Traveling green with children is not easy. It takes effort and planning but if you’re smart you can do it and it will get easier with time! Here are six easy ways to travel green with your children whether it be a road trip or flying across country:

1.  Pack snacks! Bananas, apples and oranges are great alternatives and healthy. If there’s the urge for something salty choosing to bring a large reusable container for the family to share, cuts down on the packaging waste and it can be used to refill throughout our trip. This helps to green our travel and reduce our carbon footprint. It’s also thrifty.

2. Reusable Water Bottles equal green travel! I can use the stainless steel water bottles for water or organic juice and then wash and continue to use the bottles throughout the trip.  This helps to reduce waste of juice boxes or water bottles while on our trip. This is a very big money saver and it feels good to not add to the plastic bottles in the landfill.

3.  Reusable bags for on the go. I pack my reusable Chico bags and when we make a purchase while traveling I don’t need to use the plastic bag. Simple and small but it makes an impact.

4.  No Hand Sanitizer. Anything toxic is not “green” or safe for my kids. It’s easy to want to squirt their hands and have them rub the germs away but there are safer alternatives. I previously wrote about some safe alternatives and the dangers of triclosan in soap.

5.  Reusable Cloth Napkins and Silverware. Yes, pack your own! I know it sounds silly and like a lot of work but really, it’s simple. It means less waste. If you’re final destination has a dishwasher and washer and dryer (like mine recently did) this tip is very achievable.

6.  Recycle. If you buy something on the go, grab that toy your child must have or that soda at the gas station, resist the urge to clean the car and just dump everything. My trick is I put all things that need to be recycled in a recyclable plastic bag in the trunk and on our way home we stop at the recycling facility. The trip alone is most likely not at a green resort or driving a hybrid so the least I could do is recycle my waste and not add to the landfill!

For more green tips and ideas on going green visit, Sommer Poquette over at Green and Clean Mom. Her blog that makes living green fun and achievable! Join her over on Facebook and Twitter and check out her new My Mommy is a Blogger children’s book debuting the spring of 2011!

You’re expecting or baby has arrived and you have said yes to green cleaning, your budget is looking leaner and meaner and you’re doing what you can in your community but what about the nursery? A baby nursery couldn’t be more precious or important to green and Busy Mommy Media and I are here to help you!

1.  Paint the nursery with VOC FREE paint! VOC stands for volatile organic compounds and they smell funny are made from petrochemical-based solvents that off-gas and pollute the indoor air! You certainly don’t want this in your baby’s room! A great solution would be Olympic’s Premium Interior paint line but Green Building Supply offers lots of safer solutions and I promise your nursery walls will still be pretty in pink or perfectly blue, just safer!

2.  Consider an organic mattress for baby to rest its angelic head on. Why is this important and is it really healthier and safer? Actually yes because a conventional mattress is made with so many chemicals from foam and vinyl and your child of course lying on this mattress! An organic crib mattress is certified which means it is made of organic fibers, textiles and fabrics that basically meet non-toxic standards. A few years ago this was expensive but now as Green Baby Guide points out the options are as affordable even under $100! You can learn more about organic mattresses over at Healthy Child.

3.  Say yes to green flooring! Meaning flooring that isn’t sprayed with stain resistant repellents, made with flame retardants and glues and sealants that are made full of VOC’s (remember they off-gas and smell funny)! Options such as wood or bamboo are great for the baby or family that has allergies but if you want carpet check out Mowhaks green carpeting option!

4.  Green toys! Yes, toys that are safe for your little one to chew on and not full of those nasty chemicals. My favorite resource for all things safe for baby and family is The Soft Landing. From feeding gear to toys they have the answers! BPA, PVC, phthalate, melamine and flame retardant free! If you need to know more about how to avoid toxins, take their free eCourse ! When looking for toys consider wooden toys like those from Natural Pod or toys like B. Toys that are lead free and BPA free!

5.  Fresh and Clean, naturally. Babies make a stink and the last thing you want to do in your baby nursery is spray harsh chemical deodorizers! Instead you want to look for cleaners that do not have parabens, volatile organic compounds, animal by-products, artificial colors or dyes and are biodegradable. I’ve found Ausssan Natural to work well for those stinky nursery days!

6.  Buy used. It is okay to buy used bouncers, high chairs, changing tables and save a buck or two! It is the easiest and greenest thing you can do! Most items you don’t even need and will just collect dust or make the nursery look cluttered! Simple is best. Check out my latest article on ways to green the nursery and of course you must read the Eco-Nomical Baby Guide! A favorite of mine and one I buy for everyone having a baby!

For more green tips and ideas on going green visit, Sommer Poquette over at Green and Clean Mom. Her blog that makes living green fun and achievable! Join her over on Facebook and Twitter and check out her new My Mommy is a Blogger children’s book debuting the spring of 2011!

With Toy Fair sneaking up on us again, I’ve been thinking a lot about how my attitudes about toys have changed since I first became a parent. When my oldest son was about 9 months old, I heard another parent say that nothing drove her crazier than toys. She wanted to get rid of every single toy in her house. I was running a home daycare at the time and one of my new hobbies was flipping through toy catalogs as I cared for the kids. As a new mom, toys were one of the exciting perks I had discovered and I was enjoying old favorites from my childhood and discovering great new toys that I was sure my son would love for years to come.

Fast forward nearly 8 years later. I swear, if I step on one more toy I will have the biggest garage sale of all time. My house is overrun by toys because they were all far too cool to get rid of.

I do still enjoy checking out a good toy catalog, but I’m much more selective in the toys that I will actually allow into my home. I’ve learned what I like in a toy and I won’t hesitate to reject a toy that’s a waste of money and waste of my kids’ time.  There are a three main things that automatically count a toy out for me.

Electronic Toys with Limited Play Value

I have some toys lying around from when I was a kid  . . . and my kids still play with them. They’ve stood the test of time. There are other toys that they play with once and never get looked at again. While I’m not completely opposed to electronic

toys, most of the one hit wonders in our house are electronic. They draw the kids in the fastest but their attention fizzles quickly or the toy breaks because there’s just too much going on with it.

I will say, that not all electronic toys are created equal. We have 3 LeapFrog Tag Pens (well, 2 Tags and 1 Tag Jr.). Theywere such a hit from the very beginning that we had to get one for everyone. The Tag was responsible for finally getting my oldest son excited about reading and now he’s an avid reader so there are some great electronic toys out there – but an electronic toy has to work a lot harder to impress me because I don’t want to add it to the pile of high-priced, unused toys.

Cheap Parts or Questionable Materials

When I first became a parent, I never thought twice about buying a plastic toy. Since then there have been some major discoveries when it comes to toy safety and parents have to really decide whether or not they can trust a toy company to make a safe toy for their children. While I have greener tendencies, I’m the first to admit that I have not banned plastic from our house. There are just too many cool plastic toys and my kids are getting older so there aren’t quite as many options for green toys that appeal to them. Because of that, I seriously think my kids would stage a rebellion if I went to all wooden toys.

I am more selective when it comes to buying plastic toys though, and even wooden toys since the painted surfaces can contain lead and other harmful materials. As a consumer, I expect toy companies to be able to tell me what materials are in their products. If they can’t do that, I’ll probably move on to another brand. There are some great companies, big and small, that take a responsible approach to toy making. A few of my favorites are Plan Toys, ImagiPlay, and Haba.

I stay up to date on product recalls, especially since I do have a mix of toys in my home, and I tend to steer away from brands I’m not familiar with if they can’t tell me what is in their products. It pays to be an informed consumer. I’ve had to pull a few recalled toys out of my home over the last few years and as a parent, that’s scary. I’d rather choose products that are safe from the beginning whenever I can.

Products Designed for Parents and Not Kids

Despite the fact that there are many parents who love toys, toys are meant for kids and they should be designed with kids in mind. While this may seem obvious, there are actually many companies who design and market toys to parents. Elaborately designed crib mobiles come to mind. When looking at a toy, even if it’s one that I think it absolutely adorable, I have to look at it from a child’s perspective because ultimately, if it doesn’t appeal to my kids, it’s a waste of money.  Some companies, such as Fisher Price, really do a great job of researching what kids and moms want in a product before bringing it to market – and it shows in the end result.

Kids look at toys differently than adults do. It always makes me laugh when I buy a toy, having a general idea of how my kids are going to play with it, and they come up with something completely different.  It’s this reason that really, really makes me wish kids were allowed at Toy Fair. I’d be so much more effective if I could just wander through the convention with my kids and let them lead me to the toys that they naturally gravitated towards. Instant market research.

What do you look for in a toy?

Halloween was always an exciting event for me as a child. I was never a huge fan of the haunted houses or games that required sticking my hand into something goopy and guessing what it was, but dress up like a princess and have people line up to give me candy? I was all over that.

As a parent, I’m not thrilled to have my kids repeat the candy gorging I did as a kid and the wastefulness of the holiday rubs the green part of me the wrong way. Halloween traditions can be fun without harming the environment. These simple tips will help you green your Halloween and make this holiday a celebration you can feel good about.

1. Participate in a Halloween Costume Swap – Making your own Halloween costume from things you already own is ideal but if you aren’t crafty or don’t have the time to make your own costume, consider participating in a Halloween costume swap. You can organize your own costume swap with your friends and neighbors, participate in community costume swaps, or participate in an online costume swap. Craigslist.org or Ebay are great places to buy or sell gently used costumes or if you are feeling generous and want to give away your old Halloween costumes Freecycle is always a great choice.
2. Use Reusable Halloween Treat Bags – Why create more waste than you need to? Use a reusable bag for yourHalloween treats instead of buying a plastic bag or Halloween bucket. You probably already have a reusable container laying around your home. Growing up we always used pillow cases (and let me tell you, we filled those things). If you don’t have reusable bags, consider buying some reusable grocery bags that you can use to reduce the waste you create long after Halloween is over. If you want a Halloween themed bag, make your own or look for reusable Halloween trick-or-treat bags that you can store and use year after year.
3. Trick-or-Treat in your Neighborhood – Save some gas and trick-or-treat in your own neighborhood. Not only will you and your kids get some extra exercise but you’ll help your kids develop a sense of community as they get to know the people who live in your neighborhood.
4. Hold a Healthy Trunk-or-Treat - It you want your kids to have a healthier Halloween, consider organizing a healthy trunk-or-treat in your neighborhood. A trunk-or-treat is when you get together with friends or neighbors, park your cars in a local parking lot, and have kids trick-or-treat at each car. You can decorate your car, include Halloween games for the kids at each car, and offer healthy treats. Since you know the other people participating in the trunk-or-treat you don’t have to worry about checking Halloween candy for evidence of being tampered with and you are free to give out treats other than prepackaged candy such as fresh fruit and homemade treats.
5. Buy Local Pumpkins – Purchasing local fruits and vegetables is good for your health and the local economy. Keep things local this Halloween by buying local pumpkins from pumpkin patches or farmer’s markets near your home. Buying straight from the farmer allows you to talk with the person who is growing your food, which can be informative since many small farms follow organic practices but do not have the organic label because of the cost involved.
6. Go Reverse Trick-or-Treating – Support a good cause by going reverse trick-or-treating and collecting money for UNICEF or spreading the word about fair trade chocolate.
7. Make your Own Face Paint - Face paint, even if it labeled non-toxic often contains many harmful substances,including lead and formaldehyde. Keep your child healthy and save some money in the process by making your own Halloween face paint.
8. Make your Own Eco-Friendly Halloween Decorations - Rather than wasting money on Halloween decorationsthat are designed to be thrown away after one use, try making your own out of materials you have around the house. An old sheet stuffed with old rags and tied with a ribbon makes an adorable ghost that you can hang by your front door. Have your kids help you make Paper Bag Pumpkins or make Ghost Feet and use them to decorate your window or door.
9. Give Out Healthy Halloween Treats -Rather than bombarding all the kids in your neighborhood with unhealthy treats, try giving out organic lollipops, fruit leathers, or pencils. My kids got toothbrushes one year when they were out trick-or-treating (which you can get for practically nothing if you make a habit of using coupons) and I was shocked when it was one of their favorite treats.
10. Turn Your Halloween Candy into a Science Experiment - Last year we turned our Halloween candy into a Homeschool science project with the help of some of the ideas from CandyExperiments.com. We had a blast and we used up a good portion of our Halloween candy without suffering the consequences to our health.

Photo by Amy V. Miller

Any parent with a child in diapers know how much waste diapers can generate. I’ve had at least 2 in diapers for most of my life as a mom and it was staggering to realize how much waste we were creating every week, especially once you realize how long disposable diapers sit in the landfill. This week Green and Clean Mom sent me a package of Broody Chick Naturally and fully compostable diapers to try to try as part of the Mommy Go Green Blog Tour.

I had truthfully never considered compostable diapers. I’ve tried G-diapers (which I really enjoyed although the cost was a bit prohibitive) and I cloth diapered part time (which wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be) but compostable diapers never crossed my mind. Learning to compost has been on my to-do list for years but between selling our house and moving it hasn’t been in the cards, but I do like the fact that even if I don’t have a compost pile, Broody Chick diapers will certainly decompose a lot faster in a landfill than a traditional disposable diaper. I wonder what the time share people will think if I create a diaper compost pile in the back yard of our temporary home?

How Much Waste Do Your Diapers Create?

I harbored a fear of cloth diapers until my third son was born. We went from having an overflowing trash can each week (and sneaking some extra into any of our neighbor’s trash cans with extra space) to barely filling half a trashcan. The thought of how much extra trash we had created over the years made me sick. I couldn’t believe what a difference it made when we removed the diapers from our weekly waste. Each one of those diapers sits in a landfill for thousands of years. Cloth diapers aren’t realistic for everyone but compostable diapers can make a dramatic difference in how long disposable diapers sit in a landfill.

Broody Chick Compostable Diapers

I’m not a diaper snob. I’m not attached to any particular brand. For me, it’s more a matter of what works for my kids and what works for me. My kids have extremely sensitive skin and I do notice a difference when I use chlorine free diapers. Broody Chick diapers are not only chlorine free but also hypo-allergenic and fragrance free. I try and avoid using laundry detergent with any fragrance but it’s surprisingly hard to find diapers without at least some extra fragrance added. The Broody Chick diapers feel slightly papery on the outside (as most disposable diapers do) but I was impressed by how soft the inside is. I have an extremely active 2 year old but I was able to get a snug fit on him with no leakage (except when he decided to take the diaper off and streak through the house, but no diaper can stand up to that)

The packaging of the Broody Chip diapers is beautiful but I was slightly disappointed that there was so much of it. I admit I have high expectations for anything that calls itself eco-friendly. While you can compost the box, or repurpose it I would have liked to see lighter packaging, especially considering the sheer volume of diapers kids go through before they are potty trained.

Better Baby Bums

You can buy Broody Chick diapers and other natural baby products from Better Baby Bums. It’s often difficult to find eco-friendly baby products in local stores – although it is getting easier – but I love seeing a variety of green products before I make a choice. If you consider the gas that you use driving to the store, shopping online is a fairly green option.

My kids love to recycle but until recently, they really had no idea what happened to our paper after they put it in the recycling bin. This simple activity is a fun and interactive way to teach kids how to recycle paper and can be a good use for the extra newspaper you have laying around from couponing.

We decided to make use of my toddlers destructive streak earlier this week and recycle the book that he destroyed. I’m hoping we didn’t unintentionally encourage his book tearing habit but at least my kids learned how to recycle something we weren’t using anymore. Kids love learning how things really work but there are so few opportunities for kids to see and understand the full process of things that they do everyday.

What You Need

• Paper to be recycled – this can be old newspaper, junk mail (just avoid the glossy kind), leftover tradeshow material (that’s a big one around our house after CES and now as we’re getting ready for Toy Fair), extra construction paper, etc.
• A blender – Don’t worry about using your regular blender for this. The paper washes out easily and after you are done.
• A window screen – If you have old screen material laying around this would work just fine but be sure and put masking tape around the edges to prevent sharp edges from hurting your kids while they do this activity. I bought a cheap adjustable window screen with a metal rim that worked well.
• Optional: Flower seeds – These are a fun addition if you want to plant your paper after you are done use it and plant it in your yard to show the complete process of recycling.

What To Do

This project takes several days for kids to complete because you have to wait overnight for several steps to be complete.

Step 1 – Tear paper into squares that are about 1-2 inches wide. This does not have to be exact. You just want to start the process of breaking the paper down.

Step 2 – Soak the paper pieces overnight in a bowl of water.

Step 3 – Take the soaked paper out of the water and place it in the blender. Fill the blender halfway full with fresh water. Blend the paper and water mixture until you have something that is about the consistency of pureed soup. Add water as needed to thin it out.

Step 4 – Lay the window screen over the sink or have a child hold it over the sink and slowly pour the paper soup over the window screen, trying to pour it in an even layer. We found it helpful to start in the center and pour the mixture in a circular spiral moving out towards the edge until you make a very unappetizing paper pancake. Use your fingers or a spoon to even out any uneven places immediately after pouring. The paper begins to dry almost immediately once the water starts to drain and it becomes less workable as it dries. If you are adding flower seeds to your paper, add them at this point before the paper dries. You can either gently push the seeds into the top of the wet paper or put them on the paper and then use a tiny piece of paper mixture to “plant” the seed by laying it on top so the seed is not visible.

Step 5 – Lay the window screen with the paper mixture on a dry towel and leave to dry at least overnight. Change the towel throughout the day as needed if it becomes soaked through.

Variation – Add natural food coloring to create colored recycled paper to be used for preschool art projects or crafts for elementary school aged kids.

Your homemade recycled paper can be used as part of a preschool science lesson, as a homeschool science project, as an Earth Day project for kids, to send a unique birthday card to a friend, or as a special Valentines Day card.

What will you use your homemade recycled paper for?

It all began when I moved to New Jersey.  The same home that cost $60,000 in Nebraska (where I had moved from) cost $300,000 in Jersey.  So I sat on my new living room floor.  A three year old jumping on my back, my 18 month old having an accident on our couch and nursing our new baby.  Oh-did I say couch?  Yes.  That being-peed-upon couch was one of our few pieces of furniture.  There was a bassinet, a crib, a twin mattress and a queen bed.  My underpaid policeman husband and I had decided that our love would see us through.

But the knowledge of the errant potty trainer was on my mind.

There was no way at all we could afford a new couch.  Or a kitchen table.  Or the whole wardrobe of clothes that all three kids seemed to grow out of every three months.  So my internet addicted self and the frugal Nebraskan got together.

They had a love affair with http://www.freecycle.org

Freecycle is an entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer.   Membership is free.

Within the first three years of using it (I was in New Jersey, so keep in mind the group had about 15,000 members) I had a new (lovingly used) couch, a new (refinished) dining room table and chairs, bookcases, end tables, countless toys,craft items and lots of crap I decided I “needed” without spending more than the gas I used to go and pick it up.  And I gave back just as much.  I felt guilty about selling some things when I knew there were people out there like us who could just not afford to buy a bassinet.  So I freecycled it.  Hence the “cycle”.

1. When you want to find a new home for something — whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door — you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of your Freecycling group.
2. Maybe you’re looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member’s offer, and you just might get it. After that, it’s up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.
3. The main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
4. Non-profit organizations also benefit from Freecycling.
5. Usually you must give before you take.  Think of it as good karma.
6. Post the item or items you want to give away and where you are located.
7. Then request the things that you may be needing.
8. It’s a free cycle of giving.  Think globally, recycle locally. The Freecycle Network is open to all communities and to all individuals who want to participate. Freecycle groups are run by local volunteer moderators from across the globe who facilitate each local group – grassroots at its best!

But pay attention!!

• Some groups are really busy. Make sure the email selection you choose works for you. Options include Daily Digest (bundles of 25 messages at a time delivered all in one email), Individual Messages (receiving a message just as it is sent out), No Mail (reading the messages on the web so your inbox is free of the messages).
• Not all groups allow the No Mail option, so read carefully to see if your group allows it or not.
• These rules are the same for all Freecycle groups: everything must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages. Local groups sometimes add other rules, like no pets, no coupons, no services. Be sure to read the guidelines for your local group so that you know what is or isn’t allowed.

Visit http://freecycle.org, http://freesharing.org or http://sharingisgiving.org to find a group in your area.

And think before you throw that spaghetti jar in the garbage!  I need that for my next kid’s art project!!

Preschoolers are interested in everything about the world around us. It is important for us as parents and teachers to teach them to be responsible while they are young. Taking care of our earth is as important as anything else that we may do. This simple introduction to recycling will teach preschoolers the importance of reusing the resources that we have. As preschoolers sort the items they have to recycle they will also learn valuable math skills.

What You Need

4 medium sized cardboard boxes
Labels for each box with the word – Paper, Glass, Metal, Plastic
Letter to Parents (see below)
Items to be recycled brought from home.

What To Do

Collect 4 medium sized cardboard boxes that are about the same size. Print labels that say “Paper”,  “Metal”, and “Plastic”. In order to help preschoolers “read” each sign, illustrate each word with something that represents each material. If you do not want to draw a picture, you can attach a sample of each material to the outside of each box. For example, glue a scrap of paper to the outside of the “Paper” box and a piece of plastic to the outside of the “Plastic” box. Attach each sign to the outside of a box and line them up next to each other.

Send a letter home to the preschool parents asking them to send in materials that can be recycled. When you have collected your materials, sit down and talk with the preschoolers about why we want to recycle and what things we can recycle. Tell them what materials should be placed in each box. You may want to wash the items that you have to recycle before participating in this activity. Have each preschooler pick an item and decide which box it should go in.

When you have sorted all your items, include them in your local recycling pick up if one is available or deliver them to the appropriate recycling station.

Letter to Preschool Parents

Dear Preschool Parent,

In our preschool classroom we are learning about the importance of recycling. In order for this preschool lesson to be successful we need your help. Please look around your house for things that can be recycled and collect 3 or 4 things that you were planning on throwing away or recycling and send these items to preschool with your preschooler. In our preschool classroom we are going to practice sorting items that can be recycled.

Some examples of items that can be sent to preschool with your child are:
empty soda cans
empty milk cartons
junk mail
plastic bags
old newspapers
old magazines
aluminum foil
plastic bottles
plastic grocery bags

Thank you for helping us to learn about recycling. Please send your preschoolers recyclable items in by [date].

[Your preschool teacher]

Recycling was not a concept that I thought of much as a child but my 5 year old son never forgets to remind us to recycle our trash if we try and throw the wrong item in the trash can. The new Green Dollhouse from Plan Toys is a stunning example of green living with a great attention to detail and a wonderful way to teach sustainable living in a way that kids understand. Like all toys by Plan Toys, the green dollhouse is made using only natural building materials and manufactured in a social responsible way.

Green Education

One of my favorite things about the green dollhouse by Plan Toys is that it doesn’t talk down to kids in any way. Rather than just including a recycling container and hoping kids are motivated to recycle, it includes a recycling bin with a place for non-biodegradable waste, biodegradable waste, and recycled waste. The brochure that comes with the dollhouse (printed in soy ink on recycled paper) includes detailed information about what kind of waste can go in each recycling bin. A rain water harvesting receptacle provides water that can be used for washing cars, watering lawns, or flushing toilets. The green dollhouse is an ideal example of sustainable living.

Green energy sources in the form of a solar cell panel and a vertical-axis wind turbine provide clean energy for the home. The included literature lets kids know exactly how much energy each feature produces and what items in the home they are able to power. Many kids have been taught to turn off the lights when they are not using them but they may not really understand how much power they really use in their home. The green dollhouse helps kids to understand that exactly how much energy everything uses and what it takes to gather the energy.

Saving energy is an essential part of sustainable living. The green dollhouse includes a shade canopy that can be pulled down to retain warmth and opened during the summer to allow cool breezes in. A green wall with climbing plants provides insulation for the home and makes an attractive detail that kids will love.

Open-Ended Play with Style

I’m a big fan of any toy that encourages my kids to use their imaginations. Battery powered toys that require little participation rarely impress me. The green dollhouse from Plan Toys provides a great opportunity for open-ended play with a green twist that is relevant in today’s changing world. Living a green lifestyle is not a fad that will disappear by the time this generation of kids grow up but a necessity for kids who want to live a responsible life without harming our already damaged environment. Pretend play is a wonderful, developmentally appropriate way to teach kids appropriate social behaviors and the Play Toys Green Dollhouse is an exciting, modern twist on the classic dollhouse.

Tamara is the owner of Parenting by Nature, a wonderful natural parenting resource and store. Parenting by Nature offers a wealth of information for parents interested in parenting in a more natural way, from babywearing tips to cloth diapering basics. Tamara was kind enough to share some of her expertise on babywearing with us.

Rachel: Tell me a little bit about why you started Parenting by Nature? What did you hope to provide to your customers?

Tamara: 4+ years ago “all natural” baby stores were few and far between. And because we’re in Canada, local stores that offered cloth diapers and a wide selection of baby slings and carriers were virtually unheard of. When I was pregnant with my first daughter I went searching for a simple baby sling. I ended up having to buy one south of the border, and worried about whether it would even arrive in time for my daughter’s birth! I also searched for cloth diapers, and came up short.

With a background in retail and customer service and the desire to find a way to stay home with my daughter when my maternity leave was up, our online baby store Parenting By Nature was born. The simple baby sling I ordered months prior to my daughter’s birth became our first product! I couldn’t believe that there were so few resources available to help parents learn to use cloth diapers or simple, traditional baby carriers and with the start of our store I wanted to BE that resource.

Parents continually email me to let me know how helpful our Cloth Diapering 101 guide and Babywearing 101 guide has been during the early stages of their decision making when a new baby is on the way. I’m thrilled to be able to provide help and the resources for new parents to consider options that are less “mainstream” and healthier for their baby and the environment.

Rachel: What benefits do you see from carrying your baby in a carrier or sling?

Tamara: Oh there are just so many! There are, of course, many documented benefits to babywearing such as a stronger bond between baby and caregiver, reduced crying in infants (as much as 43%!) and Babywearing helps those mothers with or at risk for post partum depression. But we also know that Babywearing is practical and convenient! How many times have you seen a mother pushing a stroller with her baby in her arms? Babies want to be held. Being against a parent’s body is the warmest, safest and most comforting spot to be! So a baby carrier will simply make a parent’s life easier.

For myself, it was largely due to my first baby sling that I was able to start my business. While my new baby slept, nursed or even just sat and gazed at me, I was able to devote time to starting our website, writing product descriptions and even answering questions from our customers. Now with baby number two (currently 9 months old) I’m running our business with her in a carrier every single day. This also frees my hands to attend to my older child, now 4. My older daughter never feels mommy isn’t paying attention to her because I can always put the little one in a sling and give my undivided attention to my oldest. Both children are completely content with this arrangement!

Rachel: What is the difference between a carrier and a sling and who do you typically recommend each of them for?

Tamara: A sling goes over one shoulder, similar to how you would put on a purse. It is very easy to use with no straps, tying, buckles or loops. You just pop baby in or out easily. We generally recommend a baby sling for a parent wishing to carry a newborn, particularly if the mother is planning to nurse. Because baby is in a natural, cuddled position close to the breast, nursing is easily achieved in a sling. Also, slings tend to be a bit more affordable since they are a simple, uncomplicated design. For a first time parent, having a baby sling from day one can be a real lifesaver.

A baby carrier could refer to any number of options such as a Mei Tai (traditional Asian baby carrier), a wrap, or any of the structured baby carriers on the market that attach to your body with buckles, loops or tying. With most baby carriers you will be able to carry your baby for a longer period of time because they go over both shoulders which helps to spread the weight of your baby over your body better. There are also many baby carriers on the market that allow for back carrying. This is not something that is easily achieved with a sling. Baby carriers are usually more costly than a baby sling, and some can be complicated to use, but with the right style of baby carrier a caregiver will be able to use it from birth to 35+ lbs comfortably. So while the price may be more initially, an active parent or one with older children to attend to, will likely find the benefits of a baby carrier outweigh the cost.

Rachel: When I first started shopping for a baby carrier I was confused by all the options. What style of baby carrier do you like to recommend to someone who is new to baby wearing? What features should they consider in a baby carrier?

Tamara: In all honesty, the type of carrier that is best for one parent may be entirely different than the best carrier for someone else. There are a number of questions a parent should ask themselves when considering the many different types of carriers on the market. What is your primary motivation to buying a baby sling or carrier? Is hands-free nursing in the carrier important to you? Will the carrier be shared between caregivers? Are you willing to invest some time when you first receive your carrier, to learn how to use it? Is back carrying important to you? Are you an active parent that plans to use a carrier on long walks or hikes outside? Compare the features of each baby sling or carrier you are considering, look at photos provided of the different types, and, if possible, try on several different styles, brands and sizes of baby carriers to see which suits you best.

If you’ve answered all of these questions and you are still unable to narrow down the choices, we suggest a Mei Tai baby carrier. This is one incredibly versatile baby carrier that allows for multiple carrying positions including back carrying. A mei tai can easily be shared between caregivers that are different sizes, and a mother can learn how to nurse hands free with this carrier fairly easily. It also folds down flat, and can fit inside a diaper bag to keep within arm’s reach at all times. The biggest drawback to a mei tai is it’s slightly longer learning curve, but this is something that must be overcome with any new carrier.

Rachel: Many moms that I know are only aware of the baby wearing options that are available in local stores and the selection is very limited. Are there any baby carriers sold in larger chain stores that provide developmentally appropriate support for an infant?

Tamara: The good news is that every day more and more baby slings and carriers that were once hard to find are popping up in larger chains stores across the country. The Ergo baby carrier can be found in many mainstream stores today, and we’re even seeing traditional wrap-style carriers at stores such as Target! Of course online shopping is always an option. Just ensure you look into a stores return and/or exchange policy. Many online baby stores are happy to offer generous exchange policies when it comes to outfitting a new parent with the right baby sling. We understand that this can be a difficult decision, and that there really isn’t a single perfect carrier that works for every parent, every time. It may take trying out a few carriers before you find the one that is perfect for you and your baby.

Rachel: The Baby Bjorn has been marketed well and is very popular. I noticed you don’t carry it on your site. Why don’t you recommend it to parents?

Tamara: All of the baby carriers we carry on our website grow with your child and can be used from the newborn stage through to toddlerhood (35+ lbs!). All of the carriers we sell provide developmentally appropriate support for an infant. The ability to accommodate a nursing baby is very important in our selection of baby slings and carriers. You’ll also find that the majority of the baby carriers we sell allow for multiple carrying positions which include cradle carrying, hip (side) carrying, front carrying and back carrying. Above all, the baby carriers we choose to sell must be *comfortable* for the wearer, for as long as possible. Unfortunately the Baby Bjorn does not meet all of these criteria.

Rachel: Many moms worry that a carrier or sling will be difficult to use. What advice do you give to hesitant parents?

Tamara: As with all new things, there is a slight learning curve when you get started with any sling or baby carrier. This is no different than learning to install your new car seat, or how to open and collapse the new stroller that has been purchased. We simply suggest taking your time to familiarize yourself with the carrier of choice and it’s features, and practicing with your baby at home before venturing out and about. The best time to try out your new carrier is when baby is well rested, and right after they have been fed. If baby is in a good mood they will be more receptive to being fused with while a parent learns to use their new carrier. There may be a local support group such as La Leche League in your area. This is often a good place to try out a carrier and find out how to use one, since many LLL members use baby slings or carriers themselves. There are also lots of resources online to help new parents get off to the right start with learning how to use a new sling or baby carrier. One of our favorites is www.thebabywearer.com which has a fabulous forum for parents struggling to use a new sling.

Rachel: Which baby carrier is your personal favorite to use?

Tamara: I used a baby sling with both my daughters during the first 6 months after they were born. I loved the simplicity of the carrier, and how I could always get them in and out quickly, right when they started to fuss. Eventually back carrying became more important to me, and so I purchased my first mei tai when my oldest was about 8 months old. I absolutely love a mei tai for quick back carries!

Visit Parenting by Nature for more information on babywearing and natural parenting. Enter to win a FreeHand Mei Tai in the winner’s choice of color.