Have a Seventh Generation #HealthyBaby and Healthy Family {Prize Pack Giveaway!}

There are a few current fads that I wouldn't mind if they quietly slipped away into the vault of What Were We Thinking? (which is currently filled with things like big bangs, stonewashed jeans and trucker hats).

For instance, when the fashion world opens their eyes and realizes that "jeggings" are 1. not attractive on anyone and 2. make you sound like a 12-year-old girl when you say the name, I won't be all that disappointed.

But a trend that is growing in popularity (and that's a good thing) is going green. As more and more companies have realized that consumers want to be eco-friendly and help out the environment, the number of products available in that category continue to rise.

After all, more and more parents everywhere have realized the staggering number of chemicals that all of us, especially children, are exposed to in our everyday lives and the detrimental effects that they cause. Scientific evidence has proven time and again that this exposure causes or contributes to the rise in childhood behavioral disorders and diseases.

Did you know that cancer is now the leading cause of child-related death in the U.S., exceeded only by injury? How can we ignore these stats and not do everything we can to protect our children?

Fortunately, I was recently able to attend a Seventh Generation Healthy Baby online presentation and it really opened my eyes to the effects and impact that our choices make on our children. If you need a major wake-up in your life, I urge you to watch this short video as well:


Amazing, isn't it? Why is it that there are more than 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the U.S., but comprehensive pre-market safety testing of these chemicals is not required under any federal law? Or that the primary U.S. law that regulates chemicals in everyday products hasn't been updated in more than 35 years?

Or, and this is what irks me the most, why is it that in the European Union, 1,328 chemicals have been banned for use in personal care products while in the U.S. only 11 chemicals have been banned or restricted by the FDA? How are we just okay with the other 1,317 chemicals?

As much as I'm not overly pleased with the idea of all of the chemical exposure to myself, it makes my stomach turn thinking about how kids are even more susceptible to the risks. With their smaller body size and rapid physical development, children are even more vulnerable to exposure to pesticide residues and other chemicals.

In fact, studies have shown that children begin environmental chemical exposure while still in the womb. In a study of 10 minority newborns, more than 232 chemicals were found in umbilical cord blood. And environmental chemical exposure persists throughout childhood — in a study of 10 children's face paints, all 10 tested positive for lead.

Wait. What? My kids adore having their face painted but all of this time it may have actually been harmful to them?

Unfortunately for many of us parents, it is hard to know where to even begin in lessening the chemical exposure that our families are receiving. However, Healthy Child, Healthy World offers five simple, affordable actions families can take daily at home (and more here):

• Take off your shoes at the door: 85% of the dirt in our homes is tracked inside on the bottom of our shoes. It’s not just dirt, but toxins like lead, pesticides, gasoline residue and more. Keep your home safer by taking off your shoes, as it is the public health equivalent of washing your hands.

• Buy safer body care: Children are exposed to an average of 27 care product ingredients on a daily basis that have not been found safe for developing bodies. Protect your family's health by avoiding products with ingredients like parabens, synthetic fragrances and triclosan.

• Open a window: People spend about 90%  of their time inside, but indoor air is typically far more polluted than outside. So, open those windows! Even a few minutes a day can improve indoor air quality.

• Eat more whole foods: Processed foods may be convenient, but they're also loaded with sweeteners, artificial flavors and colorings, and synthetic preservatives. These lack nutrients and many are also linked to health issues like ADHD and even cancer.

Stonyfield Organic offers an arrangement of foods for babies, kids and adults; pure, delicious organic yogurts, smoothies, soy yogurts, ice cream and milk. They are all made without synthetic hormones, toxic persistent pesticides, GMOs and artificial ingredients.

• Ban the can: Bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone disruptor that has been linked to everything from obesity to cancer, is in the plastic resin that lines most canned goods — from soups to sodas. Look for foods packaged in glass or eat fresh, dried, and frozen options.

Want to take even more steps to eliminate hazards and take precautions that can help benefit us all? Here are even more great tips from Seventh Generation:

• Read labels to ensure that you are steering clear of harmful ingredients.

• Avoid vinyl. Vinyl is known as the "poison plastic," so if you can, choose a different tablecloth or shower curtain.

• Wash fruits and vegetables with water. Using a certain kind of food cleaner might actually be adding chemicals to the foods that you are about to eat.

• Have a safe home. Make sure your house doesn't have lead paint and that your radon level in your basement is acceptable.

• Urge Senators to strengthen and pass the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA). It's easy! Click here to find and message your senator.

• Find out more and host your own Healthy Baby Home Party to spread awareness of the dangers of chemicals among moms and caregivers (and print out a $1 e-coupon while you're there)!

I was able to see a Healthy Baby Home Party Kit in person and was beyond impressed with the way that it can empower moms with the resources and tools to educate friends and family on how to create the best environment for their baby.

The information, educational materials, party planning tools, and product samples make it easy to educate others on the importance of reducing chemicals of concern in our environment!

So what are you waiting for? Head over to Seventh Generation and Healthy Child, Healthy World to find out how you can better your world!

Plus, join in the Seventh Generation Healthy Baby Twitter Party, which brings Healthy Baby Home Parties online. The home parties were developed in partnership with Healthy Child Healthy World to give moms a platform to share parenting ideas and rally friends around topics that resonate deeply – like creating a healthy environment for our babies and kids.

So head over to the #HealthyBaby hashtag today, Tuesday, June 25th, at 1pm EST to learn great tips and advice for creating a toxin-free home environment for your kids, ingredients to avoid, recommended products and more. There will even be five prizes (of great Seventh Generation products) awarded throughout the party to participants who respond correctly to trivia questions!

Find out more details and RSVP at Twtvite and then I'll see you on Twitter today at 1pm EST!

Thanks to the generosity of Seventh Generation one person will be also be prepared to make a change for the better, because...

One lucky person will win a Seventh Generation Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack includes (1) full-size sample of each of the following Seventh Generation products: diapers (size 3 or 4 randomly included), 64ct Baby Wipes, Facial Wipes and Bar Soap. Total ARV $26.46.

Entry-Form

I was compensated and provided product from Seventh Generation and The Motherhood for my participation in this campaign, however, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.