Most people remember Kellie Martin for her portrayl of the daughter on Life Goes On (though there were many devoted fans to both her series Christy on CBS and her stint on ER), so it may be a jump to think of her not as a socially-awkward teen but a woman with a child of her own. But Martin is now the proud parent of a two-year old girl and one of the developments that has come with motherhood is a renewed commitment to going green (a trend we’ve mentioned regarding fellow mom Jessica Alba). Martin is working to one day have everything that fills her daughter’s room or touches her daughter’s skin be free of toxic chemicals, and one of the ways she’s setting to work is by favoring eco-friendly, natural products over conventional alternatives. Martin is dressing daughter Margaret in organic cotton clothing, applying natural baby skin care products and handing over wooden toys for playtime. Click here to read more

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We won’t argue that pre-prepped jars of baby food are convenient and that as the parent of a young child, convenience is a valuable commodity. But there are some definite reasons to consider making your own baby food instead of purchasing store bought. The biggest one, undoubtedly, is your baby’s health. The European Union recently recalled all Chinese baby food that contained Chinese milk after it was discovered that a toxic chemical had been illegally added to the dairy supplies. By that point four babies had already been killed and 54,000 sickened. Although this is an extreme example, when it comes to the health of your little loved one, it’s always nice to err on the side of overly cautious. If you’ve always thought of storebought food as more nutrious, you can read this chart comparing the two options. Click here to read more

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OBLI Organics is a company all about family, and they’re including Mother Earth in that lineage. Created by two sisters–who were inspired by three children and two dogs–OBLI Organics was started to provide an outlet for them to work together at something that really mattered. What could be better, they decided, than clothing for their little loved ones (both kids and canines) that promoted an environmentally conscious message.

They craft their goods from 100% certified organic resources and utilize Fair Trade practices. This means kid’s tees, onesies, pants and dog jackets made from organic cotton and non-PVC screen printing. Tags are printed on Neenah environment paper with soy ink. Logo stickers are made from recycled paper and dissolve completely in water. Gift boxes are made from 100% recycled materials. The list goes on, but doesn’t stop at the office–both have made green decisions in their personal lives, doing things like driving hybrids and shopping locally (you can check out their tips for Ecolectual living on their site). Click here to read more

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Infancy can be a trying time for mothers and babies alike; there are tummy troubles, crying fits, adjustments all-around and not nearly enough sleep. For babies, it’s a lot to experience, and for moms it can incite a lot of worry. One solution can be found in infant massage, which has been shown to help babies cry less and sleep more, while lowering their levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. And any mother can confirm that when baby is sleeping more and crying less, mom will be too! By giving daily massages to their infants, mothers have also found their babies relieved from digestion issues and colic. Click here to read more

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To begin, let us clarify that there is nothing glamorous about diaper changing–Even the biggest baby lovers will attest that they could do without the stinky swap-outs. However, as long as there are babies, there will be diaper changes (hopefully with green diapers), and with more babies born in the late summer and early fall months than any other time of year, it’s definitely diaper season. So, while there may not be anything swanky about this stinky activity, you might as well make the most of out of its accessories, which no longer have to scream “diaper bag” and can actually look hip.

Available in chocolate brown and olive green, with a subtle botanical design on the front flap, the Re-Run Diaper Bag not only looks good, it works well: It can be worn as a shoulder bag, a messenger bag or thrown over a stroller handle, comes with a changing pad and wipe case, and features an iPod pocket with ear-bud pass through (we told you it was hip). Click here to read more

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We were so excited to read about the Safe Toy bill passing in Senate last week – the new bill bans 6 phthalates, eliminates lead in toys for kids under 12, requires unbiased pre-market testing, and doubles the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s budget by 2014, among other things. Despite industry lobbyists’ protests, the House voted 423 to 1 and the Senate voted 89 to 3 – a definite step towards corporate accountability that will hopefully become more widespread in other industries.

But until all of those safer toys hit stores’ shelves, companies like Plan Toys, which we’ve written about in the past, provide educational, fun playthings free of preservatives, additives, or harmful paints. Plan Toys’ Dancing Alligator is a great option for toddlers – the pull toy helps develop gross motor skills, and the bright colors stimulate active minds. Click here to read more

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A product’s versatility is often key to how eco-friendly it is. The longer you can use something, the less you’ll contribute to the waste stream, the fewer new products will be purchased, and the more money you’ll save. But many expecting parents seem resigned to the idea that as kids grow, everything will need to be replaced – clothing, toys, furniture, you name it.

In a time in which longevity isn’t a concern for many companies because it doesn’t yield as much profit, Stokke’s Sleepi Mini and Crib System stands out. It’s the perfect solution for keeping up with kids’ changing needs. It starts out as a small bassinette, just big enough for newborns to feel cozy and safe in. A conversion kit makes it simple to turn the bassinette into a full-size crib in a snap, and later on, it converts to a toddler bed. Eventually, when children have graduated to a full-size bed, the Stokke system disassembles into two sidechairs, perfect to read in. We really like the rounded, modern look – no sharp edges – and the fact that it rolls from room to room. Click here to read more

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We recently talked about Skin Deep Cosmetics Safety Database’s Sunscreen Report, which revealed that an alarming number of leading sunscreen brands don’t live up to the sun protection they promise, and on top of that, cause us to absorb potentially harmful chemicals like oxybenzone into our skin.

As the ozone layer continues to be depleted and we’re increasingly more exposed to UV radiation, finding a safe, effective sunscreen should be a major priority for all of us – but particularly for our kids. Not only are kids more harmed by sun exposure, but they also absorb more of what’s put on their skin because of a greater skin surface area to body weight ratio.

According to the World Health Organization, children’s skin is thinner and more sensitive, and prone to burn after only a very short time in the sun. The WHO also warns that when kids are exposed to lots of sun and are sunburned early in life, they’re at a higher risk for developing melanoma when they’re older.

With such uncertainty about many sunscreen, what’s the best way to keep our kids safe in the sun? The WHO recommends wearing protective clothing and hats and seeking shade as the most effective ways to prevent harmful UV exposure – providing a high-SPF physical barrier between the skin and the sun is best.

That’s why we like Kiddopotamus’s Rayshade and Babyshade Double Stroller Covers. These shades block 99% of UV rays, and the Double Stroller Cover also protects against wind and insects. Click here to read more

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Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States. Almost 50% of Americans who live to the age of 65 will have skin cancer at least once. We rely on sunscreen to help protect our skin. But chemicals in conventional sunscreens have been linked to a host of health problems. For example, common ingredients in chemical based sunscreen (as opposed to mineral blockers) such as benzophenone, oxybenzone, octinoxate, and homosalate may mimic the hormone estrogen. And, none of the chemical based sunscreens are reef friendly. In fact, a recent study found that the chemicals in chemical based sunscreens may be bleaching our coral reefs. We pollute our coral reels with 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreens that wash off our bodies.

But an eco-friendly solution does exist. Mineral based sunscreens containing titanium or zinc seem to be a healthier option, and do not appear to contribute to coral bleaching.

One we love is the California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen, $16.16. Click here to read more

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Last year’s toy recalls for lead paint-contaminated toys scared most parents. Lead is a potent neurotoxin, particularly harmful to children’s developing brains. Lead exposure may result in developmental disabilities, cognitive impairment, slowed growth, damage to the central nervous system and has been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Children are particularly susceptible to lead exposure because of their smaller size, greater rate of absorption of lead and ongoing development. As a result, lead paint-contaminated toys can pose a problem, particularly for younger children still prone to mouthing toys. But even children who don’t mouth toys are still at risk of exposure to lead if the toys contain lead-contaminated paint. If children play with a toy and lead dust comes off in their hands, they can ingest the dust from their hands, or paint chips can be ingested. Even a contaminated paint chip the size of a staple can elevate a child’s blood lead level.

A safe, eco-friendly option is Plan Toys’ Shape Matching Toy, $19.50, which combines six different puzzles on a board. The child matches the corresponding halves to fit within the spaces on the board. The board is slanted for easy use, the brightly colored pieces are attention-grabbing, and it’s great for helping kids learn to differentiate colors, shapes and forms. Click here to read more

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