Green-living parents have a lot to think about with a new baby. Fortunately, it's simple and affordable to give your little sprout a green, more sustainable home.
1. Don’t Buy New Stuff
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Green living isn’t about things you buy -- it’s about things you don’t buy. With that in mind, try to find a polite way to remind friends and family that it isn’t necessary to shower you or your new baby with lots of consumer goods. If, however, there are things you really do need and can’t find second-hand, then register for products made of safe, sustainable materials at Go Green Baby, Nayla Natural Care, or Green for Baby.
2. Mom's Diet Is Baby’s Diet
Choosing organic food and other healthy alternatives can help to reduce your baby’s exposure -- and yours -- to toxins like mercury, lead, pesticides and arsenic. Babies can be exposed before birth and through breastfeeding, so removing dietary sources of these contaminants as early as possible from your diet is a great idea for both of you. Start by cutting out processed junk foods, then ease back on commercially grown produce and fish (a known source of mercury).3. Is Breastfeeding Really the Best Feeding?
Yes, say most experts: Breastfeeding provides a mix of nutrients and disease-fighting compounds that baby formula can’t rival, but good-quality formula is a perfectly acceptable alternative, especially for working parents or moms who have difficulty breastfeeding. There are organic baby formulas available now that include all recommended nutrients including the essential fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid). For added safety, use glass bottles with silicone nipples and powdered formula to avoid exposure to BPA (bisphenol A), an endocrine disruptor found in many plastics.4. The Great Diaper Debate
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Wars have been won and lost on the playing fields of Eton -- and in the Great Diaper Debate. Cloth diapers have been shown to have a low environmental impact compared to disposables, and though cloth diaper services can be pricey, these may have the lowest impact overall due to their economies of scale. Disposables, however, are often the best option for busy working parents, those who use a public laundromat, or for babies in daycare (where disposables are often required). Try finding well-reviewed disposables like Seventh Generation, Earth’s Best or another chlorine-free disposable.
5. New and Used Baby Clothes
The most sustainable baby clothes your baby can wear are hand-me-downs from friends, family, thrift stores, or your baby’s older sibling. Costly new baby fashions will last about a minute before getting splattered with food and bodily fluids anyway, and your baby is going to grow out of them in a matter of weeks. Alternately, you and your gift-giving loved ones can choose to buy clothes and blankets made from organic cotton, wool, hemp or other fabrics.6. Baby Skin Care
Babies smell sweet and fresh anyway, so why cover them up with fragranced powders and lotions? Some folks swear by olive oil for baby lotion, and others use calendula salve for diaper rash. When buying other baby skin care products, look for those with organic, natural ingredients that are free of dyes and perfumes.7. Laundry and Cleaning
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Because you’ll be baby-proofing your cleaner storage under the sink -- even 100% natural cleaners aren’t safe for kids to touch -- this is also a great time to replace your household cleaners and laundry detergent with products that contain safer ingredients and fewer compounds like alcohol, dyes and fragrance. While you’re at it, how about taking all that old paint, drain cleaner and gasoline from your garage or storage down to your local haz-mat recycling center?
