One World Birth is a resource for parents, doula’s, midwives and other professionals or anyone who wants to know about birth today. You can watch lots of short movies with experts.

Do you believe that normal birth is the best way to give birth to your baby? Do you think birth is a positive experience or negative? What will birth be like in the future? And what is happening in the world of birth today? That are alle questions that experts reply to in short movies. But if you are pregnant and you have some questions this website is also very usefull. Midwives and doula’s will answer questions for you like: What’s the best place to give birth? Home or hospital? Is it better to tear or be cut? and will my vagina still be the same size after giving birth?

Movies

Prof. Sally Tracy on neonatal care after induction or cesarean

Two doulas tell you in 60 seconds about the difference between Braxton Hicks & contractions

Did you ever expect that ‘Rapley’ might become a verb?
No! This was a complete shock. If I am truthful, I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I am very grateful and flattered to be ‘immortalised’ in this way but, on the other hand, I don’t feel that what I have done deserves this level of recognition. I did not invent baby-led weaning (BLW) – the method has been in existence throughout the world, for millions of years! All I have done is give it a name and, by talking and writing about it, made it available to first-time parents and those who have struggled to feed their baby solid foods, so they know there is an alternative. Some parents have criticised me for apparently claiming credit for something that they found by themselves – and of being interested only in being famous and making money. This is not true – and I certainly don’t want to be thought of as one of those parenting ‘gurus’! I therefore never use the terms ‘Rapleying’ or ‘the Rapley method’ myself.


What developments have been made in the Baby-led Weaning method since the book was published?
I don’t think anything has changed in the method itself but its popularity has grown enormously. That is probably more to do with the Internet than with the book. However, one of the things that I hope the book has done is to provide a clear explanation of what Baby Led Weaning is – and what it isn’t. The main reason Tracey and I wrote it was because we were aware that some people who said they were doing BLW were in fact doing something rather different – and even, in some cases, potentially dangerous! We wanted to make sure that parents had the opportunity to learn about the theory and practice of Baby Led Weaning from a reliable source.
The original book is now available in Finnish and Polish, as well as in an American ‘translation’, and there are blogs and forums discussing Baby Led Weaning in many other countries. Incidentally, I am surprised that no publisher in the Netherlands has been interested enough to translate it – especially since it was mothers and professionals in the Netherlands who first started to talk about Baby Led Weaning.


Lots of ready-to-eat baby food producers claim to take your research very seriously. Do you think they really do?
I hope they take it seriously, but I’m not sure what they are doing about it. Certainly, they haven’t contacted me! Maybe they are planning to sell little pots of cooked vegetable sticks? Or maybe they will try to argue that BLW doesn’t ‘work’. If so, I think they are a bit late – there are already too many parents out there who know that it does work!

Lots of people use Baby-led Weaning but on the other hand lots of people are also afraid to start because they think their baby might choke. What do you advise these parents?
Choking is a very common worry – but a very rare occurrence. As long as the baby is sitting upright, and is the only person to put food into his mouth, there is no reason why choking should be any more of a risk with BLW than with spoon feeding. Also, all babies eventually need to learn how to manage food in pieces, and there is no evidence that experience with purees helps them to do this. I usually advise parents who are worried about choking to learn about the difference between choking (which is rare) and gagging (which is common). Our book is useful for this. You should talk to a parent who has done Baby Led Weaning, and ask them about choking and gagging. And try to see a slightly older baby, who has been doing Baby Led Weaning for a few weeks, feeding himself; they will be impressed with how capable he is.


In the Netherlands young parents get a book at the ‘consultatiebureau’ (the clinic where your baby gets vaccines and is checked regularly). The book advises parents not to make puree of the food and give children the same food as they are eating themselves. But most parents make puree or give their children food from a jar everyday. How do you think that institutions should communicate about food?

It is generally recognised that books and leaflets on their own are of limited value as a way of informing parents. It is much more effective for information to be given verbally, with written information used as a back-up. I also think parents need to see Baby Led Weaning in action, in order to understand how effective and easy it is. I therefore think that the best ways of giving information are one-to-one discussions, groups (with ‘guest’ Baby Led Weaning mothers who are happy to talk about their experience) and resources such as DVDs. Finally, health professionals themselves need to make sure they all say the same thing – and to believe in what they are saying.


What can we expect in the next couple of years from Gill Rapley?
That would be telling! I can say that I am working, with Tracey, on another book about infant feeding. I am also currently a full-time research student and will be carrying out a study looking at how babies themselves would like to be introduced to solid foods.

Thank you so much for your cooperation. It was nice to get better acquainted.

You can by the book in bookstores or check the website Baby Led Weaning

You should try this and let us know what your experiences are.

Cleaning products

Replacing normal-use cleaning products around the house is one of the first steps everyone should take in making sure their home is free of as many toxins as possible. Many household cleaners are extremely high in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s). Repeated and heavy exposure to VOC’s has been known to cause health risks such as kidney damage and different types of cancer. There are a number of name brand organic options to choose from in most stores today. In some cases, you can even create your own household cleaners.

Paint

Paint is another common household product that is high in VOC’s, just like common cleaners. If you happen to be taking on a construction project, or maybe just working on some type of arts and crafts, taking on some new types of paint can be great for cutting down on toxins and health risks. Luckily these days there are a number of options that are easy to come by. Low VOC paints are very common and should be available in most major hardware stores.

Air filters

Replacing your air filter regularly is an important step in keeping a toxin free home at all times. The air filter works to help keep out mold and dust. If an air filter is older, not replaced, and becomes jammed up it essentially loses its purpose. Instead of stopping the toxins from getting into the house, it will then start to spread them. Therefore, replacing your filter can do wonders in keeping toxins from floating around the home.

Plants

Adding a plant around the house can be great for cutting down on toxins, as well as a great decoration piece. There are a few plants that are particularly successful in cutting down home toxins such as an English Ivy or a Bamboo Palm. Plants are highly effective in cutting down certain VOC’s like formaldehyde and benzene down. This will cut down on possible nausea, dizziness, eye irritation and respiratory problems.

Insulation

Having your home’s insulation checked can also be very helpful in preventing toxins and reducing health risks, especially if you have an older home. Many older homes have asbestos as an insulation material; this is a fiber that’s known for its connection to diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis. Luckily, there are a number of organic insulation options that are both sustainable and cost effective available these days. Spray foam, lycenene, and cotton fiber are all common organic insulation alternatives. Having a home checked for asbestos can be extremely beneficial in cutting major health risks. For example mesothelioma life expectancy is very low and severe. Make sure to check out some of the organic insulation options to not only increase your home’s sustainability, but also cut toxins and health risks.

Our homes are supposed to be our safe haven and somewhere that we all feel protected from the dangers of the world. Taking a few easy steps to cut down on the toxins around the home and improve the air quality can do wonders for making your house an even safer place.

Written by: Krista Peterson
My name is Krista Peterson and I am 23 years old. I do not have any children (just a nephew). I currently reside in Florida. I am an aspiring writer and recent college graduate. I am a health and safety advocate and use my writings to spread awareness of such issues. I have a passion for the environment. In my free time, I enjoy doing yoga and playing with my dogs.

Photo by: Go natural baby

You have to see this movie about toxins in our cosmetics. It will change the way you go shopping for your shampoos and make-up. It will take 8 minutes of your time but it will be worth it!

Movie by Annie Leonard

You might have seen Annie Leonard before in the ‘Story of Stuff’. This movie is about The Story of Cosmetics. The ugly truth of toxins in, toxins out.

In winter I long for the outdoors. I use my Macbook to make sheets and maps for my perfect kitchen garden. I buy crazy seeds of exotic plants and a look forward to all the fresh green on my plate. And then the sun breaks through. So I go out and start my mission.

Garden Diary

My plans come to life as soon as I go out. But once my fingers get into the clay, I forget about writing down what I’ve done. And my maps and plans stay in the house. All my research about the plants and the books I’ve borrowed stay inside. I guess it’s the same with babies: see if they are happy and then be a little confident that everything is happy and growing. But truth is that with plants I don’t have this natural feel for it.

Myfolia.com

This year I discovered something new: Myfolia. You can easily import when you’ve bought something, when you’ve put plants or seeds in the ground, where it arises, flourishes etc.. You can also see a timeline on when things should happen (expected harvest time). Perfect! You just enter what kind of soil you have (found on a map), how many gardens you have and all sorts of tips on caring for your plants arise online. It’s best to be there right from the start to start.

All the information I needed, I found on this site. Moreover, it is nice to see the gardens of other people to follow. I had a ‘journal’ writing about why one of my pea plants would grow peas faster than others and there was immediate response. Rick suggested that I could use one pea plant for the next session. I didn’t think of that yet.

Myfolia is a handy log with lots of information and it’s a nice way to connect with other gardeners. You can also order seeds, but also trade.

Outside Mobile App

It is true however that this is not an option with clay fingers if you need to know something fast. That is where the mobile application comes in. With the Folia Garden Tracker you can also check the information while you are sitting in your garden.

Free basic account

You can register for a free account. But you can also become a ’supporter’. As a supporter you can add an unlimited number of plants and also implement all the data in your iCal. There are no ads on the website. The makers have created this site in addition to their regular job and so they try to cover the costs through the ability to create a supporter account.

About Rapanui

Rapanui is about making cool eco-fashion for young people; that means clothing that is eco-friendly, ethical and sustainable: Made from natural organic fabrics in a Fairwear Foundation audited, wind powered factory. Through surfing the brothers saw and experienced the changing environment and climate at their local beach and as inspired, unemployed graduates in a recession, they took a different path; if you can’t find a job, make one.
Rapanui was set up by brothers Martin and Rob Drake-Knight in early 2008 with £200 of savings and was listed in the Top 100 Start-ups of 2008. Rob and Martin are listed on the Future 100 List of Top young Entrepreneurs and were recently finalists in Enterprise UK’s Young Brits awards. Rapanui was the youngest company to reach the finals of the Sustainable Business Awards in 2008 and has recently been nominated for the internationally-recognised ISPO Brand New Award.

Inspire

Before now the brand was essentially appealing to people who were already aware of the bad ethics that surround the fashion industry, with their cool new designs the brothers hope to captivate an audience of high-street fashion shoppers, who are perhaps less aware of where their clothes come from.
Martin explains – “It’s not that people don’t care, it’s just that they don’t know. If we can inform and educate people as to where clothing comes from and how it is made they can make informed decisions as shoppers.”
Rob continues: “We’re all young people at Rapanui and think it’s only right that people of our age can have access to high street style eco-fashion and in the process learn where their clothing comes from and how it is made.”

Cool website

Rapanui’s website also hosts a Wikipedia style resource packed with information about their supply chain, where consumers can find out where clothing comes from, how it is made and ask questions on anything – from planting the seed to stacking on the shelf.
Martin concludes “As a brand, if we can mix eco-fashion with trend to inspire people to think about the environment in their wider lifestyle, we will have done our job.”

Check it out at; www.rapanuiclothing.com and let them know what you think.

Most paper receipts are printed unasked. Even if you do not want the receipts, they do exist. With a receipt you can return your purchases or complete your taxes. But most purchases (coffee, chocolate bar at the petrol station or the weekly shopping) are not important enough to save the receipts.
So away with the receipts! Discarding them doesn’t help. Consumers (yes, you!) should ask shops not to print the receipt.

Receipt Paper

Receipts are often printed on heat-sensitive paper. Why? Because it has the ability to print a relatively high speed and low cost (no ink needed) with an acceptable resolution for printing. These coupons are fading slowly and turn completely black from heat. In 2002 in Europe 77% of the receipts were printed on thermal paper and 23% with a matrix printer (Source: Wikipedia). Thermal paper can not be recycled.

Unhealthy coupon

To color the thermal paper a layer of powder is made on one side of the ticket. The powder colors when heated. The powder coating contains BPA (Bisphenol A). BPA is known as an endrocrin disruptor.

Put an example

Online shops and some companies send a digital invoice. Some supermarkets print receipts only when you ask them to and on FSC paper.
Do you have a remarkable experience? Put a comment below this blog.

Read the article ‘Please kill the paper receipt‘ and vote for the poll.

Poketo is proud to introduce its collaboration with South Korean non-profit design brand, Eco Party Mearry with a 100% recycled line of bags made from street banners, used leather jackets, couches, and donated clothing. The nationwide launch of this line in April will help usher in Earth Day in April and welcome the new Spring season, breathing new life into materials that may have once been considered disposable!

In true Poketo spirit, each bag is handmade by passionate young designers with the like minded desire to create wearable art that is recycled, functional, and beautiful without destroying the environment. No two bags are alike in color, texture, stitching, or material origin. As a way to demonstrate the power of sustainable design, proceeds go back into the community towards environmental protection, and aiding those in need both domestically and abroad. Eco Party Mearry has made a conscious effort to educate their buyers about each product’s history inscribed in a tag, with pictures and descriptions of leather couches, banners, or other objects used to create the product. Not only do you acquire something that is high quality and one-of-a-kind, but you also get to be a part of a larger social mission to make the world a greener, friendlier place to live.

“This collaboration is a great opportunity to increase green awareness for a new generation of doers and thinkers who also have an appreciation for good design and functionality.” – Ted Vadakan, Co-Founder.

The Poketo x Eco Party Mearry bags will be available on April 20th, 2010 on their online store.

Recycled Street Banner Bags

Look closer. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill nylon shopping totes. These cool, modern bags are created out of street banners taken from Seoul and made by an eco-friendly non-profit shop in South Korea that specializes in creating one of a kind hand-crafted goods out of generally castoff objects. Instead of going to the dump, the banners are re-purposed into beautiful and durable bags with wonderful typography and splashes of colors. Each bag is one-of-a-kind in the world! No two are alike in color, stitching, or material origin. We can’t possibly show all the images of all the bags, but trust us, the bags are wonderfully fresh with cool type and great colors. You’ll be thrilled to receive a bag that no one else has in the world.

Recycled Bubble Bags

These vibrant and airy bubble bags are the perfect accessory for spring! Made of 100% recycled street banners, these one-of-a-kind bags are perfect for a day out in the farmer’s market, or at the beach. With so many dynamic styles, each bag is completely unique from the next and hand made, not manufactured. From conception to execution all aspects of this bag consider both human and environment. The strong elastically-lined shoulder strap assures a secure fit, and the two pockets interior of the bag help organize clutter. So make a statement this season! No one else will have your bag, but everyone will want to know about it!

Recycled Suit Totes

Created with recycled clothing, the totes include neatly stitched leather handles (also created from recycled leather couches), and a convenient pocket inside to carry many of your daily essentials.This rather eccentric and unconventional bag enriches the range of what can be done with recycled material and creates a bold new look with a glance to the past and a strong vision into the future.

Lotties Soft washable nappies

Name test diaper: Lotties Soft
Size: S (3-7 kilo)
Colour: off white
Test status baby: The baby is now nine weeks old and weighs 6 kilos. He poops not every diaper is full, but usually two or three times a day a big load. He pees a lot.

Conclusion

This is the thickest diaper that we have been testing. But it is also the most ecological diaper. For real ecomamas this is like the perfect diaper. This diaper regarded as ‘very good’ in the OKO test. The diaper is made of organic cotton and no harmful coloring has been used.
I think that a baby potty trained faster with this kind of diaper. Because the baby feels the wet diaper better and is more aware of peeing and pooping.

Tip for new cotton nappy users

Try a set! Lotties also has a sample pack. So you convince yourself.

Kushies

Brand: Kushies
Size: 1 (4-10 kilo)
Colour: white with typical baby pictures
Baby status: The baby is now nine weeks old en weighs approximately six kilos. Changing him has become a challenge since he has decided to become an acrobat.

Conclusion

Especially the absorption is a strong point of this diaper. The velcro makes it an attractive diaper. It is not the most beautiful but effective.
I would have expected that the diaper would make some noise when the baby moves around. The outside of the diaper looks like it is made of a plastic raincoat. But that is not the case. Your baby is still very quiet when he is kicking with his legs.

Tip for new cotton nappy users

Washable diapers are usually thicker than disposable diapers. This makes clothes sometimes suddenly too short. Use Little Extensions (sold by Musjes.com).