If you are interested in green cleaning, essential oils have many benefits and uses throughout the home. 100% pure essential oils are healthy for your family and the environment. Here is a quick guide to the benefits and uses of essential oils.
Here are some ways you can get started using essential oils in your home:
1. Dilute essential oils with distilled water for a homemade, non-toxic air freshener. Click here for more information about freshening the air with essential oils.
2. Apply a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton cloth and toss in the dryer to freshen your clothes.
3. To disinfect and deodorize your carpets the green (non-toxic) way, try this recipe from aromaweb.com:
In a large bowl, mix 1 16-oz. box of baking soda with 10 drops Tea Tree oil, 10 drops Lemon oil, and 20 drops Lavender oil. Sprinkle on your carpet, let it sit for 10-20 minutes, then vacuum.
4. To disinfect counter tops and bathtubs, mix 10-15 drops of an essential oil (lavender, thyme, eucalyptus, or tea tree work well) together with 1 cup distilled water in a spray bottle. Shake well, then spray and wipe with a paper towel or microfiber cloth.
Traditional air fresheners contain toxins that can damage the lungs when inhaled in high concentrations for prolonged periods of time. Air fresheners contain artificial fragrances and, while they may smell nice, they can wreak havoc on people who suffer from allergies and asthma. Why expose your baby’s developing lungs to toxic air pollutants when you can freshen the air in your home naturally?
Here are 3 ways you can use essential oils to freshen the air in your home naturally:
1) Invest in a cool air humidifier/diffuser to circulate your favorite essential oil fragrance or blend throughout your home. We love the Aromatherapy Diffuser Ultrasonic Atomizer/Humidifier($60).
Calming Nursery
Essential Oil Diffuser
2) Try a wall diffuser to freshen a single room in your home. With the Calming Nursery Diffuser($16), you can apply several drops of your favorite essential oil onto a refill pad, insert the pad into the diffuser, and plug it into a wall.
3) For a money-saving solution, fill a small (4-6 oz.) spray bottle with distilled water and add 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil or a blend of essential oils. Shake well before using, then spray as needed to freshen the air.
Remember to label the bottle for safety reasons, and store it in a cool, dry place to maintain the integrity of the essential oils. Shake well each time you use your homemade air freshener, and do not spray near furniture, as some essential oils may ruin the finish of wood furniture.
Here is a classic recipe for a homemade air freshener from the Essential Oils Desk Reference ($40). Dilute this blend of essential oils with distilled water as described above:
Life insurance is an amazing thing that every expectant and new parent should consider purchasing for their child. Child life insurance policies are whole life insurance policies designed for healthy children from ages of approximately 14 days through 14 years. As a parent, grandparent or permanent legal guardian you can provide the little ones who mean so much to you with practical insurance benefits that can be a big help to them later in life, including:
Whole life insurance protection. “Whole life” insurance policies build up cash value, while “term” insurance policies do not. Also, a term policy’s premiums increase over time based on age, while a whole life policy has premiums that never increase.
Some child life insurance policies even double automatically when the child turns 18 year old. This means a $10,000 plan doubles to $20,000, a $15,000 plan doubles to $30,000 and so on—with no increase in your monthly premium. That’s right, double the coverage at the same low childhood premium—guaranteed!
Child “whole life” policies build cash value. Giving the gift of a whole life policy for child or grandchild protects them while starting a nest egg he or she can borrow from later on – perhaps as a down payment on his or her first home. The plan accumulates cash value and will continue to do so as long as premiums are paid. After 25 years, the cash value is typically equal to or greater than 100% of premiums paid.
Guaranteed future insurability. Your child or grandchild will typically have several opportunities to buy more coverage as an adult, at the standard premiums for his or her age at that time. That’s a guaranteed right, even if your child or grandchild cannot get insurance from other companies for any reason.
The reason that protecting a child’s insurability is so valuable is that when people get older, they can develop illnesses or other health problems that cause the majority of life insurance companies to disqualify them from being eligible for life insurance. Purchasing life insurance for them now that they can carry with them into adulthood while they are the healthiest they will ever be is an incredible gift that you can give the special child in your life.
Gerber is now offering child life insurance policies up to $50,000 with the GerberLife Grow-up Plan. Apply today and receive a free quote!
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Pottery Barn Kids is announcing a recall of all models and colors of Pottery Barn Kids drop-side baby cribs sold from 1999 through 2010. As with other drop-side cribs that have been recalled recently, Pottery Barn baby cribs have drop-sides which can detach, creating a space into which a child can fall and become entrapped, causing suffocation. Children can also fall out of drop-side cribs.
If you own a Pottery Barn Kids drop-side crib, call 1-877-804-3847, 7 a.m. to midnight EST, to receive your free fixed-gate conversion kit. This will immobilize the drop-side to provide a safe sleeping environment for your baby. As with all cribs, inspect hardware regularly, and discontinue use if your crib has broken or missing parts.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in conjunction with Baby Matters, LLC, has issued a voluntary recall of 30,000 Nap Nanny infant recliners. The recall was put in place following 1 infant death and 22 reports of infants hanging or falling over the side of the Nap Nanny, even after the safety harness appeared to be fastened. It is important to note that the infant death occurred after the Nap Nanny had been placed inside a crib. The Nap Nanny’s instructions specifically state that the product should not be placed in a crib due to the risk of suffocation should the infant fall out.
Baby Matters, LLC, the makers of the Nap Nanny, are strongly encouraging all parents to follow the product instructions. The Nap Nanny should ONLY be used on the floor. Placing the Nap Nanny in a crib, play yard, or other confined space may result in suffocation. Likewise, the Nap Nanny should not be placed on a changing table or other elevated surface, as a fall could result in serious head injury.
The recall applies to first generation Nap Nanny models (purchased prior to August 15, 2009). These models do not have Velcro straps inside the cover securing the cover to the foam base. If you own one of these models, you can receive an $80 discount coupon toward the purchase of a new Nap Nanny with free shipping by calling (888) 240-4282 between 9am and 5 p.m. (Eastern) Monday through Friday.
If you own a newer Nap Nanny (check for Velcro straps inside the cover, which attach to a ring, securing it to the foam base), Baby Matters, LLC requests that you view the latest warnings and instructional video at http://www.napnanny.com/recall.
Grocery stores are on the right track with germ awareness–many of them now provide Clorox bleach wipes so customers can sterilize shopping cart handles. But do you really want to put your infant in the shopping cart’s child seat and subject baby’s sensitive skin to harsh cleaning products? Protect your little one from germs in public places with this must-have for moms: shopping cart covers that double as high chair covers & more! The idea is to put a fabric buffer between your precious cargo and those nasty shopping carts. These shopping cart covers also work great for protecting your baby when using restaurant high chairs. Rest assured that your baby will stay germ-free and comfortable. Best of all, these shopping cart & high chair covers fold up to easily store in your diaper bag, so they are always on hand!
The Leachco Prop ‘R Shopper ($36) is made especially for shopping carts, so it won’t work well as a high chair cover, but its custom-fitted side padding keeps baby extra secure. And since it wraps around the shopping cart handle, baby has something to hold onto, and you keep your hands clean as well!
The Lilly Tote 5-in-1 Baby Shopping Cart Cover is now one sale for $35 (was $50)! When closed, it looks like a tote bag, complete with storage pockets. Unfold it, and in can be used as a shopping cart cover, high chair cover, adult dining chair cover, play mat, or changing station (Hence, 5-in-1!). Velcro fasteners on the sides ensure a snug fit on a variety of chair sizes. You will get the most bang for your buck with this shopping cart cover.
For more shopping cart covers and high chair covers
in a variety of colors and patterns, visit Amazon.com!
On April 29, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on over 200,000 Graco drop-side wooden cribs. These cribs were manufactured by LaJobi Inc. and sold at nationwide retailer from February 2007 to March 2010 for between $140 and $200.
There have been 99 reports of incidents where the drop-side has detached from the crib, causing a gap that a child can fall into. This poses a significant risk of suffocation in infants. There have been 6 reports of children falling out of these cribs after the drop-side hardware failed, and two children became entrapped in the gap between the mattress and the drop-side.
You will find the affected crib models below. If you own one of these cribs, stop using it immediately and contact LaJobi at (888) 842-2215, or visit www.LaJobi.com. LaJobi will provide you with a free hardware kit that will immobilize the drop side.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on April 29, 2010 the recall of all Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames. This includes both fixed-side and drop-side cribs. These cribs pose a risk of serious injury or death due to entrapment, strangulation, suffocation and fall hazards to infants and toddlers. The crib’s metal mattress-support frame can bend or detach and cause part of the mattress to collapse. The baby is then in danger of rolling into the empty space and becoming wedged. One infant strangulation death has been reported, and two additional infants have fallen and become entrapped. There are 13 total reports of the mattress-support frames collapsing.
CPSC has limited information about the number of cribs sold because Simplicity is no longer in business. This recall involves all Simplicity cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames, which include but are not limited to the following models:
Crib Name
Model Number
Aspen 4-in-1
8755
Chelsea Deluxe 4-in-1 Convertible Sleep System
8324
Graco 4-in-1 Ultra Sleep System
4600
Graco Aspen 3-in-1
8740
Simplicity Crib and Changer Combo
8994
Simplicity Ellis Deluxe 4-in-1 Convertible Sleep System
8676
Simplicity Nursery-in-a-Box Convertible Crib
8910
CPSC urges parents with an affected crib to stop using the crib immediately and find a replacement. Do not attempt to fix the crib, as infant deaths have also occurred because of makeshift home repairs.
The recalled cribs were sold at Walmart, Target, Babies R Us and other stores nationwide for between $150 and $300. Consumers should contact the store where the crib was purchased to receive a refund, replacement crib or store credit.
Source: www.cpsc.gov
**Looking for a sturdier crib? Click here to shop for safe cribs for your baby.
On April 6, 2010, Gund voluntarily recalled about 16,000 baby books in the U.S. and Canada because they pose a choking hazard. These paperboard books, or “board books,” have styrofoam in the binding that can come off when babies chew on them. No injuries have been reported as of yet.
The recalled books have plastic handles designed as rattles and come in three titles: “Animals” (item #059174), “Numbers” (item #059175), and “Colors” (item #059176). You can find the item number on the back of the book along with the word “Gund.” The books each measure 4 1/2 inches by 7 inches. They may have been purchased individually or as a set of 3. The board books were sold from January 2009 to March 2010 for approximately $8 each or $20 for the set.
If you own one of the affected books, please stop using it and contact Gund for a free replacement product. You can reach them at (800) 436-3726 or by visiting their website at www.gund.com
In March 2010, Evenflo issued a recall on approximately 180,000 child safety baby gates sold in the U.S. and Canada. Their Top-of-Stair™ Plus Wood Gates pose a falling hazard because the slats can break or detach. At the time of this post, there have been 142 cases of broken gates, and 14 reported injuries. Most of the injuries range from minor scrapes to bumps and bruises on the head. However, 3 children actually fell through the gate, and one child fell down 5 steps.
If you own an Evenflo baby gate that is model #10502 or #10512, please stop using it immediately. You can find the model number on the bottom rail. These models were sold at many nationwide retailers such as Toys “R” Us, Walmart, and Amazon.com from October 2007 through March 2010 for about $40.
Evenflo is offering a free newer model #10503 or #10513 Top-of-Stair™ Plus Wood gate as a replacement. You can contact them by calling (800) 233-5921 or visiting http://safety.evenflo.com.
($60).
($40). Dilute this blend of essential oils with distilled water as described above:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in conjunction with Baby Matters, LLC, has issued a voluntary recall of 30,000 Nap Nanny infant recliners. The recall was put in place following 1 infant death and 22 reports of infants hanging or falling over the side of the Nap Nanny, even after the safety harness appeared to be fastened. It is important to note that the infant death occurred after the Nap Nanny had been placed inside a crib. The Nap Nanny’s instructions specifically state that the product should not be placed in a crib due to the risk of suffocation should the infant fall out.
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