Featured in Young Parents' Baby Buys (Sep 2012)

Woo hoo! Our cute wooden teethers made it to the Baby Buys section of this month's Young Parents magazine :)

Check us out here on Page 118 in this month's issue!

Join the nappy revolution!

Matty has been on cloth nappies since he was a newborn - which comes at a surpise to some!

This is him at two weeks old! Oh gosh, I forgot how small babies used to be! :) We used the traditional Pigeon nappies as I wasn't aware of the various modern cloth nappies out there, but it definitely served its purpose anyway.

Till now, Matty uses cloth nappies when we are at home or out for short trips, as he's not fully toilet trained yet.

Modern cloth nappies have revolutionised nappy usage in recent years. Now, they are made of materials such as organic cotton, bamboo or microfibre. Such nappies are not only absorbent, they don’t require pins or liners and come in a wide range of funky prints!

There are many pros and cons to using a cloth nappy, but one thing is for sure a baby has to use A LOT of nappies/diapers in the first one to two years. 

The good news is that parents will save big bucks if they choose a cloth nappy system over the single-use disposable alternative. These savings will also increase when these cloth nappies are used for subsequent children! Cloth nappies are also environmentally friendly as it does not contribute to landfills like the disposables. There has been debate about the water usage of washing the nappies which may outweigh the pros of the cloth nappies, so do weigh the pros and cons before you decide on a cloth nappy system.

I personally find that cloth nappies are better for diaper rash as well, as it is made of natural fibres and probably because the nappies are changed more often. Sure, there have been leakages here and there, but that also comes with disposable nappies too.

We have started using these modern nappies too - as I recently won a SgBum diaper in a giveaway. I haven't had the chance of taking a photo, but will share it as soon as I have it! Here is a good guide to the various cloth nappy systems there are! Didn't realise there were that many.

So let's go green and join the nappy revolution!

Would you like us to carry cloth nappies in our shop, tell us now!

p/s: MyEcoBabe is doing a giveaway at PreggyMum, do check it out and join in the fun!

Nursery must-haves

With all the dragon babies out there, I thought it would be nice to do a list of my nursery must-haves! I'm no expert but these are what Matty has, needs and loves! 

1) b. box nappy caddy
- This is a very functional and neat caddy and also fits the pigeon wet wipes box or tissue box perfectly.
- It has a large drawer for storing bits and bobs, and that's where I keep all Matty's creams and stuff like ear buds.
- It is also nice that it is BPA, Phthalates and PVC free.
- Available at online stores in Singapore.

2) Sleeping buddy

- This Charlie Bears organic cotton puppy dog is the cutest dog I've ever seen! Matty really loves dogs and would often harrass my mother-in-law's dog even when the dog is sleeping, so this is the perfect dog to keep him company when he's alone in his cot. Wish I had bought him a bigger one!

- Not only are they safe for babies’ right from birth, they are made from certified organic cotton, with dyes registered with the Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigments Manufacturers.

- It's very cuddly even though it is filled with recycled stuffing made from 100% Post-consumer PET bottles.



3) Sleeping bag

- Matty can't do without his Grobag sleeping bag at night because he moves way too much throughout the night for a normal blanket. All I need to do is to zip him up and switch off the lights!

- I think it also delays him trying to climb out of his cot. I am not looking forward to the day he can climb out, eeks!

- Available at major stores such as Mothercare and Motherswork.

4) Wall decals

- I adore the Love Mae wall decals as they are super sweet (sorry, may not be so appropriate for boys but they do have stickers for boys too!).

- What I like about them is that they are removable/completely reusable and will not damage your walls.

- The decals are made out of fabric and with that comes lots of positives. The fabric is a polyester weave with a water based adhesive which means they have no pvc’s, are bio degradable and are non toxic.
- The designers keep the environment in mind and their products are sourced from local small businesses.

- Available at online stores in Singapore.

5) Organic tees

- Matty has a couple of organic tees but he really stands out in this lime v-neck tee. I think his favourite colour is green too! :)

- Check out why you should consider buying organic clothing here.

- Do take a look at the Bunny constellation blouse for the girls! There is even a matching top for boys here!

Have a great week ahead!

Featured in Expat Living's July 2012 issue!

What a great way to start the month of July!

We are extremely honoured to be featured in Expat Living's Earth Watch section this month :) We simply love our Joyfolie shoes and Little Alouette wooden toys, so we are delighted to see this in the magazine!

Cool little boys!

I've never been a big fan of dressing up my son in cartoony stuff as it looks quite cheesy to me, so I tend to get him clothes which make him look all grown up :) He looks best in dark coloured clothes, probably cos he has a rather fair complexion.

Here is my son wearing the lime v-neck tee by Go Gently Baby. It is made of 100% organic cotton which is super soft, and has a small off-centered v neck detail. A rather understated style tee but ever so hip!

Just to introduce Go Gently Baby here - this brand creates stylish, earth friendly apparel for children and shares the vision: Teach your children to love others, be kind to the earth and to Go Gently on their journey through life. Organic fabrics, dyes, water-based inks and sustainable materials are chosen each season. Sweet, simple style with a little edge indeed!

Have you checked out what else we have for the boys? How about this starred tee? Simply très chic for a fun day out, doesn't it?

Here are more designs for little boys:
1) Blueberry Tie Tee
2) Sky Blue Snap Shirt
3) Cargo Shirt in Pebble
4) Bunny Constellation Shirt
5) Taupe Milk Strip Shirt

Have a good week ahead!

5 Ways to Rock this Summer!

Is it just me or has the weather been crazy? The humidity is almost driving me up the wall, not to mention a sniffly nose! This also gave me the inspiration to write this post on how your kid can rock in the heat!

1) Stand out in your swimwear when you hit the beach
- Your little one will sparkle in the sun with this bright yellow polka dotted 70's tie back or the bow bikini!

       

2) Have a cute summer dress

- A sweet dress with spaghetti straps will keep her cool in the park.

   

3) Look chic in resort wear

- Need some chic resort wear options? These organic cotton tops will be perfect for him to run around in the warm weather!

     

4) Of course, we can't leave the babies out! :)

- Check out these adorable onesies that is overlayed with a dress too and the kimono bodysuits!

5) Pair your summer outfit with ultra sweet shoes

      

P/S: We are having a free local shipping promotion for Mother, Inc fans through to 10 June. Just simply enter "MOTHERINC'' at checkout to enjoy free shipping! :)

    

Sink your teeth in!

I'm sure all parents wonder whether their children's toys are safe for children to play with, especially when they are putting things into their mouths!

The best teething toys are made of natural materials like wood as it is hard and gum-smoothing. I came across Little Alouette, which specialises in handmade wooden teething toys. What impressed me was their beautifully crafted/safe construction and clever designs ranging from egg shakers to guitar teethers. They were also featured in Martha Stewart magazine and popular blogs like Cup of Jo!

These wooden toys are not only safe as they are finished with certified organic flax seed oil, but also encourages early motor skills and sensory exploration.  Wood is naturally antibacterial and the textures, smell and feel of wood provides a safe and non-toxic sensory experience. This is definitely a great alternative to plastic teethers and best of all, it's BPA-free!

Here is my son playing with the egg shaker!

MyEcoBabe currently stocks a wide range of wooden teethers and rattles. My personal favourite is the egg shaker and Gigi the giraffe teether. They also make a perfect gift for babies!

Do check out the full range of teething toys and rattles here.

Having a girl to dress up

The decision to have a second child, in my opinion, is much more difficult than having the first. After going through the whole labour/recovery process and the sleepless nights, I'm still deliberating about No. 2. We've been blessed to have such an adorable boy, for whom I'm thankful to God for. There's no doubt that I do not wish Matty (i.e. No. 1) to be an only child. Sometimes, I wonder whether I will love No. 2 as much as Matty.  Let's see when the time comes. :)

But since we have quite a bit of girls' clothing and accessories in the store, I can't help swooning over them. I wish I had a girl to dress up! Boys clothes and shoes tend to be in blue/brown/green/grey colour scheme, so it is truly refreshing to see such burst of colours like the Joyfolie shoes!

MyEcoBabe is proud to be the first retailer in Singapore to carry Joyfolie. This brand of shoes, has been popular in the US for some time.   New arrivals get snapped up within minutes (literally!). Where can you find such sophisticated and chic shoes for girls?  And what is even more cool - it comes with  a matching clip! These shoes are also lined with eco-friendly cotton and are constructed via a combination of organic and sustainable materials. Are you in shoe heaven yet? :)

Here are the shoes we currently carry in our store:

1) Charlotte Shoes in Cream - the perfect shoes for the flower girl

    

2) Sabrina Shoes - A stunning designer fabric which goes well with the colourful dresses your little one has!

3) Saidi Shoes - The everyday shoes - goes perfectly with any combination

4) Luna Shoes - Cool and chic for those formal occasions. Also worn by Emma Lyle on the red carpet!

                 

Why buy organic clothing?

Organic clothing is generally more expensive than normal clothing, but do you know you can actually save money with organic clothing?  With the frenzy of toy recalls, people have started asking questions.  Are their children's toys safe?  How about their clothes?  It is time to look more closely at all the things our children eat, touch, feel and wear in their everyday lives. Here is a quick summary:

Why organic?

1) Fewer chemicals used: Normal cotton clothing typically retains harmful toxic residues, and can cause rashes, allergic reaction, skin irritation and eczema on sensitive skin.  We all know that babies' skin is far more sensitive than adults, so why not buy organic clothing for your little one?

2) Soft and comfortable for our babies and children:  Whereas pesticide and chemically-treated clothing traps heat and prevents skin from absorbing adequate moisture—often causing rashes and eczema on sensitive skin, organic cotton is natural and breathable.  Children with allergies particularly benefit, as organic cotton does not have the residual toxic residues that linger on conventional cotton.  Even those without sensitive skin find organic cotton more comfortable and kid-friendly.  The longer fibres stretch as children grow.

3) Less water/carbon is used:  Today, conventional cotton crops occupy about 3% of the world's cultivated areas but yet it consumes 25% of pesticides and 10% of insecticides produced in the world.  By buying organic products you are also helping to prevent, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and reducing soil fertility

Why wouldn’t you buy organic?

1) The fabric lasts longer:  Although organic clothes cost more, in the long run, it will be a better purchase as it is more durable than non-organic cotton.  While non-organic cotton generally starts breaking after 20 washes, organic cotton safely lasts up to at least 100 washes!

2) The fabric is gorgeous :)

3) No bleaching or harsh chemicals are used in organic cotton:  Since such clothes are produced organically, it is safer for our environment.  So, when you purchase organic clothes, you not only are making a healthier choice for your child, but also our environment!

Hi there!

Welcome to the blog of MyEcoBabe, an online store featuring eco-friendly and sweatshop free products for children!

This blog will be a bit personal as well as mostly abit of business. :)

We hope you will add this site as one of your favorites as we keep you posted on the latest products, promotions and trends!

Thanks for dropping by!