Babywearing for the Colicky Baby

Many blogs will feature holiday themes, as ours has already. But this particular post goes out to all of those newborn babies who might be a little colicky and the mamas and papas who are holding them into late hours of the night. In our household we think that one remedy for crying baby and tired mamas is an organic, pouch sling.
Why newborns might cry incessantly is a mystery and has many theories: upset tummy, "some babies are just that way", gassy baby, etc. Reading of other cross-cultural experiences of how people respond to colick, some of the world's peoples have baby hammocks they make for a baby that cradles and rocks. The one comfort in this is to know that it experienced all over the globe.
Experiencing what I did with my own newborn (first born) it is important to remember that
1) every baby is different
2) if you become frustrated, ask for help
3) soothe your baby and do what works for her/him
4) know that this too shall pass

5) if nursing, nurse as much as possible and try to eliminate foods that might be upsetting. For me, this included peanuts, as we later found out our baby had a peanut allergy.

Interviewing other moms and reading other people's experiences, what does seem to help is to cuddle, swaddle and cradle the baby with a soft bounce. For our little girl, this was the only soothing method that worked. We actually had an exercise ball and had to toss the rocking chair aside, as she only wanted to bounce up and down not glide back and forth. She would also wake to the little squeaks of the rocking chair. This baby of ours was highly sensitive! As for the bouncing motion, why does it work? The theory: recreating the movement in the womb. It makes sense when thinking of how babies don't experience the back and forth motion of a rocker, rather the soft bounce of up-and-down, safe inside mama's womb. Indeed, we bounced away and our exercise ball busted from the intense use.
Our other weapon: a pouch sling. It goes along with the wisdom of other societies and what people have done for thousands of years: wear your baby. Our baby slept, nursed and hung out in her pouch sling. And when she would screech and holler, she'd instantly calm down and feel soothed by it. The sling not only became an item of convenience, but of survival. Rattled parental nerves were also smoothed over by the slings comforting abilities. We have several slings--one for water, a fleece sling that stretches and cuddles and a cotton sling for the humid mid-western days.
The beauty of the pouch sling is that it is practical for a child well into the toddler years. Sometimes, I still put my 2 1/2 year old in the sling; bum inside, legs straddled out when she needs to be held like my 9 month old.
As for my nine month old baby, she gets so excited at the sight of the pouch sling. She kicks her legs and is now clapping her hands to know that she can ride along with mama during her daily tasks. Not to mention, I have my hands free to sling around the yogurt and other demanded snacks for my toddler.
Take a look at our selection of pouch slings and if you are experiencing a colicky baby, please share what works for you or what questions you might have.

A new label, with buttery soft organic cotton is here: Eco-Ike. We fell in love with the simple, sweet designs that reminded us of images from a French storybook circa 1920's. The sizes are for babies up to toddlers. You will find these organic cotton duds not only adorable, but also practical. They wear well with a simple pant style such as cute baby jeans, a skirt or even a diaper only day. I know we talked about how soft this organic cotton baby shirt is. . .but really you won't believe it.

Eco-Ike's founder is designer and mom, Faith Moser. Always mindful of the environment, having a baby took it up a notch,making her into a self-proclaimed "earth worry wort." Eco-Ike's mission is to encourage folks to "go green and take better care of the earth." Eco-Ike is doing their part by providing cute designs on organic, fair-trade cotton shirts and using water based inks that stay clear of PVC and phthalates. It's always nice to know that our child is sporting a shirt doesn't contain heavy metals such as lead either. Thanks Eco-Ike--we like these shirts and sweet designs a lot!

Understanding Organic & Fair Trade Certifications

The terms "eco-friendly" and "green" have finally made their way into the mainstream, however these terms are rooted in the concern of environmental quality over the past several decades. They are even finding themselves in reference to children’s clothes and toys. You might find yourself reading “organic baby clothes sold here”, or “designer rugs for baby’s nursery sold here—fair trade”. But, what does this mean and what should the consumer be looking for in terms of green products.

Throughout the past several decades, various certifications and “eco-friendly” seeking organizations have been born in order to add validity and regulation to manufacturers and producers of items that are “organic”, “fair-trade” and “eco-friendly.” Largely this has been a response to the lacking of regulation in the government realm. It was and is important for the consumer to understand and be familiar with various certification agencies. And they simply have responded to those conscious in learning how global manufacturing and trading of goods have revealed harmful practices and substances for both humans and the environment.

For starters, as a consumer, you should also be looking for manufacturers to be a member of the Organic Trade Association whose mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.

When shopping for organic baby clothes, for example, you may want to know that they are for certain “organic.” For example, Sckoon Organics of New York have organic baby clothes as a response to the harmful pesticides and insecticides used in cotton production. And when we think of a baby’s skin being 7 times thinner that adults, we start to listen to why organic is important. But, going a step further, Sckoon Organics align themselves with Demeter International. Demeter (international biodynamic certification board) is one certifying agency that seeks out members. On its website Demeter writes
“Demeter is the brand for products from Biodynamic Agriculture. Only strictly controlled and contractually bound partners are permitted to use the Brand. A comprehensive verification process insures strict compliance with the International Demeter Production and Processing Standards, as well as applicable organic regulations in the various countries; without a gap, through every step, from agricultural production to processing and final product packaging. Yet, the holistic Demeter requirements exceed government mandated regulations. Not only do they exclude the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemical plant protection agents in agricultural crop production, or artificial additives during processing, but also require very specific measures to strengthen the life processes in soil and foodstuffs.”

In addition, members of SKAL international are part of an organization that “independently regulates and certifies international standards for sustainable textile production.” One of the newest lines of organic baby clothes that have been all the rage, Happy Green Bee, are members of this organization.

Finding a designer and label that are part of these memberships better assures you as a customer, that you are buying products that are free of child labor or those which are made with harmful pesticides and insecticides. One may even buy carpets that carry the RugMark label. This little label assures that no child labor was used in the manufacturing of a handmade rug and the consumer is supporting a non-profit “which is the international nonprofit organization devoted to building schools, programs and opportunities that give children back their childhoods by ending child labor in the handmade carpet industry in South Asia.” Such companies as not Neutral carry such rugs. Now people can decorate their baby’s rooms with modern style without compromising the humane conditions of other peoples.

Indeed, being eco-friendly means that we look beyond the product itself and put on our "responsible consumer lens" to more closely consider the manufacturing of the product and its location. When being mindful of buying a product, we want to know what practices were used when growing or harvesting the product materials and who made them.

Consider Sckoon Organics for the Holidays

When the shipment arrived, we ripped open the box to find such soft, adorable organic cotton baby clothes from Sckoon Organics of New York. Their styles stand out as being hip and unique with a fusion of Japanese and Euro designs. Style aside, Sckoon Organics are attractive to VannyBean because they are members of the Organic Trade Association http://www.ota.com/index.html and Demeter International http://demeter.net/ . In addition, they have been featured in such magazines as American Baby, Cookie, Mothering, Earnshaws, Organic Styles and other feature publications.

So we love funky baby clothes, especially when they are fair trade and organic. Sckoon's soft organic clothing is also 100% Fair Trade, as Sckoon products are made in Egypt, India and Japan at fair trade factories.

Simply click on the images to browse these and other fun items from Sckoon--you'll love them. We know we do.

Fleurville Eco-Friendly Diaper Bags

Let us gladly elaborate on the function, style and environmentally friendly diaper bag that Fleurville has designed for the busy parent in mind. Let us explain. . .

Eco-Friendly? How? This bag is PVC free which means that is free of ployvinyl chloride (PVC). In its production fleurville explains that "PVC fuses vinyl chloride molecules with toxic metals such as lead and cadmium which are added as plasticizers and stabilizers" thus creating harmful byproducts.

So why would any manufactuer use this method? Guess. . .it's cheap. Fleurville is committed to providing PVC free bags because it's an environmentally sustainable method. And it doesn't end there--Fleurville makes their diaper bags and totes with Green-LAM . Green-LAM repels moisture, is resistance to UV rays and is ultra durable.

Functional? How? Well let us brag that we've used this bag and it is wonderful! What we love the most is that you can reach in with one hand. Any mama and daddy know that after having a baby, we are only able to use one hand many times, especially if we have a toddler at our feet as well. The Mothership is ultra functional, with a removable insulated bottle holder, changing pad, a zippered sack which is leak proof, a carabiner/key clip for those wandering keys, multiple interior pockets and a shoulder strap that --gasp--stays on one's shoulders. The Mothership is ultra spacious--a godsend for us--as we are parents of 2 in diapers.

A must have? Yes! Where do you find it? Right here at VannyBean--just click on the picture above.

Thank You Pure-Ecommerce

Now that we have launched VannyBean, we want to thank Pure Ecommerce for their guidance and expertise they have offered us since VannyBean's inception. It is Pure Ecommerce's guidance that has allowed us to be bold and take steps to feature such products as organic baby clothes, sustainable "green" nursery furniture, eco-friendly diaper bags, and other accessories for a healthy childhood.
Pure Ecommerce has consulted with us on many different levels including details surrounding product selection, site design, essentials for customer service and ecommerce business practices. It is no doubt, we will continue to seek the helpful advise of Pure Ecommerce to assure we run a successful online business and offer our customers the best in products and assistance.

Thanks Pure E!

Happy Green Bee on the Today show and VannyBean

VannyBean proudly sells Happy Green Bee clothing line, as featured today (October 22nd, 2008) on the NBC Today show. Happy Green Bee's founder, Roxanne Quimby, was able to share her story and philosophy as a Top Female CEO and strong advocate for natural products and organic cotton kids clothing. You might know her more from her former company, Burt's Bees, which she recently sold for hundreds of millions.
Ms. Quimby's new pet project is Happy Green Bee whose mission is "to create cheerful gender-free clothing with sustainable earth friendly manufacturing practices in an effort to meet and increase the demand for organic children's clothing that not only looks and feels great but is contributing in positive ways to the welfare of our planet."
Happy Green Bee—a company producing organic cotton playwear for infants and children—creates children's clothing and accessories made with nontoxic dyes and no chemical bleaches or finishers. In addition, Happy Green Bee products are made in fair-trade-certified factories that are monitored for worker health and safety.

Happy Green Bee's site www.happygreenbee.com provides useful, yet alarming information on conventional cotton practices. Read below to better understand why organic cotton is not only wonderful for your baby, but for the planet

"Clothing made with organically grown cotton does not retain toxic residues; it is a pure, natural, and breathable fiber.
Before the 1950s, cotton-growing mainly involved sustainable techniques, but now cotton is one of the most environmentally damaging crops grown in the world, resulting in wide-scale water pollution, chronic illness in farm workers, and calamitous effects on wildlife. Conventionally grown cotton occupies only three percent of the world's farmland, but uses 25 percent of the world's chemical insecticides, including Parathion, which is at least 30 times more toxic than DDT! As insects develop pesticide resistance over time, farmers desperate to keep up yields often resort to genetically modified cottonseed and heavier and heavier cocktails of pesticide poisons. Ironically, less than ten percent of those chemicals actually accomplish their task—the rest are absorbed into the plants, the soil, the air, the water and eventually, our bodies.
Cotton occupies only 3% of the world's farmland, but uses 25% of the world's chemical pesticides. Worldwide, 25 to 75 million agricultural workers suffer from acute pesticide poisoning" (http://www.happygreenbee.com/)

See Ms. Quimby for yourself at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27319792#27319792

We, at VannyBean, find her to be inspiring.

On Deck for a Launch

We at VannyBean are almost ready to launch. We are thrilled with our hip and modern product selection for children. We're even more excited that these items are manufactured and designed with organic, fair trade and sustainability in mind. We will be featuring, in our blog, the fabulous product lines along with explanations as to why we have chosen them.

Lately we've been jumping up and down because we will soon have Sckoon Organics from New York. Sckoon Organics bring us children's clothing that are all organic and fair trade. They keep child development in mind with their designs, by catering to comfort and function for the moving baby. As for design, the fusion of Japanese imagery with comfort make them a perfect package for parents particular about hip, stylish and uniqueness for baby and toddler.

We'll keep you posted, as there is much more to come. . .

Welcome to VannyBean!

At VannyBean, we strive to provide smart, sustainable, eco-friendly and attractive life accessories for infancy and childhood. Our goal is to offer exceptional quality products to help nurture healthy, active, and educated children in a modern, beautiful way. We meticulously select products that help parents and children be together, get outside, play, discover and be dashing while doing so!
As VannyBean's creators, we are a husband and wife team whose hobbies and experiences include outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, living and teaching abroad, and most joyously-being proud parents of our daughters Savannah, two, and Sabine, six months. We have created VannyBean for today's child and today's parents, with an ethos that puts beauty, health and environment first.
We're dedicated to superior customer service, and we value quality over quantity. We know that childhood only gets one chance. So let it realize its full beauty with your friends at VannyBean.

Be Well, Be Happy, Be Beautiful
Heather and Ryan Carlson