Organic Muslin Baby Swaddle Blankets

Cotton muslin is one of the world’s oldest, most cherished woven fabric. Made with dual-layer organic cotton, this wonderfully soft fabric provides gentle comfort for your precious one. Muslin permits air to circulate around the baby's body, while still providing comfort and warmth without the worry that the baby may overheat in moderate weather. Products made from muslin stand up to repeated washing's only becoming softer and better with age. That is why mothers through uncountable generations have been relying on this versatile fabric to care for their babies.

BumChum Muslin products are carefully designed to preserve the goodness of this fabric, and to encourage its multiple uses as the baby grows. Delicate and breathable, these products are a perfect addition to your nursery.

Key features of BumChum Wrapping Blankets

• Versatile: Generous size to make them useful for multiple functions as the baby grows
•  Light weight and breathable, makes them cool in summer and warm in winter.
• Durable : Can be used for multiple purposes and the fabric gets  softer with every wash.
• Unique: Modern and aesthetically pleasing designs and colors designed exclusively for BumChum.
•  Comfortable: Physicians recommend lightweight fabrics to help prevent overheating and reduce the risk of SIDs. 

PURA Stainless Steel Baby Bottles and Sippers

Pura Stainless was created with a simple vision - to make a difference by responsibly manufacturing toxin-free, durable, and cost effective alternatives to bottled water and the petroleum-based (ie plastic) reusable bottles and food storage containers.

Our infant, toddler, and adult product lines are not only the safest in the world but they have won an array of global awards and accolades. In this day and age there is simply no reason to expose yourself or your little ones to toxin-laden plastics or to contribute to the massive waste problem created by bottled water.

But obviously we are not the only non-plastic alternative available. Many of our future customers have asked us why our products are the best on the market; take five minutes to read through the information below and we think you too will be a Pura advocate!

Made of safe, food-grade stainless steel

All Pura bottles are crafted from #304, also known as 18/8, food-grade stainless steel. Known for its resistance to corrosion and staining, and antibacterial properties, it is perfectly suited for use as a beverage container. In fact, many commercial food transport, storage and preparation products are made of #304 stainless steel due to these properties. And because stainless steel does not react with acidic foods or beverages, it will not affect the flavor of your beverage.

One Life... One Bottle Durability

Stainless steel is much more durable than plastic, glass or aluminum bottles. Steel bottles do not shatter or crack like glass and plastic and are much more puncture resistant than aluminum. We are so confident in our bottles that we back all stainless components with a limited lifetime warranty. Cared for properly your Pura bottle will be a trusty companion for years!

The Safest Bottles on the Planet... Non-Toxic and truly BPA-free

Pura bottles are non-toxic and truly 100% BPA-free. All bottles, components, and accessories are independently tested by a leading global testing lab and certified to have no detectable levels of Bisphenol-a (BPA), lead, phthalates or nitrosamines. Bottles that are either made from plastic or use plastic caps, sip spouts, or travel covers cannot make this claim as virtually all plastics have some level of BPA which will show up in independent testing.

All Pura products feature stainless steel lids, caps and/or infant nipple/spout collars in combination with medical grade silicone so the contents of the bottle are NEVER in contact with plastic and therefore there is zero chance of ingesting BPA or other petroleum-derived toxins.

All Pura products meet or exceed all relevant FDA requirements. Because safety is our primary concern we also meet or exceed the more stringent Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines and the European Commission Directive 2002/72/EC. 

Infant & Toddler Bottles that Adapt to the Needs of your Child

We strongly feel that kid's bottles should adapt to the needs of the child, not the other way around. As a result, our patent pending Kiki infant bottles can be converted into a spill-proof toddler sippy bottle - and our toddler cup can be converted into an infant bottle just by swapping the nipple and spouts. And, if your child has a strong preference for another manufacturer's nipple or spout, our bottle will probably work with those as well.

Sandblasted Interior Surfaces on Kiki Products

After electro-polishing the Kiki infant and toddler bottles, we take the extra step to sandblast all interior surfaces. This creates an ultra smooth surface that aids in cleaning. To our knowledge no other infant and toddler bottle manufacture takes this extra step.

Chuggable, Wide-Mouth Top

Our Kiki infant and toddler line also feature a wide neck as this design has been proven to support breast feeding and, when combined with the vented Pura silicone nipples and sip spouts, help prevent colic and the swallowing of air. Of course wide neck infant and toddler bottles are much easier to clean and fill than old school narrow neck bottles.

Backed by a Lifetime Warranty

We're so confident in our bottles we've backed them with an unprecedented lifetime warranty.

Award Winning Innovation

Pura is proud to have been selected as one of the TOP 50 Small Businesses in the USA for 2009 by Intuit and Working Mother Magazine chose Pura as the Best Family Eco Style Company in March 2010. A European architectural design publishing house has chosen the Kiki line as a cutting-edge example of innovation in children's products and will feature the product in a book to be published in 2010. The patent pending Kiki line has also been featured in countless reviews, magazines, blogs, and television shows.

Plastic Feeding Bottles, a Health Hazard

A new study by leading researchers (Yang et al)¹ clearly shows that BPA-free plastic components in juvenile bottles, adult bottles, and food storage vessels release chemicals that have been linked to a host of health related issues including (but not limited to): increased rates of breast, ovarian, testicular, and prostate cancer; early puberty in females, obesity, and altered functions of reproductive organs

The study focuses on leaching of chemical components, inherent to all plastics, that cause estrogenic activity (EA). It was found that virtually all plastic compounds including those labeled "BPA-free" leach chemicals that result in estrogenic activity. In fact, many of the BPA-free plastic formulations leachmore EA inducing chemicals than the old BPA-laden products (polycarbonate)! Even more alarming is the fact that estrogenic activity is induced by VERY low doses of these chemicals (in some cases 1 part per billion). The study also finds that "stressing" the plastic by exposing it to high humidity heat (dishwasher or boiling) or UV (UV sterilizers) accelerates the release of these chemicals. Most parents subject their bottles to these conditions on a daily basis.

According to Yang et al:

1.    "Almost all commercially available plastic products we sampled – independent of the type of resin, product or retail source – leached chemicals having reliably detectable EA, including those advertised as BPA-free. In some cases, BPA-free products released chemicals having more EA than did BPA-containing products."

2.    "We found that exposure to one or more common-use stresses often increases the leaching of chemicals having EA. In fact, our data suggest that almost all commercially available plastic items would leach detectable amounts of chemicals having EA once such items are expose to boiling water, sunlight (UV) and/or microwaving."

According to the study presented every baby bottle (containing plastic) tested (ref Table 2 of study) leached chemicals that have been shown to cause estrogenic activity and thereby lead to enhanced risks of a myriad of health problems. Every juvenile (infant and toddler) bottle on the market except those manufactured by Pura Stainless (Kiki line) employ plastic for the collar that holds the nipple or spout. Most bottles also include additional plastic components such as nipple covers, sealing disks, handles, spouts, etc.

This research is ground breaking and clearly shows the extent to which the use of plastic vessels/containers for food and beverage storage are hazardous to our health. It is likely the established juvenile product companies and plastics conglomerates will dismiss this as either unproven or a non-issue. Sounds a bit like their position when BPA was shown to cause similar problems, doesn't it? Show these firms that they cannot get away with double speak and the dumping inferior products on our children in the name of higher profit margins. There is only one true solution to this issue... eliminate all plastic from juvenile feeding products.

At present there is only one line of infant and toddler bottles that are completely devoid of plastic, the Pura Stainless line of Kiki products. These US and Internationally patent pending bottles employ a stainless collar that captures the nipple or spout and a silicone nipple cover. Toxicity tests conducted by an independent global testing agency found no detectable levels of any plastic by-products in these bottles. Fortunately, the Kiki line of bottles also feature the first modular lid system that allows the Kiki bottles to be used with nipples and spouts from a wide range of vendors so parents no longer needs to choose an inferior bottle because their child prefers a specific nipple.

The bottom line: Plastic feeding and hydration products, including BPA-free plastic products, are NOT safe for use!

Link to research:
http://www.ehponline.org/ambra-doi-resolver/10.1289/ehp.1003220

Storage Ideas for Toddlers' Room : Photos!

This is a follow up from an earlier post about Storage Ideas for Toddler Rooms , which you can read  here. For those of you who emailed me for pictures,  here they are.I do rotate the toys every 10 days , so he doesn't get bored playing with the same ones.

                                                     My sons play corner in his room

                        These shoe racks were bought from Lajpat Nagar in Delhi for INR 200/- ea

BumChum Leather Shoes: The Next Best Thing to Bare Feet

Pediatricians recommend that children should be encouraged to walk bare foot for the correct development of their leg muscle. Being bare foot allows feet to grow and strengthen naturally; however given the Indian environment, parents know that it is not always possible to let children to play with no protection on their feet.
BumChum footwear mimics bare feet by flexing and bending with every step. Made from high quality leather and materials, they promote balance, support at the same time allowing for unrestricted growth and protection. These booties have elasticized ankles to ensure that they stay on, and provide a snug fit around the ankles.
BumChum booties are great for play dates and indoor and outdoor fun as they are both comfortable and durable. The suede leather outsole allow for a better grip on concrete and marble floor at the same time encouraging muscle growth. Made from plush leather, these booties are porous and allow air to circulate in and out making them suitable for the Indian summers. Furthermore BumChum Booties can be washed in a regular wash cycle to keep them clean from bacteria and fungi that may cause harm on the babies’ foot
From crawling to cruising, walking to running, for indoors and out, BumChum Booties are suitable for newborns to toddlers up to three year of age.

Key features of BumChum Leather Booties:
1. Flexible to allow the foot to move and bend with ease
2. Soft and breathable to provide hygiene and comfort in running and walking
3. Snug and Secure with elastic to prevent stumbles and provide traction on the concrete floor
4. Lightweight to mimic barefoot and encourage healthy development of the foot muscle.
5. Durable as they can be washed in a regular washer to keep them looking fresh and clean.
6. Fashionable as they are available in cute colors and style to match almost every outfit

How to Measure your BumChum Booties:
1. Use the sizing chart provided to pick the correct shoe size for your baby.
2. Make sure your child is standing while being measured for shoes. Keep an eye on her/his toes
3. Measure with your thumb. The best shoes for toddlers should allow for a thumb’s width (about half an inch) between her toe and the tip of the shoe.
4. Shop later in the day. Babies' feet swell and are often bigger at the end of the day.
5. When buying toddler shoes, don’t be tempted to go a little larger than the actual size. Too-big shoes are hard to walk in and could even be unsafe.

Click here to download the BumChum Foot Sizing Chart . Use the document as per the instructions to ensure correct shoe size for your child. For any questions or clarifications, please feel free to leave us a comment and we will revert ASAP!

Storage Ideas for Toddlers Rooms

I have gone through several site and stores to figure out efficient storage idea for my sons room. The problem is, I don't want to put his toys away in drawers or boxes which may never be opened, neither do I want to put them in bins where they will lay buried for centuries ( ok I know I am exaggerating, only one century!) .
So, after several rekkis and shopping sprees later I came up with a novel idea of using ' shoe racks' for his room !
I've bought three so far and they are working beautifully.These are available on the road side of any major market, Lajpat Nagar, GK etc etc and are affordable.They work great as they make the room look clean and tidy ( when things are on the racks, that is :)  and they also make it easier for his little hands to pick the toys he wants to play with.
Children love to be independent , and my son really enjoys the 'clean up' process of putting everything back, because it is so easy!
I am planning to paint these in several colors to make them more baby room friendly- or welcome any other ideas of beautifying !?

The best part of it all -they will make great shoe racks for when I don't need them for his toys!
 

Top Ten Reasons for Using Cloth Diapers

Top 10 Reasons for Using Cloth Diapers.

Cloth diapers have been used for centuries by mothers all around the world. However, our current lifestyles make it difficult to deal with the inconveniences of the cloth. Cloth diapers currently available in the market get wet easily, require pins or strings to tie and cannot sustain any accidents. BumChum diapers bring you the hygiene and health of cloth, with modern convenience and advances that make diapering economical, reliable, easier and fun! BumChum diapers are better than the regular cloth nappies available in the market as they do not require any pins or strings to hold and a single diaper can be used on the same baby from birth until he is potty trained.
But todays' post is about outlining the top 10 reasons more and more mothers are turning to modern cloth diapers.

1. Save 10X your money

Independent research suggests that disposable diapers cost a family INR 58,000 per year. Given that a single BumChum can be adjusted several times to fit your baby at any age , most families find that 6 BumChums costing only INR 5,000 can get them through a full year.

2. Stay Natural and Safe

According to a study by German Scientists at the University of Kiel, usage of disposable diapers containing toxic chemicals and absorbents can lead to increased risk of testicular cancer and reproductive disorders in babies. BumChum diapers are made from natural cotton with no harmful side effects. Our state of the art liners help wick away moisture, keeping the baby’s skin dry and free from rashes. BumChum is also available in organic bamboo fabric which is known to have anti-bacterial properties.

3. Save our Planet

A single disposable diaper takes 200 years to decompose, adding more toxic waste to our environment! BumChum reusable cloth diapers are a better alternative for the environment, as the solid waste gets disposed in the toilet versus landing up in landfills

4. Make a Style Statement

Ever noticed how disposable diapers all look the same? How Boring. BumChum are fitted diapers available in cute and fun prints for boys and girls that make diapering a lot more fun for the fashion conscious moms.

5. Healthy for your baby 

Using cloth diapers is known to reduce your babies chances of getting asthma. The Archives of Environmental Health tested 6 leading cloth diapers and 6 leading disposable diapers and discovered that the emissions from one disposable diaper were high enough to produce asthma-like symptoms in mice.

6. No more running out of diapers:

Now there is no last minute diaper runs to the grocery store. A set of 6-8 cloth diapers can take you from infancy to toddlerhood and onto other babies. 

7. Potty Training made easy 

Using cloth diapers will help facilitate quicker potty training. During potty training time children who have been in cloth will recognize sooner when they are wet versus a baby in disposable diapers.

8. Lesser Diaper rash

As BumChum uses 'breathable' fabrics, your baby is exposed to fewer chemicals hence reducing the chances of diaper rash. Furthermore, the baby will realize the feeling of 'wetness' much earlier with a cloth diapers, hence leading to the habit of getting off the diapers sooner.

9. Reduce your carbon footprint:

The manufacturing of disposables takes over 1 million metric tons of wood pulp and 75,000+ of metric tons of plastic each year!

10. So many options!

BumChum Diapers are available in 3 different SKUs to suit the needs of each and every mother and their child. From organic fleece cotton to TUP covers with Inserts, you can choose any style and color you want till you are satisfied with your solution!