Baby Eco Trends

–
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced yesterday that Arm’s Reach Concepts Infant Bed-Side Sleepers (manufactured by Arm’s Reach Concepts Inc in China) could pose a hazard to babies if installed improperly.  If the liner is not used or assembled improperly, the Infant Bed Side Sleepers (aka Co Sleepers) pose entrapment, suffocation and risk of falls.  So far 10 reports of babies falling from the raised mattress or becoming entrapped between the edge & side of the co sleeper.  No injuries have been reported.
–
Approximately 76,000 Arm’s Reach Concepts Infant Bed-Side Sleepers were sold between 1997 & 2001 with the following model numbers:
–
Original model numbers:      8108, 8133, 8111, 8112 & 8199
Universal model numbers:    8311
–
BabyEcoTrends.com has never carried this products but it was sold at Burlington Coat Factory, Babies R Us and other retail stores nationwide for about $160.  Consumers my contact Arm’s Reach Concepts to download assembly instructions or may request printed instructions via postal mail.

–

–

–
BabyEcoTrends.com sells more baby cribs in April than any other month.  So we thought this would be a great time to offer our customers their choice of a free Naturepdic Baby Crib Mattress or $100 off the purchase price of any Indiana Amish 4 in 1 Convertible Baby Crib, our best selling cribs.
–

If you choose the free mattress, you can get either the Naturepedic Lightweight Organic Cotton Classic Crib Mattress or the Naturepedic Organic Cotton Classic 150 Traditional Crib Mattress.  Both mattresses are made of 100% certified organic cotton & offer the firm support baby crib mattresses require.  However, the Lightweight Crib Mattress weighs about half as much as the Classic 150 Crib Mattress, which makes changing the sheets a real breeze.
–

Whether you opt for the $100 discount or a free crib mattress, either offer makes this a good time to invest in an Indiana Amish Convertible Baby Crib.  At checkout, use the following Promotional Codes:
–

Free Naturepedic Baby Crib Mattress Promo Code:  “IACNB”
$100 off the purchase of an Amish Crib Promo Code:  “IAC100B”
–

To let us know which Naturepedic crib mattress you’d like, enter your preference in the “Comments” section at checkout or email us at info@BabyEcoTrends.com & we’ll take care of the rest.  Offers expire Sunday April 30, 2011.

–
–

–
Yesterday the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with IKEA Home Furnishings announced a voluntary recall of the IKEA SNIGLAR cribs (fixed sides, full size cribs with model number 60091931), manufactured in Romania.  The words “SNIGLAR, IKEA” and the model number are printed on a label attached to the mattress support.  The CPSC states that consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
–
In the US, approximately 20,000 SNIGLAR crib were sold exclusively at IKEA stores from October 2005 through June 2010 for about $80.  No incidents or injuries have been reported but the cribs do pose an entrapment & suffocation hazard.  The four bolts provided with some SNIGLAR cribs to secure the mattress support are not long enough and can cause the mattress support to detach and collapse, creating a risk of entrapment and suffocation.
–
According to the CPSC’s website: “Consumers should stop using the crib immediately and check the crib. If the mattress support bolts extend through the nut, the bolts are the proper length and the crib is not included in the recall. If the bolt does not extend through the nut, the crib is included in the recall. Contact IKEA for a free repair kit for recalled cribs. In the meantime, find an alternate, safe sleep environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on the child’s age.”
–

–
–

–
Thanks to our loyal customers, we have reached our fourth calendar year as an online retailer.  Our website is not set up to record customer feedback but we get emails and letters from our customers letting us know how we’re doing.  So we thought we’d share some of their words with you:
–
“Your customer service has been amazing!! Thanks so much! :)”
EM, Alabama
–
“Thank you so much! You guys are great!”
SB, Wisconsin
–
“Everything is lovely. Thanks so much.”
FR, New York
–
“I received the rocking horse yesterday and it absolutely lovely. Thank you so much for making this happen and for your continual concern. I appreciate your help very much… I look forward to calling you again for more rocking horses…. (when I get more Grandchildren!)”
SM, Washington
–
“I received the replacement part and it is in good shape. Thanks for letting me know that I do not have to mail the damaged part back and for assisting me in obtaining a replacement part. You have excellent customer service.”
JM, New York
–
“Our daughter LOVES her toy oven! We love it! I have to say you are such an amazing company. Your correspondence and customer service went above and beyond! Everything about the oven is great! Thank you so much! We will definitely keep you in mind when ordering products in the future.”
CR, California
–
“Thank you so much for the update. I appreciate knowing where the crib is in the process. I am so excited!! Thank you again for keeping us updated.”
TG, Washington
–
“Thank you so much! I’m very excited, because we’re waiting for it to arrive to feed our baby solid food for the first time! And thank you for the speedy shipment of the giraffe teether. She loved it right away.”
LH, California
–
“Please accept my sincere thanks for the beautiful chairs! They are lovely. Please tell the builder that we are very pleased. Your updates during the process made all the difference in my comfort level. You have great customer service. Our Granddaughter used the chair on Saturday and we all loved it!”
EB, Arizona
–
“Thanks so much!  wow that was fast shipping!”
AP, California
–
“Thank you for your quick answer. Thank you for your attentive attitude!”
AS, Florida
–
“thank you we got the bookcase and it looks great! thanks again for all your help and communication”
KP, California
–
“Wow!  Thank you very much!  =)”
LB, Oregon
–
“Thank you for all your help. I am really excited- it is by far the prettiest green baby furniture I found. It is really beautiful! Thank you for all your help”
MG, New Hampshire
–
“I received my order today.  Everything looks great.  Thank you for sending it so quickly!”
HG, Maine
–
“I love your store. Thank you for such fast shipping.”
YR, New Jersey
–
“Thank you very much for the superb customer service! I appreciate your quick response.”
KT, Ontario
–
“Thank you so much, again, for your help! We really enjoy doing business with you!”
KG, North Carolina
–
“Thank you very much! You have been of great help to us.”
RS, Florida
–
“Thank you so much! Rarely do you meet with such good customer service and kindness.”
EP, Kentucky
–
“Thanks so much for such a quick reply. I certainly didn’t expect a response so soon! Again, thanks for your help today. It’s been a pleasure doing business with Baby Eco Trends.”
EO, New Mexico
–
“Thank you so much for all of your help! We loooove it!”
LP, North Carolina
–
“Thank you so much. It’s nice to be able to support a US-made eco-friendly crib”
LF, Oregon
–
“All I can say is WOW. It is beautiful.  The color of the stain was a little darker and not so much red as I was expecting but this is perfect.  It goes perfectly with the bedding that I picked out and the other colors of the room we are working on.  When he started unwrapping it I even teared up (yes-probably the hormones as I am not a crier) but it was way more than I expected.  We love it.    My husband was totally impressed with the wood and how nicely it the color and finish turned out.  I admit, he was skeptical of an online store for the furniture since we have a lot of Amish around us but we are very happy with the work and especially the wood.  I am going to send you a picture when we get it all put together.  Thank you so much!”
JC, Wisconsin
–
“Thank you! We will be sure to shop with Baby Eco Trends again.”
HD, Maryland
–
“I just wanted to let you know that everything went smoothly with the delivery yesterday, and we love the dresser.  It is just the look we had been wanting, and the fact that it is made responsibly with eco-friendly materials is wonderful. Again, we could not be more happy with the dresser; it is the perfect size and looks great.  At some point I will try to snap a photo of it for you. Thanks so much for all your help!”
JT, Illinois
–
“You won’t believe it – the package came in last evening already. We are totally happy. Thank you! Thanks again for you immense help.”
HS, Florida
–
“We love everything.  Thanks so much.  Do you have an email list that you send out info when you get new things in?  If so please include me.  Have a great weekend and thanks for the great customer service.  It’s much appreciated!”
SK, California
–
“I just wanted to say thank you for the very fast shipment!  I wasn’t expecting it that quick and I love the samples inside!”
LP, Florida
–
“I’ve just got my package and my sister was SUPER excited to get the baby wrap. She loved it. Thank you again very much!!”
YM, Florida
–
“Thank you for your quick shipping.  Thank you, also, for your excellent customer service.  I will be sure to mention your website to other expecting mothers I know.”
HW, South Carolina
–
“I received the potty chair and it is absolutely perfect.”
CG, Colorado
–

–
We were so delighted when we came across Goose Creek’s heirloom quality Riding Rockers.  Not only are they made entirely in the USA (with locally source materials) but each one of these beauties is built by hand from beginning to end, resulting in a riding toy that is literally engineered for security & durability.
_

Goose Creek is an Indiana based, family owned toy company that designs and builds unique eco friendly wooden toys fit to hand down through the generations.  Each toy comes with a dated, serialized plaque as well as a personalized dedication plaque.  Read on to find out who builds these treasures & what makes them so special.
_

-

Fred Stave, Goose Creek Founder Fred worked as a research & products development engineer and design manager at RCA Corporation. In 1985, he co-founded a small medical device company and created a tool utilized in cataract eye surgery. For the remainder of his engineering career, Fred directed a global group of applied research engineers at Whirlpool Corporation.  After retiring, Fred began thinking about building a keepsake for his grandchildren. In 2000, after attending a woodworking show, the idea was born… make each grandchild a one-of-a-kind rocking horse that would be of heirloom quality that would remain in the family to be passed on from generation to generation.

–

Fred and his wife Sondra are the parents of two boys & two girls and one grandson and 3 granddaughters. They live on 150 hilly wooded acres on Goose Creek Bay which connects to the Ohio River with their 3 Cocker Spaniels. With most of his time spent in the workshop designing and building these beautiful one-of-a-kind Riding Rockers, Fred delights in being a true perfectionist and making sure that every detail is exactly how it should be.

–

-

Pat Holcomb, Goose Creek Artist Pat brings artistic design to Goose Creek Enterprises. Fred and Pat initially collaborated on the animal design for the “pig” and it was so successful it has now flourished to all the animals in the Goose Creek collection.  Pat was in the military for 3 years as a Biomedical Equipment Technician where she met her husband and they now have have two boys and they are the grandparents of two more boys.  Currently Pat is the director of her own boarding kennel & is involved in animal rescue, enjoys photography, gardening and home improvement projects.

–

Q: What is the recommended child age for the Goose Creek Riding Rockers?
A: We have found that the youngest is approximately 2 years old; as with any riding toy, adult supervision is recommended. We have seen “big kids” get on & ride ranging in age from teens to 60′s, weighing upwards of 250 pounds.
_

Q: How safe are your Riding Rockers for my child?
A: Very safe! The Riding Rocker’s creator, Fred Stave, has spent most of his professional career concerned with product design and development of consumer products and as such is very sensitive to safety issues. A component of Goose Creek’s “Precision Engineered Craftsmanship” is taking safety into account and doing everything possible to make the Riding Rockers safe. For example, the rocker ends are formed so that the rocker cannot be rocked too high and tip over.  All joints have at least two fastening mentods holding them together such as screw & glue or peg & glue. Furthermore, mortise and tenon joints combined with glue and screw joining is utilized on the rocker cross pieces for ultimate durability & security.  All rockers meet the current Consumer Product Safety Act.
_

Q: Once I order a Riding Rocker, how long will it take to arrive?
A: This depends on the complexity of the Riding Rocker ordered and stock status.
. Standard Designs: 4-6 weeks
. Personalized Designs: 5-6 weeks
. Exclusively Designed by Pat: 6-8 weeks
. Custom Designs: 6-8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the design
_

Q: How do you ship the Riding Rockers?
A: Riding Rockers are shipped by FedEx Ground (no PO Boxes). The owner spend a lot of time at a FedEx shipping center to create the perfect shipping method. The Riding Rockers are secured to a wooden frame that is attached to a double wall corrugated box.  During lab testing, the boxed toys were dropped from a 30” height on bottom, top, corners and edges and then vibrated for over 12 hours on a huge vibration table to ensure your Riding Rocker arrives in perfect shape.
_

Q: How much will shipping cost me?
A: There is no additional charge for shipping. We offer free shipping to any address in the continental USA.
_

_

Q: Can you design ANY kind of “rider” for my child or are there specific ones to choose from?
A: There are many standard designs to choose from, but Goose Creek Enterprises can design and build virtually any kind of Riding Rocker. Email us your idea and we can work with you to create your custom design.
_

Q: What about the paint designs and color?
A: Within reason, Goose Creek Enterprises can meet the needs of any color scheme and design.
_

Q: What is the finishing process?
A: Five coats of final finish are applied to the natural wood Riding Rockers. It is a very specific combination of traditional tung oil in a modern tough surface polyurethane mixture; once this is dried, it is inert & no off-gassing occurs. The final finish on the painted versions however, utilize a water-based, very clear and transparent mixture, so that the colors intended by the artist will shine through. All paints and finishes are child-safe, lead-free and non-toxic & all final sanding and finishing is done 100% by hand.
_

Q: What kind of wood goes into your Rockers?
A: Only locally harvested and processed highest quality Indiana hardwoods of Walnut, Ash, Cherry and Red Oak are utilized for strength, durability and beauty. All materials are grown or manufactured in the USA.
_

Q: Do you have a guarantee? What happens if something were to break on my Riding Rocker?
A: The guarantee is quite simple – if it breaks, we will repair or replace it at our option.
_

Q: What is the expected life of the Riding Rockers?
A: The Riding Rockers are expected to live for many, many years. They are built to last for generations.
_

Q: What is “Handcrafted Heirloom Quality”?
A: The dictionary definition of heirloom is “possession kept in family”. To Goose Creek Enterprises it means that with reasonable care, the Riding Rocker will continue to perform as new and continue to look attractive and in the case of some natural woods will improve its look with age. During the time interval the child outgrows the Riding Rocker and the next generation comes along, the Riding Rocker is intended to look so good that it will not go into storage but rather could be used as a room accent piece.
_

Q: What is “Precision Engineered Craftsmanship”?
A: Goose Creek Enterprises’ definition of “Precision Engineered Craftsmanship” is combining the old world skill of the wood trades with the modern design engineering skills and the utilization of modern materials. For example, creator Fred Stave, used engineering calculations and strength of materials information to design and confirm the strength of the many joints in the Rocking Riders. This is when he concluded that many of the critical joints, especially where safety was involved, need more than one joining technique to be utilized. Modern glues and surface finishes are more resilient and tougher while providing a longer life than the comparable glues and finishes utilized in the past. This is exemplified in the five coats of final finish on the natural wood Riding Rockers. It is a very specific combination of traditional tung oil in a modern tough surface polyurethane mixture. The final finish on the painted versions however, utilize a water-based, very clear and transparent mixture, so that the colors intended by the artist will shine through.
_

Q: Where does the name Goose Creek come from?
A: The name Goose Creek comes from a small tributary of the Ohio River that runs through a portion of the 150 acres that make up the home of Goose Creek Enterprises.
_

–

Lalapanzi is Zulu word that translates into “a place to sleep”. Tribal women worldwide go about their daily chores with grace and dignity with their young children always close by.  The Lalapanzi Bed was inspired & designed with every parent’s desire for closeness in mind. It is not easy to travel with infants because they sleep best in their own beds and unfamiliar surrounding can be unsettling. Yet long distance travel is often an inevitable part of modern life & there is no better way for families to connect than sharing the unique joys that a newborn child brings. – Founded by two South African mothers, careful consideration was given to every aspect when designing the Lalapanzi Travel Beds. Made of natural & organic cotton Lalapanzi Beds are ultra soft, durable and easy to clean. The result is a natural sleep & play environment that is truly practical and comforting to babies. This portable bed fits in standard cribs & is the ideal co-sleeping solution.

–
Lalapanzi is dedicated to excellence. All beds are handmade in the USA – each one uniquely different from the next. Each product is inspected by the owners of and carries their stamp of perfection.   Cotton Lalapanzi Beds are available in solids & beautiful prints & all are machine washable.

–

–

–
We are so happy about becoming Green America certified as it is a reflection of our commitment to environmentally & socially responsible practices.  Green America is a not-for-profit membership organization that has been working to channel the economic strength of consumers, investors & businesses to create socially & environmentally sustainable societies since 1982.
–
Green America is a great source for useful information about making smart buying decisions and has compiled a directory of green businesses.  Their list of certified green businesses includes famous names like Earth Mama Angel Baby, Gaiam, Honest Tea, Patagonia, Seventh Generation among others.  But there are countless small green businesses such as Your Home Your World, Green Field Paper Company, Alter Eco, Purple Mountain Organics as well as many more that offer unique green shopping opportunities.
–
There are more categories than we can mention here, so you’ll have to visit their site to see the full list that includes businesses offering a wide range of goods & services such as architects, baby products, bed & breakfast, clothing, financial services, gardening supplies, travel agents.
–
We currently offer a handful of products  made by other Green America certified businesses.  The Tres Tria Organic Cotton Co-Sleeping Pillow, Little Beetles organic prefolds, Holy Lamb Organics bedding (aka, Cozy Buns) & Naturepedic bedding & mattresses are all Green America certified.  Look for our selection of GA certified products to grow as we continue to network with other socially & environmentally conscious businesses.
–

–

–
There is no shortage of gloomy economic news & tear jerking accounts of personal financial turmoil.  These stories have to be told, but occasionally hearing an upbeat story can be refreshing and inspiring.  Accounts of people finding ways to counter the effects of an economic downturn may be in short supply but they are out there.
–
Some people have started businesses directly in response to the foreclosure crisis, some have started money making projects in an attempt to learn about money basics, others found ways to recover from hurricane Katrina & some are working at home doing jobs that would otherwise be outsourced overseas.  These stories feature creative money making ventures (big & small) but they also serve as a reminder that there are non conventional answers to common problems.
–
The story of the Cornbread Millionaire had us cheering Beverly Davis on in her attempt to repurchase her foreclosed house.  Earlier this year her house went into foreclosure & she decided to raise money to buy it back at an auction.  She took her grandmother’s cornbread recipe & made a business out of it, one that will hopefully put her back in her home.  I can’t think of a better reason to start a business.
–
Mike Lane wanted his daughters Megan & Emma, 10 & 12 respectively, to learn the value of money & the basics of money management.  So the two girls decided to rent out their 106sf tree house for a few months during the summer to seasonal employees working in and around California’s Sequoia National Forest.  Check out their story at Marketplace Money and see the slide show of their tree house.  Who says money doesn’t grow on trees?
–
Before hurricane Katrina, Jerome Boykin had plans to go to graduate school but the storm changed all that.  One night after the storm, his father took him to a mall parking lot & showed him a sweeper truck and asked if he would be interested in a lot sweeping business.  With no previous experience, Jerome learned to operated the sweeper truck & is now running a successful business that has provided jobs and helped numerous businesses in 8 parishes in Southeastern Louisiana.  No telling how many people drove past that same parking lot & sweeper truck without seeing what Jerome and his father saw.
–
Although not a new small business, there are some customer service call centers that are bringing jobs back to the US.  Calls that were for many years answered overseas are increasingly being taken by Americans working from home.  This new arrangement is good for businesses that are seeing the costs of operating overseas skyrocketing.  It’s also good for Americans that due to illness or family responsibilities prefer to work from home.  One of the best known companies offering such “home sourcing” opportunities is Alpine Access & there are an estimated 60,000 Americans taking customer service calls at home.
–
One of this country’s greatest strengths is the abundance of opportunities available to all of us to create our own success stories. We are surrounded by exciting possibilities waiting to be recognized.
–

–
The latest food recall got us thinking about the frequency of food recalls.  This time it’s 220 million eggs, but we all remember recent recalls on tons of ground beef, chicken products, spinach, pre-mixed salads, peanut butter, pet foods….  But did you know that food recalls occur far more often than what makes it to the evening news?
–
Did you know that just in this year there have been recalls on canned meatball products, canned soups, frozen chicken nugget products, canned tuna, popular breakfast cereals, potato chips, salami, granola bars, chocolate products, dried dates, tortillas, as well as at least 177 products containing hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) because of “potential salmonella exposure”.  HVP is a flavor enhancer & found in many processed food products and it’s not always easy to find it on the ingredients label.
–
Since the 1970′s, the number of inspectors & therefore inspections has decreased drastically while the production & importation have increased.  The Centers for Disease Control records 76 million cases of food borne illness per year!  It seems fair to say that our food safety system is broken & in need of serious repair.
–
While we as individuals may not be able to repair our food safety systems, we can (and do every day, even if we don’t realize it) send a message to food manufacturers & suppliers.  Every dollar we spend sends the market a message, a “vote” if you will.  When making purchasing decisions, it’s important to vote for the right products because manufacturers pay attention to our buying habits & position themselves to best compete for our dollars/votes.
–
With family farms disappearing at an alarming rate (Farm Aid reports that 330 farmers leave their lands every week), we have inadvertently sent the message that we want more factory farming, where the bottom line is the principal consideration.  Factory farms are highly subsidized & negatively impact our health, the health of our environment as well as the economic health of our communities.  They pollute our waters and create “dead zones” like the one in the Gulf of Mexico which measures 8,543 square miles – the size of New Jersey.  The agribusiness nutrient rich runoff depletes the oxygen in the water & robs sea life of its spawning grounds.
–
Fortunately, the popularity of farmer’s markets & eating locally grown foods is growing and an increasing number of consumers are voting for organically grown foods.  As more Americans become aware of the benefits of eating responsibly, we can take control of our communities and support our neighbors.  If the Black Sea (formerly the largest dead zone in the world) can be used as a case study, we know we can reverse the effects of agribusiness in the Gulf of Mexico.
–

–
If you have enough space & time, growing your own garden can be a very rewarding exercise.  Children love to help in the garden & it’s a great way to teach them about growing cycles and the importance of living in harmony with our surroundings.  Some communities allow chicken coups in residential areas and New York city is a great example of roof top farming & bee keeping. If your child’s school doesn’t already have a vegetable or herb garden, you may consider suggesting it and helping create this unique learning opportunity.
–

–
We are lucky to live in a city that has a farmer’s market during our growing season as well as a year round open air market in a neighboring city that makes eating locally/organically & seasonally a bit easier.  We have also seen the opening of a handful of restaurants that feature local/organic or raw foods.  There is also a Community Supported Agriculture group (CSA) in our county.  To find farmer’s markets, organic farmers, local beekeepers, healthy restaurants & CSA’s in your area, visit these sites for more information:
–
Local Harvest
The Ethicurean
Food Routes
Heritage Turkey Foundation
Sustainable Table
Backyard Beekeeping
Bee Culture
You Grow Girl
America The Beautiful Fund’s Operation Green Plant
Seed Savers Exchange
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

–

–

–

While reading the current issue of Mothering magazine, i came across the Equal Exchange Fairly Traded red & white logo that always has a Pavlovian affect on me.  I’m not a chocoholic, but when a chocolate craving hits, not just any chocolate will do.  I have a special place in my heart for the Equal Exchange Organic Dark Chocolate with Almonds, made with organic almonds & 55% cacao it makes me very happy.  The write up mentioned that aside from making great chocolate treats, Equal Exchange has a fund raising program that supports small sustainable farms.

–

What a great alternative to the usual fund raising fare.  For as long as I can remember, fund raising time meant selling friends & family unhealthy, overpriced, often imported edibles and knick knacks they didn’t want or need.  No longer do parents have to endure the mixed feelings that accompany fundraisers.  While helping schools/organizations raise funds Equal Exchange offers quality organic and fair traded coffee, tea, cocoa, snacks & gifts and gives back to farmers & artisans in Latin America and here in the US.

–

Perhaps the best part is the big impact small changes like this have on our children.  What a great way to demonstrate how important each individual’s buying decisions can be; it’s the butterfly effect explained through chocolate – how beautiful!  Equal Exchange is a worker owned cooperative that works with other cooperatives throughout the Americas and is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization.

–
–

–
–