If it's "early to bed, early to rise" for most people, then it's "never to bed, always to rise" for new moms.

You may not have the little one sleeping through the night quite yet, but Canadian-made sleep sacks by Big Fat Hen will at least keep them comfy while they learn to doze for more than two hours at a time. Made with eco-friendly fabrics, these sleeveless sacks unzip easily for diaper changes and are soft inside and out. Made for babie 0-18 months, they come in three cute designs (yellow chicks, pink piggies and green owls) and hold up well in the wash.

And one day soon, the sun will rise before you. We promise. —MT

$79.90 at www.bigfathen.ca

There's no use crying over spilled cereal—unless it spills in your Prada.

Grab a pack of eco-friendly Wean Cubes ($25/4 pack) and you'll never have sweet pea puree at the bottom of your purse again. Designed for food storage, the containers are made of durable glass with an airtight silicone-sealed lid.

Safe and portable, these little wonders have measuring lines to monitor food intake, don't leach yucky toxins into food and can handle all the temps it takes to prepare baby food, from storing to freezing to serving.

Now if only there was a way to get spit up off your favourite Isabel Marant top.

At www.babybot.com

It’s a traveling catch-22: stay hydrated in the air by lugging your own bulky water bottle or go against the enviro grain and buy a plastic one once you’re through the gates.

But with the fold-and-go Vapur Anti-Bottle (11.99) there’s no predicament. When empty, the bottle can be rolled, folded and flattened for easy packing into pockets or purses; when full, it stands up. BPA-free, it’s also reusable, dishwasher safe and freezable and we love the attached carabiner and the writable text area where you can fill in your name.

Just like summer camp.

www.raspberrykids.com

Yes we reduce, reuse and recycle—but sometimes loading up can be green, too.

Riva’s Eco Store new Inglewood space has fabulous collections, like adorable pillows by K Studio and mini speakers by OrigAudio ($19.99). And we’ve already stocked up on water-based nail polish by Acquarelle ($18, pictured) and pretty tops by Stewart and Brown.

Too much of a green thing? Never.

Riva’s Eco Store, 1237 Ninth Ave. SE, Calgary, 403-452-1001, www.rivasecostore.com

We’ve all made sacrifices for the environment (like chipping our nails bringing out the recycling). Have a laid-back Earth Day with our editors' tips.  

Simple Shoes (you probably wore a pair in the early ’90s) are still kicking, but now the brand makes footwear that’s eco-friendly to the nth degree. This season they introduced their BIO-D collection, which will actually biodegrade after they hit the landfill. www.simpleshoes.com
Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor

Make your own dryer sheets by adding a few drops of essential oil to a damp cloth. Toss in the dryer, and voila! You’ve beaten global warming and static cling in one fell swoop.
Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor

Now that carrying a plastic bag is an even bigger faux pas than toting a fake Louis, notable totables are a must. Pack your veggies in this set of three organic cotton drawstring produce bags ($23). www.lavishandlime.com
Maria Tallarico, Managing editor

Kim Mitchell’s “Patio Lanterns” may be a radio station deal breaker for some, but Ikea’s new outdoor Solig solar-powered lighting collection (from $9.99) has us wanting to spruce up the garden, make lemonade, and cue the 1986 hit.
Malwina Gudowska, Calgary editor

Why not opt for natural cleaning products straight from the pantry? Lemon juice makes a great copper polish and a decent bleach alternative, too. Vinegar removes mildew, cuts grease and removes coffee stains and wax build-up. Cornstarch is super on windows, carpets and rugs. A shot of vodka cures all ills, and it even cleans chrome and porcelain.
Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor
 

There are few things in this world that get us excited about cleaning so when we come across something that has us enthusiastically rolling up our sleeves, we have to share.

Goodbye Detergent scrubs and pads are eco-friendly and made from natural abrasives such as corncobs, peach pits and walnut shells. The Original Spaghetti Scrubs ($9.50) are the quirkiest of the bunch and come in gentle or coarse, depending on your cleaning needs.

At CRMR at Home, 330 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-532-0241, www.crmrathome.com

So you gave up on the cloth diapers, forgot to ditch the PBA bottles and  didn’t splurge for the bamboo crib set.
 
Wait! There’s still a chance to reverse your eco-kid karma.
 
These cheerful Velcro-closure organic cotton snack sacks from Graze Organic are illustrated with water-based dyes and are machine washable, so they can be used again and again.
 
Now just make sure those veggies are local and the bread’s got ancient grains.

US$35 for set of 5. www.grazeorganic.com 

With Santa’s extreme travel schedule, it’s no surprise his carbon footprint is out of this world. To help jolly old St. Nick offset that print, go green with Amenity Home’s new holiday collection.

Put the final touches on your Christmas décor with the eco-friendly and modern stockings ($55), table runners ($105) and ornaments ($9), made from softly textured hemp and organic cotton in a print inspired by pine needles scattered on the forest floor.

Because Santa’s got to do what he’s got to do.

At Riva’s, The Eco Store, 1534 17th Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-452-1001, www.rivasecostore.com

Reusable totes are as essential to a food stop as a grocery list, so when we came across the Toronto-based bag line Jack and Marjorie, it was all we could do not to grab a few to pack our produce.

Made from recycled and military surplus materials, each bag tells a story of decades past (it’s not unusual that a handwritten nametag can still be found on pieces of the material).

As an ode to our Toronto pals, our pick is the Ossington ($295) made from organic and reclaimed leather with a snap top made from military surplus cotton tent canvas.

If only the bag could talk when we can’t find our keys.

At Community Natural Foods, 1304 10th Ave SW, Calgary, 403-229-2383, http://communitynaturalfoods.com

Home is where the heart is, but what about the health?

We asked the Clean Calgary Association to assess our pad as part of the Healthy Homes Calgary program and give us tips on how to make our space healthy and green.

After approximately two hours and a room-by-room walk through (no judging on old habits included), the knowledgeable staff members made suggestions on reducing both our household costs and our environmental footprint, focusing on indoor air quality, energy, water use, waste and recycling, and products used within the home (i.e. detergents and washing agents).

The findings: garburators use too much energy and water (who knew?), phantom power (i.e. idle electronics that are plugged-in) is a hidden culprit and most household cleaners are toxic.

The program is free but books up fast (there’s a month-long waiting list) and is open to all types of abodes including condos and rental apartments.

To book a home visit, e-mail Ashley Lubyk at ashley@cleancalgary.com