• Last updated 9/13/09 by Mothering Editorial

Sept 14, 2009The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) is urging parents to consider a FCC report addressing serious concerns with compulsory radio on school buses. School districts across the nation are currently considering contracts with radio station BusRadio, a company who openly associates itself with commercial interests. Since its inception in 2006, CCFC and other advocacy groups have voiced rising concerns about BusRadio’s marketing practices. Now the FCC has released a report addressing the issue and the CCFC is asking parents, school districts, and... read more

• Last updated 9/9/09 by Mothering Editorial

Sept 10, 2009Confusing both consumers and toy makers alike, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently exempted toy giant Mattel from mandatory testing of its children’s products. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), passed in August 2008, was motivated by increasing public outrage over high levels of contaminates found in some children’s toys and other products, mostly those made in China. Designed to protect consumers from toxins such as lead and phthalates in toys, the law requires third-party testing and certification of all toys and other... read more

• Last updated 9/21/10 by Mothering Editorial

By the Mothering Staff Issue 116, January - February 2003 1961 Proctor and Gamble (P&G) introduces Pampers. 1971 Pennsylvania Boy Scouts conducting a highway cleanup campaign report that the largest single source of litter is the disposable diaper. Disposable diapers contribute 171,000 dry weight tons of waste to be processed by US sewage systems. (M. A. Shapiro, Preliminary Study of the Environmental Impacts from Processing and Disposal of Diapers) 1975, February In comparing the effectiveness of several brands of disposable diapers, Consumer Reports notes that... read more

• Last updated 7/26/09 by Mothering Editorial

How to Sew Your Own Cloth DiaperHere's a quick tutorial on how to sew a cloth diaper. Make the healthiest, most environmentally friendly choice for your baby--and make your own diaper.    read more

• Last updated 8/12/10 by Mothering Editorial

Back in the early 1990s, when environmental awareness was at a peak, many states were considering taxing the sale of disposable diapers, or perhaps banning them altogether. The use of disposable diapers is now so prevalent that many parts of the country no longer have diaper services. What happened during this time that caused such a remarkable shift in thinking?In 1990, Proctor & Gamble, the nation’s largest manufacturer of disposable diapers, commissioned a study on the environmental impact of disposable diapers. The results of this study were used to create an... read more

• Last updated 7/10/09 by Mothering Editorial

For years, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has been taking action, along with the International Labor Rights Fund to stop abusive child labor in the cocoa industry in West Africa. As a result of the constant pressure, major chocolate companies such as Mars and Cadbury have recently agreed to stronger labor and environmental standards in the production of the cocoa they use. But one iconic US brand is lagging behind—and they need to hear from you! Please join the OCA and thousands of people across the country in calling Hershey to urge them to switch to fair... read more

• Last updated 7/13/09 by Mothering Editorial

By Rob Wilson of Challenge and FunAt the beginning of April, I traveled to Washington, DC to speak at the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) rally. It was very well attended, and attendees were able to meet with legislative aides of Congressmen and Senators from across the country. If you missed the event, you can watch footage online, as a complete video from start to finish, or as clips of specific speakers. Sadly, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) did not pass the petition by the National Association of Manufacturers to stay the... read more

• Last updated 6/27/09 by Mothering Editorial

Peggy O'Mara discusses menstruation education for young girls, self-esteem and new socially conscious business models.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQKjWXK9Ijs    read more

• Last updated 6/27/09 by Mothering Editorial

In the decade or so since the Lehrburger and Little studies (see "Which Is Better for the Environment?"), the debate on the diaper issue seems to have all but died out. "The only thing new in the debate is that it's not a profound debate at this point," says Janet Primomo, RN, PhD, a member of the King County Nurses Association in Seattle, which initiated a series of projects in 1987 to educate parents and policy makers about choices in diapering.Today, less than one out of ten American and Canadian households uses cloth diapers, estimates Erika Froese of Mother-Ease... read more

• Last updated 5/6/10 by Mothering Editorial

We have a one and a half year old and a baby due in a few months. We would love to use cloth diapers for both—we hate the idea of plastic and chemicals next to their skin for so many hours a day. However, we have no experience with cloth diapers and have no idea where to start. What do we need? What is the best "system" (all-in-ones, prefolds and covers, etc.)? Also, how do you handle dirty diapers? Can they go right into the wash, do they need to soak somewhere? We are a little intimidated.First of all, congratulations on your new little one and your choice to cloth... read more