Have you heard about the online store called Bug & Blossom? WOW - what an awesome on-line site to source products for babies, kids, and new moms. They have everything you need AND they’re Canadian! I love saying that! One of their best product lines at the store is the organic skin care line Trukid. They have graciously agreed to honour the 20% discount off Trukid products for Canadian Mommy Footprint readers so we don’t have to pay extra costs with Trukid products coming up from the States. At the Bug & Blossom checkout, use the code ‘footprint’ and enjoy the savings! US parents wanting to source Trukid products can order via the Trukid site and also use the discount code ‘footprint’.

Trukid sunscreen was rated #2 from the Environmental Working Group, their facestick in particular, is an amazing product for kids. How awesome to not have to read ingredient labels or worry because this product line is 100% safe and non-toxic. Not only do they have sunscreen, but a full product line including shampoo, body/face wash, conditioner, hero stick for boo-boos, lipbalm, etc. Unlike the large companies that have dominated the bath skin care line for years with their products full of phthalates and fragrance, Trukid is leading the way to chemical free skin/hair care. I’ve tried sourcing all of these products because of Isabella’s eczema and my concern over how harsh most sunscreens and bath products react with her skin…it’s not easy! Well, it is now because these products are at my fingertips with the ease of on-line and low shipping within Canada.

Don’t wait, the 20% discount will expire August 22/08 and is valid for purchases over $25.00.

Trukid Sunscreen is rated number 2 out of all the sunscreens reviewed by the Environmental Working Group.  Wow - what an honour for the company to receive the top spot by the helpful scientists at EWG.  What is so great about the Trukid company and their sunscreen products (Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen and Trukid Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen) is that unlike many of the other safe brands recommended by EWG, Trukid is easier to find and a much better price point.  It’s especially easy for Mommy Footprint readers because Trukid has provided a discount for anyone shopping on their website www.trukid.com with our very own coupon code.  When $25 or more is purchased, you receive 20% off the order by using coupon code: footprint.  Isn’t that awesome?  When you order multiple products, shipping rates are very reasonable.  Their website is very helpful as there is a Shipping and Sales Tax calculator after you’ve added items to the shopping cart, but before you submit your billing and payment info.

This offer is open to US and Canadian readers, so check out their website if you’re still sourcing non-toxic products for your kids ** www.trukid.com ** I’m very excited with the Trukid product line.  There isn’t a toxic product in their vast line of children’s products.  Here are some products that look awesome and can give parents peace of mind that phthalates or other toxins are not touching their child or baby’s skin.  I’m intrigued by the ‘Hero Stick’.  This product is marketed with ‘herbal heros’ to nourish skin with cuts, scratches, bug bites, etc.  How cute is that?  My kids have been collecting scrapes on their knees and bug bites by the bucket full this summer.  Here are more…

TruKid™ Sunny Days™ SPF 30 Sunscreen Stick
TruKid™ Hero Stick
TruKid™ Bubbly Body Wash
TruKid™ Cool Conditioner
TruKid™ Happy Face & Body Lotion
TruKid™ Silly Shampoo    

You know a company is dedicated to safety and kids health when their website has a great blog that talks about tips on correct sunscreen application and what makes a sunscreen non-toxic.  A good read if you want more information on the Trukid product line.

For more information on sourcing non-toxic, safe sunscreen and personal care products for your family, check out:

Non-Toxic Sunscreen For Kids - Badger, California Baby, Blue Lizard, TruKid, Alba Botanica?

Safe Sunscreen Guide For Children

Protect Your Family From Phthalates In Your Home

I’ve been tipped off about a business who’s mission, while helping the environment, is to educate our children - a place called Pedagogy Toys.  You might be still trying to sound out the word ped-a-gogy, (rhymes with ‘pet a doggy’) and it means the science and art of teaching.  You can tell this is their first priority with the store’s eco brands, eco products, and passionate knowledge from the owners.  Co-owner Karen is who I’m referrencing with the description of the little Lorax of Pedagogy Toys.  After visiting the store and spending hours talking about environmental issues, products, and being a mom, I’ve found a kindred spirit and would later gush about the experience.   To quote Dr. Suess “I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees.”  Check out the website or store and you will see these words in action.

As I walked around Pedagogy, the sensitivity to our environment, the store’s global footprint, and locally sourced products kept flooding my senses.
Read the rest of this entry »

Well, I didn’t know when writing my previous article on safe sunscreen for children, that it would be this difficult to actually get my hands on the brands that came highly recommended by EWG (Environmental Working Group).  It has been a challenge to source these, but I have some tips and hope it saves you research time. 

Badger sunscreen SPF 30 if very difficult to find in stores.  Whole Foods and Planet Organic would love to carry it but are having a tough time sourcing it.  My friend Leah (thank you Leah!) sent me the link to Victoria’s Health that sells Badger online, BUT after you pay for the sunscreen and shipping you are looking at $30 per bottle (82 g).  I will need about 5 bottles to last my kids this summer, so it’s just not a practical solution for me.  Still, I’m not deterred….I figure this can’t be hard.  Hmmmm keep reading.
Read the rest of this entry »

There is nothing as heartbreaking as watching the discomfort your child experiences with childhood eczema…especially when they are having a bad flare-up. I thought I was free from any of my kids having this illness, but when the winter months arrived, one of my girls developed her first outbreak.  Poor thing would say “owie” and “itchy” all day long.  I tried the recommended over-the-counter creams from a list issued from our Children’s Hospital, but the Vaseline and glaxal based creams made things worse. She became inflamed, like a burn after I put them on. 

We decided to move to the next step of using a prescription cortisone cream. I was never totally comfortable treating her with this after reading the warnings on the cortisone package. They emphasize to only apply the cream to the afflicted area and to discontinue use after a few days. I wasn’t comfortable thinking this cream might cause my toddler’s skin to break down. Well, the cortisone didn’t work at all on Isabella so I emailed out to the people I trust the most…other moms. At this point her rash was wide-spread, covering her upper torso, behind the knees, patches on her inner elbow and dry patching in the folds of her neck and back.  Thanks to some suggestions from other moms I started to also change household practices and her diet. I also insisted on being referred to a pediatric dermatologist via my family doctor. After 3 months I still haven’t gotten my appointment yet, so thank god I found a solution that worked for my little girl.  Here is the combination of actions that have completely eliminated her discomfort:

Read the rest of this entry »