exhausting yourself; creating a safer home can be accomplished with a few easy steps.
The most important thing about cleaning your home is making it safer for your family. Babies are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of indoor air pollution and to toxic chemicals found in many traditional cleaning products. Conventional household cleaners can cause irritation to your child’s sensitive skin, eyes, and airways. If you’re feeling worried that your cleaners could be dangerous to your little one, it’s time for a change!
Switching to a green cleaner is a smart way to help avoid harsh chemicals in your home. Baby ECOS™ Here & There All Surface Cleaner is perfect for cleaning tables, counters, and furniture around the house and its certified Safer Choice by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.
Did you know we spend 90% of our time indoors where air pollutant levels can be 2 to 5 times higher than they are outside? Kids today also spend half as much time playing outside as their parents did, which means breathing in more stale inside air! Freshen up your house this spring by opening your windows and allow the fresh air to circulate and rejuvenate your home.
Reduce clutter and excess waste this spring! Living minimally has a lot of positive environmental benefits, like decreasing your carbon footprint. You can start by reducing what you purchase and making a shopping list before you go to the store. The more planned out a purchase is beforehand, the more likely you are to keep and use that product for years to come!
You can extend the lifespan of your unwanted items by donating them to a thrift store, which reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Donate baby clothes, toys, and other products you no longer use, or pass them along to a family member or friend instead of throwing things away.
Finally, organize your home to open the space and make it feel more inviting. Invest in shelves to put away toys, bottles, blankets, and other baby items. Once playtime is done, you can put away toys in a cubby that’s out of sight and create a relaxing environment for yourself when baby is sleeping.
Let us know your favorite cleaning tips and follow us on Instagram and Facebook BabyECOS.
BabyEcos Thursday, February 1, 2018
It’s February and love is in the air! Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and this year you might have a new, extra-special person to celebrate with. You’ve been working hard as a parent, so use this holiday to relax and enjoy your loved ones on this special day.
So, what can you do this year to celebrate, with a new baby on the scene?
Valentine’s Day is all about romance, and that doesn’t have to change now that you have a baby! If you have a special someone in your life, you’ve had to rely on each other to raise your bundle of joy. You’ve gone through the ups and downs of parenthood together, and that calls for celebration. Show your partner you love them by having a romantic dinner date at home. It doesn’t have to be complicated - in fact, you could have their favorite meal delivered to your home from a local restaurant or use a meal delivery service to cut down on prep time. Make the meal extra special with a playlist of your partner’s favorite songs played while you dine.
With a new baby at home you might be craving extra time with your friends and want more adult company. You can use Valentine’s Day to show love for your friends as well! Host a potluck-style get-together at home with romantic comedies ready to watch. Don’t forget to have lots of sweets on hand to celebrate the holiday. You can also serve Valentine’s Day-themed cocktails and mocktails using pink lemonade, strawberries, and pink sugar to line the rim of each glass. If you’re feeling up to it, put cut-out pink and red hearts to scatter around the house for a sweet Valentine’s Day vibe.
Remember back in elementary school when kids used to give cute little Valentine’s cards? If you feel like being crafty, bring back that tradition by making a card featuring a picture of your little one. Take an adorable picture of baby dressed up in pink & red and print out the photo for a DIY Valentine. All you need is pink or red construction paper to cut into a heart. Then paste the picture in the middle, write a cute note on the back, and give or mail them to family and friends. P.S. You can use recycled materials to save money and protect the environment!
There’s something about being outside in nature that’s inherently beautiful and romantic, especially when you’re with loved ones. If it isn’t too cold where you are, go outside for a family date at your local park, botanical garden, or your closest adventure spot. Enjoy a date with your family, or just you and your little one, in the beautiful outdoors. Grab snacks and a blanket for an easy picnic outside with your favorite treats. Don’t forget to prewash your fruit and veggie snacks before you head out on your picnic! Rinse away oily residues and dirt quickly with Baby ECOS™ Fruit & Veggie Wash, which is specially designed for little ones.
BabyEcos Monday, January 1, 2018
Welcome to 2018! It’s a new year for you to learn how to lead a healthier and happier life. Being a parent can feel like a nonstop job; however, you’ll be at your parenting best when you take time to relax and rejuvenate. Be more at ease this year with these New Year’s resolutions that incorporate some essential self-care.
Sleep is important. One more time: Sleep is important! Good sleep can be hard to come by with a baby in the house. This year, when you feel comfortable, ask a trusted relative or friend to babysit overnight. With an overnight babysitter every now and again, you can catch up on good, uninterrupted sleep. You might also ask that special helper to give you some extra help at home during the day. That way you can take a nap while they’re watching your little one.
Spend time with the people who make you happy! You can do a fun play date with other parents or a solo brunch on the weekend. Don’t forget about the people who uplift your spirits and can make you feel refreshed. Plan an exciting (or relaxing) friends night out to look forward to.
Parenthood is great, but we’d be lying if we didn’t admit it can be stressful too. After a long year, consider adopting mindfulness and other meditative practices into your weekly routine. You can experience mindfulness through everyday activities — even eating or drawing. All you need to do is turn the conversations in your mind off and give yourself fully to the action you’re doing. You can also download an app that will help you meditate at home. Practicing mindfulness will help relax you during your day and be more present.
Don’t be so hard on yourself! You’re doing just fine. Make sure to focus on the things you’re doing well. Don’t compare yourself to other parents, especially on social media, because no one does parenthood perfectly.
In 2018 make self-care a regular part of your routine. You won’t regret taking the extra time to keep yourself healthy and happy!
BabyEcos Friday, December 1, 2017
Celebrate this winter holiday season with your family while also showing love to the planet.
It’s never too early to set a positive example of sustainable practices for your little one. Here are some tips to help your baby’s holiday stay fun and eco-friendly!
For gift-giving, wrapping paper is used once and then thrown away. In fact, it’s thrown away so much that all that waste could wrap around the earth nine times! You can help reduce this waste by wrapping with recycled options like:
Delicious food is one of the best parts of winter parties that your baby will surely enjoy! You can help reduce food waste by:
You have a growing baby, spread the holiday cheer by donating baby items you no longer use. There are a lot of families that could use help this year and donating helps them and the planet by reducing waste.
Enjoy spending time with your family and creating a warm, festive, and eco-friendly home this December!
BabyEcos Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Happy November, the kickoff month for the end-of-the-year holidays! November and December are jam-packed with holiday fun for you and your little one. If this is your baby’s first Thanksgiving, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with tips to help it go smoothly.
If you want to split the day between two homes, plan it out in advance. If one side of the family likes to host Thanksgiving brunch and the other dinner—perfect! You can take time in between both events to let baby nap and to take a break yourself. However, if you want to make it to two Thanksgiving dinners, plan on spending at least two hours at each.
If you’re nursing, finding an easy outfit to wear in the winter can be a challenge. Wrap dresses provide a lot of flexibility with easy access and you can pair it with a nice cardigan and leggings if it’s cold. Tops with zippers, buttons or stretchy sweaters, might be your best bet for a smooth Thanksgiving while nursing.
You can make some Thanksgiving purees the night before so baby won’t go hungry. Try to get festive with pumpkin, squash and cranberry flavors. You can take the purees along with you in a cooler bag, especially if you’re travelling house to house.
This might be the first time that some family members are meeting your little one. This means they might constantly ask to hold your baby throughout the gathering. Going from person to person can cause stress for your baby, who might be getting tired from a long day. If your baby is new to all the attention, try to kindly let family members know when your little one needs a break.
Even babies love Thanksgiving food! Save the turkey, sweet potatoes, veggies and stuffing for baby for later. Some of these foods will be soft enough for baby on their own, while others can be blended down into a nice puree.
BabyEcos Sunday, October 1, 2017
It’s Halloween season! Finally you can enjoy delicious snacks with a spooky theme. If you’re looking for healthy alternatives for your kids, you’re in luck! We’ve crafted a list of our favorite healthy Halloween treats from around the web just for you and your kids to enjoy.
To me, Halloween means candy corn! I always make sure to have a big bowl of candy corn in my home every year. It’s become a tradition for many families because of its sweet, chewy texture and bright fall colors. These fun Candy Corn Popsicles from Chew Chew Mama are big, refreshing version of my favorite Halloween treat—and healthier for little ones too.
To make them, you just need some popsicle molds, organic juices and yogurt. It’s an easy recipe that your kids will love!
Have you ever noticed that clementines look like little pumpkins? This sweet cross between a mandarin and an orange makes a great healthy snack for kids, and the best part is you can easily decorate them just like a Halloween pumpkin! Jack-o-clementines are easy to make with a black permanent marker and a bag of clementines, which are in season right now. Let your kids get creative and draw fun Halloween faces on their cute little clementines to display for Halloween or send to school for a yummy festive snack.
Halloween is all about ghosts, monsters and witches. These Pretzel Witch Brooms are easy to make with pretzels and cheese sticks – a kid favorite combo! Little ones can help with this recipe too – as you prepare the cheese, they can add the pretzel. Kids love to eat what they help make!
With all the less-than-healthy sweets that kids eat during the Halloween season, these snacks will help you add a little healthy fun!
BabyEcos Friday, September 1, 2017
Congratulations! Your little bundle of joy is almost ready to meet the world. As your belly grows, so does the need for new baby gear to fill your home. Here are some steps help welcome your little one for the big day and keep you calm and organized during this big transition.
Make it easier on yourself by meal prepping! You might be too tired to cook three meals a day for yourself once you’re looking after a little one. Even if you just meal prep one meal or a few snacks, you’ll thank yourself later when you’re not hungry and tired at the same time.
Plan a couple of outfits that you’d be comfortable wearing around the house after your first few weeks after birth. Leggings paired with a flowy shirt will help your body breathe and allow you to move around easily without discomfort. This will end up being an energy saver in the morning, just like meal prep! Just fold the outfits in your closet and have them ready to go for when you arrive home after delivery.
A new baby means new messes around the house. Save yourself trips to the store by stocking up on a few months’ worth of cleaners made with safer ingredients. Baby ECOS™ has great options for laundry, fruit and veggie washing and cleaning messy surfaces.
Now that you’ve prepared for baby, where do you put all the stuff? A messy nursery and house might create additional stress once your baby is born. Use an easy organization system (lots of tape and labels!) that helps you quickly get to the items you need and keep the items you don’t need out of eyesight until you do.
BabyEcos Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Uh oh, summer is coming to a close and fall is on the horizon. Even though you might miss the sunshine, I’m sure you’re looking forward to the pumpkin spice and Halloween costumes right around the corner. Here are some tips to transform your home into the perfect fall refuge.
Nothing says fall like the scent of pumpkin, cinnamon and vanilla. Get fall-scented candles to make your house stand out to your guests and put them in a festive mood. Look at social enterprises with a good cause that sell eco-friendly candles.
If you love cooking, try a few new recipes this fall. To be environmentally conscious, consider trying a plant-based alternative to one of your favorite meat dishes. You can make healthier Halloween candy with pretzels, vegan marshmallows and cacao nibs.
Something about fall just makes me think of crafts. Consider making a Halloween costume from scratch this year and reuse old materials you have, or check out your local thrift store. You can be creative and help eliminate waste from a landfill by upcycling materials.
BabyEcos Saturday, July 1, 2017
If you like to jet set, don’t be scared away from travel if you need to bring your children along. If you’re a new mom, the thought of flying with an infant can bring a lot of anxiety. Here are some quick tips to help soothe some of the anxiety you might have about a flight with your baby.
Pack any diaper-changing supplies into a smaller bag within your diaper bags(diaper, changing pad and wipes). When it’s time to change a diaper, it’s easy to grab and go without digging through a packed bag with a wet and fussy baby!
If you have a toddler, bring along an activity for them to play with so they don’t get too restless on the plane. A coloring book is easy to pack in a backpack and is quiet. You can also search for smart phone apps made for toddlers to play with. Don’t forget to bring your baby-friendly headphones, just in case the app is noisy! There are many cordless headphones designed to be safer for little ones.
Snacks at the airport are priced much higher than your local convenience store. It’s also harder to find healthy options at the airport where fast food is abundant. Before you leave for the airport, prep some apple slices, celery and travel pouch applesauce!
Some planes offer inflight music entertainment, but just in case they don’t, make a soothing music playlist for you and your little ones (if they're old enough). Don’t forget baby’s special headphones!
Don’t be embarrassed if your child cries on his first airplane ride. Most people on the plane have been there before with their own kids and aren’t thinking less of you. Stay calm and keep working on soothing your baby. Babies usually settle after a few trips up and down the aisle, and it’s great to get a mid-flight stretch for you as well.
BabyEcos Thursday, June 1, 2017
If you’re making changes to be more environmentally friendly, you can start with your kitchen. You don’t have to change what you buy, but changing where you buy can reduce your carbon footprint. If you check online, your community or a nearby one probably has a local farmer's market.
When you buy locally you’re more aware of what’s produced seasonally and seasonal produce tastes the best! Shop locally to get in touch with the variety of foods your community grows all year.
When you buy local, you empower your nearby farmers who are growing organic food. They’re competing against non-organic farmers who are able to produce fruit and veggies at a much lower price point. Show your local farmers that you appreciate their efforts to bring healthy food into your community by buying from them whenever you can. You’re adding money back into your local economy by doing so.
Produce is shipped from all over the world to your closest grocery store. When you buy from a conventional grocery store, you might be getting food that indirectly releases tons of carbon dioxide to transport via air or truck. When you shop locally, you reduce transport time and your carbon footprint.
Shopping locally, especially at a weekly farmer’s market, might build community! Soon you’ll get used to saying hi to the man at the honey stand and might even even make friends with the fresh squeezed juice seller. When you show up to shop regularly, you’ll help make your community stronger.