Why Organic?

Why Organic cotton?

That's simple, it's health. Your health, health of your children, communities and the environment. Baby's skin is more porous and thinner than adults! That means that their skin absorbs things very easily. It's less resistant to bacteria and harmful substances in the environment, especially if it's irritated. Babies sweat less efficiently than the rest of us, so it's harder for them to maintain their inner body temperature. This means that children are at greater risk for pesticide-related health problems than adults. Manual farming and organic practices have a lower carbon footprint as the entire process consumes less fuel and energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases.

Organic clothing uses cotton that is not farmed in the conventional ways. It is grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers or any other chemicals, other safer methods are used to produce the crops. Therefore workers have better working conditions, water quality is not compromised by run-off, and strong healthy soil is built. The end product is a cotton fabric that is toxin free.

Organic cotton is safer, sturdier, and cheaper and it feels great!

Conventionally produced cotton material lasts 10-20 washes before it starts to break down. An organic cotton material lasts for 100 washes or more before it begins to wear down. This is because the cotton fibers in conventionally produced cotton take so much abuse in production because it goes through scouring, bleaching, dying, softeners, formaldehyde spray, and flame and soil retardants before it is even shipped to be cut for patterns.

Organic fabrics are hypoallergenic and absorbs moisture from our bodies in a more efficient way than non organic materials.

Creating a pure, natural environment is a vital decision for a growing number of parents. With our children exposed to pollutants in many aspects of life, choosing organic fibers is another step towards natural and safe living.

Summer For Kids

Mattress Buying Tips

Are you ready to buy a crib mattress?

Here are some buying tips ....

When you're shopping for a crib, you'll also need to choose a mattress. Don't underestimate this purchase; a mattress is as important as the crib. After all, your baby will spend a lot of time snoozing--up to 18 hours a day initially--so it's essential to select the best.

Check for firmness. Buy a firm mattress. Don't worry that it may feel too firm. Press on the mattress in the center and at the edges. It should snap back readily and should not conform to the shape of your hand. If a mattress is too soft, it can conform to your baby's shape, causing a risk of suffocation or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Test the fit. By law, all full-size crib mattresses must be at least 27 1/4 inches by 51 5/8 inches and no more than six inches thick. If you can squeeze more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib, the mattress is too small and it can leave gaps in the crib that could trap and endanger your baby.

Don't worry about warranties. Some mattresses offer a one-year, a seven-year, or even a lifetime warranty. Don't be swayed by a long warranty, and don't pay extra for a mattress with a warranty. In general, you can expect any quality crib mattress to last as long as you're going to use it, provided that the cover hasn't become ripped or torn and that it's been used properly.

Organic. Non-organic mattresses have chemicals that can create allergen problems and issues with immunity development and reproductive systems. These mattresses are also covered in secondary chemicals to decrease their flammability. These chemicals have been linked to the increase in hyperactivity and neurobehavioral alterations in children. Babies spend hours sleeping in their beds and breathing in these poisons.

The baby’s bed should be a safe place. The use of organic cotton and wool work to decrease dust mites, contain a resistance to bacteria and are more flame retardant.

A mattress wrapped in wool complies with the Federal fire retardant rules/regulations. Wool is a sustainable raw material (sheep only get a haircut), not harmful to the environment, and is actually healthy for the body. Furthermore, wool is naturally dust mite free, resists molds, and is naturally hypo-allergenic.

Read more about NaturaMat Mattresses and Wool on our blog

We proudly carry Natural Mat Mattress and Naturepedic and Holy Lamb

Toy Drive 2010

THANK YOU

for ALL your toy donations!

We had our annual Toy Drive hosted at the Summer For Kids Store on Saturday January 16th to collect new and used toys for children who are less fortunate in the Santa Barbara community.

The purpose of this toy drive was to remind children of the Santa Barbara community the principle of giving without receiving. For most children the holiday season means that new toys are on the way. After the holiday season the new toys are put to use while the old ones are left unused. Summer For Kids’ intentions for this toy drive was to encourage children to participate and donate their old toys to children in need. These children then should receive a good feeling in their heart for donating their toys to children who are less fortunate.

The children who donated toys were able to participate in painting, coloring and playdough acivities & the entire Summer For Kids Store was 10% OFF.

*Thank you Clementine Art for the soy crayon & playdough donations!*

It was so much fun to see kids and parents come and donate their toys! All the toys donated this weekend will make such difference in other kiddos lives all around Santa Barbara!

The kids thoroughly enjoyed finger painting and the art they created will be hanging in the SFK store window this week for the community to view :)

Also we would like to remind the community that there is a toy drive every day at SFK and we are happy to take toy and clothing donations any day of the week because there are always families who need these items.

THANK YOU!

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CHRISTMAS ORGANIC SHOPPING AT SUMMER FOR KIDS

Wondering what to buy for your organic children this year?

Summer For Kids is here to help! Summer For Kids has It ALL!

shop with us this holiday season for organic, safe and fun products and make a difference in children's lives in Santa Barbara at the same time! It doesn't get any better than this!

Here are some ideas from us....

Your Baby will love the comfort and feel of our silky soft organic bamboo blankies, organic rattles and organic cuddly toys.
SFK's wall plaques by Sticks will add a touch of warmth to the walls of your little ones nursery.

For Your Toddler

The Little Reader chair is the perfect for free play and reading.
Every child will LOVE our Trikes and Scooters from Kettler.
Heirloom Sticks toy chest or even a growth chart to see how much your toddler is growing.
Our organic line of toys from Sprig Toys, Green Toys, great activity toys from Lauri.
These are all wonderful gifts your toddler will thoroughly enjoy this holiday season!

and we even have something for mommies

the green Fleurville diaper bags that are always in style and cute mommy tees! And these are on SALE!

...or are you looking to give something a little different...something for newborn or even for parents..... We carry the best organic and natural mattresses from Naturepedic in all sizes from newborn to king size , American made furniture and all the accessorries new parents need for their organic baby, so come to see what's at Summer For Kids for your kids!

Just come by the store and the Summer For Kids Team will help you find something special, organic and safe for your little angel.

You can also shop online!

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Summer For Kids donates all store profits to local children's charities in SB.

Why Summer For Kids carries organic and sustainable fabrics?

What’s so bad about normal fabrics? Why switch to Eco Friendly Textiles?

Regular Cotton uses a lot of pesticides and herbicides which poison the ocean, near by streams and the land in general. The crops are sprayed from above affecting near by streams, farm houses and people. In contrast organic cotton uses beneficial bugs and manure in place of the chemicals. Organic Cotton also uses crop rotation methods, hand-weeding and cover crops as methods to ensure good crops. To use a field as organic the field must be free of chemical for 3 years. The cotton is processed according to acceptable standards. Other textiles like polyester are made from petroleum which is not sustainable to produce or to manufacture into fabric. The resulting process if left unchecked can be extremely detrimental to the planet and produces an excess amount of greenhouse gases. Such fabrics also poison people, your skin is your biggest organ and takes in everything that you put on it.

Making the switch to healthier, chemical free fabrics is great start in protecting you health as well as the environment.

In the US alone 80 million pounds of chemicals are used each year on conventional crops. Cotton uses approximately 25% of the world's insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants.).The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" human carcinogens (acephate, dichloropropene, diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin). (EPA) It takes roughly one-third of a pound of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to grow enough cotton for just one T-shirt.

Eating food and wearing clothes grown without unnecessary chemicals is both good for you and the environment.
So every organic garment purchased helps to reduce to amount of chemicals polluting our earth and our food.
Each T-shirt made with 100% organic cotton saves 1/3 a pound of synthetic fertilizers and farm chemicals from entering the ecosystems.

What does Sustainable mean ?

The dictionary defines sustainability as "the attempt to provide the best outcomes for both human and natural environments both now and in the indefinite future." In basic terms It means that ever effort is made from the fiber to finished product to ensure the least harmful and most natural materials are used. Also using the least energy possible to produce and distribute the clothing. Starting at the fiber, using natural, easily renewable fibers like bamboo help lessen the amount of land and energy used. Using organic cotton instead of regular cotton prevents chemicals from getting into the surrounding natural and human environments. The milling process of turning the organic fiber into a sustainable clothing item is also important. Natural color organic cotton and hemp is best because little processing is needed to make the finished fabric. Using the least harmful kind or even natural dyes. Local is best, when items are made locally it is using less energy in transport. It is also great to shop local for from a community sustainability perspective. Shipping is the final rung on the sustainable clothing ladder. Shipping less equals less energy and less environment damage. All of these things add up to what it takes to make organic, sustainable clothing. When a company pays attention to what it takes out of the world to make its product it makes all of our futures brighter and more secure.

What’s so Great about Bamboo Fabric?

Bamboo fabric is not only pretty and Eco-friendly but it also has some amazing traits. Bamboo Is a tropical grass & grows faster then any plant on earth. It regenerates naturally without replanting, eliminating the need for re-forestation. Bamboo can yield 20 times more timber than trees on the same square footage of land and grows without the need for pesticides and chemical fertilizers. It produces a high quality and quantity of oxygen, 30% more than trees. It will mitigate water pollution with harmful pesticides and an array of other harmful content through high nitrogen consumption.

There are two ways to process bamboo to produce the plant into a fabric: mechanically or chemically. The mechanical way is by crushing the woody pieces of the bamboo plant and then use natural enzymes to crush the bamboo walls into a slushy mass so that the natural fibers can be mechanically combed out and spun into yarn. This is essentially the equivalent eco-friendly manufacturing process used to create linen fabric from flax or hemp.
Made in China? 
Yes! Bamboo clothes are made in many countries, including China. Manufacturing in China is not a black and white issue. Careful consideration is done before manufacturing takes place in China. Our suppliers' factories are clean, do not hire children, and honor regular working hours. Also, China grows 90% of the world's hemp. Without access to this incredible plant, we could not promote and use it for its myriad uses: cloth, paper, oil, biofuel, food and list goes on...

1. Bamboo is anti-bacterial! The fabric keeps the natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of natural growing bamboo. It also stops bacterial metabolism, which means that it doesn't cause allergic skin reactions.
2. Bamboo is sustainable! Bamboo grows quickly and needs no pesticides or herbicides.
3. Bamboo is Deodorising! Bamboos antibacterial properties keep it from absorbing and retaining body and environmental odors. 


4. Bamboo fabric is breathable and keeps you dry. Another amazing property of bamboo when made into fabric is that keeps you dry and doesn't stick to you on hot summer days. It has this ability because the yarn has a cross section filled with many micro gaps and micro-holes allowing air to flow freely, wicking away moisture from the skin. Bamboo is 60% more hygroscopic (absorbing water) than cotton, this means that bamboo is that much more comfortable to wear.


5. Bamboo Fabric keeps you at an even temperature. The micro-holes also give bamboo a porous nature which insulated for temperature regulation. Cool in the summer, warm in the winter.

6. Bamboo is Healthy to Wear! The charcoal particles can absorb far infrared energy from the environment and then take that energy and help aide cell activation. This trait promotes circulation and keeps you healthy.
7. No static electricity buildup for Bamboo. Bamboo has 12 times the anti-static effect of cotton.


This is why we love Bamboo!

Soybean Fabric

Soy Protein Fiber has a number of great properties for the wearer and the environment. Soy is a renewable resource and the Soy Protein Fiber (SPF) is made using the by product of the soybean industry.

1. Soy Protein Fiber has antibacterial and UV radiation prevention properties.

2. SPF has great moisture absorption so you always feel dry and fresh.


3. Soy Fiber promotes the micro circulation of the blood capillaries and also contains many amino acids necessary to the human body. By touching the skin the fabric activates the collagen in the skin.


4. Soy Protein Fiber has a beautiful silky look and a nice cashmere feel.

Nature can only dilute and disperse so much chemical until it will begin to affect us all. We will all begin to notice these chemicals in our food and water supplies eventually. Buying Organic Clothing is one way that you can be gentle on the earth and yourself.
WEAR ORGANIC

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organic baby

LEAD FREE LUNCHBOXES

The Danger of Lead in Lunchboxes and Bibs

Childhood lead exposure has a profound effect on developing brains. Small exposures can lead to brain damage, lowered IQ, attention deficit, and behavioral problems.

Lead has a profound ability to damage children’s intellectual and behavioral development. Children who have been exposed to higher levels of lead score lower on IQ tests than children with less exposure, they are also more impulsive and have shorter attention spans.

Since the summer of 2004, CEH ( Center of environmental health )has purchased and tested over 200 children's soft vinyl lunchboxes and found that many of them contained high levels of lead. Lead was usually found in the lining of the lunchboxes where it could come into contact with food. In addition to being a known carcinogen and reproductive toxin, lead is a neurotoxin that can cause health effects such as behavioral problems and hearing problems in children that are exposed to low levels.

Summer For Kids carries only Lunchboxes safe for our children made by Milkdot and Thermos.

Buy Bibs that are not made of vinyl. We recommend that you purchase bibs made from organically grown cotton and bamboo whenever possible. Tell your friends to do the same! If you need a bib with a waterproof layer, look for bibs that are advertised as PVC-free or vinyl-free. Nobody should have to worry about lead poisoning when a baby puts a bib into her or his mouth.

As always, Summer For Kids cares about safety of our children! Please come in and check out our selection of safe bibs and lunch boxes
Please keep your children safe!

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ORGANIC AND NATURAL MATTRESS

Why we carry Natural Mat mattresses

Better Sleep: New parents all over are deprived of sleep during the first year of their children’s lives, but it shouldn’t be due to worry over the bedding and materials their angels are sleeping on. An easy way help increase sleep and decrease worry for parents when their little one’s will actually sleep, buy organic.

Mattresses made of man-made materials have chemicals in their make up that can create allergen problems and issues with immunity development and reproductive systems. These mattresses are also covered in secondary chemicals to decrease their flammability. These chemicals have been linked to the increase in hyperactivity and neurobehavioral alterations in children. Babies spend hours with lying on there, breathing in these poisons and increasing the chances of permanent problems. The baby’s bed, the place where they will spend 12- 16 hours of everyday is a perfect place to start. The use of organic cotton and wool work to decrease dust mites, contain a resistance to bacteria and are more flame retardant.

100% ORGANIC - Natural Mat doesnt use any glues or bonding agents and you will not find any chemicals or synthetic materials whosoever in your mattress.

NON- ALLERGENIC & ANTI DUST MITE - 100% hypoallergenic and offers complete protection from house dust mites. Every Natural Mat has a removable pure cotton outer cover that can be machine washed at 60 degrees C (dust mites are killed at 57 degrees) which offers further allergy protection.

NATURALLY FIRE RETARDANT - Natural Mat passes all fire regulations without the use of chemical or unnatural treatments in any part of the mattress. All mattresses are covered in two unbleached, undyed 100% cotton covers that have no FR additives. All mattresses comply to the new federal 16 CFR 1633 requirements.

LONG LASTING SUPERIOR SUPPORT - durable naturally sprung mattress cores provide superior and longer lasting level of support than any other synthetic foam or metal spring. They use wool batting rather than cotton, it is a far more resilient fiber with better ventilation and insulation properties.

100% RENEWABLE - All the raw materials come from 100% renewable and sustainable sources that complay with Fair Trade policies.

ECO PACKAGING - All packaging used for Natural Mat mattresses is 100% biodegradable and 100% recyclable. Their carton is made from a mixture of recycled and renewable paper resources from FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) managed forests.

Natural Mat organic mattresses are handmade from the finest materials in the world to provide your baby with the most comfortable and safest sleeping environment possible for those important first years of life.

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BREAST FEEDING AND BABIES

WHY BABIES NEED TO BE BREASTFED!

Give your baby the best care you can. And one of the best things that only you can do is to breastfeed for as long as possible.

BENEFITS FOR BABY:
A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for baby's growth and development. Breast milk has agents called antibodies (proteins made by certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance (antigen). Antibodies neutralize or destroy antigens) in it to help protect infants from bacteria and viruses and to help them fight off infection and disease.

Therefore Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses. About 80% of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Breastfed babies are protected in varying degrees from a number of illnesses including, pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight diseases their babies are exposed to as well.

Formula does not provide any of the disease-protective factors present in human milk. Infants artificially fed infants are generally sicker and sick more often. They are three to four times more likely to have an ear infection or diarrhea and ten times more likely to be admitted to a hospital for bacterial infections.

Breastfeeding reduces or even eliminates food allergies & eczema.
Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile. Breast Milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. Breast milk is free!

Babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula. Human milk is the perfect food for a sick infant. When a formula fed baby gets a gastrointestinal ailment they are usually put on an artificial electrolyte solution because formula is too hard for them to digest. Breast milk, however, is easily digested, and soothing to the intestines, so there is no need for artificial and expensive electrolyte solutions. If a baby gets a respiratory illness, formula may cause even more mucus. In contrast, breast milk contains antibodies to these ailments, as well as being highly digestible and not contributing to excess mucous formation.

Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotional needs and increases bonding between mother and baby. All babies need to be held. There is no more comforting feeling for an infant of any age than being held close and cuddled while breastfeeding. In fact, studies have shown that premature babies are more likely to die if they are not held or stroked. Breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother's body. It is now well established that oxytocin, as well as stimulating uterine contractions and milk ejection, promotes the development of maternal behavior and also bonding between mother and offspring.

Breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should. They tend to gain less unnecessary weight and to be leaner. This may result in being less overweight later in life. Premature babies do better when breast-fed.

Breastfed babies are slightly higher in IQ tests, especially babies who were born pre-maturely.
Failure to breastfeed is also one of the risk factors believed to contribute to

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and increases the risk for some immune-system diseases in adulthood. American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be breastfed for at least one year.

Breast milk provides natural pain relief for baby
Breast milk actually contains chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins). Aside from this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close and suckling is remarkable. Many a bruise or scrape has been soothed away almost instantly by a few moments of nursing. If you choose to have your child vaccinated, it is a good idea to nurse immediately after he/she receives a vaccination. This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing the vaccine's effectiveness.

BENEFITS FOR MOM:
Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.

Breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding (no supplementing with formula), delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. (However, you should still talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control choices.)

Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.

A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her breast milk when her baby is hungry.

Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby.

Breastfeeding helps a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and helps them feel more secure, warm and comforted.

Mothers who artificially feed are at greater risk of excessive bleeding after birth, ovarian cancer and premenopausal

breast cancer. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing endometrial cancer. 
A World Health Organization study has shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds, the less likely she is to get endometrial cancer.

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BAMBOO FABRIC

Luxuriously soft, hypo-allergenic, anti-microbial, environmentally friendly, bacteriostatic, odor free, superb absorption

Bamboo is perfect for babies delicate skin because it is naturally hypo-allergenic, and anti-bacterial, preventing odor, allergies and skin irritations. In addition, Bamboo is thermal regulating, which is important since babies have a hard time regulating body temperature when first born. It will keep baby warmer than cotton in cool weather and two to three degrees cooler than cotton in hot weather. Bamboo also wicks moisture away and has double the absorbency of cotton. It doesn't need help from pesticides or insecticides and usually grows on rain water alone. Since bamboo grows so fast (sometimes three feet in a day) it is an alternative to widespread clear cutting, making it the most sustainable textile on the market.

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