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As a mom with two kids, I have noticed that there are about a hundred new ideas surfacing every day about how to make a greener world for your baby. This outpouring of ideas is exactly what we need to build a sustainable future for our little ones, but I have to say that the sheer volume of ideas can feel overwhelming (even to me), so allow me break it down for you.
Most "green baby" ideas will fall into five main categories. Once you get the hang of thinking in these simplified terms, you'll probably start inventing your own green ideas that make the most sense for your family. THINK: IN - AROUND - REDUCE - REUSE – RECYCLE.
Here are a few of my tips within each category:
HEALTHY IN THE BABY
In the beginning … there was breast milk. So much great information is now out about the emotional-bonding and health benefits of breastfeeding. It is indisputably the safest and healthiest form of nutrition that you can provide for your baby, although it isn't always the easiest route to take in the very beginning. But once you get the hang of it, there is no replacing the experience of being that close to your baby, not to mention getting to avoid the all-consuming hassles of buying, mixing, washing and sterilizing formula bottles all day long.
Once your baby is ready, you'll probably notice that what they want to eat is whatever is on your plate! The greenest form of feeding your baby is preparing local, organic fruits, vegetables and even meats in your own kitchen. There is no need to go out of your way – just set aside a few of the items that you are already fixing for dinner and pop them in the blender or mash them up with a fork. Voila, organic baby food! Aside from being the healthiest, and least wasteful, way to feed your baby, it is also usually the cheapest. And if you want to have food-on-demand, just make a few extra helpings, freeze it in ice trays, and thaw it when needed. If jarred baby food really helps out in a pinch, then buy organic, wash the jar, and reuse it the next time that you are out and about with Baby.
HEALTHY AROUND THE BABY
One of the exciting parts of preparing for a new baby is getting their new room ready! Redecorating is a way that we "nest" as moms and emotionally prepare for a new little person coming into the house. This is also one of the best ways to create the healthiest environment possible into which your baby can be welcomed. The Internet will be your new best friend for searching out products that are environmentally safe to be around the baby.
For flooring, you can find sustainable materials like plank bamboo, reclaimed lumber and even recycled bottle carpeting. If you do choose carpeting, be sure to invest in a great vacuum – like a Dyson – that is designed to suck all dust and allergens out of the carpet without releasing them back into the air. Still, it is not recommended to install carpet just before the baby arrives. And if you choose hard surfacing, make sure to buy it pre-finished or unfinished so that the toxins associated with sealants have either off-gassed or simply don't exist.
For the walls, you have a huge variety of choices like low or no-VOC (toxic stuff) paints, natural milk-based paints and even natural earthen plasters. A natural plaster product, like one made by American Clay Company, can actually help keep the baby's room humidified, balance the hemispheres of your baby's brain (keeping your child calm and comfortable) and even filter viruses and bacteria out of the air!
For the furniture, entertain the idea of purchasing used or vintage baby furniture to eliminate the energy and raw material consumption related to buying new products. Also, buy pieces that are designed to transition with the baby as they get older. Teach your children early on how to value and take care of the possessions they own. If you can't find what your were looking for from friends or in the vintage shops, don’t worry – there are new manufacturers that specialize in sustainably-made baby furniture. Just type that phrase into Google!
For fabrics, since your baby's system is so delicate, it is very important that you choose organic and all-natural linens and clothing. Our skin is our largest organ and can actually absorb the chemicals from the fabrics on which we lie. It takes almost one-and-a-half pounds of pesticides to produce the cotton used in a single set of conventionally-manufactured, queen-sized sheets. It can take one-third of a pound to produce a single t-shirt. Your baby's system was not designed to process those levels of toxins in their environment … for that matter, neither was ours. So look for organic clothing and bedding.
For bath time, first realize that your baby's skin has a delicate pH that is disrupted by constant washings and the application of unnecessary creams and lotions. Your little angel is certainly going to need baths and moisturizing, but probably a lot less than the advertisements for commercial baby products may suggest. Good ol’ olive oil is possibly the most effective skin moisturizer on the market, while also being the least expensive. If you find other products that you love, make sure that they are organic, natural and fragrance-free.
For cleaning, choose product lines like Seventh Generation, Method and Shaklee. All of these suppliers ascribe to the strictest standards when it comes to maintaining great indoor air quality, being safe for children and pets, being non-hazardous for the environment and doing as good of a cleaning job as any other product on the market. Many of these companies were founded by families who were poisoned by products that they once used in their homes, and they are now committed to doing their part to provide a healthy and sustainable future for everyone. Also, avoid the compulsion to over-clean your baby's environment. Studies have shown that children brought up in over-cleaned houses are more likely to develop allergies, asthma or eczema.
Remember that everything that is good enough for your baby is also good enough for you. So, feel free to recycle these ideas when it comes to redecorating any other areas of your home.
REDUCE IT - The Less Stuff, The Better
From the baby shower on, celebrate your baby's impending arrival with relaxing baths and long walks with your partner at sunset instead of unnecessary buying frenzies. Having enough of the right stuff does make parenthood a lot easier, but having too much stuff in general usually just stresses us out, is more of a hassle to keep organized and doesn't really help the planet either.
At the baby shower, limit the amount of gifts that you are asking for and just have a great party instead. Ask your friends to donate money toward the baby's college fund. By the time that fund matures, you just might have their freshman year covered!
Once the baby comes, she won’t really need that much stuff when you think about it. She needs a place to sleep, a place to eat and a way to be carried around. The stimulation that babies get from being with you is the absolute most important gift that they can receive. So reconsider the number of plastic toys, massive strollers and video libraries that your baby needs. Instead, be with your baby, use an umbrella stroller or baby sling and use your local public library. I even had success opting out of buying a crib altogether. It was easy and convenient to use a portable playpen as a bed until my kids were old enough for big kid beds. Then, when we went on trips, my babies felt comforted by having their familiar sleepy-time digs travel with us.
Oh, and one more thing. Babies do tend to poop … a lot. The greenest idea addressing this topic today is the concept of Elimination Communication (EC). This is the technique of intently listening to your babies’ cues, which indicate when they are about to have a bowel movement. With commitment to this practice, it is said that you can potty train your child before the age of six months. It is a typical practice for parents in developing countries, where this method of handling the issue would be a necessity. This would eliminate millions of diapers from ever entering landfills every year! Google EC for more information, and check out more green diaper alternatives below.
REDUCING the amount of STUFF that you buy for baby is one of the greenest things that you can do for your baby … and for the rest of us.
REUSE IT - Buy Used, Share and Think About Longevity
Other than car seats and mattresses, you can find almost everything that you could possibly need for Baby from friends, second-hand shops, Craigslist or Freecycle. And the great thing is that since most baby items are used for such a short time, they usually stay in excellent condition. Second-hand shops are ideal for clothing, toys, high chairs, activity stations, rocking chairs and cribs. If you do purchase new items, think about the longevity and multi-purpose nature of the item. Make sure that it is durable and made of natural materials so that you can pass it on to a friend, resell it for cash, or donate it to a charity when you are finished with it.
RECYCLE IT
When you've squeezed the last bit of usefulness out of a product, make sure that you are able to toss it into the recycle bin and not the wastebasket. This will reduce the number of dangerous, toxic, and greenhouse-gas-producing landfills, keeping our open spaces open, to be hiked, explored and enjoyed by your child as she gets older!
... AND THEN THERE'S THE ISSUE OF DIAPERS
Other than the practice of Elimination Communication, Treehugger.com expertly explored this topic with the following evaluation:
"Studies are divided on the subject of environmental impact of disposables vs. cloth. But knowing that your baby will use approx 6,000 diapers before toilet training, and that disposable diapers take 200-500 years to decompose, this is certainly a key issue to ponder. Washing cloth diapers takes water, energy and chemicals (not to mention time), but you might want to consider the benefits of a laundering service. One study has found that home-washing cloth diapers has only 53% of the ecological footprint of disposables, and if you use a diaper laundering service that impact is halved again.
Cloth: Reusable diapers aren't what they used to be and the days of diaper pins are all but bygone. Go for fitted cloth diapers with Velcro or snap closures for convenience, made from an eco-friendly material such as hemp, bamboo, or organic cotton. Use an organic wool cover that is both warm and breathable, minimizing diaper rash and cold bottoms at night. Use either removable or flushable liners, and when washing, either use a laundering service or wash at home at lower temperatures. With a new baby around, you will probably notice a lot more laundry piling up, so make sure you've optimized your setup with an efficient machine and non-toxic detergent. If you can line-dry, that is ideal, but don't bother ironing.
Biodegradable diapers: Made with plant-based plastics (also known as bioplastics), these diapers are non-petroleum based and are compostable. While these have been found not to break down under landfill conditions, there are other options to compost them such as using a composting toilet, an earthworm system, or a highly active and properly conditioned composting area. Hybrid diapers, like gDiapers, have removable inserts that can safely biodegrade when flushed."
In summation, the coolest thing about going green to me is that green concepts and products are beneficial on so many different levels all at the same time. Going green is better for our bodies, better for our ecosystem, saves energy, eliminates waste and saves money in both the short run and long run!
In the coming years, green ideas will continue to evolve and improve, just like thoughts on parenting. But this structure of thinking green for your baby will set you well on your way to making the best choices for your family right now. Just remember to bite off only as much as you can chew at one time. Parents feel guilty enough as it is trying to make the perfect choices for their bundles of joy; adding the guilt of not-being-green-enough isn't going to help anyone. So have patience with yourself during the transition, and soon, you will see that taking baby steps toward greener habits and consumer choices for your little one will actually result in very big changes for the planet!
***As businesswoman, eco-pioneer and CEO of Rebekah Green, Inc., Rebekah Green is a reverse environmentalist positioned at the forefront of the Green 2.0 un-movement – where global responsibility is as expected as much as it is commended. In 2002, Green launched a full-service, multi-million dollar custom design and build firm, constructing and designing luxury green homes featured in countless magazine spreads and on television shows (including her own special on the Discovery Channel). In 2007, Green joined iTunes as producer and host of the video podcast series, “The Green Scene with Rebekah Green,” and – serving as creator and executive producer – partnered with networking television producing powerhouse Magical Elves (Project Runway, Top Chef, Last Comic Standing) to develop green-themed programming. Green’s newest venture is a luxury line of fair trade, sustainable and entirely hand-crafted jewelry (with proceeds benefitting Global Green USA, Charity: Water and Heifer International). Green identifies a clear need for the complete reinvention of the present green movement into a common sense-based un-movement – in essence, a Green Killer revolution.
