happy earth day: it's easy being green

You want to expose your kids to stuff that's good for them--think products that are clean, natural and environmentally friendly. Your one-stop shopping spot: Vert. This Los Angeles-based eco-chic boutique offers high-end chemical-free and organic products for you, your kids and your home. Prompted by her doctor to eliminate chemicals from her surroundings, owner and makeup artist Renata Helfman decided to change her lifestyle and use only green products. Now she shares her philosophy with fellow Angelenos in her hip beauty shop located in Venice, CA. The shop features eco-friendly beauty lines like Naturopathica, Josie Maran Cosmetics and Me & Ro. Among the offerings are several lines for babies, including Epicuren, Coyuchi and Erbaviva. Try Erbaviva's Diaper Cream ($19) with organic echinacea and chamomile to heal and protect, Organic Baby Lip and Cheek Balm ($10) with calendula, lavender and chamomile, and Sunscreen for babies and adults, featuring the highest SPF possible without using synthetic materials. For more info, check out www.vertla.com.

got milk?

Kids' shampoos don't always live up to their promises for being non-irritating and soothing for sensitive skin. So I keep trying different brands. This one is designed for moms and kids to share. The Soft & Beautiful Just for Me! Hair Milk Collection (each product costs only $4.99!) is formulated with vitamins C, E and calcium so it's healthy and deeply moisturizing. Your kids will love the fact that it keeps their hair tangle-free. You'll love the Stylist Creme for sculpting and shaping and the Straightening Mist for protecting hair from heat damage. The best part: the fresh, coconut-y scent. I used it on my kids tonight. Their hair felt instantly smoother while still in the bath and dried to a soft, silky finish. Of course, that didn't stop them from messing up their freshly brushed styles as soon as they had the chance! I love the fact that I can use it too--that's two fewer bottles on the shower shelf! Visit any Walgreens, CVS, Target or Wal-Mart to make your purchase.

wigs for kids

The next time you're brushing your child's hair or giving him/her a shampoo, take a minute to think of those kids who can't enjoy such simple pleasures. The facts are: Annually, 90,231 children are diagnosed with cancer and 99,500 children under 14 experience burn accidents. And overall, 1.4 million children suffer from Alopecia. Fortunately, these children can turn to Wigs for Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children locally and nationally who have lost their hair due to medical and natural causes. In honor of the organization's 30th anniversary this year, founders Jeffrey Paul and his wife Zina are determined to raise money to help these children look themselves and live their lives. A gala event is planned for April 25th ($150/person; $1,500/table). Be a guest, donate prizes to the silent auction or "Be a Hero" and sponsor a child (one time sponsorship, $1,500; one-year sponsorship, $125/month; two-year sponsorship, $62.50/month). Your contributions go to financial assistance for children whose families need help paying for hair systems. The Night of the Pearl gala will be held at the Galleria in downtown Cleveland. For more information about the event or to register, go to www.blacktie-clevelandregistration.com. For more info about Wigs for Kids, go to www.wigsforkids.org.

sweet cheeks

Parents everywhere can relate: You're in the middle of doing something important and, all of a sudden, you smell something suspicious. If you have a kid under two, there's a good chance it's a dirty diaper. You grin (well, maybe it's more of a smirk) and bear it (actually, it's more like bare it!). Once the mess is cleaned up, you smooth on some diaper cream, tape 'em up and continue what you were doing. But more often than not, the smell lingers. That's one of the reasons I love Weleda Baby Care. The all-natural, organic line is made with Calendula flower extract which means your baby's bottom will smell clean and fresh once it's applied. And not only does Calendula smell good, since it's grown in the largest Biodynamic fields of Germany, it adds anti-inflammatory properties and helps healing. Calendula Diaper Care ($11) is formulated with zinc oxide, plus other natural ingredients, to offer your baby's skin quick and effective relief from diaper rash and relieve minor skin irritations. If you like the diaper cream, you'll also love Weleda's Calendula Oil ($12) and Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash ($10). Weleda products are available at Target, Whole Foods and www.usa.weleda.com.

spring break

The kids have been cranky, your spouse snaps at everything and you really need a change from the daily doldrums. Sounds like it's time for a change of scenery. But where can you take the whole family when you need a break? Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya was recently named "most family friendly resort in Mexico." After a multi-million dollar renovation, the luxurious all-suite, all-inclusive property offers families all the space and amenities they need (you'll find some of the largest rooms of any beachfront property here). Says Claudio A. Zboznovits, vice president of sales and marketing in the U.S. and Canada, "With our redesigned suites and renewed public spaces, we have further strengthened our positioning as a family favorite hotel." Just 20 minutes from downtown Puerta Vallarta, the hotel overlooks Mismaloya Bay and its 317 one- and two-bedroom suites boast balconies with panoramic views. There are four outdoor swimming pools with waterfalls, a children's slide, Jacuzzis, on-site shopping, a state-of-the-art fitness center (for your well-deserved dose of R & R) and five restaurants (to please each of your children's palates). To make your reservation or for more info, call 1-800-Barcelo, or visit www.barcelolajollademismaloya.com.

rock on

Whether you live at Baby Gap or swear by hand-me-downs from friends, chances are your kids' wardrobes can use a little boost. You know, one or two fun pieces that give it an edge...so they don't look like every other toddler at the playground. Rock Baby Rock, a high-end infant and toddler clothing line, was created to infuse kids' clothes with fun and energy that was missing from the childrenswear market. Think onesies, t-shirts, hoodies, board shorts, flared and straight legged pants, skirts, jumpers, and tiered or hooded dresses ($34 to $62) in infant sizes three to 12 months and toddler sizes two to four. Soon to be unleashed for Fall: The Wild, Wild Safari collection, designed to spread the love for the world we live in and its animals. Featuring adorable graphics of elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions and zebras, amidst paw prints, stripes and stars, the clothes promote messages like "love, love, love," "to love is to learn," and "knock on the sky and hear me." In the softest fleece, Supima cotton jersey and French terry, as well as brilliant colors like fuschia, carrot, teal, majesty, sunshine, castle rock and cocoa, they add an unexpected pop to any wee outfit. Go to www.rockbabyrock.net for stores and info.

born to swim

I was a lifeguard in high school and one of the most terrifying things for me was watching new mothers try to teach their babies to swim. I'd sit on the edge of my chair, ready to dive in at a moment's notice. Luckily, there were no mishaps on my watch...but as a result, I'm always looking for better ways to introduce kids to the water. Aquanilo, based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is one of them. "Danilo and I started this company with one thing in mind: To provide the best swimming for infants and babies, while providing parents with the support they need to supplement their parenting style," says Yaron Landow, CEO. Landow co-owns Aquanilo with Swim Director and 2000 Olympics participant Danilo Krvavac, a driving force behind the program, shown here teaching a five-month-old to swim. In addition to swimming lessons, an on-site certified doula offers exceptional parenting support. "The doula helps parents understand how specific exercises help their children's cognitive and physical growth," says Landow. "She is also there to talk to new moms about everything from breastfeeding to dealing with the necessary adjustments when becoming a new parent." The business wouldn't be a success without the duo's passion for the sport; Landow says he discovered his at a young age. "When I was about four years old, I was scared of dogs," he recalls. "I was at a hotel that had a resident dog that walked around the property and was always barking. One day I was at the pool with my older sister and the dog started chasing me and barking. I ran away and jumped into the pool. I was thankful that I knew how to swim and that the dog didn't like water." For more info on this innovative swim program, email aquaniloswim@gmail.com.