I love to discover a more Eco or local product that replaces something plastic and Baby Wisp certainly has a great story. This online store has created headbands for little girls that are crocheted without needing any plastic in the design. All moms love a product that actually works and these handy little head bands are great at keeping fly-away hair in place and they are comfortable…not to mention adorable!

Baby Wisp sent me a blossom headband and blossom ponytail holders and I love them. I will even back up the Baby Wisp claim that these products are a must have for little girls. The headband is very special – so soft and will stretch to fit (and stay) on any size head. Unlike most other headbands, it actually stays in place and the crocheted flowers that are sewn to the headband are an adorable accent.

The ponytail holders are very sweet and great for partial hair-up, low ponytails or braids. They are not strong enough for a single ponytail for my girls – but ohh do I love doing two low ponytails while accenting their hair with these hand-sewn blossoms.  And yes, the crochet blossoms are my very favourite part of the Baby Wisp collections and it’s nice to not have to stop and worry about cadmium, lead, or any other nasties when purchasing these obviously safe and metal free hair accessories.

I didn’t review any of the hair clips from the Baby Wisp site, but with all small pieces, they are not recommended for children under the age of three unless supervised.  Maybe I’m just too rushed in the morning or lazy doing girlie hair, I just think the hairbands are easy and I’ve loved putting them in my twins hair.

Prices are also reasonable with at $4 for a set of ponytails with the blossoms and $13 for a blossom band that is 3 inches across of crocheted cuteness.

Article correction: The headbands are machine made and both headbands and blossoms are made overseas. The hair clips are cut, heated, and sealed by 4 local mamas to Baby Wisp headquarters.  The clips are CPSC certified which means the lead content meets strict US rules.

I’m so excited to talk about the newly launched Ty & Lumi Organics site ~ formerly called Snug As A Bug ~ this company is rockin incredible organic bedding designs for babies and young children.  Their new ecommerce site is amazing (love the logo), with product designs, baby bedding sets, and a business concept that I love, involving manufacturing organic bedding right here in North America.

Ty & Lumi bedding is extremely fun, safe, and adorable to look at, but this company is doing something very unique that is lowering cost and bringing their customers savings when sourcing organic bedding. Founder Jill discovered over a year ago that she could source organic cotton fabric within Canada and silkscreen Ty & Lumi designs locally and this would all cost less than importing organic cotton fabrics from overseas. It is not very often choosing the local route to manufacture products is less expensive and I was buzzing when owner Jill and Wendy explained this concept during their interview. Their silkscreen process uses water based inks to ensure additional reduction in skin irritation for babies.

Ty & Lumi have your nursery bedding requirements completely covered with one-stop shopping for fitted crib sheets, duvet covers, blankets, sleep sacks, change table/bassinet covers, and burp cloths. Ty & Lumi have created 5 incredible designs – it’s tough to pick a favorite!

~ Sleeping Green ~

~ Moo Moo ~

~ Snug As A Ladybug Pink ~

Another very smart and customer friendly option for their customers are Ty & Lumi bedding sets. Funny if you compare prices of the bedding sets at Babies R Us or other big box stores with the Ty & Lumi sets…the different in price is not far apart. Even better – the Ty & Lumi sets are organic and contain items you actually need for your crib and baby. I’m very practical and would rather give or receive items like a wool organic duvet, organic cotton duvet cover, organic cotton blanket, organic fitted crib sheet, sleep sack ~ rather than a crib skirt and bumper pad items that really don’t get full-use. Check out my favorite set on their site and don’t let the name Blanket Set deceive you. It contains a Sleepy Sheep wool duvet, duvet cover, cotton fitted crib sheet, and blanket. They’ve really covered all your bases with this package and it’s affordable for organic bedding at $369.00 – we are talking about a high quality organic wool duvet and all organic, locally made bedding – it’s a great price. Teaming up with Sleepy Sheep, who provide the beautiful wool duvets (who we’ve written about and are big fans) creates very convenient one-stop shopping for expecting parents. For those fans of sleep sacks, there are also special sets that contain a sleep sack instead of the blanket.

Ty & Lumi has really produced lovely options for parents who don’t want to compromise style for sourcing safe bedding for babies with delicately forming nervous systems. I know I’ve battling the question of quality over cheaper price point items before and bedding is no exception. But how cute the designs are mixed with the fact Ty & Lumi are manufacturing this bedding line local to where the fabrics are actually printed and shipped from (in Canada Whoot!) is just a superb business model and one that should be supported. Also it’s important to check organic certification and Ty & Lumi is Oeko-Tex certified. I’ve often seen this level of certification and asked Jill to explain what it means in an easy-to-understand paragraph. Here is her response:

The Oeko-Tex Certification is an International testing and certification system for textiles (Oeko-Tex Standard 100) and companies (Oeko-Tex Standard 1000). Textile samples are tested for the presence of harmful chemicals that have been known to persist on fabric (formaldehyde, pesticides, heavy metals, loose dye/colour, phthalates, chlorinated organic carriers, dyestuffs, allergy-inducing dyestuffs and preservatives such as pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol). Oeko-Tex Certification is not an organic certification. However, it does test for some pesticides such as ones that are known to be harmful but are not yet banned. Many of the harmful chemicals it tests for are ones that are used in the fabric preparation process. Since babies are so small, their bodies are more susceptible to harmful chemicals. These chemicals can cause skin irritation and breathing problems. Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Product Class 1 is great for infants with eczema and asthma.

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification consist of four categories:

* Product Class I: Products for Babies up to 3 years
* Product Class II: Products with Direct Contact to Skin (i.e. clothes)
* Product Class III: Products without Direct Contact to Skin (i.e. linings, stuffings)
* Product Class IV: Decoration Material

The highest and most difficult certification to obtain is Product Class I. This certification means that a child can suck on the fabric and no harmful substances will come off.

Ty and lumi fabrics are organic (they are grown from non-genetically modified seed and without the use of toxic chemicals) and they are Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Product Class 1 certified.

I’m excited to announce our latest contest here at Mommy Footprint, as Ty & Lumi Organics has generously provided a signature organic fitted sheet – the winner of the contest selects their colour. The retail cost of this product is $64 and it’s so important to have a breathable, organic material close to where baby spends so many hours of it’s day. Thanks Jill & Wendy!

Contest will close May 28th and you can be entered to win by posting a comment on the Mommy Footprint Facebook fan page or via the Contest Referral Form. Everyone has a baby shower to attend this summer and this fitted organic crib sheet is a thoughtful, practical, and very much appreciated gift for any expecting mom.

If business owners or consumers doubt that today’s economy cannot support the local handmade movement – they haven’t heard of Bamboletta. Made with love, proud founder Christina began hand-crafting Waldorf dolls in 2002 and 8 years later, there aren’t words to explain the growth and popularity of her magical little ‘Bambos’. Because of Christina and husband’s John desire to keep these dolls made locally by her team of mama doll makers, there isn’t a way to meet the growing demand for these dolls, but the intimate working environment of supporting many moms and paying them well is worth the growing pains to Christina and John. The 15 hours of dedicated work that goes into each Bamboletta doll – hand stuffed, sewed, knitted by 8 Bambo team members is what parents around the world are opening their arms to embrace. Christina is very modest, but her hand-made movement has inspired and enlightened thousands of people and it’s the dedication to her business model of supporting a local, handmade dedication that just might be the Bamboletta legacy.

The beauty of a Bamboletta doll is instant – the moment you see one you will fall in love. Not only is the quality of a Bamboletta doll difficult to find, but the special details of a Bambo’s face and hair is almost impossible to match. Bamboletta doll faces have the detail of a plastic doll – but they are handstitched and made with natural cotton. The finest materials have been sourced and it’s why Bambos stand out so easily compared to mainstream dolls. Bamboletta dolls are filled with top quality wool that naturally repels water or mold, a mixture of hand dyed wool and yarns that are mixed for incredible hair results, and the sweet little faces embroidered by Christina are my favorite part of Bambos – especially when those faces have a smattering of little freckles. I’ve included some pictures of my favorite Bambolettas – here is a taste of Christina’s magic.

Yes – there will be lots of doll pictures in this post – honestly it’s hard to stop once you start looking through the wonderful galleries of photos. The infectious beauty of the dolls is already prevalent – my desire to cover the Bamboletta Story is my awe of the mama power that has changed the way tens of thousands of parents have decided to support and stalk (for lack of a better word) the phenom known as Bamboletta. Does it make sense that in today’s shaky economy that a doll selling for $140 would be something that thousands of moms are trying to purchase every week? In financially challenging times – why is this business experiencing high waves of consumers that would do practically anything to have the opportunity to purchase a Bambo?  If you follow The Bamboletta fan page on Facebook – you will find your answer. It is understanding the love that is put into the creation of each one-of-a-kind dolls that passes through this network of special people. It becomes immediately apparent that each Bambo is loved before it’s shipped out for orders, complete with an individual hair style, outfit, and name that somehow completely suits each doll. It is also the story behind the business. It is this doll maker sharing her experience of personal angst and turmoil with the fact she is not able to meet the demand of producing enough dolls to satisfy the thousands of people trying to purchase one. Then it is the quiet confidence you also feel from Christina and John knowing that if the option is to mass produce these special dolls, some of the Bambo magic would be lost. It is actually a wonderful thing to realize that so many parents are supportive of this business concept and you can feel the deep satisfaction and joy from Christina and John knowing the commitment to quality is more important.  There are so many examples to list of this business model but my favorite is that so many of the new dolls still come with little sweaters that are made by Christina’s Nonna who has supported her from the beginning.

When you are new to the process of trying to purchase a Bamboletta doll – frustration can become a familiar emotion. We as consumers are not used to waiting months for something we REALLY want to purchase.  Usually we go on-line or to the store, pay our money and have instant gratification. Well acquiring a Bambo takes a bit more patience.  I personally spent 7 months trying to purchase a Bambo for my girls. I started in the Fall thinking I could purchase 2 ( I have twin girls) in time for Christmas, but it was just not to be. I would read Christina’s words to other mamas on her Facebook wall explaining that Bambolettas just seem to go to those when the time is right. At the time, this explanation didn’t sooth my feelings of frustration. Then a month ago I was successful and have two very special Bambolettas hidden away to give my daughters.  Of course I will not be waiting until Christmas to give them these dolls – that would take away too many months of special play time. I’ve been planning to give them to my girls after the Mother’s Day tea at the preschool where I’ve been able to celebrate with my children for the past 4 years. This year, I will have my twins both sitting with me during this special time and I’ve been searching for a way to explain to them how much I adore them. This Friday I hope my girls know that I cannot think of a more magical, special, unique, quality friend for them than a Bamboletta. The idea of sitting in the preschool forest and giving my girls their Bambo boxes puts a smile on my face every night before I fall asleep. There aren’t many presents since becoming a parent I’ve been this excited to give.

I’ve been writing this article in my head for almost a year and I hope it doesn’t just bring more excited parents to the Bamboletta site, but encourages business owners to wake up and realize that success is measured in many different ways. Supporting handmade, supporting local craftsman, supporting a local economy is key to North America’s financial success and if you need any proof – take a peek over to a magical little house on Vancouver Island where the measure of success shines brightly from a craftswoman sewing dolls and fulfilling best friend wishes for children all over the world. How wonderful for Christina to know that her sons will always remember their mom carrying around a purse filled with a doll partially embroidered – what an incredible role model of following your heart and sticking to a clear vision filled with integrity and determination.

I’m a huge fan of stainless steel dishware and it became a permanent staple when I learned all my Disney printed licensed plates were produced with polycarbonate plastic 2 years ago. I quickly decided that safety and quality needed to come first over designs with licensed friends that wanted to entertained thoughts of leaching chemicals into my children’s food.  When I saw the stainless steel dish set from Untangled Living I was so excited to review a product that was amazing quality and provided kids with a child-friendly design they would gravitate towards using. The butterfly and gecko designs beautifully etched into the cup, bowl, plate, and cutlery are awesome.  Check out both adorable designs – I always love it when a designer can take a practical item and give it a design that kids will also love without the heavy influence of commercialism.

I really recommend this for a unique baby shower or 1st birthday gift.  To really get your full value for the product – it should be started with little ones because the bowl and cup in the set are sized for very small hands and portions.  The plate and utensils are a great size for a toddler – 5 year old, but an older child will not get great use from it. The quality is wonderful because it’s 18/8 – 304 steel grade and is dishwasher friendly. I have since purchased this dishware for a gift since receiving mine to review and think the design, packaging, and set combination is good value and makes a special gift. These sets are available to purchase through the Untangled Living site or through various retail stores like our friends over at Nayla Natural Care.

With the beautiful spring weather on the West Coast slowing becoming a staple around here – my mind’s been drifting to upcoming baby showers with Spring being the magical season for celebrating new little bundles. I have a deep affection for great quality stainless steel solutions and will be featuring more products in upcoming articles and a contest will be announced shortly! Stay up to date with Mommy Footprint posts by joining our new fan page on Facebook or using the subscribe to updates option on the right sidebar of this article.

In researching ways to remove toxins from your bedding, mattresses, and bedrooms, I received tips from the co-founder at Sleepy Sheep and  Saplings that I wanted to share. These tips are things you can do immediately that will ease your anxiety level with dust mites, bacteria, mold, and chemicals. I appreciate that these two solid business owners would pass along product knowledge and freebies that can improve the health of our homes. Here are some tips you can implement tomorrow from the experts!

Chelsea from Sleepy Sheep told me that sunlight is a natural virus killer. To immediately de-tox your bed, pull your duvet down and expose pillows and sheets to sun light.  Open your curtains in your bedroom during the day as this allows moisture to evaporate from your mattress and allows sunlight into your bedroom, which helps prevent mold and fungus from growing.

Wash your pillows monthly to keep dust mites and other allergens at bay. A clean pillow improves your sleep by helping you breath properly while you sleep.

When taking your bedding (or clothes for that matter) to the dry cleaner, try to find a cleaner that markets themselves as green. Why? Many dry cleaners will use a chemical cocktail to finish your items called sizing. Ask that this step not be used to finish your bedding so that sizing or Teflon agents aren’t being added to your ‘cleaned’ bedding.

Chris from Saplings Sustainable Kids Decor offered some great tips for removing common toxins from your bedroom starting with wall decals. These popular wall stickers are the hot decorating choice with parents because of their convenience and versatility, but most on the market are made from PVC (poison plastic that off-gasses chemicals). Look for decals that are stamped vinyl-free or PVC-free and are made from polypropylene or fabric.

One of the easiest ways to improve the air quality in your child’s bedroom is to use VOC free paint. Chris recommends the new Natura line from Benjamin Moore and Yolo Colorhouse in rooms they have done….both brands have great quality and are a safer paint choice.

Smell your room! Basically, your sense of smell is one of the best things you can rely on when safeguarding your room. If you are using anything that has a strong smell, be it your paint, bedding, decor ~ be cautious. Anything you put in your child’s room should be odour free straight out of the package (** great tip **)!

The last tip from Chris can be read in it’s entirety from this article and the great thing about it is you probably have most of the ingredients at home! A recipe to decrease chemical residues and smells from dyeing process and use of conventional scented detergents &/or fabric softeners:

Wash several times or soak overnight in a tub of water with one of the following:

1/2 cup of vinegar
1/2 – 1 cup of pickling salt (don’t use in an enameled tub as it will cause it to rust)
1/4 – 1 cup of baking soda (will have to rewash several times to remove residue).

For any and all organic bedding & decor requirements, the owners at Saplings are ready to answer your questions. They’ve done the research and put together their site to keep the confusing nature of shopping for organic bedding simplified.  Two of my favorite rooms from their site are below.

Looking for more information on PVC? Check out the category on Mommy Footprint called PVC Info. Discover why this plastic doesn’t belong in your bedroom or anywhere near children.