Before Cleaning Up After Baby, Re-Think "Clean"

by Alexandra Zissu
Blogs for The Daily Green and Ask and Organic Mom

What cleaning products do you use for your home and laundry? When I do find time or am faced with the necessity to clean, I’m almost scared to, because of all the toxic chemicals that are known as common household cleaning products. I don’t know what’s worse for my baby -- a dirty house or a so-called clean one. But with a baby comes lots of spit-up, poop, and urine. What can I use & do to have a clean enough home that is also safe for baby? Thanks again for sharing!

You’re right to question common cleaning products. The number one thing anyone can do to reduce indoor air pollution is to replace every conventional cleaner under the kitchen sink and in the laundry room with greener, non-toxic versions. It’s a move I encourage everyone I know to do as there’s a true, clear, and obvious easy fix -- just buy any of the many good, trustworthy green brands on the market like Seventh Generation or Ecover. Or, if you have the time, it’s easy (and inexpensive) to make your own.

The reason to leave the common cleaners behind is that the corporations who make them aren’t required to list their ingredients. Apparently these are considered trade secrets, and therefore none of the public’s business. But many of the chemicals used in the products most of us buy (from laundry detergents to oven cleaners to furniture polish to stain removers) haven’t been sufficiently regulated and can be hazardous to your health, not to mention children’s health. Chlorine, for example, is a known carcinogen. Some products have warning labels but a study by the New York City Poison Control Center found that 85% of these labels are inadequate.

While it sounds like you’ve already considered what is in these cleaners, have you thought about what you mean by "dirty?" What are you really trying to clean? Spit up and poop, especially in the early days before starting solids, is just breast milk (or formula). It’s really not very dirty at all. Neither is urine.

Bleach Isn't Best
Somehow cleaning product advertising and commercials have gotten under our collective skin and we (as a culture) feel that spraying bleach on high chairs, baby toys, and even inside fridge produce bins is a good, "clean" thing. Au contraire! These things really aren’t dirty enough to warrant this kind of indiscriminate bad chemical use. Think about the hygiene hypothesis theory -- that the lack of early childhood exposure to dirt and infectious agents increases susceptibility to allergic diseases.

It’s really helped me to rethink what "needs" to be clean in my house. I don’t want to clean so much that Aili will be susceptible to disease! I haven’t used anything harsh in years. Our cleaning is very basic. If you’re still not convinced you’re cleaning up or killing off whatever dirt/germs you feel like are lurking about, think about how most scientists and doctors say that soap and warm water are better than soaps or gels that contain antibacterials for hand washing. I think this applies to homes, too. You don’t need the added ammonia, chlorine bleach or what have you. Soap, water, and elbow grease are more than enough.

Alternatives (Like Going Shoeless) Work
Another thing you might want to start doing to reduce household dirt when you’re concerned about a crawling baby, or even a kid who spends a lot of time down close to the floor, is removing your shoes before coming into your home. I live in New York City and the idea of letting my baby ooch around on urban street residue really turned me off. So we made a spot in our entryway for shoes and I never thought about it again. We actually started doing this way before I got pregnant and have been pleasantly surprised with our guests when we ask them to take their shoes off. At first people were reluctant but I have found that more and more of my friends are doing this in their own homes these days, so much so that we almost never have to ask anymore.

If you feel like you have the time to make your own products, test combinations of the following things until you find what works for you: borax, vegetable based liquid soap, water, club soda, white vinegar, baking soda and lemon. For cleaning glass (or baby urine), mix equal parts white vinegar and water. For gritty jobs (like the tub), make a paste of baking soda and liquid soap, and for everything else (including wood floors), liquid soap and water will do the job nicely. If this sort of mixology interests you, check out more concoctions on the website run by Home Safe Home author Debra Lynn Dadd -- http://www.dld123.com/, or on http://www.betterbasics.com/, which is home to Annie Berthold Bond, author of Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living.

Happy cleaning.

Here are some additional helpful articles from The Daily Green:

• 30 Days of Green Deals: Coupons, Discounts and More
• 30 Days to a Greener Diet
• The Dirty Dozen: 12 Foods to Eat Organic
• Go Green: 5 Easy First Steps You Can Do Today
• What Do Recycling Symbols on Plastics Mean?

[Visit The Daily Green and Ask and Organic Mom]

Buying Eyeglasses Online... Properly

By Hillary Rubin - guest blogger

Let's do a count. Raise your hand if your kid has ever broken your eyeglasses? Go ahead, no one's watching. Raise your hand ... because you are NOT alone. If the statistics are right, then 60% of the adult population wears eyeglasses. That means that a good portion of this percentage is made up of moms and dads (just like you) who wear eye wear of some sort. Way too many of those people are paying too much money for eyeglasses. At your standard optical store, the average pair of eyeglasses can cost around $450 without the exam. Honestly, who can afford that in this economy?

Relax. Don't let the sticker shock scare you. There are ways around that price! It's always a
wise idea to have a back-up pair of prescription eyeglasses especially when you have little ones running around! So where do you turn? The internet! That's right - the internet is stocked full of companies that can help you in your purchase of inexpensive eyeglasses (even sunglasses). If you do a basic Google search, you'll find a plethora of sites that offer you the best deal around. There are a few things to watch out for:

1. Check the company's return policy!!
2. If the prices are really low (I mean REALLY low) - how high-quality can the frame be?
3. Read the testimonials - if other customers are happy, you will be also!
4. Call their customer support - any company that is worth their weight in gold will invest
   money in a GREAT customer support team.

The key to internet shopping is to do your research before buying. I've handled many cases
for consumers who have purchased bad lemons when they thought they were getting the
best product on the internet. They didn't do their research first to see how reputable a
company was and how good their products were. While you can find amazing deals on eyeglasses online- it requires a bit more leg work to make sure you get the best deal for your dollar!
So, you've found two or three reputable sites- what now? Surf the net a bit more for
customer testimonial and customer review sites. Those are your best resources for how the
company actually rates. Once you find the company you want to purchase from, surf the
'net again for coupons and discounts. Many online optical stores will post coupons and sales
all around the internet in order to give you the best bang for your buck!

We've scored a deal for you! GlassesUSA is offering you 10% off any order of prescription
eyeglasses or sunglasses. All you need to do is use the code: Goodies10 during
your check out to redeem the savings!

Happy Shopping! Have questions about online shopping? Email - Glassesgirl81@gmail.com.

Not Appropriate, Not Acceptable: Do these words really work?

by Sharon Silver

A 3 yr old hits a friend and mom says, “that’s not appropriate, it’s unacceptable to hit a friend, go say sorry.” Everyone says it—but are those the best words to use when a child is emotional? Does it teach a child how to resolve the situation next time? It does tell him that mom and dad are upset, but so does your tone of voice and the look on your face. I think parents want more from corrections. I think parents want the words they use words to stop behavior and tell a child what they should do instead.

• Why isn’t saying, “that’s not appropriate or not acceptable” enough to stop behavior?
  When a child is emotional or being corrected for misbehavior those words are over their heads.
  I did an experiment a while ago with 20 kids ages 2-6. I asked them “what does ‘not appropriate’ mean?” All but one of them said, “I don’t know.” One child said, “Oh, that’s what mom says when she gets mad.”
  
  Would you ever say, “that’s not fitting for this particular purpose” or “that’s not adequate to satisfy a need, a requirement or a standard in this situation” to a young child? Of course not, it’s way over their heads. Well, that’s the definition of appropriate and acceptable.
  
• Toddlers/preschoolers are having first time experiences and require repetition and teaching to learn.
  Young children are experiencing situations for the first, second or third time—ever.
  They need to be told about their behavior repeatedly without anger; they need to be taught. A common problem arises when parents assume that since their toddler/preschooler is walking, talking and possibly potty trained they have full understanding of how life works and full comprehension of the English language—they don’t, they need calm parents to show them what to do instead of what they did.
  
• Teaching a child how to “stop it” without using those words.
  Parents need to send information at the toddler or preschool level so a child can learn how to stop it.
  What’s the difference between adult–size words and toddler/preschool size words? When a child’s emotional because they can’t have what they want or they’re being corrected due to misbehavior toddler/preschool size words are brief statements filled with instruction, not full sentences. The statements include what a child should be doing instead of what they’ve done.
  
• Real Life example.
  You’re at the mall and your child runs off to see a big fountain.
  You begin warning by saying, “Not acceptable to go near the fountain.” Or, “Not appropriate to run away from me, stay away from the fountain or we have to leave”, yet your child bolts towards the fountain anyway!
  
  Since your child is determined to see the water and isn’t listening, use toddler/preschool size words to show him how to look at the fountain the way you want him too. Try saying, “look with eyes, feet on ground, hands in pockets”. Repeat those words several times so he can understand.
  
• What if he doesn’t listen the first few times?
  Have him take a seat with you a few feet away from the fountain and wait for 3-10 seconds. Then return to the fountain and repeat the words again, “look with eyes, feet on ground, hands in pockets.” If he tests you again repeat the process again. Don’t give up it may take 3-10 times for him to get it. This is your chance to show him how you want him to do things and if you give up he will see he doesn’t need to listen to this new way of teaching. Teaching this way shows him you’re serious, and gives him several chances to learn. You’ve just switched from adult words that don’t teach to preschool size words that do.

Sharon Silver is the founder and director of ProActive Parenting, www.proactiveparenting.net a site offering downloadable seminars to help parents lovingly teach and correct behavior as they deal with everyday toddler and preschooler behavior.

End of the Day Whining: Two tips to help

By Sharon Silver

The adult world can leave you exhausted at the end of the day. All you want to do is decompress, yet your child wants 100% of your attention, and the evening collision begins.

Mom needs to get dinner ready or bedtime will be late and dad needs to send one more email before work tomorrow. Your child doesn’t care about that, she doesn’t know anything about the adult world, she lives in the present moment and wants your attention now. And now the whining and yelling begins.

Most children can be whiney at the end of day. They’ve held it together emotionally all day without you and now they’re home where it’s safe and the emotions begin to roll. However parents have been in the adult world all day and have little energy left for any whining.

Here are two tips, one feeds attention and one feeds the tummy to help change End of the Day Whining.

Literally feed end of the day whining—don’t starve it.

• What if you began by feeding your child ahead of dinner instead of insisting she stop whining now! We all know mealtime can be the only focused time a family has all day, and I’m not asking you to give that up, I’m suggesting a change in how it goes. Sometimes hunger causes whining and food is the only solution.
  
  
• Be proactive by creating a “dinner box” that’s ready and waiting in the refrigerator so she can have food as soon as she gets home. Stock the box ahead of time with things like cheese, yogurt, lunch meat, tuna, veggies and dip, fruit, cheese and crackers, cheese tortillas, or leftovers. What ever works for your child, as long as it’s healthy.
  
  
• Won’t that spoil her dinner? No, it becomes the bulk of her dinner. It’s simply feeding her the way you used too when she was a baby, before you eat. Now she’s older and can handle eating as she does the next tip and while you continue to make the family meal.
  
  Also, your child’s stomach is the size of her fist. Toddlers and preschoolers don’t eat as much as adults do, and most don’t enjoy complex adult food; they’re natural grazers and prefer small portions many times a day of the foods already mentioned.
  
  
• What about family time? Eating together each night is very important, but it’s not the eating of the food that’s so important, it’s the time spent together. Now that your child has been partially fed invite her to finish dinner with the family or have her join you for desert. This way you get to have a calmer family meal with less whining.

Feed the need for attention—but on your terms.

• She whines for attention as I make dinner but I can’t stop what I’m doing. This tip will fill both your needs, she gets attention and you continue making dinner. Consider having a special seat in the kitchen called “time with me seat”? That way your child can be with you—but not under foot. Have your child sit in her “special” seat as she eats from the “dinner box” and let her eat slowly as she tells you about her day. Begin by asking her direct questions to get things started and then let her go on about anything. This exchange fills her up with the attention she’s craving and doesn’t force you stop the flow of family life as you provide one-on-one time.

About the Author
Sharon Silver is the founder and director of ProActive Parenting, http://www.proactiveparenting.net/, a site offering downloadable seminars to help parents switch from punishment to discipline as they deal with everyday toddler and preschooler behavior.

Editor's Note: We've actually tried the first tip before we read this article and it really works. My boys are starving the moment they walk in the door and it was like a herd of wild animals descending on the frig. I spent more time pulling them out of the frig than getting dinner ready. Now I just give them a quick "snack" of a few goldfish or cheese stick.

Battling for Blood Cancer Patients

By Puja Thomson

In connection with the "Blogging for Blood Cancer" event to raise awareness for the work of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, this blog honors Marty Laforse, who lived with lymphoma for many years. A true champion, he led a Men's Group through Benedictine Hospital's Oncology Support Program in Kingston, NY. When I was looking for stories about the different ways people face the challenge of cancer to include in my book, After Shock: From Cancer Diagnosis to Healing, Marty, a lymphoma survivor, generously offered his vignette. As you will see, he took little credit for his own resilience, and instead was quick to praise the doctors and researchers who fought on his behalf, making incredible advances. Here's what Marty wrote:

"When I was young, cancer was one of those words I did not even like to hear. If I came across an inevitable article delineating symptoms, I would search my body and its reactions for the merest hint of their presence. One day, decades later, when I had retired I found a hard lump in my groin. My home doctor calmly asserted that we should wait two weeks and see what developed. On the return visit he looked again, noted that the lump did not move and advised me there was a 50-50 chance that it was serious. I went through both needle and surgical biopsies. The results were positive.

I had always envisioned myself collapsing into a spasm of uncontrollable fear were I to receive such news. That did not happen. I didn't dance for joy or fall back on disingenuous philosophies of reassurance but neither did I dissolve into quivering apprehension.

A gaggle of medical visits, blood draws, X-rays, CT-scans and MRI's ensued. I guess laughter helped as, for the most part, my wife and I laughed quite a bit at the comic wigs and gaudy kerchiefs I tried on, in expectation of effects from the chemotherapy I was to undergo. I don't think that this experience broadened me or made me more sensitive. It happened and I luckily found doctors who battled my cancer and have kept it in remission for some years now. I was fortunate that the lymphoma proved treatable. I am grateful for those good years but I battled nothing. Those who treated me and those who researched and discovered treatments battled for me."

Since his death of a sudden heart attack last year, his loss has been felt by all of us in the Oncology Support Program. As a tribute to Marty, who was "gentle, kind and wise," a deck and gazebo have been built at the new Reuner Cancer Support House near the hospital.

About the Author
Puja Thomson is the author of After Shock: From Cancer Diagnosis to Healing - a step-by-step guide to help you navigate your way. An award-winning comprehensive practical resource. ISBN: 9781928663058. Http://www.aftershockfromcancer.com.

A Revelation: Little Things Do Save the Earth

by Kathie
Blogs at Real Working Mom

A little over a month ago I went on an overnight retreat with a group from my church. While I knew everyone that was going to be attending, this was my first retreat and wasn’t quite sure what to expect. We talked and prayed but what I found most interesting was the talk that Sister Mary gave us. It was a talk about the Earth and what we can do to help save it.

I’ll be honest I have never really given recycling a second thought, it was just easier to throw it away and I thought to myself “Can I really make a difference? I am only one person.” But the more I thought about it and after hearing Sister Mary talk the answer is YES I can make a difference.

We’ve started out very simple. I had my husband make some room in his shop for some bins. We now have 3 bins set up one for our newspapers, one for aluminum cans, and another for plastic bottles/containers. Now I’ve never thrown away my plastic bags that I get from the grocery store. I either brought them back up to the store to be recycled or I give them to the food pantry at church for them to use. Of course in my pantry, I still have a ton of these plastic bags but I decided I would buy some of the canvas bags to take to the grocery store with to use when I am just picking up a few items. That is when I remember to bring them in with me LOL!!

It’s a start and you can start making a difference too by doing the little things. If we all did that just imagine what we can do to help save the earth.

[Visit Real Working Mom.]

Simple Green Living Tips

by Lisa Smith
Owner/CEO - Regionz Kidz

Simple Green Living – Tip 1

Water is one of our most precious resources and water conservation is an area where you can make some simple changes and save water and $$! Let’s start in the bathroom. Your bathroom accounts for over 50% of your total water usage with toilets using 27%, showers 17%, faucets 8% and bath usage at 2%. Here’s a simple, inexpensive way to safe water. If you don’t want to invest the time and money to replace your toilets with low flow toilets try this:Take a plastic water bottle, fill it with pebbles to weight it down and place it in the toilet tank. This will displace the water and can help save up to 300 gallons per month! Please make sure that the bottle DOES NOT interfere with the normal operation of the toilet.You can this tip as well as many other water saving ideas at the following websites:

• http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/


• http://www.monolake.org/


• www.waterinfo.org/savings-water-indoors

Simple Green Living – Tip 2

Every year Junk Mail accounts for over 4 million tons of difficult to recycle trash and costs us over 100 million trees used to produce the credit card offers, loan offers, circulars, unsolicited catalogs and magazines as well as many other sources of junk. Listed below are several websites that can assist you in reducing and in some cases, eliminating these unwanted, wasteful offers. Please review and choose the one that best fits your needs and help us save a few trees along the way. Also please pass this along to as many family and friends as you can, the more the merrier!

Here are some helpful links:

• www.dmachoise.org/mps/proto1.php


• http://www.proquo.com/http://www.junkbusters.com/


• www.newdream.org/junkmail/index.php


• www.ecocycle.org/junkmail/index.cfm

[Visit Regionz Kidz.]

Living a Light Green Life

by Samantha Harris
blogs at Real Working Mom

I guess I am green……one would think by my mid 30’s I would have this figured out. There are many things that I know I am…..I’m a mother, I’m a step mother, I’m a wife, I’m half Korean, I’m strong, I’m stubborn…..but am I green?

I know I didn’t start out that way. I can remember being 16 and getting my drivers license back in 1980 something and gas was 89 cents a gallon. My friends and I would put $5 in the gas tank and drive around all night long. No particular place to go…..just driving around. I also had a habit of driving with the air conditioner on and the windows down because we all knew that you looked prettier with your hair blowing in the wind, but of course I didn’t want to get hot when it was 95 degree’s and humid. Could you imagine doing that today?

Fast forward my life 20 years and now my husband is about to buy a Honda Civic Hybrid car, every light bulb in my house is energy efficient…..which by the way I have discovered is fantastic at 5:15 in the morning when I am feeling my way to the shower. I flip the lights on and they take a minute to warm up, so much better than full blast.

But I digress……I pay for curb side recycling, I have energy efficient appliances, I turn my thermostat up or down (depending on the season) when we are all at school or work, I use reusable bags at the grocery store and I am helping to implement a recycling program at my son’s preschool.

Everyday I wonder, is it enough? So I guess at the end of the day I would consider myself a light shade of green with work still to be done.

[Visit Real Working Mom now.]