With all the warnings about the various Flu viruses’ heading our way, it’s time to get serious about ways we can help our children stay illness-free this year. 

The Centers For Disease Control emphasizes that the best way to achieve this is simply through hand washing.  It is an effective way to keep colds and Flu from infecting your kids and you! The best way to do this is to pack waterless hand sanitizer in their lunchbox and instruct them to use it before eating their lunch or whenever needed.

Now you might think I am going to go organic here, but the facts are that unless a hand sanitizer is at least fifty percent alcohol it won’t work effectively.  That’s why I would suggest picking up the number one selling brand in America. Purell Instant Hand-Wrapped Wipes are individually wrapped towellettes that will do the job nicely.  Drop a few into their lunchbox or book bag and pack a few for a friend. (If you’ve ever been in the cafeteria at lunchtime like I have, you’ll know why!)

The interesting and really great thing about hand sanitizer’s is that kids never seem to turn it down if it’s offered to them. (Even teens, and for them I recommend the handy two oz. bottle of Purell Portable-Size Hand Sanitizer Liquid with a backpack clip. Little kids will use this up in one day!)

This is one habit you’ll want your kids to pick up so that they can have a healthy and happy school year.  

   When my son was born I thought I was prepared.  I devoured every book I could about childcare, developed a child-rearing plan that I felt would help me bond with my beautiful baby, and on his first day home from the hospital I promptly cut his finger with the baby nail clippers.

The reason I performed this mani-pedi was partly to practice my parenting skills (Oops!) and the other reason was I did not particularly care for the ugly cotton mitts the hospital thrust on his tiny fingers. (Which I promptly put back on those fingers so his father would not see what I accidentally did.)

Well he survived that, luckily. In fact he didn’t even cry (but I did, hormones you know.) These cute little mitts I saw reminded me of that story and I started thinking that if these were available in hospitals, that whole scene never would have happened.

iPlay Green Sprouts Organic Cotton Mitts are a safe way to keep your newborn from scratching themselves.  They slip easily over an infant’s hand and stay put with gentle elasticized tops.  Made from Organic Cotton, they are hypoallergenic and chemical free.  This is important since babies tend to wave their arms around for some reason (hailing a cab or something!) and you don’t want anything near their face that could be harmful to them. I love the bright color, too!

For less than three dollars, you can protect you baby’s delicate skin and leave the manicures to the experts.  (If you are still feeling brave after reading this, I suggest The First Year American Red Cross Sure Grip Nail Clippers.)

I was never much of a cook.  Never gave much thought to my diet, of what I put in my body. (Potato Chips are goooood!)

This all changed as I got older and the birth of my son reinforced my belief that my habits had to change. I had a specific plan of what I would allow him to eat and not allow.  Of course like most good intentions, this sometimes falls by the wayside, particularly if we are running late or on our way to soccer practice. (Nobody’s perfect!)

For the most part though, I try to feed him healthy organic foods as much as possible. With school starting next week, I would like to introduce some new foods into his diet.  Although he is not a picky eater and is exposed to many different ethnic foods he, like most kids, gets bored with eating the same thing.

I decided to invest in a couple of new cookbooks, and this one looked good to me. The Family Organic Cookbook promises exciting recipes that will entice the whole family. What I like about this particular book is that it has a specific section on ideas for lunchboxes and snacks that are quick, easy and of course, healthy.

There are even recipes for making you own condiments such as ketchup (a staple in our house!) It would be fun for a younger child, not yet in school to help whip up a healthy after school snack for his sibling with Mom’s help.

Let’s face it, we all try to do our best for our children, but sometimes we need a little help and inspiration.  I hope this cookbook does both for you!

Every kid I know wants a metal detector. This was a “hot” item to buy a few years ago within my circle of friends and the novelty has not worn off yet in my household. Discovery Channel makes a good one that they will use for years and it’s so full of upgrades, you’ll want to use it too.

What a great way for kids to entertain themselves, get a little fresh air and a science lesson to boot!   The Discovery Exclusive Metal Detector boasts a telescoping design that allows it to adjust to different height levels, so even little kids can use it.

This model is highly sensitive and will distinguish between ferrous and non-ferrous metals and the LED light indicators will determine the different types of metal found. Bury the pirates “doubloon” included in this kit and watch their excitement as the detector starts to “beep” indicating they have found some buried treasure.  They can then use the shovel and sifter (comes with) to uncover their finds.

This is the kind of toy that is fun to take with you on these last days of summer. There are plenty of riches to find at the beach, park or even the local playground.  If your kids find something of real value though encourage them to put an ad in their local paper to help find the owner.  Include some Walkie Talkies for all-important communication and you have a toy that never gets old. (Discovery Toys FRS Walkie Talkie Watch Set)

I promised some more amazing baby items from this smart and savvy mom, and you won’t be disappointed. Keep in mind the price point for organic cotton is high, except in this case.

Under The Nile uses only the finest Egyptian Cotton, yet their prices are competitive with what you would find in your local department store and in some cases, better.  Plus, you won’t find this brand just anywhere. I was so pleased to come across them and I know you will be too.

Organic Cotton Trouser: Incredibly soft against baby’ skin.  The vibrant color made from all natural vegetable dye adds to the incredible look of these inexpensive little pants.

Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Lap Shoulder Tee: Pair these with the softest trousers ever and you have a simple little outfit that looks great and washes well.  With a roomy shoulder opening, this no fuss top matches everything in baby’s wardrobe. Best to pick up a few.

Organic Cotton Terry Romper: Get them dressed quickly and effortlessly with this one-piece romper from Under The Nile.  Also available in blue, this outfit dries quickly (on a hot summer day!) thanks to its cool and comfy terry lining.

Organic Cotton Loungewear: How cute is this?  We were lucky they even made bathrobes when I was a kid!  This is perfect for those fall evening walks in a stroller or last minute summer dips in the pool.  They’ll be warm and cozy with the attached hood.  Perfect after-bath attire, too

This is just a sampling of some of my favorites that Under The Nile has to offer, but check out the complete collection on Pricegrabber.

It’s not easy being “Green” Kermit The Frog once crooned. As I wrote in a recent Not Quite Crunchy Parent Post, I am always searching for new ways or products to help me in this endeavor.

Happily, I’ve solved my problem regarding using a “zillion” little lunch bags when packing my son’s lunch for school. My initial plan was to perhaps wrap his sandwich and fruit in some sort of cloth napkin from my mother’s extensive collection but I decided that was a little too girly, and quite possibly he would be the last one picked at recess.

I found these Wrap-N-Mat washable, reusable lunch “bags” and I plan on using these not only for my son, but for my own lunches as well. This reusable sandwich wrap comes complete with a Velcro closure to keep food secure and also doubles as a tiny placemat. Your kids can toss them right back in to their lunch boxes when they have finished eating and use them again for tomorrow’s lunch.

These cotton-poly wraps are easily washed with a little soap and water, and then air-dried. Important to note, you cannot heat these in the microwave so no grilled cheese in them, please.

This is an easy and fun way for your kids to be eco-friendly and who knows, maybe the first one picked for tag!

One of the top names in kids clothing and accessories that “organic” people know is Under The Nile.

This company was started by a woman whose own children were allergic to many commercial dyes in traditional kids clothing.  Along with her husband, (who by the way is Egyptian, hence the name) they started making their own line of 100 pure Egyptian Cotton clothing and accessories. These are hugely popular with the Hollywood crowd and even regular people like us.

The cotton they use is grown in Egypt and is dyed only with metal-free or vegetable dyes and they operate under the Fair Trade Act to ensure everyone involved in the production of their goods is treated fairly. Unfortunately, my own child has outgrown most of their products but here is one that I think is just terrific.

The Organic Fruit Basket by Under The Nile contains a banana, watermelon, pear and grape all stuffed with and made from certified Organic Cotton. Any baby would enjoy chewing on these “fruits” and you can be sure they are safe to put in their little mouths.  What a great way to teach about healthy eating habits and even introduce new foods to them.

The sweet faces on the fruits and darling braided tote basket for carrying them around in completes this innovative and modern toy. I plan on introducing some more products from Under The Nile to you, but in the meantime consider this customer- top-rated item as one to buy for your own  “little banana.” (Also sold separately Under The Nile Organic Banana Toy)

Nothing beats a hoodie when it comes to dressing your kids.  Be it a boy or a girl, they seem to have a real sense of what is “cool” from an early age

While in New York City with my family this fall, I marveled at my teenage nephew who casually wore a hoodie as his outerwear.  “Aren’t you cold, I asked?”  He seemed confused for a minute and then replied,  “But I have a hoodie on!” (My sister has given up.)

Get ready Moms  because that’s all they will want to wear, so invest in a few of these wardrobe staples.   The Hatly Kids Lab Pullover Hoodie is a cute way to start . This pullover style hoodie sports elastic cuffs at the wrist and hem and a sporty kangaroo pocket.  The all-over Labrador print adorns the inside hood and of course what I like best, no ties at the neck. (They’re not necessary anyway.)

This is a perfect back-to-school item that will appeal to a lot of kids.  It is a unisex design, so feel free to pass it down to a brother or sister.  Made of 100 percent cotton, it will wash well and feel soft and cozy for years to come.

Hatly Kids also makes zip-up hoodies for kids that prefer that style, with the same fun appliques to spruce up their wardrobe.

I hate to think about getting ready for school, but it is right around the corner.  As usual, I am a little bit behind in this unhappy (happy?) task, but it will all come together (I hope!)

One thing I need to do is get my son’s bedroom organized so he has a clutter-free area to do his schoolwork.  This is very important, as I don’t want him to be distracted by any “shifty” Legos laying around, begging him to stop and play. If this sounds familiar, invest in some cute storage bins.

This Prep School Blue 3-Piece Storage Bin By Trend Lab will do the job. Use the large bin for storing bigger toys or even dirty clothes.  The medium for all of the tiny toy pieces he or she will have scattered around, and the small for whatever is left.  The colorful fabric inserts are removable so they can easily be washed if he (she) chooses to store, say a paint set in them!  Let your kids decide and get involved in keeping their important stuff neat and organized.

Granted, you can use clear plastic storage bins, or old Tupperware, but this looks so much better. There is even a clear plastic label area so they can easily identify what’s in each bin. Little girls may be more interested in this room improvement project than boys (Trend Lab Hula Baby 3-Piece Storage Bin Set) and getting them to actually put the “stuff” in them will depend on your child’s interest, but why not give it the “Old College Try?”  (Sorry, I couldn’t resist, but they are perfect for college students too!)

Oh, how I love a Poncho.  It makes me think of crisp fall days and my own childhood. I personally own a few and they are the perfect thing to accessorize a boring pair of jeans and a solid t-shirt.

There are many reasons besides fashion to love a poncho.  For one thing, they keep little hands free (especially important when picking up leaves.) Another thing I like about them, is most of them are “hoodless” which means you don’t have to cut the strings off of them so they don’t get caught on anything at the playground.

These Baby Girls DKPinecone  Striped Ponchos by The Childrens Place are the perfect fall outerwear for the truly fashion conscious little girl. Brightly striped cotton/viscose blend and pullover style accented with tiny embroidered flowers will keep her warm and cozy on her busy days. This is an easy alternative to a bulky jacket, especially when buckling her into her car seat.

If she gets too warm, just slip it off and it stores easily like a comfy sweater. This garment comes minus any buttons or grommets, so there is no chance of her putting any foreign objects in to her mouth and choking.

This simple little cover-up has “mad” style, and comes in two vibrant color palates to choose from.