New York City has many wonderful resources and stores for the family and earth conscious parent. Here are my picks for the top 5 NYC go to resources for within the 5 boroughs:

Best New Life Style Store: Caribou Baby

This go to spot, located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn offers not only, food, diapers, clothing and skincare products for baby and mom, but Caribou Baby also offers an array of birth preparation and parenting classes and workshops.

Best Cloth Diapering Resource: Doable Diapers

Regardless of which borough you live in, Doable Diapers’ online store helps to make cloth diapering much easier for you. From newborn to beyond, they carry an array of products and accessories. They have you covered.

Best Breastfeeding Resource: YummyMummy

YummyMummy… I love that name. I love that this store embraces, celebrates and encourages breastfeeding. Whether you are in need of breastfeeding classes, breast pump rentals, nipple butter or an easy access shirt, this UES gem is a go to resource. Delivery is available in Manhattan.

Best Fresh Baby Food Resource: Petit Organics

After 6-8months of exclusive breastfeeding or formula feeding, baby is ready for solid foods. Parents want to give their baby the healthiest nutritious food they can provide. Though my pick for best local baby food resource is not in everyone’s price range, the concept behind the company and their offering is pretty awesome, especially for on-the-go parents. I also want to put out there that as opposed to asking for a lot of clothes or toys at a baby shower ask for friends and family to donate for a fresh food fund for when baby is ready. Petit Organics delivers 100% organic, fresh , vegan, wheat-free and non GMO prepared food to the Manhattan area and has a pick location in Park Slope.

Best Parent & Baby Activity: Karma Kids Yoga

Bonding with baby is one of the most important and fun aspects of motherhood and fatherhood. Mom/Dad & Baby Yoga at Karma Kids is a wonderful way to connect with baby as well as giving your body a little restorative love. They also have story time as well! I am definitely an advocate for creating a tradition of storytelling in the family

While I don’t think that delivery gowns are the next big “it” thing, Pretty Pusher’s organic delivery gown maybe on to something when it comes to the world of maternity fashion. The gown, which also comes with a matching headband, is compostable.

I try to shy away from covering too many clothing/fashion stories, as for both expectant mother and baby, each of their bodies change so rapidly that the concept of spending money on new garments is inefficient. I mostly recommend using bellybands, friend’s clothing, or purchasing garments from thrift shops during pregnancy and for rapidly growing babies. Fashionistas, don’t worry though, you can find several fashionable pieces via this method. Even if a garment is not made with organic materials, if you buy it from a second hand vendor or borrow it from a friend, you are still doing your part when it comes to protecting the environment by extending the garment’s lifecycle.

If more maternity garments and infant clothing pieces were as fashionable (as is this gown, which can easily be used as a sexy night gown as well) organic and compostable as this Pretty Pusher’s piece, it would definitely be an incentive for the the ecoconsumer to purchase. This niche(yet popular) maternity industry can benefit by adapting more from the cradle-to-cradle mentality.

I just discovered the baby carrier brand, Boba, who is based out of Boulder, Colorado. What struck me most about Boba, aside from their passion to provide the means for parent to raise confident, joyful, compassionate children, is their attention to ergonomics. The parents and founders of Boba choose to run their green business in their hometown of Boulder with the help of local mountaineering professionals. Together, Boba manufactures ergonomically correct well-designed handmade carriers for toddlers 15lbs to 45lbs.

To enable a healthy sitting position for child, the carriers were design with foot straps. These straps help to anchor the toddler’s weight and alignment while it is being carried. Ultimately, the toddler is guided into a natural position, which naturally tilts the pelvis, fills out the hip sockets, and aligns the spine.

Here are more of its benefits:

*the more leg support the less pressure absorbed by the spine
*takes the pressure off of the hamstrings
*reduces the leg dangle
*gives feet a place to rest
*ensures complete blood flow throughout legs
*no pinching of the major nerve behind the thigh
*envelops the whole back while securing your toddler
*gives them the option to put arms in or out
*pulls them closer to you
*prevents the “leaning away from you” feeling
*reduces shoulder strap pressure
*allows you to stand straight as you should
*brings your center of gravity toward your body

The organic Boba carriers are made with 100% soft brushed GOTS certified organic cotton straps and trim, 100% certified organic cotton canvas panel and consist of no buttons or snaps for added soft comfort. The organic carriers range from $118- $125 and you can purchase them online or at your local retailer.

Boba 2G on the Today Show from Brad Young on Vimeo.

In addition to having a wonderful product collection, Boba’s parent company, Nap, Inc. has strong CSR virtues. Management commits to using bicycles for at least 50% of their local transportation needs, the company uses only virtual business cards, packaging supplies are either recycled or donated for re-use and the company supports several organizations.

I have just recently come across this delightful California based on-line store named Sprout Baby. It is a one-stop URL destination for all thing eco-friendly baby, parents and home. Next time you are shopping for yourself, friends or families, add this site to your bookmark of favorites.

SproutBaby also features a new EcoPass ($99.00) that grants customers:

• Free Shipping on every order
• 15% savings on every product we sell
• Advance looks at new products.
• Exclusive offers and promotions.

Click on the images below to read more about a few of my favorite products from the site

Grass Countertop Drying Rack $19.99

Organic Diaper Clutch $62.00

Sweet Knee Bun Glaze $9.95

Boon Mini Bath Goods $10.99

Sprout Foods Variety 12-Pack for Babies Seven Months and Older $15.49

This month, when you purchase The Everyday Oils enrollment kit from the Verte boutique, $15 will be donated to V-Day and UNICEF’s City of Joy Project. The two non-profits, in partnership with the Panzi Foundation, are currently building a special facility for the survivors of sexual violence in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The City of Joy will support women to heal and provide them with opportunities to develop their leadership through programming in: group therapy; storytelling; dance; theater; self-defense; comprehensive sexuality education (covering HIV/AIDS, family planning); ecology and horticulture; and economic empowerment.

Just a few dollars have far-reaching impact and can provide much needed supplies that will make the City of Joy a comfortable, caring, and healthy place for women survivors of sexual violence to learn, lead, and inspire.

For example, $30 provides one woman with seeds for the City of Joy’s horticulture program for one year or $400 provides the salary of a local registered nurse.

On your behalf, Verte (The Green Doula’s Parent Biz) will donate $15 to one of the City of Joy’s registry category items which include:

Skills Training
Healing
Living
Education
Working
Nourishing
Or a Custom Donation

How Are You Able to Enhance Your Life While Helping to Build the City of Joy?

By incorporating “nature’s living energy” into your everyday lifestyle, you are bound to enhance your everyday life. How do you hone such energy? Well, you don’t have to for Young Living Essential Oils have already done it for you. It is Young Living’ mission to promote the ancient healing art of essential oil therapy. Offering a collection of over 140 therapeutic-grade single essential oils and unique essential oil blends, they are the world’s largest community dedicated to achieving wellness via nature’s purest, most potent gift, essential oils.

When used aromatically, applied topically, or taken internally, essential oils can calm, energize, balance, purify, and rejuvenate the mind and body. As well, such oils can be incorporated into your everyday (including pregnancy and childcare)lifestyle in areas such as:

air purification
aromatherapy + fragrance
cleaning
cooking
first aid
pet care

Your Everyday Oils enrollment kit will include the following oils and more for only $150; ideal to introduce you to the benefits and ease of incorporating essential oils into your life, receive discounts & rewards, and should you chose, the opportunity to generate extra income:

Everyday Oils includes:
(
1)- 5 ml Frankincense
(
1)- 5 ml Lemon

(
1)- 5 ml Lavender

(
1)- 5 ml Peppermint

(
1)- 5 ml Purification
 Blend
(
1)- 5 ml Panaway
 Blend
(
1)- 5 ml Peace & Calming®
 Blend
(
1)- 5 ml Thieves®
 Blend
(
1)- 5 ml Valor® Blend
As well

You can purchase the enrollment kit at any time through Verte, though the fundraiser for the City of Joy ends on February 28th. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me and db@vertenyc.com.

Keep an eye out all this month for a variety of recipes incorporating essential oils that you can incorporate into your pregnancy and infant care regime. If you are not interested in purchasing therapeutic-grade oils, but still want to contribute to the City of Joy, please make your donation here

Aside from obvious tips like serving organic & local foods, using eco-friendly wrapping techniques, or sending out evites as opposed to paper invitations, here are a few tips to help you plan you or your friend’s baby shower.

LOCATION

Ambiance definitely sets the mood for your baby shower. If you have a large guest list and your climate provides, a park or garden is a wonderful setting for a shower. If you are like me and live on the east coast where it is currently very chilly outside, if an apartment or house is not available to host the shower, try contacting a local yoga studio. A yoga studio is a great modern venue to hold a shower for the location can also dual as the shower’s main activity. Make sure that the studios you scout out have enough props and chairs for your Guest.

ACTIVITIES

If you have your baby shower at a yoga studio, you can set up a deal with the studio’s manager to have either a reduced rate on a group yoga practice, meditation or even a belly dancing session. You can still have a belly dancing or lead meditation at a home or park, but just make sure that your instructor is prenatal certified. This is a great way to bond and share with friends and loved ones. If you want a more traditional shower activity, you can tap into everyone’s creativity and have guest custom design organic baby onzees using permanent non-toxic markers. It really is a great ice-breaker and fun for the participants and the parents-to-be could definitely use the onzees especially if it their first child. Lastly another great activity to include is to circulate an eco-friendly journal and have guest write letters and wishes for parent(s) and baby.

GIFT IDEAS/ & REGISTRY:

Quite often, many new parents or gift shoppers buy or register for gifts that are either not necessary or unusable for several months or years. Yes, it can be challenging to turn away from that cute little pair of shoes or dress, but at the end of the day parents and baby really can benefit from useful thoughtful gift and necessities. Before creating any registry list or buying gifts, I highly recommend checking out on-line boutique such as Maternitique and Ali Wing’s book, Giggle Guide to Baby Gear. It has charts, checklists, ages when products are necessary, etc.

At the same time, when it comes to gift registry and giving, one does not have to be limited to products. Cleaning services and food delivery certificates/packages can be a great relief for new parents.

GIFT FAVORS

Here are a few ideas for shower keepsakes for your guest.

BLOOMING BABY PLANTABLE SEED FAVORS
$21.00 per set of 12

PEA IN A POD PERSONALIZED SOY CANDLES TRAVEL TINS BABY SHOWER FAVORS
$4.25 each (15 order minimum)

ORGANIC OR VEGAN CHOCOLATES from INTERMPERANTIA
(From $4.65 each and up)

Mama Meditation & Shopping Event at EGG Baby
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
6:00pm – 9:00pm
EGG baby pop-up shop in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Join Tender Shoots Wellness Founder, Latham Thomas, for a guided meditation for moms followed by a shopping soire with EGG Baby and Maternity.
RSVP to press@egg-baby.com

The Pregnant New Yorker Series
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
6:30pm – 9:00pm
Renew Physical Therapy
149 Madison Avenue, Suite 903
(Btwn 31st and 32nd)
Register

Cara Muhlhahn, as featured in “The Business of Being Born” will be at this month’s Pregnant New Yorker to answer your questions about midwifery and childbirth. I will be discussing and answering questions about being a doula, and other guest will be discussing how to keep fit throughout your pregnancy and after wards. How physical therapy, chiropractic and massage can help you through your pregnancy and the benefits of having a baby nurse. Get easy and economical ways to green your home in preparation for a baby. Plus come see some great products on everything baby and mommy.

So you have just finished exclusively breastfeeding and are beginning the transition to solid foods for your baby. Do not be intimidated by the attention that is now needed for your child’s diet and nutritional needs. Yes, the amount and quality of essential nutrients you give to your infant/toddler is important, but there are many cookbooks, pre-packaged fresh meals and supplements to help make the transition easier for both of you.

Shaklee just recently rolled out a new supplements for babies & kid. Their Shakleebaby Multivitamin & Multimineral Powder ($21.45 list price) delivers 23 essential nutrients to your baby’s systems which helps to support proper growth. This mineral powder comes from one of the most respected wellness brand in the world. Check out its other benefits and for further information go directly to my Shaklee site. Perhaps this is the supplement aide you have been looking for. Regardless of whether or not you give your little one multivitamins, do not fall into the common parental default for making french fries, cookies and sugary juicy a staple in your child’s diet.:

• Provides a unique blend of clinically tested prebiotics to help support strong immunity*

• Star-K kosher certified