Green Your Baby

A baby has to sleep, right? If you're an experienced parent, you know that when they're first born, babies sleep, and sleep, and sleep some more. In fact, that seems like all they do outside of eating and pooping. So it's only natural that if you want to green your baby, you should start with the nursery.

Little changes like using non-VOC paint, buying eco-friendly baby furniture, using an organic crib mattress and avoiding conventional carpeting are the first step to greening your nursery. Not only will making eco-conscious choices for your nursery give you a greener home, they'll help keep your baby healthy too.

The age old debate of breast-feeding vs. bottle feeding is worth considering when your greening your baby's lifestyle. While breastfeeding is best for baby's health and eliminating unnecessary waste, some women simply don't have the option of feeding their babies naturally.

Mothers (and fathers) that bottle-feed their baby can still be conscious of the environment though. Glass bottles are best, but some plastic bottles are better for the environment than others. Also, as the world gets greener, many companies are producing organic formula alternatives.

When your baby gets older, that means solid foods. Unfortunately baby solids are just as processed as foods for adults. Go green by making your own baby food or buying organic instead.

The average baby goes through approximately 6,000 diapers before he or she is potty-trained. If you use disposable diapers, not only is that a lot of money down the drain, it's a big addition to landfills around the world.

One of the best ways to green your baby is to use cloth diapers instead of disposables. They don't just help keep landfills from overflowing, they are an alternative to employing chemicals harmful to your baby as well as the environment.

Babies don't really care what they wear; they're happy wearing nothing but a diaper if it's warm enough! Babies' skin is amazingly soft, and because of that, extremely sensitive. By limiting exposure to more abrasive fabrics, you're baby will be less likely to experience irritated skin or rashes.

Some green clothing alternatives to traditional cotton and polyester products include clothing made from organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and beech. Even better, these textiles are breatheable for warm summers and can be layered for colder winters.

Babies are a whole lot greener than children or adults because they only need to bathe 2-3 times a week. But even though their water use is limited, there is still more you can do to make sure baby's bath time is as green as possible.

Consider dropping the baby powder and conventional creams, and instead turn to natural cleansers. You can also purchase organic bath towels and toothbrushes to keep your baby (and the environment) clean.

More than likely, you're not going to spend your baby's first year or two at home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You'll want to get out every once in a while (at the very least), and that will usually mean that baby's coming with you.

Since babies typically need extra equipment when they travel, it's a good idea to look into buying your eco-friendliest options. For example, if you want to use bottles when you're out and about, glass is better than any kind of plastic, and some plastics are better than others. Also, when you're looking to buy a car seat and stroller, you can find some that have less of an impact on the environment if you look around.

It's important to keep your home clean, especially with a baby exploring every nook and cranny. Unfortunately, many conventional cleaners contain ingredients that could do more harm than good. Have you ever noticed the warnings on your cleaner labels?

Using natural cleaning methods and recipes to keep your home glowing and clothes fresh will work just as well without exposing you and your baby to harmful chemicals.

Your new baby is learning so much just by experiencing the world around him, and he doesn't need all the bells and whistles of today's toys to be happy. Since most babies put toys in their mouths, you're also better off with more natural options.

Wood toys and organic or homemade stuffed animals are your best options for greening your baby's toys, but you can also consider buying toys secondhand. As long as the toys are in good shape, your baby won't know the difference!

Babies get headaches and gas pains just like everyone else. Even though baby medicines are formulated to keep from harming infants and toddlers, they still contain less than natural ingredients.

Pregnant women are limited to the kinds of medicines they can take because they can be harmful to their babies; babies outside of the womb are can be harmed just as much by such medicines. And why bother when a natural medicine is just as effective, and safer for your child and the environment?

It's never too early to start learning. As true as that statement is for education and activities, it's just as true when it comes to greening your baby.

Simply seeing you toss your cans in the recycling bin or turn off the lights when leaving the room will introduce your little one to an eco-friendly lifestyle early on. You can also strive to keep your baby learning about living sustainably by involving him or her in do-it-yourself projects and introducing him or her to books about animals and the environment.