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.

Remember your first Radio Flyer wagon? Even if you didn’t own one (like me), there was probably some friend you knew that did. They were perfect for everything from lugging around stuffed animals, to lemonade stand supplies, to being pulled down the street. Ah, to be a kid.

Well, Radio Flyer has their own green version of the classic original with the Earth Wagon. It’s made from 100% recycled post-consumer HDPE (plastic milk jugs) — over 230 in all. The green and tan colors are infused throughout the boards, so color won’t scratch off and painting is never needed. It is identical in size to Radio Flyer’s famous Town & Country model.

Even though I probably can’t fit in it, I still want one. You can pick up an Earth Wagon for $150 at Green Home.

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.

Doubling as both a beautiful work of art — as well as a fun toy for kids — these recycled Play Kitchens by Rafinesse & Tristesse are a classic example of reuse and recycle. From the website,

Our products are based on the concept of using as much recycled material as possible. We rework them into high quality miniature sinks complete with accessories. We offer our sinks with or without a back wall and in addition with bordure, clocks, hooks and cupboards. If required we will try to provide specific copies, but we cannot make any guarantees. As we recycle most of the material, we use what is available.

You can check out the Splish Splash Sink and Frizzle Sizzle Stove — each hand-made from repurposed olive tins. We also love their Tin Tuffet for those that just want to sit and watch the kids play house. Unfortunately, these beauties are currently only avaiable in Europe. You can check out all the details here.

via Re-Nest

We’ve seen all sorts of clever companies redesign the standard baby bottle — but these silicoe versions from Prince Lionheart are truly different.

Obviously, it’s got the bottle shape — but this is probably one of the first to replicate the tactile experience of breastfeeding. Additionally, they’re BPA, Phthalate, PVC latex and lead free — as well as unbreakable, microwave and dishwasher safe. They’re almost the perfect bottle. Here’s a bit more from the site:

Our silicone nipples have a one-way venting system reducing the incidence of these symptoms and have also been shown to reduce risk of middle ear infections. How it works: Most bottles with venting holes allow air into bottles as babies drink. Prince Lionheart‘s SILICONE bottle collapses as air is released giving baby a bubble-free bottle feeding, reducing the likelihood of colic reflux and spit-up.

You can pick up a 4oz pack of three here for $28.

The standard refrigerator box as a play toy has given way to more intricate and complex designs. To be sure, a giant box is still a blast for kids — but if you’re looking for something with a little design flair, this cardboard Calacastle is a great choice.

Not only is the Calacastle fully recyclable, but its blank 41″ x 41″ x 49″ walls can be decorated any way children see fit — and may also be configured in a variety of ways. Plus, it’s available right now for only $70 — which sure beats having to splurge on a fridge for a giant box! To see more details, jump here.

via ohdeedoh

This is the third multi-use crib we’ve previewed (the YiAhn convertible bassinet and the Cariboo Kiwi Cot Crib being the other two) and besides our excitement of having more choice — they also seem to be getting “greener”.

The Q collection junior luna crib 3-in-1 transforms from a crib to a daybed and finally to a toddler bed. As with the others, you’ll get several years of use out of this one piece of furniture — a savings of sorts that make its $1,500 price tag a bit easier to swallow. As Fawn & Forest point out, it’s also eco friendly: “Made of a hardwood frame in locally sourced birch. The ends + applique elephants are made of no formaldehyde added MDF. All finishes are non-toxic, water based finish, free of VOC health hazards.”

What do you think? Check out additional details here.

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.

This Red Ball Rocker from Knu is just as gorgeous to look at as it is easy on the planet. While it may appear like it was designed for today’s modernist culture — it’s actually a reproduction of a classic 1960s design. According to The Alternative Consumer, what has changed is the commitment to the environment — with Knu being a serious green furniture maker. From the article,

They sell on-line and they don’t mail tree-consuming, wasteful catalogs.  Raw materials come primarily from suppliers within a 50 mile radius.  Hardware contains a high percentage of recycled materials and wood components are primarily FSC certified, multi-ply birch.  Veneers are sustainably harvested and produced, Italian poplar – not rare rain forest timber.

Very cool. You can pick one up for the modern price of $225 here.