In the last several months, Bisphenol-A, (or BPA), an organic compound that mimics estrogen, has made headline news and talked about in many places in detail. Also, California has passed legislature to ban BPA from baby products, and Canada banned the sale of baby bottles containing BPA.

Recently, German company HABA, sent us a statement to reassure parents specifically concerning the safety of HABA baby toys in this regard.

HABA is one of our most favorite brands and we carry a large selection of HABA toys. HABA baby toys — clutching toys and teething rings are very popular so we’re glad to receive such a statement.

Excerpts from the statement by HABA:

HABA toys for children under 3 years of age are additionally tested after the European Norm for Security of Toys EN71/9 concerning “Organic chemical compounds”.

In this process, allergenic or carcinogenic dispersion colors, flame retardants, monomere (e.g. Bisphenol A), solvents (e.g. Methanol) and other sanitary critical components are tested.

The full statement is as shown below:

As many of you already know, KangarooBoo is very committed to doing good things in the world of children. KangarooBoo donates a portion of each and every sale to a children-related charity organization right there during our checkout process. One charity is chosen as the default charity, from our list of pre-approved charities. They all get rotated from time to time so every one of them receive extra exposure and funds. (Remember, you as the customer can change which charity the portion from your purchase goes to, from your account under My Stuff / orders. Please ask us if you are unsure about how to make that change.)

We are proud to announce the addition of two new charities to our pre-approved charity list.

City at Peace - New York
CP-NY is a local chapter of a national organization that works with teenagers to empower them to create safe, healthy, peaceful lives and communities. The program is a combination of activities that examine the interrelationship of the problems and conflicts that youth care about, and often suffer from. It also develops their capacity for addressing these issues. By using the performing arts as a vehicle, CP-NY is developing the next generation of engaged community leaders.

Bosom Buddies - Cape Town
Bosom Buddies is a non-profit Christian organization started and run by a mom to 3 kids. She was both frustrated and horrified at some of the treatments taking place at state-run hospitals where newborns and new moms receive next to nothing after labor & delivery. Bosom Buddies strive to provide a diaper bag to each and every new mom, filled with basic essentials for baby and mom. They want to ensure that no baby goes home without adequately clothed and each mom feels that their community do care and the birth is recognized and celebrated.

To read more about these organizations that KangarooBoo supports, click on the individual organizations names. We welcome your suggestions of other organizations to be added to our list of supported charities. Please email us and tell us more about the organization(s) that you would like to suggest.

We’re on Parents.com about baby products we can’t live without featuring Sophie La Giraffe.

Christy Allen writes in to tell us that we’ve been selected by PoshCravings as a Red Ribbon Mama’s Pick this week.

Thanks Christy!

Zoë b Organic Weekly on March 28th in Recycled Plastic Indoor Gardening Set by Green Toys:

With this Gardening set, your kids will learn how plant life begins. Young plant lovers can watch nature at work by growing a beautiful flower garden and fresh herbs in just days with the world’s most earth-happy gardening set.

It is available at Kangarooboo , a really cool store with a great selection of toys.

Apartment Therapy (Ohdeedoh) on March 27th in Green Ideas: Recycled Plastic Indoor Gardening Set:

While you’re waiting for the flowers to come up (like we definitely are), you and the kids can see some progress in just a few days when you plant your organic seeds in this recycled plastic gardening set from Green Toys. The set comes with nine pieces, and seems like a great way to get a jump on spring. Available right here(kangarooBoo.com) for $29.90.

Safe Mama on March 24th in Green Toys at KangarooBoo:

Turn pretend play, planet friendly! One of my favorite online shops KangarooBoo is now selling Green Toys, a line of toy sets made of recycled plastic (like milk jugs).

Cool Mom Picks on March 12 in Eco Friendly Dolls That don’t Look Like Eco Friendly Dolls (If You Know What We Mean):

There’s an extensive collection well beyond baby dolls (and well beyond white baby dolls) at one of our favorite toy shops, Kangarooboo. And the prices are way, way more reasonable than you might think at $31 and up. Whichever you love, you’re getting an heirloom doll with a bit less of an eco footprint.

Checkout more Petitcollin

Sara’s Toy Box on March 7th in Store Review: KangarooBoo:

Every time I take a look at the KangarooBoo website, there is something new. A few weeks ago, it was wooden toys from Estia. And then, there were beautiful French dolls from Petitcollin. This made deciding what to write about tough.

Apartment Therapy / Ohdeedoh on February 28 in Green Ideas: Petitcollin Dolls:

The dolls are handcrafted in the Lorraine Valley of France, in the last French factory for dolls. A variety of dolls are available here (KangarooBoo.com).

Cool Mom Picks on February 17 in Longing For the Days When We Wondered What the # Button Was For:

If you’re looking for a handcrafted wooden alternative, check out the sweet version from Estia, found at parent-owned toy shop Kangarooboo. While it may not be the bright rainbow toy of your youth, this phone still has the ever important turning dial - that will make kids of today ask what the heck it is anyway.

Feature on the Estia Rotary Telephone.

Apartment Therapy / Re-Nest republish on February 8 from Ohdeedoh Environmentally Friendly Flensted Mobiles. Feature on Hedgehog Family and the Seahorse Mobile

Check out more Estia Toys, Flensted Mobiles and Petitcollin

Apartment Therapy (Ohdeedoh) Jan 24th in Green Ideas: Environmentally Friendly Flensted Mobiles:

“Thanks to Kangarooboo for the insight into the production process. They’ve got 15 new mobiles! Our favorites: the Hedgehog Family, and the Seahorse Mobile.”

Apartment Therapy (Ohdeedoh) Jan 25th in Threading Animals by Estia

In addition to the squirrel, penguin and horse, Estia also makes a butterfly and rabbit. Each toy costs around $10 and is available here (kangarooboo.com).

Check out more Estia Threading Animals and Flensted Mobiles

Easter is early this year.

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people once used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above information, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) that is rare.

Here’s the interesting information. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here are the facts:

1. The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you’re 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).
2. The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

The facts above was emailed to me, and I thought I’d share.

Happy Easter everyone!