Links

ECO AND PARENTING LINKS

We hope you might find these sources of information or relevant companies/directories of interest. They cover a wide range of topics including organics, environmental issues, baby and parenting resources, allergies and sensitivities, etc under the following category titles: 

Click on the green titles below to go directly to that category 

Websites offering support
Sources of eco or parenting information
Organic, eco and pregnancy/parenting websites
Pregnancy/parenting on-line magazines
Eco blogs
Pregnancy/parenting blogs
Find us in...
Children's charities
Companies of interest for local customers

WEBSITES OFFERING SUPPORT…:
(Also see Children's Charities, below)

Cry-sis
The Cry-sis® website offers support for families with excessively crying, sleepless and demanding babies, with hints, tips and facts from parents and professionals to help calm your baby, along with a helpline number.
http://www.cry-sis.org.uk 

National Eczema Society
The UK's leading eczema patient support organisation, offering help and information to everyone affected by eczema, either via their website or helpline.
http://www.eczema.org

Asthma UK
Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the 5.4 million people in the UK, whose lives are affected by asthma. They provide a helpline number where you can seek advice from an asthma nurse.
http://www.asthma.org.uk 

Allergy UK
The leading medical charity for people with allergy, food intolerance and chemical sensitivity. The provide up to date information and news, as well as a helpline number.
http://www.allergyuk.org 

Bullying UK
Formerly Bullying Online, this organisation provides information, help and support for those affected by bullying and their families.
http://www.bullying.co.uk

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SOURCES OF ECO OR PARENTING INFORMATION:

Pesticide Action Network UK
This is an organisation which campaigns for the elimination of harmful toxic pesticides, our exposure to them and the detrimental effect they have on the environment. Their home page offers a very user-friendly gateway to information about various ways in which we’re exposed to the dangers of pesticides in our everyday lives. See http://www.pan-uk.org/. Their section which is dedicated to organic cotton can be found at http://www.pan-uk.org/Projects/Cotton/index.htm. From here, you can download an abundance of very informative publications, including one called "My Sustainable T-Shirt", which describes, in plain English, how cotton is processed and demonstrates the enormous benefits of organic cotton compared to conventional cotton. Another of their publications which is well-worth reading is "The Deadly Chemicals in Cotton".

Georgina Downs
For more information about the dangers to health from pesticides, closer to home, see the website of award-winning pesticides campaigner Georgina Downs. On Friday, 14 November 2008, Georgina triumphed with a landmark legal victory against the UK government in the High Court. Georgina’s legal battle challenged the government’s existing legislation for failing to protect people in rural areas from the health hazards of agricultural pesticide use.
http://www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk

Institute of Science in Society
This organisation has a very comprehensive article about organic cotton, which can be found at http://www.i-sis.org.uk/Picking_Cotton_Carefully.php and they also have a wealth of information and publications such as “Food Futures Now – *Organic *Sustainable *Fossil Fuel Free” which cover a diversity of environmental issues.

Choose Organic
ChooseOrganic was formed to offer a unique reference point on a guide to organic products and produce. It exists as a ‘one stop’ website where you can discover all about the world of organic products in the UK.
www.chooseorganic.co.uk

Breastfeeding Support Network
Breastfeeding forum and information resources, including nationwide and local directory of venues which provide comfortable and private facilities for breastfeeding mothers.
http://www.breastfeedingsupportnetwork.co.uk

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ORGANIC, ECO AND PREGNANCY/PARENTING WEBSITES:

Little Signers Club - Baby Signing Classes
Baby signing with little ones of all ages and stages provides incredible insight into their world, long before they have a chance to utter their first words.  At just 6 months old, a baby's motor skills are sufficiently developed to make simple gestures, enabling them to bridge the communication gap and show their parents what they need.  Little Signers offer baby signing classes in a range of UK locations.  If you can't find a class near you, don't worry – they've published a fantastic baby signing book, on sale here very soon, or alternatively download their free guide.
http://littlesignersclub.webs.com 

Go Real – The Real Nappy Information Service
Historically known as the Real Nappy Campaign, Go Real is now independently run by a Cornish based non-profit making organisation. They provide a cloth nappy information service, which is provided by parents who have had first-hand experience of bringing children up in real nappies.
http://www.goreal.org.uk 

Miss Eco Glam
Miss Eco Glam is a blog about everything eco friendly and organic: fashion, beauty, skin care, clothing, living, cleaning, healthy eating and drinking.
http://blog.missecoglam.com 

The Green Familia
The Green Familia is a light green shopping blog, with lots of great tips and info to help green your life.
http://thegreenfamilia.co.uk 

Ochre and Ochre
If you're struggling to find beautiful and practical organic kitchen textiles products, this is the website to visit.  With classy designs and chic ranges of kitchen linens, organic and natural homeware gifts, you're bound to love the sophisticated look that these designs will bring to your kitchen and home, without breaking the bank. Organic cotton tableware, cooking textiles such as organic oven gloves and even laundry textiles such as organic ironing board covers are usually hard to find, but Ochre and Ochre's range offer attractive and high quality products and the personal service is to an exemplary standard. 
http://www.ochreandocre.com 

The Soft Skin Store
As parents, we personally found Aveeno Lotion, which contains colloidal oatmeal, to be the most effective treatment for our children's eczema and know that Aveeno does have a strong following amongst other eczema sufferers. The Soft Skin Store has the widest range of Aveeno products that we've found in the UK, including Aveeno baby sun cream and some intensive skin treatments. Many of the products available on this site are not available elsewhere in the UK.
www.soft-skin.co.uk

Mums Like You
Mums Like You is a great mums' social network. Their community enables mothers to stay in touch, share parenting advice and discuss topics we all face as a parent. From expecting your first baby to bringing up teenagers, their mums' network can help you find other mums in your area, share your stories and feel supported at times when it most matters. At Mums Like You they know that motherhood can be a hard job especially when you have to juggle work and family. So they've created a lot of interactive features enabling mums to share practical information, all from the comfort of your own home!
http://www.mumslikeyou.com

Mums Just Love
Mumsjustlove find the best products, retailers and offers online for mums and their little ones. Everything promoted on Mumsjustlove is hand-picked by their editorial team, no listings are paid for which means they are really showcasing the best! Their product directory features the best products from UK retailers and we are pleased to say The Organic Toy Company is one of them!
http://mumsjustlove.com 

Natracare
Award-winning company committed to offering organic and natural solutions for personal health care that leave a soft footprint on the earth. Wonderful organic maternity and baby products, in addition to organic cotton feminine hygiene products.
http://www.natracare.com/index2.htm

Extinct Design
Breathing life back into vintage clothing, unearth vintage treasure from yesteryear, handmade, recycled fashion from an age where men were princes and ladies were glamourpusses...
http://extinctdesign.co.uk

OllieandAgnes Posterous
A lovely range of children's themed knitted hats, including strawberry, pumpkin and apple designs, made in the UK with local wool and hand-knitted to create a traditional feel.  Great hats and other knitted products for mums and dads too!
http://ollieandagnes.posterous.com 

In A Soapnut Shell
Economical, environmentally-friendly and natural alternative to chemical laundry detergents. Fantastic for babies and those with sensitive skin or allergies!
www.inasoapnutshell.com

Super Natural Mummy
Super Natural Mummy has been created to offer all mums, mums to be and babies a full range of organic and natural cosmetics and beauty products, knowing that there are only 100% natural ingredients in all the products used. The range consists of products for the face, body, hair and a luxury range for some well deserved pampering!
www.supernaturalmummy.co.uk

Frugi (originally Cut4Cloth)
Frugi organic baby clothes for cloth nappies Frugi specialise in colourful 100% organic cotton baby clothing especially tailored for babies wearing cloth nappies.
www.welovefrugi.com

Hypnobirthing Canterbury: Natural birthing for expectant parents in Kent
HypnoBirthing® is a philosophy of birth and a technique for achieving a relaxing, calm and stress-free birthing. This amazing programme teaches you, along with your birthing companion, the art and joy of experiencing birth in a more comfortable manner. You will learn how to call upon your body’s own natural relaxant and thus lessen the need for medication. When a woman is properly prepared for childbirth and when mind and body are in harmony, Nature is free to function in the same well-designed manner that it does with all animal mothers in Nature.
www.hypnobirthingcanterbury.co.uk

Lint Kids – certified organic cotton school uniform
Lint Kids are an on-line based company that supply Organic Cotton School Uniform for ages 3 to 16 at very reasonable prices. Our clothes are smart, durable and made with no harmful chemicals and are suitable for children with sensitive skin.
www.lint-kids.com

The Little Trader
Recycling is great, but re-using is even better for the environment – and can earn or save you cash too! TheLittleTrader.com is the premier website to buy, sell or swap maternity, baby and children's goods, worldwide.
http://www.thelittletrader.com

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PREGNANCY/PARENTING ON-LINE MAGAZINES
(aside from the best known ones)…

The Green Parent Magazine
The Green Parent's website and magazine are produced by a small team of passionate experts who live and breathe the positive message of the magazine. They provide parents with valuable resources, tips and information on how to enjoy a green approach to all aspects of babies, children and parenting.
http://www.thegreenparent.co.uk

Flying Start Magazine
Flying Start Magazine's website is packed with helpful and interesting articles, information and resources relating to pregnancy, birth and early years learning and development.
http://www.flyingstartmagazine.co.uk

Juno Magazine
Juno is a parenting magazine with a natural approach to family life and an ethos based on conscious parenting, sustainability, social justice, non-violence and a commitment to personal growth and spiritual awareness.
http://www.junomagazine.com

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ECO BLOGS

Miss Eco Glam
Miss Eco Glam is a blog about everything eco friendly and organic: fashion, beauty, skin care, clothing, living, cleaning, healthy eating and drinking.
http://blog.missecoglam.com

The Green Familia
The Green Familia is a light green shopping blog, with lots of great tips and info to help green your life.
http://thegreenfamilia.co.uk

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PREGNANCY/PARENTING BLOGS

Mindful Mum
A fantastic resource for all parents, providing invaluable information about keeping your baby happy, healthy and safe. Articles include product recall alerts and a real wealth of essential information, keeping you up to date with safety advice and health matters.  A must-have in your Bookmark or Favourites folder!
http://www.mindfulmum.co.uk 

Really Rachel
Rachel Pattisson blogs about the antics of her young children. You will also find lots of parenting information, including The Great Nappy Debate.
http://rachelpattisson.blogspot.com

Gurgle
Whether you're trying for a baby, pregnant or dealing with toddler tantrums, Gurgle provide great parenting knowledge and tools, big-sisterly advice as well as lots of fun topics for discussion in their chat forums.
http://www.gurgle.co.uk

Baby Baby
Sandy Calico's blog about her busy life with her two young boys who have a planned age gap of less than a year!
http://sandycalico.blogspot.com

Babyrambles
Light-hearted blog about babies and children… and more! Written by a mother of three little ones!
http://babyrambles.blogspot.com

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FIND US IN…

Organic Portal:
The One Stop Shop for Organic Information in the UK. Organic Portal is the UK directory for Organic Food, Produce and Services, it has an Organic Forum, numerous articles on Organic and Green Issues and an expanding Recipe section.
http://www.organicportal.co.uk

The Organic Directory:
Produced by The Soil Association, The Organic Directory is your guide to everything organic, covering the whole of the UK. Please note that companies listed in this directory are not necessarily members of The Soil Association.
http://www.whyorganic.org/involved_organicDirectory.asp

Organic Living UK
The UK Organic Directory - food, wine and lifestyle resources
http://www.organicliving.ukf.net

Living Ethically:
The UK’s organic, eco friendly, Fairtrade and ethical directory.
Visit Living Ethically shopping directory to find nearly 900 different sites selling organic, eco-friendly and ethical goods & services.
www.livingethically.co.uk

Live Naturally
Green living, health, local produce and eco friendly conservation directory.
www.live-naturally.co.uk

UK Baby Directory
UK Baby Directory, the UK online directory of baby products from the leading online baby shops.
www.uk-baby-directory.co.uk

EcoBusinessLinks - Green Directory
The largest hand-picked green directory on the Net. Find organic food, cheap solar energy (free daily updated solar panel price survey), sustainable architecture, organic cotton, a vegetarian date, sustainable investments, an organic farm, a sustainable community and much more...
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com

UK Parents Lounge
Advice, information, friendship for parents and parents-to-be.
www.UKParentsLounge.com

EcoStreet
Green, eco-friendly and sustainable living community directory, raising green consciousness.
www.ecostreet.com

My Baby and Family
On-line family directory and one stop shop for your parenting and family needs.
www.mybabyandfamily.co.uk

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CHILDREN'S CHARITIES…
(There are so many – here are just a few)

Tommy's Baby Charity
Tommy's is a charity that funds scientific research, ensuring more babies are born healthy and providing information on the causes and prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth.
http://www.tommys.org

NSPCC
By supporting the NSPCC, you can help to put an end to child abuse and cruelty to children.
http://ww.nspcc.org.uk

BBC'S CHILDREN IN NEED
The annual telethon is one of the highs of the BBC calendar and plenty of activity takes place all across the UK around this time to help raise those crucial pennies to help improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. However, Pudsey is busy all year round helping to make sure the money you raise goes to those who need it the most.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

Noah's Ark Children's Hospice
Noah’s Ark is a vibrant charity committed to developing a hospice service to provide practical support to an estimated 350 life-limited children, and their families. Please help them to raise funds by sending them your empty printer cartridges, unwanted mobile phones (even if non-working ones) and used stamps. For more information about how these items can help raise funds, please click on the link below.
http://www.noahsarkhospice.org.uk/recycle4us.htm

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COMPANIES OF INTEREST FOR LOCAL CUSTOMERS…

Skip2bfit
A locally based but national organisation which aims to promote, develop and implement skipping and fitness programmes in a bid to help cut rising child obesity levels. Designed to educate children about fitness and healthy eating, the innovative programme also improves their maths and computer literacy by the use of its specially designed skip2bfit skipping ropes.
http://www.skip2bfit.com

Fancy Face
Face painting in Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Margate.
http://www.fancyface.co.uk

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