Feature Articles: The Green Scene

Feeding Finds That Serve Safe and Fun Mealtimes

By Stephanie Hanlon

If children are our future, then focus needs to extend beyond just what they eat to what they use to eat it. Get past the plastic with alternative eco-friendly materials like stainless steel, bamboo and chemical-free plastic substitutes. Dining out or dining in, The Giggle Guide^® recommends these environmentally-safe products that are portable, safe and stylish: ZoLi, Innobaby, ANYWhere by Untangled Living, and Bambooware by Bamboo Studio.

The Green Scene

Roll and Go with the Roly Blanket

By Brian Wu

If you have moms coming into your store who want a comfortable product for both them and their baby while on the go –– and are also concerned about environmentally-friendly living which will leave baby with a clean, green planet, you will definitely want to invest in Poncho Baby products. This line of baby products offers mom and baby both comfort and convenience, with a focus on sustainability. Not surprisingly, since baby needs a clean, safe place to play or just relax while out and about, the Roly Blanket is one of Poncho Baby’s more popular products.

The Green Scene

5 Phases Bottles Are a Healthy Way to Feed

By Emmi Kern

There are plastic baby bottles, there are glass baby bottles, then there’s 5 Phases. These unique bottles combine the classic benefits of glass bottles with the safety and durability of BPA-free plastic. 5 Phases’ innovative feeding system includes a glass bottle that nestles inside a protective cover. 5 Phases is a baby bottle company founded on the Eastern principle that life is divided into 5 stages, each with its own unique joys and challenges.

The Green Scene

Jack N’ Jill Makes Kids Rush to Brush

By Stephanie Hanlon

Teeth are milestone markers for parents and kids alike. Painful coming in and sometimes coming out, we all know brushing and flossing is crucial to keeping pain away in between. Anyone who has tried to teach a wriggling toddler how to properly swish and spit knows a lot more toothpaste ends up in gullets than in the sink. Thankfully that worry is lessened with natural toothpastes such as Jack N’ Jill. Made in Melbourne, Australia starting in 1949, the toothpaste is 100% safe for young children. Flavors like banana, blackcurrant, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry make for fruity fun.

The Green Scene

Kallio Set to Open Community WorkSHOP in Brooklyn

By Stephanie Hanlon

The understanding of waste in our garments is growing, and customers are starting to ask about the origin of their wardrobe. Kallio started as a consciously-minded kidswear brand out of Brooklyn, NY. After working in the fashion industry, Karina Kallio saw firsthand how much waste there was. Roughly 85% of textile waste ends up in landfills, enough material to recreate the Rocky Mountains. Kallio offers a respite from that reality by repurposing men’s shirts into unexpected modern classics that are wearable and delightful. Kallio is all about local, including sourcing high-quality fabrics that are hand cut in their Brooklyn studio.

The Green Scene

Spence Baby: Where Fashion and Ethics Meet

By The Giggle Guide

When Paul Barton’s sister got pregnant, he and his wife, Sandy, discovered a gap in the children’s market. They searched for baby clothes that were both fashionable and sustainable, but couldn’t find anything that they liked. Clothes produced in an ethical manner all seemed to be frumpy and boring, whereas the cutest baby clothes were in no way sustainable. When the couple discovered they had a baby of their own on the way, they decided to take on the challenge themselves. Spence Baby was born, named after their new little girl, Spencer Grace.

The Green Scene

Worldwide Organic Appeal

By Mari Gold

When customers look for kids’ clothing, style and fit are high on their lists. But the material used to make the garments is also important. Organic growing practices employ approaches and materials that lessen the impact on our environment. This translates into clothing that is totally natural and toxic-free to farmers, workers, the eco-system and consumers. Doodle Do, Sapling Child, Little Gabies and NOCH are companies that are setting a precedent with organic products that are soft, stylish and eco-friendly.

The Green Scene

Imaginations Open Up with Box Play

By Laura Vaillancourt

Capitalizing on the importance of a child’s imagination, Box Play for Kids offers eco-friendly kids stickers to repurpose recyclables into fun, new toys. The company was inspired by owner Janette Harwell’s 2-year-old daughter and her love for stickers and a “penchant for playing with empty boxes.” Harwell continues, “I had an ‘aha’ moment that lead to the invention of Box Play for Kids.” Fortunately for Harwell’s daughter, both her parents are designers who have specialized in package design, branding and advertising for over 20 years.

The Green Scene

OWI’s Solar Recycler Is a Ray of Sunshine

By Emmi Kern

The year was 1980, and robots were emerging as the new trend. The first of a flood of robot-related movies and TV shows had begun to appear, and the possibility of building, programming and even living side by side with robots was seen as a fantastic dream that might just come true. At the time, California-based company OWI was only 2 years young but already seeking out ways to expand their line of inventory and widen their customer base. OWI was ahead of its time in introducing kids to alternative energy through various solar-powered building projects. Products of this kind are still among their best sellers today.