By my third child, I learned that once the walking starts, the trouble really begins. But unless I kept him in a playpen (like our mothers did with us, right?), I knew my kid would eventually start toddling around, using a chair as a mak…
I realize that there are about 400 different kinds of reusable grocery bags out there these days. But that just means you have 400 more opportunities to stop using disposable plastic or paper bags, right? Well, let me present you with op…
While I love to send a card and a little something to our friends and family on special occasions, that "little something" can definitely add up. So if you're looking for a way to send just a holiday or birthday card and not look like el…
Some people think having a sense of environmental awareness and a sense of humor are mutually exclusive. This awesome kids' Mensch t-shirt featuring Sammy Davis Jr. proves them wrong. In fact the folks at Curly Monkey take irreverent and…
I've planned eighteen birthday parties so far for my three young children and each time, my eco-friendly heart feels a little sick to see the amount of trash left behind after the last guest leaves. The two moms from British Columbia who…
The stuffed animals I painstakingly selected for my babies as to be "loveys" were never the ones they ended up dragging everywhere. When it comes to that special attachment, kids don't care if it's pretty or where it came from--they care…
Thankfully, I have undergone a baby mobile intervention since having our first child, and am happy to report that we are free of all fuzzy, robotic sounding mobiles in our home, mostly due to the amazing choices out there today. Like thi…
I never thought I'd say this but I'm kind of over lavender room sprays. Especially for the nursery, I want something a little fresher and cleaner, not so sweet. And then I found the Milk fragrance from the environmentally responsible St …
In an effort to spend less on disposable birthday party supplies , I'm loving so many of the beautiful crowns and princess hats I keep discovering. The latest: this handmade kids' wool felt crown from Asheville designer Liz Stiglets of C…
The problem with a lot of desks for kids' rooms is that they look so serious and boring, I can't blame my kids for falling asleep before they even get through their spelling assignment. That is certainly not the case with the kids' desk …
All three of my kids love to take baths. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean they love to wash themselves. Enter MiniMitts by BellyLaf. These cute bamboo/cotton blend wash mitts are the eco-friendly version of traditional bath mitts. Embell…
I cannot tell you how guilty I feel tossing a baby announcement. Not only does it stink to have to add to the landfill, but it just seems odd to put a baby's picture in the trashcan. So I had to check out Botanical Paperworks , a Canadia…
I wish I were one of those crafty types who could look at an old sweater and see more than a Goodwill deduction. If you're Viola Hale of Viola Studio , you imagine adorable stuffed animals including elephants, puppies, pigs, and even a m…
The soft, fleecy blanket with a satiny trim is a nursery staple-- not only did my kids have them as babies, I had one as a baby, too, about a hundred years ago. And now Organic Blankees is offering up a new and fabulously earth-friendly …
Looking around the online shop, Sage Baby NYC, which focuses entirely on eco-friendly baby gifts and gear , it was hard to know what to rave about first. Wait -- I know. All of it. Co-owners and moms Francesca Olivieri and Susan Gluck-Pa…
So maybe lifting a pen and sticking on a stamp doesn't seem like hard work, but when you're chasing after three kids, putting on deodorant is a big deal let alone handwriting a note card. If there was ever a card worth the effort, it's t…
I guess you could say that I'm the token eco-skeptic among the Cool Mom Picks writers. Before you start throwing rotten tomatoes at me, consider what this means: If it's green and crunchy and I rave about it, then it really is spectacula…
When we first discovered Itsabelly (wayyy back before all the newspapers, magazines and tv news programs I might add), they were a mere baby concierge service , helping panicked expecting parents to get their lives in order before the ne…
That old wives' tale about heartburn being a sign that your baby will be born with a head full of hair didn't work out so well for me. I had twenty-seven months of fiery heartburn and three bald babies. But for luckier mamas who've got s…
While I don't have a lot of patience for unnecessary baby "essentials" if there's one little doodad I'm a big fan of it's the changing pad. I stash one in the car, one at grandma's, one in a diaper bag , one under the stroller, and even …
We all think that we'll use our baby gliders once the little ones become big kids, but if your glider looks anything like most glider chairs, then I'm here to tell you that, no. You won't. However Q Collection , as part of Q Collection J…
The picture that comes to mind when I hear "doll" and "completely recycled materials" together in one sentence has never quite looked like the spectacular looking Binky Buddies recycled dolls from Hasenpfeffer Incorporated . Using a vari…
I haven't packed a lunch in years thanks to my daughter's half-day preschool, but I will soon, and I can't say I'm looking forward to it. Not just because of the time suck, but the amount of waste generated for a sandwich, some carrots a…
Whether you've got kids with sensitive skin, or you're just not into dealing with the chemical processes that even the regular 100% cotton clothes go through, then it's nice to know that you've got lots of eco-friendly kids' clothing opt…