Ecorattle was fortunate enough to receive a couple items from the phenomenal Barley and Birch line and we’re happy to report that they’re just as snuggly and all-natural as we would expect.

The company, which proudly makes sure every aspect of their business remains carbon neutral, uses only only certified organic cotton and water-based inks in their kid’s clothing. 10% of all profits also go towards “a variety of organizations working all over the world to improve the lives of others.” In other words, this is a company that is the epitome of sustainable and ethical business.

It also helps they have a sense of humor. Check out any of B&B’s pages and you’ll find some really funny captions to go along with their cute baby models. I particularly like, “Owen was determined to save all the trees even if it took all afternoon.”

For our review, we were provided with an Oak-Print onesie and an Octopus tee. Both items were printed on 100% organic cotton using water-based and toxin-free inks. They come in a variety of sizes up to 24 months. Our little guy looked adorable in each one — and the prints were fresh and very colorful. My only recommendation would be to wash the items first before wearing as some of the natural dye did rub off a bit around the legs. This could also be due to the fact that our guy was wet down there, but washing once would probably avoid this altogether.

Overall, we were very pleased with Barley and Birch’s clever designs and natural materials — and highly recommend their clothing as either a gift or for your own little person. Have a look at the full collection here.

(My son Indy modeling his B&B octopus tee…)

As my husband Michael receives eco-friendly items in the mail quite frequently it has become the norm for us to get a first hand look at some of the new green products out there. I am usually mildly interested. Ok, really interested if it happens to be Jurlique or Burt’s Bees facial products, but most of the time it isn’t considered an event.

Not so for the Kicky Pants striped bamboo pajamas. They were a hit from the moment I took them out of the package.

These pj’s are ultra-soft and made in beautiful natural colors. Not only were they easy to get on and off a squirming baby but they were the perfect weight for summer sleeping. Turns out that Kicky Pants not only makes awesome pajamas they also make a whole line of beautiful eco-friendly bamboo and cotton children’s clothing and maternity clothing. I was impressed with the family owned and operated company, their easy to navigate website and the top quality of their product.

Great company, great pajamas……now only if they made them in my size.

Photo: Our son Indiana in the Kicky Pants striped bamboo PJs.

We love bamboo fabrics — and the designs from Kicky Pants for kids and moms alike are making us giddy inside.

There’s an incredibly wide selection (something picky moms will definitely appreciate) — but what I dig most is how darn comfortable everything looks. How about some Kicky Pants for dad? Here’s a bit more about the company:

A comfortable and incredibly sustainable bamboo clothing line ideal for mothers and babies, Kicky Pants offers playful and charming styles while being extraordinarily breathable, soft and cozy for all seasons. Kicky Pants was created in 2008 when Erin Cloke was on bed rest while pregnant with her second child. Challenged to find age-appropriate clothing for her boys, she was inspired to design a line that would “celebrate innocence,” and be eco-friendly at an affordable cost. All fabrics and designs are exclusive to Kicky Pants, and the process is maintained from the fabric mill to the finish.

Have a look at their full range here. We’re going to try and get some samples to give you a full review later.

Payless Shoes today announced the launch of a new eco-friendly brand called Zoe & Zac. The new line is mostly for adult women, but also features three girl’s shoes, as well as a range of jewelry and socks — all available for under $30 each.

The Zoe & Zac products are green because they are made from eco-friendly components and materials such as organic cottons and linen, natural hemp, recycled rubber outsoles, eco-friendly-EVA cushioning, and water-based glues for the shoes. Natural materials like dyed Tagua and Acai nuts are incorporated into the jewelry. The product packaging is eco-smart as well, utilizing 100 percent recycled shoe boxes and soy-based inks for the printing.

In celebration of the launch, Payless will also be participating in The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign. The company will donate $1 — the cost to plant one tree — for every Zoe & Zac green brand item sold through May 4 and on every Payless exclusive reusable shopping bag sold throughout the year. The Nature Conservancy hopes this effort helps them reach their goal to plant 1 billion trees by 2015 to help rebuild the Atlantic Forest in Brazil.

Check out the full, new collection here.

It was only a matter of time before the texting lexicon made it onto onesies, bibs, and hats — and it’s just as cute as one might expect. Thanks to the folks over at Text Message Baby, it’s also green — with all clothes made from 100% organic cotton and printed using citrus oil based inks (100% biodegradable and non-toxic.)

For $28, you can get such hip sayings as SIMH:( (Stuck in my High Chair), G2GP:-) (Got To Go Potty), and my personal favorite, LMDO:-) (Laughing My Diaper Off). They will also soon have some “Funky Hats” and “Unique Bibs”. Bonus: All items are shipped in packaging shaped like a cell phone, and made with 100% recycled paper and soy inks.

Check out their full selection here to start ROFLYAO.

I’m sure we’ve all hit that wall of panic when we realize we’re supposed to attend a baby shower and have yet to find a gift. Instead of rushing out to the store, however, and scooping up some random toy — why not take a look at the beautiful and eco-friendly gift sets available from Green Baby Gift Box?

The company specializes in scouring the world for the best toys and clothes from truly sustainable and socially responsible companies — and then organizing them all by theme into gorgeous gift boxes. Think of them as your emergency “green baby” On Star! From the site,

Let’s face it—the typical first baby requires a lot of shopping, even if you’re the Queen of Hand Me Downs. Researching safety and materials on everything from pajamas to breast milk storage bottles can be exhausting for anyone, much less a new parent. And trying to find a “green” gift for a child or friend when you don’t shop that way yourself can be rather intimidating. Enter Green Baby Gift Box, your personal fairy godmother. We want your experience on our site to be magical. If you are interested in a custom order, can’t find something, or have a suggestion, just contact us by email or phone. We’re ready to help!

Their themes include “Daredevil”, “In the Swin”, “Tree Hugger”, “Snuggle Bunny” and many more. You can also feel great that your package is wrapped and shipped in nothing but 100% recycled cardboard and paper — and also put together in a “green” facility. Even better? Their entire range of products are now sale! Check ‘em out here.

via Treehugger

Our little tot is just about to turn five months old — but he’s still having a bit of trouble keeping his balance when sitting up. I give him another few months or so before those core muscles start lending a hand — but in the meantime, this Ritzy Sitzy Bamboo cover might provide him with a bit of assistance.

According to Great Green Baby, this cover is “softly padded to keep baby propped up no matter where they sit. Or it can prevents bumps and bruises when they fall over while those muscles still grow stronger.” According to the Itzy Ritzy website, the fabric also helps baby avoids any nasty germs they might come in contact with in a standard grocery cart.

Cute, soft, but a bit pricey. You can pick on up for just under $90 at the Itzy Ritzy site.

I love the idea behind the Peekaru — which essentially keeps your baby bundled up while exposing only their head. It fits over all sorts of standard baby carriers using a zip. Of course, in certain positions, it also looks like they’re sticking out your stomach — throwing me back to that scene in Aliens when the creature exited via a similar route. But truly, what a nice snug — and eco-friendly way — to carry around your tot. From the website,

Made from 85% recycled high quality Polartec fleece, each Peekaru Original™ saves approximately 25 plastic bottles from reaching the landfill. In addition, Polartec fleece is Oeko-tex Standard 100 “for textile products of all types which pose no risk whatsoever to health.” Feel good knowing that while you are holding your baby close, you are also helping the environment.

They have sizes and colors for both women and men. You can pick one up for just under $80 here.

There are a million witty baby slogans out there, but this one has me rolling about. As Green Daily points out, carrying your infant about in this organic onesie might just inspire real conversation about compost piles. That, or how compostable those gDiapers he or she has on are. Or, just: “Where is the changing room?”

It’s available for $14.98 is all sizes up to a year at What On Earth.

Baby K’tan

“The Baby K’tan has added security and back support as compared to the traditional sling, and added comfort and ease of use as compared to the traditional front carrier. Our unique design offers the wearer a 100% cotton carrier with NO buckles, snaps, rings or hardware, that otherwise make baby wearing complicated and uncomfortable. Our adjustable back support band offers the wearer extra back support and makes it easy to adjust baby or toddler’s weight distribution on both shoulders.”

We have a harness system with buckles and such at home — but I would love to give the Baby K’tan version a shot. Anyone else have good sucess with it?

You can pre-order the organic version here.