Best organic baby slings

Last updated: 26 June 2008 by Caramel Quin

Prams are a relatively recent invention, dating back to Victorian times. But before then -- and for millennia -- babies were carried in arms or in slings. Images of children being carried in slings can even be seen in ancient Egyptian artwork. A parenting tool that old has to have something good going for it.

The renaissance of slings in the West started in the 1960s and was boosted in the 1970s by The Continuum Concept, Jean Liedloff's book about her time in the South American jungle. She found that baby-carrying and other ancient ways of child-rearing were turning out children who were happier, more confident and lower maintenance than the brats being raised in her native US.

This led to the Attachment Parenting movement, which proposes baby-carrying, co-sleeping and breastfeeding as key ways to develop a strong bond between baby and parent. Far from being overly child-centric, Attachment Parenting suggest that in their early months you (or a friend or family member) should pretty much throw your baby in a sling and get on with your daily life. The theory is that, when they're old enough to crawl, they will be so secure in their attachment to you that they will crawl off confidently, scarcely looking back.

Whether you believe the philosophy or not, there's no doubt that newborns seem to prefer the womb-like closeness and security of a sling to a buggy. In fact, they'll tend to sleep for ages in a sling -- only waking to feed or for a nappy change. But while some people plump for a sling instead of a buggy, many modern parents will prefer the flexibility of owning both a buggy and a sling -- each has their uses.

Any baby-carrier or sling is an affordable, space-saving and ethical choice compared with a buggy, pram or pushchair, since you're not buying something made from so many different, often unsustainable, materials. What's more, a good sling is hard-wearing enough to be handed on and used for dozens of babies. Things to look out for when choosing your sling are comfort -- for you and Baby, of course -- ease of use and general practicality. Then of course there are the different green credentials that the fabrics can have.

All four of the slings we tested are made from some kind of certified organic cotton. Both the Wilkinet and Huggababy slings are made in the UK, which is a definite plus for eco-friendliness and ethics. The Wilkinet in particular stood out ethically -- for everything from its Fairtrade materials to its refusal to give retail giants more favourable terms than small shops.

The designs ranged from the age-old simplicity of the Didymos, a simple length of fabric which ties around you, to the brand new design of the Close, which has stretchy fabric that's tightened through two pairs of metal rings.

In all, the Wilkinet came out best for a combination of ethics and comfort. The Didymos came a close second for its quality and its unerring ability to lull a baby to sleep. And the Close was impressive for the speed and ease with which you could pop a baby in it -- perfect for the Attachment Parenting idea of wearing your baby around the house. The Huggababy was the only let-down as it proved uncomfortable and hard to adjust, plus the cream colour of the undyed fabric was simply impractical.

Why Organic Baby Bedding?

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By Beatrice Stephenson

Well, the question is quite easy answered by those parents who’s children are suffering from allergies of different kinds. In most fabrics of today there are thousands of toxic substances and colors, that can be very harmful for your baby, especially if she’s allergic or has allergy in the family, and therefore easily could develop it.

Organic bedding products automatically provide relief from allergies. Well documented scientific research and documentation has proven that organic cotton and wool help to reduce discomfort and skin rashes, that you can get from normal fabrics, if you have allergy tendencies. The benefit for your baby is the softness and quality that only organic cotton can provide, and it is one of the top reasons people choose organic cotton for their baby's delicate skin. Cotton grown in conventional ways is poorer and weakened by the chemicals used in growing, processing and dying of the cotton. All these things break the fibre down creates a much weaker and reduced product in the end of the production line.

But there might be other reasons for wanting your baby or toddler to sleep in organic sheets or even wear organic clothes. Small children’s skin are quite thin and not really use to all the toxins and poisons that is in the environment around us. To give a baby organic food and let him wear organic cotton, can be a soft way to start off in this world, before he gradually is used to environmental circumstances. We can’t always keep the baby as safe as we want to, there are air pollutions where ever in the world you are staying, unnatural growing fertilizers in our foods and the list goes on and on. But maybe we can make the first time in the little ones life a little better, a little easier for a small body to adjust to.

When it comes to organic cotton, north America produces excellent organic cotton and wool, meeting all the international standards for quality and safety. And there’s an ethical point to it all. Ecologically produced cotton is fair trade, meaning that ecological cotton from India are in most cases produced under human conditions, with absolutely no child labour and with a fair salary to the farmers. Cotton farming is a very high factor to pollutions in the world, and organic farming turns those bad numbers upside down. Did you know that: ecological farms have 44% more birds on their lands than other cotton farmers? More that five times as many wild plants? Only that information should tell us something.

When you think of organic beddings you might think about boring watery colors in beige and natural white only, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! There are many environmental ways of colorings these days, and you can get great looking products, even if they are ecological.
So, why don’t do your little one a favour and let him or her sleep in some environmentally and physically friendly sheets!

Want to know more about ecological bedding. Please visit this site for more information

http://www.babysafety.efven.com/bedding.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beatrice_Stephenson

Organic Baby Food - Tips For Making it Affordable

By Erika L Jones

Are you sold on the benefits of organic baby food, but wondering how you can afford to serve it? Do the rising costs of organic produce make you want to run to the canned food aisle?

Before you forgo the extra nutrition in organic foods, here are some suggestions to help you get more for your money.

1. Make your own.

One of the easiest ways to save money on organic baby food is to prepare it yourself. It requires about an hour of planning and preparation each week and even less time once you get into a groove.

All you need is a blender or food processor, one or two ice trays, cling wrap, fresh produce and some baby food recipes. Naturally mushy foods like bananas and avocados require only seconds of food prep time.

2. Shop around for deals.

Whether you are making it yourself or buying prepared baby food, now is not the time to be loyal to your favorite grocer or brand. Look for weekly specials in mailers, in the coupon section of the newspaper or online.

Some of the top brands of organic baby food will offer coupons on their websites. If you don't see any, email the company. Stock up when the price is good, and go to the competitor when the price is unreasonable.

3. Swap organic foods with a friend.

How often have you purchased an entire bag of organic fruit only to have them rot before they are eaten? Most organic produce is packaged in bulk, not giving you the opportunity to buy one or two pieces.

You don't need a large quantity of produce to make organic baby food. A little food goes a long way when you make and store it.

To minimize waste, find a healthy-minded friend, agree to purchase certain items and trade the excess. You will save money and be able to provide more variety in your baby's meals.

If you buy jarred organic baby food, get it in bulk online and trade flavors with your friends.

4. Visit a Farmer's Market.

If your town has a local farmer's market, compare the prices to that of your favorite grocery store. You may find savings of up to 40% at the market, so take friends and some cash and enjoy the time shopping outdoors.

Look for the certified organic label on the produce, but know that some small farmers may not be certified because of the expense involved. If in doubt ask how and where the produce is grown. Foods grown locally and in season are the least expensive. Finally, request a sample. Organic foods will have a more flavorful and vibrant taste.

5. Start an organic garden.

Going local is cheaper. Imagine how much money you would save if tomatoes, herbs, berries and peaches grew in your own backyard. Of course this will require time and energy before you experience a payoff.

However, if the cost of transporting fruits and vegetables continues to rise, you may have neighbors knocking on your door making offers for a bucket of blueberries.

If you're willing to alter your shopping routine, you can experience significant savings on organic baby food and produce. Who knows, you may tap into a resource that makes eating organic affordable for the entire family.

For more ways to make serving organic baby food affordable visit Organic Baby Resource.

Erika Jones is a mom, web publisher and freelance writer. To get organic baby tips delivered to your inbox, subscribe to her monthly newsletter.

You may republish this article on your blog, website or e-zine by providing credit to the author and providing a live link to Organic Baby Resource.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erika_L_Jones

Are Organic Foods Healthier?

by: glenn@isnare.com

There are many contaminants that assault us on a daily basis. These toxins are in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the foods we eat, to name just a few. Eating organic food greatly reduces the toxins we consume in our food. Organic food is becoming more popular as people are becoming more health conscious. There are now certain regulations for growing organic foods commercially and many foods, especially eggs, bear an organic certification label.

What is organic food?

Organic food is food that is grown naturally without the aid of commercial fertilizers and chemicals like insecticides, herbicides, and anti-fungal substances. Organic growers use only organic fertilizers and remedies for growing plants. These foods are natural and unrefined. Feeding the animals food that has no chemicals added to it in turn produces organic animal products such as meat, poultry and eggs. For example, chickens and poultry are allowed to roam free as opposed to being kept cooped up in cages, and fruits and vegetables are not chemically ripened.

Advantages of organic food:

There are several advantages for us in eating organic foods:

� There are considerably less toxins in the food as it is grown without the aid of chemicals
� It is often better tasting
� Better for you-there are more nutrients in organic foods and Omega 3 is often found in organic eggs.

How Organic food will improve your health:

A natural diet consisting of unrefined foods, more fiber less chemicals and toxins will improve your overall health in several ways:

� More fiber from fiber rich foods and those that are unrefined will help your digestive system and allow your whole body to function better.

� Some organic eggs are produced from chickens that are fed on vegetarian feed. This will cut down trans fat and animal fat in the eggs. Omega 3 is found in organic eggs, this substance can be good for the heart.

� There is more iron in the yolk of an organic egg. As seen by the pale color of the commercial egg yolk as opposed to the dark yellow/orange of the organic egg.

� Due to the absence of refinement in organic food it is more satisfying and will help you with any weight loss program by encouraging you to eat less.

� Organic fruits and vegetables have more nutrition than commercially grown ones so you will be feeding your body with better food and improve your overall health.

Organic foods are the wave of the future as more people become more educated about their health and the foods that are good for them. At present, prices are a little higher for organic products but it is worth it when you consider the benefits. By switching to organic food you will improve your health and wellbeing and you will also be able to boost your immune system and help your body fight off diseases and toxins.

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