Giving Baby A Green Start : : Healthy Green Moms

Giving Baby A Green Start

by Monica

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Having a baby the most monumental experience of my life. I’m sure you can agree. The birth of my daughter has challenged me to dig deep into myself on all levels. It has been a big year of change, possibility and accountability.

Looking back on the first year, we have been very blessed to have generous friends and family. Although it has taken some pressure off of us, it has also made raising my daughter in a green environment a little more challenging. I’m sure Mothers everywhere can feel the headache arising as baby is presented with another plastic battery toy! (I must address this accumulation with our MOST loving family)

That being said, babies really do have minimal needs. There are many options available today that are not only baby friendly, they are planet friendly as well. In my continuous effort to keep a check on having too much “stuff” and reducing the toxic load in our lives, I think there are three key areas that provide excellent options for raising a greener baby.

Diapering Your Baby

Since caring for a baby can be so time consuming, it is easy to see why parents choose the perceived convenience of disposable diapers. They just toss them in the garbage bin and forget them right? Well, green parents cannot forget that diapers account for an enormous amount of landfill waste that does not biodegrade.I read recently that one disposable diaper takes 500 years to decompose. Ouch!

Luckily cloth diapers have become just as easy and convenient as disposable diapers. Forget the flat diapers you need to fold and pin together (although those are still around if you are so inclined). Cloth diapers today are fitted with elastic, closed with pins or Velcro, and are easy to clean. For those that do not have the time or the desire to do diaper laundry, there are diaper services widely available. Cloth diapers can last for years and be used by more than one child. For a great article on cloth diapers including a review of her favorites visit Nature Moms recent post Green Baby Diapers

Despite having the best of intentions about cloth diapering, including spending more than I care to remember on a complete non bleached cloth diaper system, I did not expect that post partum depression would get in the way of my best of intentions. In the midst of post partum, I just was unable to add this to my state of being overwhelmed. I’ll try again for our next baby, however a great option that did work very well for us was and we are still using are the flushable diapers from gDiapers. They are somewhat of a hybrid between cloth and disposable. The exterior is totally washable and velcro tabs fit at the back away from hands. The inner liner is filled with fluff wood pulp and gel crystals that can be flushed, thrown away or composted. I have to say they are excellent. I love that I can flush the poop where the poops supposed to go! They are a little less bulky than cloth and only slightly larger than disposables. The inner liner does get dirty with big messy poops, but it is easily rinsed and then I just throw it in the laundry with the clothes. If you just can’t see yourself using cloth for whatever reason, you cannot stomach the environmental cost of using disposables, I highly recommend the g’s as an excellent green option!

Another healthy & green diapering option is to consider using reusable wipes for diaper changes. We purchased a couple packs of unbleached cloth wipes that we use at home and for travel close to home. I take the moist cloths in a bag or in a pinch, I also have a supply of non toxic baby wipes handy for longer travel. I recommend having a look at the analysis done at the cosmetics database on your best & worst options for baby wipes. Very little is needed to clean a baby’s bottom effectively and warm cloths are very gentle on our baby’s bottom. The excessive chemicals used in conventional disposable wipes are unnecessary and unhealthy for baby.

Feeding Your Baby

Not only is breastfeeding usually the perfect food for baby it is also the most planet friendly way to feed your baby. By simply breastfeeding your baby you eliminate the need for formula cans and baby bottles. Breastfeeding is waste free!

If breastfeeding is not an option for you, consider contacting your local lactation branch to inquire about a local milk bank. This is where mothers with excess milk supply donate it to be distributed to mothers who still want their baby to receive the benefits of breast milk in the early months.

Alternately, should you decide to use formula, consider using an organic brand free of sugars and genetically modified ingredients grown with synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

There are green options for pumping and feeding a well. Glass baby bottles are reusable and able to be recycled or donated unlike their plastic counterparts which are prone to breakage and do not bio-degrade. They are also resistant to the inner scratches that occur in plastic from cleaning and increase the risk for BPA exposure. Helpful products for mom such as wool or cloth breast pads and organic creams are also available.

When your baby is old enough to eat solids you can continue to feed “green” by making your own baby food from organic fruits and vegetable that you are already eating. There is no need to buy boxes of baby cereal or tiny jars of baby food when you can mash or puree family foods. The Baby’s Table offers up some really great recipes for baby to enjoy through each of the phases. Freeze puree into ice cube trays for later use and convenience.

Clothing Your Baby

Farming with chemicals is hazardous for our planet and very unsustainable so when you buy clothing for your baby try to buy clothing made with sustainable fibers. Organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and wool in natural colors or dyed with low impact dyes are all good choices.

The absence of chemicals is also better for your baby’s tender skin. Clothing made from organic fibers has a soft thickness that I absolutely love. I have found that my daughters super sensitive skin appreciated these fibers over others. There are so many adorable organic baby clothes available now!

Consider buying used clothes instead of new. Buying second hand clothing that someone has recycled is much more sustainable an option than buying brand new. Look for used clothing at thrift stores, on local lists such as Craiglist, or through family and friends. We were so fortunate to have at least 75% of my daughters clothes lent to us. They were in perfect condition and we really appreciated lighter load on our wallets too!

In addition to these ideas, consider limiting exposure to toxic substances found in conventional and even some “natural” baby skincare products. Stay tuned, I’ll be posting a list of my favorite natural organic baby skincare products soon - I’ve been through the mill with my daughters relentless eczema and I’ve tried everything!

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