Cleaning Baby's Nursery

Instead of our usual Monday Recipe that you all have become accustomed to, we decided to throw in this helpful article and "mix it up" a little!

Check back next week for another new Recipe!

As important as cleaning your kitchen and bathroom your baby''s nursery should be top on your list of cleanliness.

In your baby''s nursery is an important room to keep clean. This simple list will help you keep on track with the basic cleaning details for baby''s room.

We spend hours and lots of money making sure this room is a haven for our special little ones, take the time to make sure it stays that way.

Use this simple baby nursery cleaning list to ensure your little one''s surroundings are taken care of.

With the hectic daily care of a baby you''re often left with little time to clean. Do your best to try and find a spare 5 minutes daily to keep the nursery a clean nurturing place.

In wiping down your baby''s room make sure you are using a non-toxic cleaner for. There are some great ones on the market that take care of odors and disinfect.

Daily -

For very young babies change the mattress sheet daily or every few days. Leaky diapers and other accidents are common and expected so be prepared to clear them up fast. Have several crib sheets for quick changes. Keep baby''s mattress fresh. If the mattress is not of the waterproof kind, purchase a couple of mattress covers so you can rotate these also. If you mattress itself is the waterproof kind wipe it down with non-toxic cleaner each time you change it. Takes just a few seconds and clears up anything that may have leaked through.

Change out the diaper pail and wipe it down with a non-toxic odor eliminating cleaner. If you don''t do it daily do it several times a week. A few minutes airing in the out of doors is a good idea also.

Air the room with the windows open for about 15 minutes. Try to do this in the morning.

You may need to do laundry daily with a small baby. Or at least several times a week.

Straighten toys and belongings. Put away clean clothing.

If you travel daily check diaper bag and restock. If not save this for once a week. A diaper bag list is a great idea to keep from leaving anything behind.

Weekly -

Dust baby''s room. A simple damp rag will do the job. Add a drop of lavender essential oil for a calming scent through the room.

Wash baby blankets.

Vacuum floor.

Wipe down changing table with a non-toxic disinfecting cleaner.

Monthly -

If you have curtains wash them. Don''t put dry clean only in baby''s room. Clean windows.

Wash baby''s bath toys. A quick swish in dish washing soap. Wash out baby''s bath tub.

Wipe out diaper bag. Spills can happen.

Semi-Annually-

Vacuum under baby''s furniture.

Clean out baby''s closet.

Baby will be a year before you know it and helping you clean shortly after that.

Use this simple cleaning list to keep baby''s room in top order.

Lists are the best way to stay organized. For a simply lovely way to stay organized see Household Notes .For more on cleaning your home visit Homemaking Organized
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Monday Recipe - Organic Burgers

Organic Burgers Recipe

New Monday, New Recipe!

Vegetable Upside-Down Casserole
By Nava Atlas

Everyone likes fruity upside-down cakes; why not try the same approach with vegetables? This casserole, which is fun to make and even more fun to eat, has quickly become a family favorite. It’s a great way to use up small amounts of fresh or frozen vegetables; you can keep it simple or come up with more sophisticated combinations, as tastes dictate.

3 to 4 cups cut-up vegetables of your choice
2 tablespoons light olive oil
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
¼ cup wheat germ
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup low-fat yogurt or soy yogurt
¾ cup low-fat milk, rice milk or soy milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ cup grated cheese or non-dairy cheese of your choice, optional

1. Saute the vegetables in olive oil until just tender. Set aside.

2. Preheat the over to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly oil and shallow, round two-quart casserole or a 9”x13” baking pan.

3. Combine the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and add the yogurt, milk and vegetable oil. Stir together until well mixed.

4. Pour the vegetables into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the cheese, if using, then pour the batter evenly over the vegetables, gently smoothing it out with a spatula.

5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top is golden and firm. Let stand for about 10 minutes, then cut into wedges or squares to serve.

© Nava Atlas; excerpted from The Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas

Monday's Recipe

Here's a healthy alternative to a kid's classic...just remember to try to use Organic ingredients whenever possible to give your family the best advantage!

Turkey Burgers
Prep: 5 min, Cook: 10 min.

* 1 clove garlic, crushed
* 3 Tbs. lemon or lime juice
* 2 Tbs. parsley, chopped
* 1 lb. ground turkey, formed into 1 patty per serving
* 4 hamburger buns
* 1/2 cup ketchup
* 2 Tbs. mustard
* 1/2 cup sliced dill pickles
* 1/2 onion, sliced

Prepare grill or broiler. Combine first 3 ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Season turkey patties with pepper to taste. Arrange patties on a broiler pan. Broil 4 minutes. Turn and drizzle with lemon mixture. Broil another 4 minutes or until cooked throughout. Drizzle with any remaining lemon mixture. Serve on buns with desired condiments.

Courtesy of: organic.org

We want to hear from you !

I have been thinking a lot lately about the 5 years since I had my first child. I have always eaten a healthy diet but my real "organic" education started when I was pregnant. In the five years since I have, over time, incorporated more and more organic food into our families diet and now buy it

( almost) exclusively. If I can't buy organic then I try to get local produce, that hasn't been sprayed with crazy chemicals to ripen it on its 3,000 mile trip to get to my grocery store.

My next step was starting to purchase organic bedding and clothing for my family..... this is what sits against our skin every day. Our POURUS skin. It takes about 1/3 pound of chemicals to make a conventional t-shirt....yuck!! There are so many amazing organic and eco-friendly clothing and bedding designers out there right now that shopping for these items is a great experience. We get really excited here at eOrganicbaby.com when we find new, beautiful, safe products to share with you!

We would love to hear your stories/opinions on "going green", buying organic. Was it a long process? Did you jump in with both feet? Did it take the birth of a child, like me, to really motivate you? What do you consider most important to buy organic? Any tips for those just starting to buy organic products?

Send us your stories and be sure to include your first name and city so we can share with other eOrganicbaby.com friends.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Warmest,

Ashley

(Last) Monday's Recipe

Great for when your kids are under the weather...=)

Very Veggie Broth
This is a favorite recipe from The Petit Appetit Cookbook as it is a basic broth recipe for a baby’s bottle or sippy cup. It delivers a punch of calcium and vitamin C for a child (or any age) needing a liquid diet or vitamin pick-me-up. Serve warm or cool in a cup or bottle for baby. Also this broth freezes well in ice cube trays for later use.

Makes about 3 cups; 6 servings

1 quart cold water
1 cup organic cauliflower flowerets, (about 3 to 4 ounces)
1 cup organic broccoli florets (about 2 to 3 ounces)
1 cup organic collard or dandelion greens, rinsed and roughly chopped
1 cup rounds organic carrots, (about 3 to 4 ounces)

Place water in a medium pot with a lid. Add vegetables and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to simmer and cover pot. Cook for 1 hour.

Strain broth and reserve vegetables. These can be pureed or mashed for baby.

Lisa Barnes is author of The Petit Appetit Cookbook: Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler, Williams-Sonoma: Cooking For Baby, and lives in Sausalito, California.
Image Credit: © Rmarmion | Dreamstime.com
OrganicToBe.org | OrganicToGo.com

Recipe of the Week

Butternut Squash Puree

1 ¼ pound organic butternut squash, about 3 cups

Oven Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut squash into quarters; remove seeds and place cut side down in a baking pan. Pour ¼ cup water in bottom of pan. Bake squash until fork tender, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and scoop out flesh.

Puree the squash in a food processor after cooking, until you’ve reached the desired consistency. You may want to add 1 to 2 tablespoons water, breast milk or formula to thin.

Microwave directions: Cut squash in quarters (this may be difficult, depending on size) and scoop out seeds. Place squash, skin side down, in a microwave-safe dish. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water and cover tightly, allowing one corner to vent. Microwave on High for 10 to 12 minutes. Check for doneness, cool and proceed with recipe above.

For older babies, cut flesh into chunks that he can pick up and eat himself.

Lisa Barnes is author of The Petit Appetit Cookbook: Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler and lives in Sausalito, California.