Franklin Goose

Choosing a Mattress

Knowledge is such a double edged sword.  I love to research.  I did it all from pregnancy, breastfeeding and birth to baby gear, clothing, paints etc.  I research or seek out information about food and chemicals, and our environment.  Basically I never rely on my government or manufacturers to “take care of me”.  I feel I have to fight to find the knowledge to make educated decisions on what I believe is best for my family.  

That being said there is such a thing as too much knowledge.  I sometimes get frozen in the decision making process because I either do not have the time or the means to make what I may deem to be the “right decision”  for us.  

I am in that crossroads right now.  We bought a house last year and my husband and I have decided to make “bunk beds”  for our children. (I’ll give you a sneak peak later.)  This means we need a new mattress for our toddler son since he is still in a toddler bed with a crib sized mattress.  What to do?

 

 

 

Our budget only allows for us to go out and get a cheap mattress at Costco or some other mattress store.  The problem being that I know that those mattresses contain harmful and toxic materials.  I want to turn a blind eye and buy it and pretend that I do not know the harmful effects of those chemicals.  But, I just can’t.  For 3 weeks now we have been waffling about this decision, knowing that we really can’t afford the organic mattress.  

What it ultimately comes down to is, do we save now on the product and pay for it later in health care expenses?  We have decided to pay for it now and buy an organic cotton and wool mattress, without the use of toxic fire retardant chemicals.  I don’t know where we will cut the cost but I will feel very happy knowing my son is safe and sound in bed at night.

Hopscotch Nursery Rug DIY

 

(sheri)

My sister and I spotted this rug on Pinterest and immediately thought we should use it in the nursery in our Richmond store. We couldn't find a pattern or instructions so my sister made them up herself.

First we had to hunt down some wool felt in the heathered colors we liked. Luckily there is a fantastic fabric store in Richmond, Quilting Adventures, where we had purchased some heathered wool before to make birds for our windows. They special ordered some for us in the colors we wanted so now our rug was possible!

 

Next Kathryn drew out the dimensions of the space we had available for a rug. She did this on graph paper so she could start to draw out the dimensions of each square and number. There are a total of 9 squares needed. With two horizontal lines that hold two numbers. I would recommend

 

Next we cut the main fabric for the rug. Then cut each piece of the white felt for the hopscotch square outlines. Next were cutting out the numbers. We decided to use the iron on hem product rather than sewing each piece of fabric. We felt it would give us a cleaner look. The only thing about doing that is you have to cut each piece of iron on hem material to match the pieces that make up the hopscotch board.

 

The beginning of our hopscotch rug

 

The rug is starting to take shape

 

 

I would recommend not using pins, they left tiny holes

 

 

 

This is half way through the ironing process

 

 

Almost finished

 

The last step was to iron on each piece and then, DONE!  We are so happy with the final results! We will get a non-slip rug pad to go under the rug and it will be perfect!

 

 

All done!

In the Nursery!

 

What do you think?

Nursery Design: DIY Dr. Seuss

(sheri)

The nursery my sister and brother-in-law created 3 1/2 years ago when they were pregnant with my niece blew me away. Their creativity, as well as their dedication to making my sisters long term dream nursery come to life was so inspiring to me. Even now every time I go in there I am amazed by what they did, by their vision and the love that went into the creation of this special room that now has two little ones, a boy and a girl, living in it.

Inspiration

My sister has always loved Dr. Seuss. Particularly the book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go." She had dreamed of having this as her children's nursery since she was in college. Luckily my incredibly talented brother-in-law was very happy with the idea and was able to help with her vision.

Kathryn and Phil chose to do all of the painting and drawing themselves and then supplement with used furniture and handmade window treatments.

Cost: $400-$500

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Hand drawing and painting the walls, as well as cutting out the castle and window treatments was a difficult and time consuming project. Phil, my brother in law (who also did the murals at the store), happens to possess the amazing ability to do all of the drawing by hand and my sister and he were able to paint the walls themselves. With the help of his father they were able to cut the wood templates and mount them in the room.

 

The Room

 

This room used to be the guest bedroom/office. It is the only bedroom in the house besides the master bedroom so Kathryn & Phil gave up the extra space for the nursery. They replaced the old ceiling fan that was in the room. Used carpet tiles for the carpet in the middle of the room.  The crib was a purchase from a neighborhood garage sale. They knew this way it had already done the majority of its off-gassing and saved them a lot of money. The rocking chair and shelves were new.

The castle behind the crib is actually cut from wood and then mounted on the wall to give a dimensional affect to the drawings.

 

The Changing Table

 

Kathryn and Phil decided to use an old dresser they had for my nieces dresser and changing table. They repainted it and changed the drawer pulls. Kathryn found a pattern for the changing pad and then sewed that so it would compliment the room.

 

They used the diaper dekor alongside the changing table, which fit perfectly into the space created when Phil but larger doors into the closet.

The Window Treatments

 

The window treatments are a combination of bent eco-plywood, wood brackets and fabric which is velcroed to the eco-plywood. There was very little sewing involved in these treatments. The hardest part was finding the right fabric to match what was going on in the room.

 

 

Kathryn and Phil told me one of their favorite things about doing this room was the time they spent together painting it by hand. They would talk for hours about their dreams for their children, the special memories they would have in this room, the memories they were creating for their children, and all about their aspirations as parents. I think you can feel all of this love when you are in the room. It seems to wrap its arms around you. Of course now, with two children in the room it looks different, there are toys, and more books, toy chests and clothes and shoes and potty chairs, all making it look more like home.

What do you think of this room?

Got an interesting nursery you’d like to share? Snap a picture and submit it on our Facebook page (either here or here) or tag us on Instagram. (We’re @franklingoose.)

 

 

 

 

 

Nursery Design: DIY Circus

(emily)

If you’ve had the chance to visit our store in Richmond, you have probably noticed that we’re really into being sustainable and using reclaimed furniture for our displays. So when I shared with my coworkers the nursery that my sister designed, we decided it was too cool not share with all of you.

When it came time to design her nursery, my sister Grace was very clear that she did not want anything too “girly.” She didn’t like the idea of a lot of pink, even though she was having a girl. Grace and her husband Viktor are very fun and original, and they wanted their nursery to reflect their style. They’re also a bi-cultural couple, so many of their design choices are eclectic and culturally diverse.

Grace also became obsessed with elephants during her pregnancy.  

Inspiration

Our great-grandfather Bernie loved the circus so much that when it would come to Waynesboro he would dress up as a clown and perform in the show.

Bernie passed away before either myself or Grace were born, but our great-grandmother Dorothy lived well into her 80’s and was a strong presence in our lives. She passed away when we were in our teens. When Grace decided she wanted to do a circus theme for her nursery, she chose to use those things our family inherited from Bernie and Dorothy.

Cost: $300-$500

Grace chose to make a lot of things herself or to reuse items and furniture already in the house. She’s also a great bargain hunter. The only things that she had to purchase were the crib, rocking chair, and changing table.

Difficulty Level: Easy

The hardest thing to do, Grace confessed, was create the big top ceiling.

The Room

The room was originally a guest room and office. There was a twin bed, mostly for our brother when he comes to visit from college. Grace took out the office furniture but kept the twin bed and a few odd tables and lamps. The bed she pushed against the wall to convert into a daybed.

The Changing Table

Grace took a used changing table and repainted it in a burgundy. The patterned sides were achieved by spray painting blue paint through pieces of lace.

Door Sign

The license plate on the door was our great-grandfather’s. Grace made the garland.

The Walls

The walls of the room are painted white, but a yellow curtain at the window bathes the room in a soft buttery light during the day. Behind the daybed, Grace and Viktor hung up a wall covering from Urban Outfitters, which brings a little of their style to the nursery. Wall decals of circus animal silhouettes are placed strategically throughout the room. Foam letters spell out the baby’s name over the crib.

Grace found the picture of the young girl and elephant online.

To keep all of baby’s headbands and hair clips, Grace took a picture frame, removed the glass and back, and strung ribbons vertically down the back. Hooks were screwed into the bottom, and the frame was decorated in a variety of buttons, including 4 yellow giraffe buttons Grace found in our great-grandmother’s button collection.

The Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. picture is actually an old t-shirt of my mother’s from the early ‘80s. Viktor found it a couple of years ago and often wore it. Grace decided to retire it and cut the picture out for the frame, backing it with patterned paper.

Mobile

For the mobile over the changing table, Grace was inspired by a craft she found on Pinterest to make her own. The shapes were cut out of cardstock.

Under the Big Top

Grace and Viktor strung red and blue tulle from the ceiling to give the nursery the feeling that one was entering a circus tent. Grace also made pom-poms to hang both from the ceiling and the furniture.

 

I think they did a pretty good job. What do you think?

 

Got an interesting nursery you’d like to share? Snap a picture and submit it on our Facebook page (either here or here) or tag us on Instagram. (We’re @franklingoose.) 

Can Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Be Prevented?

At Franklin Goose, we enjoy hearing from customers about their experiences with various products, whether we carry them or not. We are especially interested in new and different information on parenting.

So when one of our customers asked if we had heard of special mattress covers that help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), we were intrigued. Our customer had heard that SIDS had been linked to toxic gas in crib mattresses, and that in order to prevent SIDS parents were encouraged to wrap mattresses in special covers to keep the toxic gas from escaping and harming children.

We told our customer that we would look into this, and immediately began to do so, searching the Internet and speaking to the crib mattress companies whose products we carry.

Our detective work has led to some discoveries that we will be sharing with you over the next few weeks. We are extremely concerned with making sure that the families we serve are receiving the best products available, and we want to make sure that you are well informed.

Is SIDS linked to Toxic Gas in Crib Mattresses?

A controversial study by New Zealand scientist Dr. Jim Sprott, OBE, claims that SIDS is caused by toxic gasses that are produced in mattresses by common househould fungi that grow in old mattresses. Dr. Sprott’s conclusion is that the only way to prevent these toxic gasses in crib mattresses is to wrap them in a special barrier cover.

Because of Sprott’s study, medical professionals of New Zealand have strongly encouraged parents to purchase BabeSafe products, which are claimed to be the only mattress products tested to prevent toxic gas from escaping mattresses[1]. Since New Zealand has begun mattress-wrapping, SIDS related deaths have dropped 87% [2]. Conspiracy theorists believe that this information has remained largely unknown outside of New Zealand because other countries are determined to hide Sprott’s findings.

 

Now, conspiracy theories are all good fun in movies, but in real life I’m a little wary of them. Numerous red flags were raised for me as I researched BabeSafe products and Dr. Sprott’s findings.

 

SIDS is caused by toxic gasses produced by fungus growing because of phosphorous, arsenic, and antimony in mattresses and bedding. Mattresses that are passed down to younger children increase the risk of cot death.

It has not been disproven that SIDS is caused by toxic gas. Neither has it been proven. The idea that fungus could grow in a mattress, especially an old and used mattress, sounds logical, and we all know that mold and fungus are not good things to come into constant contact with.

SIDS can be prevented by wrapping a mattress “in a gas-impermeable cover” [3].

Wouldn’t wrapping a mattress actually cause mold and fungus to grow because it would create a lack of breathability?

And what makes this cover “gas-impermeable”? What is it made with?

BabeSafe covers are made from polythene. [4]

“Polythene” is the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry’s name for “polyethylene,” a common plastic.

So we’re to wrap the mattress in plastic?

“This plastic is so thick and strong that an adult cannot tear it.”

But I don’t think I’m comfortable with my child lying on plastic. Should I use any additional bedding?

“On top of the wrapped mattress place a pure cotton blanket. On top of the pure cotton blanket, place a pure cotton lower sheet and a pure cotton upper sheet. (The baby sleeps between these sheets.) On top of the upper sheet, place pure cotton or pure wool overblanket/s.”

Isn’t it strongly recommended that there shouldn’t be anything in the crib with a child?

I’m still concerned about the breathability of the mattress. Wrapping it tightly in plastic just doesn’t seem right to me.

“After the BabeSafe cover has been sealed, airing of the mattress is achieved by means of the ventilation hole/s on the underside of the cover.”

So the mattress isn’t completely sealed? There’s still a chance that these toxic gasses could escape or that mold spores, dust mites or bed bugs can get into the mattress through the ventilation system.

 

This seems like an awful lot of trouble, and it concerns me that the only products parents are encouraged to buy are BabeSafe, a company directly linked Dr. Sprott. There has been a decrease in SIDS related deaths since the use of BabeSafe products has been advocated in New Zealand, but I wasn’t able to find much information about these statistics—at least, not much information that wasn’t on a pro-BabeSafe website. Internet forums are both in support and against BabeSafe. Having read through the comments, I feel inclined to agree with those who mistrust this study. Those parents share the concerns I had: that BabeSafe encourages improper sleeping habits for babies (sleeping with extra materials that can cause suffocation, sleeping in various positions instead of on the back, etc.), and that BabeSafe seems more interested in making money by telling parents that only their products prevent SIDS.

As mentioned before, it has not been disproven that SIDS is caused by toxic gasses, but it also hasn’t been proven as the only cause. It seems like Dr. Sprott and BabeSafe are instilling a false sense of security in parents. There were several times while I was researching this that I felt the language used in support of these mattress covers also encouraged lax parenting.  If parents believe that a mattress cover will prevent SIDS, they might become less diligent in their children’s safety. We need to remember that SIDS is an unexplainable death of a healthy child. Deaths can still occur, and the information supporting BabeSafe seems to encourage irresponsible behavior. 

There are also many mattresses out there that are designed to not develop molds and fungi by establishing breathability. The company Nook has specifically designed its mattresses so that mold and fungi can’t grow within them.  Naturepdic also offers mattresses that are impermeable to mold, dust, and insects. For us, these companies’ options make more sense than the recommendations of Dr. Sprott because it’s eliminating the need for a special mattress cover.

It is not our wish to frighten parents or mislead them with false information. As we looked into this theory, we also began to read about other issues related to mattress safety that have recently come to light. We will be looking into those as well and sharing them with you here on this blog in the weeks to come.

 

Information for this post was taken from

Cot Life 2000: A website supported by T J Sprott Limited

Stop SIDS Now: A website in support of Dr. Sprott. It also sells BabeSafe products.

Healthy Child: Empowering Parents To Make Informed Decisions

Nursery Design 101, Part 2

Annie Mullens is the founder of WeePlan Baby Planners. She is a premier, certified Baby Planner and an Independent Maternity and Child Product Consultant. You can find out more about her and her and WeePlan Baby Planners at weeplanbabyplanners.com. She continues her post on nursery designs below. (FG)

Now that you’ve chosen your color scheme and taken care of your baby’s crib, next up is comfy seating.  This is a must! You will be spending countless hours feeding, rocking, and reading (the same book a MILLION times) to your little angel and a comfortable chair is a lifesaver.  Do not skimp!  I recommend a chair with a nice, tall back so that you can rest your head back during late night bonding sessions.  You will also want to choose a fabric that is easy to clean.  That winter white glider with the “dry-clean only” label looks oh so gorgeous on Pinterest, but may be the primary cause of your high blood pressure when the reality of “blow outs” enter your world. 

The Bingham Recliner-Glider-Swivel Chair is a Franklin Goose favorite!

Now it’s time to talk about some of the “extras”. 

It’s a good idea to give yourself as much storage space as possible.  Toy chests aren’t a requisite, but they sure are a great (cute!) way to keep toys out of sight.  Experts recommend that you store your child's toys in a chest that has a support that will hold the lid open in any position, including a spring-loaded or detachable lid.

Unless you have wall-to-wall carpeting, a standout pattern on an area rug can be a great accent piece, as well.   Just don’t forget to use a non-slip rug pad or double-sided tape to keep you from slipping or tripping while holding your baby.

Other items you’ll need are a good diaper pail, changing pad, and swaddle blankets, and good classic toys that stimulate the senses.  In addition, many parents choose to use a baby monitor.   Lastly, a good nightlight is essential.  In the middle of the night you don’t want to be turning on any extra lights! 

So there you go!  With these simple tips it’s a piece of (baby shower) cake to design your own visually appealing, and more importantly, SAFE nursery.  Now if you can just keep those belly-touching strangers, with their unsolicited advice, at arm’s length, you’re all set.

Nursery Design 101

Annie Mullens is the founder of WeePlan Baby Planners. She is a premier, certified Baby Planner and an Independent Maternity and Child Product Consultant. You can find out more about her and her and WeePlan Baby Planners at weeplanbabyplanners.com. (FG)

One of Tori Spelling's nurseries, featuring the Bloom Alma Papa crib.

Preparing for a new baby is both exciting and a little bit overwhelming. You get to choose the baby’s name, register for all of the fun items your baby will need, attend showers, and prepare your home for the arrival of your little bundle of joy…all while battling strange cravings and unsolicited advice from every stranger you encounter! 

One of the most fun, yet slightly daunting tasks, you will have is designing your baby’s nursery.   There are seemingly endless choices to make and a limited amount of time to complete them…tick tock, tick tock…that due date is looming.  You may feel your blood pressure rising just thinking about it.  But don’t stress, it’s not good for you or the baby!  Instead, follow these helpful tips to design the nursery of your and your baby’s (sweet) dreams.

Start out by deciding the theme of the nursery.  You can choose a theme that corresponds with the tastes of rest of your house, matches your hobbies, highlights a storybook character, letters or numbers, or idyllic scene.  But one thing is for sure, it’s always best to design a nursery that can grow with your child.  I like to use fun wall decals to add fun focal points on the walls (much less expensive and easier to change later than a painted mural).

I suggest choosing a neutral color for the basis of your room design and then adding great accent colors to get the effect you want.  This lets you incorporate the trendiest colors, while still getting the most longevity out of your design.

So what is the color of trend for 2013, you ask?  Each year the Pantone Institute determines which color will be hot for the upcoming year.  Last year’s Color of the Year, “Tangerine Tango” is green with envy now that it’s been beaten out by Pantone’s “Emerald” (a vivid, verdant green) for the trending color of 2013.  Keep your eyes peeled for companies using this color for everything from strollers to diaper pails!  I love this color.  It symbolizes life, nature, fertility, and well-being and is great for both boys and girls rooms. 

When painting the nursery, I recommend that my clients use a low-odor, VOC-free interior paint.  It is always optimal to finish all painting and wallpapering at least eight weeks before baby is expected, and leave windows open for aeration until the actual arrival.   Airing out the room releases potentially harmful fumes, but finishing them early should eliminate any risk to baby.  (Note:  As a Certified Greenproofer, I recommend that my clients open all the products they purchase well in advance of the baby coming home for this same reason.)

Once you decide the theme and color, it’s time to start looking at furniture.  Always start with the crib -- and start early!  It's the focus point of most nurseries and it’s a necessity that you don’t want to gamble on ordering too late.  You want to make sure to give yourself extra time for delivery, backorders, potential damage from shipping, and other problems that can set you back weeks.  If you have to return, replace, or find a new crib you'll want to have plenty of time to get this done before your bundle of joy arrives.  

When choosing your crib, there are a few things to keep in mind.  First and foremost, make sure that the crib you are using complies with the new and improved Federal safety standards implemented in June of 2011.  If you are purchasing a new crib, you don’t need to worry, but if you will be using an older crib, you’ll want to check for recalls to make sure that it is safe.   

In addition, when buying your new crib, you’ll want to decide if you’d like to get more mileage out of it by getting one with an optional conversion kit that allows for it to transition to a toddler bed.  I love this option and routinely suggest that parents purchase this accessory at the time that they order their crib.  That way you have it and don’t need to worry about it being discontinued or a change in color options.

The bedding you choose for your crib can be another highlight of your baby’s room.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned against the use of crib bumpers, stating that there’s no evidence that they protect against injury, and they’re a suffocation risk.  However, the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association says that traditional crib bumpers, when used properly, can help prevent limb entrapments and head injuries.  Many parents choose to skip the risk and invest in cute fitted sheets.  There are many on that market now that even imitate the look of bumpers.

See my earlier Blog about how to choose a mattress.

Lastly, when positioning the crib in the room, make sure that all cords from window coverings, electronic devices, or other items are safely out of baby’s reach to remove the risk of strangulation. 

Often times the crib you choose will have a matching changing table or dresser.  A table may be less expensive in the short term, but a dresser will have more longevity and has the added benefit of more storage (and there’s never enough storage!).  Remember to ALWAYS tether your dresser (and other heavy furniture) to the wall in order to prevent tip-over injuries.  Kiddos love to climb!

 

Annie continues Nursery Design 101 on Monday, December 17, focusing on extra items to include for baby’s fun and entertainment. Stay tuned!

Choosing a Crib Mattress

Annie Mullens, founder of WeePlan Baby Planners, is a premier, certified Baby Planner and Independent Maternity and Child Product Consultant.  Check out their Virtual Baby Planning services http://www.weeplanbabyplanners.com/login. 

 

 

As a product consultant to my clients, I get asked all the time what I think are the most important items to “splurge” on for their new baby.  I always say there are two items that I recommend you purchase the best possible option (regardless of price) that you can.  (Go ahead and skimp on a bunch of other items…I promise that no baby ever suffered from too few bedazzled onesies!)  Those two items that I emphasize are your car seat and your baby’s mattress.

 

You take great care to choose the best of the best for your baby’s well-being and safety, so a car seat seems to be an obvious choice.  There is nothing more dangerous that you can do, but to strap your precious one into the equivalent of a very well padded steel box on wheels and drive it down the highway at 60 miles per hour.  But why worry about a mattress???

Here’s why.  Most babies sleep 16 or 17 hours a day, so their crib is where they are spending the majority of their time.  Because of this, you'll want to choose a safe and non-toxic spot for them to catch all those Z's. Traditional mattresses are layered with a variety of chemicals including PVC, polyurethane foam and toxic flame retardants. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission requires all mattresses to meet stringent fireproofing standards, a requirement that most manufacturers meet by using boron, boric acid, and/or antimony. These chemicals can pose a health risk to babies and should be avoided. Look for a mattress that uses less toxic materials such as wool, baking soda, or hydrated silica to meet these requirements. 

 

So how can you be sure you're getting a non-toxic crib mattress for your baby? I’ve narrowed it down to two great mattresses that I would recommend.

 

First is the Nook Sleep Systems Pebble Pure mattress.  At $395.00 it’s not exactly cheap, but let’s look at what you’re getting.  Standard infant crib mattresses are often comprised of non-porous plastics and synthetics that impede airflow. Even "organic" mattresses do nothing to ensure air circulation through the mattress interior and require non-breathable mattress pads. The Nook Sleep System is the only infant sleep mattress designed to ensure consistent oxygen flow over and through the mattress.  Research shows that a sleep environment rich in oxygen is critical for cognitive and physical development in infants. It also helps them sleep longer and deeper (and who doesn’t want that!). Nook’s mattress design helps ensure smarter temperature regulation, too, which has been shown to help reduce the risk of SIDS. The pebble design of the cover promotes air flow and is made of patented eucalyptus fiber technology that creates a wipe-able and microbe resistant surface so messes can be quickly wiped up for a safe, healthy, and clean sleep space. That’s right, you don’t even need a waterproof mattress pad because the fabric, itself, repels the moisture! 

 

So, although it’s one of the pricier mattresses on the market, the completely organic materials and increased air circulation make it my first choice.

 

Next, I recommend the Naturpedic No-Compromise™ Organic Cotton Classic.  At $259.00 this is a good option for more budget-conscious eco-minded families. It’s also a good option for parents worried about wool or latex allergies. This organic crib mattress is made from organic cotton fabric on the outside and is filled with organic cotton as well. This crib mattress features a plastic coating to make it waterproof that’s made from 100% polyethylene that meets food-grade standards. It’s not entirely eco-friendly and it does diminish the breathability of the mattress, but you do get the benefit of an easy to clean, waterproof surface. 

 

So, yes, an organic mattress is definitely more expensive than a typical non-organic mattress.  But, knowing that your child is spending their nap-time and bed-time in a toxin-free environment is worth every penny.

 

Now if they just came with a “Sleep Through the Night “ guarantee…

Bunk Bed Designs

This morning I stumbled across this blog and fell in love with the designs of Roberto Gil! He is so creative in creating spaces for children sharing rooms, or for children in small spaces. He even has photos of a nursery he created in a closet! 

 

If you don't live close to Roberto Gil or don't know a carpenter who can custom build bunks for you. Oeuf makes a great option, ready to go. You can find it here.