Growing Up Green
Main page for Growing Up Green, WTC's e-newsletter for parents.
Welcome to Growing Up Green, our resource for parents and other caregivers! Once a month, we'll provide easy tips on choosing the safest products for children, including baby bottles, bibs, sunscreen, and much more.
Current issue: March 2010
Rub a Dub Dub, Be Safe at Meals and in the Tub
It's dinnertime... your toddler just smeared pasta sauce onto the wood table, and then used his shirt as a napkin. Now it's definitely time for a bath! Before you get the tub water running, do you know if your mealtime and bathtime accessories are safe for your kids?
February 2010
Count Your Healthy Sheep
Many parents ask us what the healthiest options are for children's mattresses and futons, so we've compiled these tips to help you when you shop. The good news is that mattresses containing the toxic flame retardants PBDEs have been prohibited from sale in Washington stores since January 2008.
January 2010
The most critical time of development is in the womb, and moms-to-be know that a lot goes into a healthy pregnancy. But in this day and age, it's not just vitamins and good nutrition mom needs to worry about-if she does some research, she'll find that the stork has a lot of toxics to dodge before reaching the nursery. Making good personal choices won't keep all toxic problems out of the womb, but will give baby the best start possible. Follow these tips for a happier and healthier pregnancy!
December 2009
Healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2009
The holidays should bring fun and good cheer, not worries about
whether toxic ingredients in toys or other products may harm our loved
ones. While there are some definite “grinch-like” toys to avoid, great
gifts abound. This gift guide can ease worries by helping parents,
grandparents, and friends find the healthiest gifts for children and
others this holiday season.
November 2009
Celebrate Seasonally and Toxic-Free
Please
don’t pass the toxins! Thanksgiving is a time to count blessings, enjoy
good company and, of course, fill up on turkey for the year. We don’t
need an excuse to stuff our stomachs, just be sure you or your guests
are not gobbling harmful chemicals.
October 2009
Don't Get Tricked This Halloween
Trick or Treat!? Costumes and candy are two fun ways to celebrate, but unfortunately, they can be loaded with harmful chemicals. Luckily, choosing safe products this Halloween has never been easier. There are many fun and easy ways to create your own safe alternatives. Follow these simple tips to keep the Halloween season toxic-free.
August/September 2009
Getting Schooled for Back-to-School
Today there is an overwhelming variety of colorful, hi-tech gear for school, many displaying characters from your kid's favorite cartoons, or movies. Unfortunately, with these advances in marketing there have also been advances in the use of toxic chemicals to make these items. But never fear-WTC is here to school you on safe school supplies.
December 2008
Healthy Holiday Gift Guide
The holidays should bring fun and good cheer, not worries about whether toxic ingredients in toys or other products may harm our loved ones. While there are some definite “grinch-like” toys to avoid, great gifts abound. This gift guide can ease worries by helping parents, grandparents, and friends find the healthiest gifts for children and others this holiday season.
November 2008
What’s cookin'? Make it safe!
October 2008
Rain Gear Fear?
Rain,
rain, go away… But the rain is here to stay here in the maritime
Northwest, where your choice of rain gear can make all the difference.
If you’re thinking of buying some new gear, this issue is for you!
There are many chemicals used to make waterproof gear, and we’ll help
you choose products that are safest for your family and the environment.
September 2008
Toxic-Free Back-to-school
As summer comes to an end, the hunt for cool back-to-school gear begins! Shockingly, many common school supplies can contain toxic chemicals. For example, lunch boxes, backpacks, and binders can be made of vinyl, a type of plastic that can contain lead and harmful plasticizers known as phthalates.
July 2008
Get Peachy!
Summer is full of delicious dilemmas. Peaches or plums?
Strawberries or raspberries? It’s tempting to make choices on a whim, but with
a few quick facts, you can choose seasonal fruits that taste fantastic and contain little or no pesticide
residue.
June 2008
Screen Your Sunscreen!
Ah,
summertime! The sky is blue, the sun is bright; you lather up the kids
with sunscreen for a dip in the pool… But are toxic chemicals swimming
in your sunscreen? Here are our quick tips for choosing the safest
sunscreens and protecting your whole family from sun and toxic chemicals!
May 2008
Bummed About Baby Bottles?
Don't
be! The hazards of plastic bottles containing bisphenol-A (BPA) are
real, but so are the alternatives. BPA-free bottles are becoming more
popular every day: here's how you can find them!
Read More...
