The Voice of Mom

The Voice of Mom is highlighting the best gifts of 2008. We’ve tested dozens of products and reviewed them to pull together our gift guides with the best products out there.

For more gift guides, check here.

With all that we know about the environment, it’s no wonder that families everywhere are trying to live a little greener. As moms, Cate and I surely understand. We want to make sure that our young families have a world to grow old in. That’s why we launched The Voice Of Mom with a focus on eco-friendly products first. And if you are looking for a few good environmentally friendly gifts for this holiday season, look no further.

Backpacks that double as stuffed friends have been around forever, and they are usually cheesy renderings of bears and cats. Not so with Ecozoo Animal Bags, which are absolutely adorable. Made of a sturdy, durable canvas, there are four animal bags available in the Ecozoo line: panda, puppy, elephant or pig. And, these aren’t just another cute bag, they are actually roomy too. $29.99 [Review] [Buy]

For the women in your life looking for a natural, eco-friendly bag, Eastsport Natural Collection is a great, roomy, durable line. Perfect for day-tripping, jaunts to the beach and more, the backpacks, messenger bags and totes are made from 100 percent cotton and even come with hang tags that contain seeds (plant them and they will actually grow!). Prices start at $45. [Review] [Buy]

Rain boots are in. Yes, I know. Crazy, right? But who wants to be running around with soggy shoes while trying to get your daughter to preschool or your son to soccer practice? No one. But forget the fisherman’s special dark green standard issue. The rain boots that are hot today come in pretty colors and cute designs, like the Hatley Horses in Pasture Boots. These comfortable boots are made with eco-friendly materials. And, as an added bonus, 20% off all of online sales for every product this month will go to the John Wayne Cancer Institute’s Breast Center in California. [Review] [Buy]

My son and I read books.  A lot.  So I can’t tell you how much I loved this True Green Kids book from the folks at National Geographic.  He is very into recycling with me, so this just brought it one more step further for him … and then some.  The book is filled with easy things to do and ones that are a bit more challenging, so it will grow with him.  Love it.  [Review] [Buy]

Another item that we loved getting introduced to is Idbids.  A small stuffed character along with a book, backpack and sneaky education … absolutely perfect.  We divvied up the set and my 9-month-old daughter snuggles with the Cloud character and my son loves the book.  Win-win and perfect for the budding eco-friendly munchkin on your list.  [Review] [Buy]

I am a big, big fan of reusable totes and have quite the growing collection.  I think, so far, my favorites have been these Envirosax, and they are constantly in my purse at the ready.  They fold up nice and easily and weigh next to nothing.  Love, love, love them.  [Review] [Buy]

Although I didn’t think I’d be a fan of The Better World Shopping Guide at first, once I cracked it open I was smitten from the first look.  This book is small enough that you can just throw into your tote bag and have at the ready any time you have a question about a company’s eco-friendly quotient.  [Review] [Buy]

Not for gift-giving by itself, this Dapple dishwashing liquid is a great stocking stuffer or something small to stick in a basket that you assemble for your favorite mom.  I didn’t know such a thing even existed before The Voice of Mom was introduced to it, but now I’m hooked.  [Review]