Going Green with Baby

Having a baby changes everything. Your time is no longer your own. Your opinions about many things change. Your home, once neat and organized, can feel like a ransacked children's store. 

With a new baby comes an enormous amount of stuff, but we can get by without a lot of the things we're told we really need for our babies. Many of these items leave a significant environmental impact that can be reduced or eliminated with a little green-mindedness.

Choosing the right diapers
The average baby uses an estimated 6,000 diapers before becoming toilet-trained. Disposables take more than 200 years to decompose in a landfill and account for 2% of all garbage in the United States.

The alternative, cloth diapering, has become more popular in the last decade, but that too requires water, energy, and chemicals. Home-washing cloth diapers may provide an energy savings, but only if your appliances are Energy-Star qualified. Going with a diaper service is another option, although they can be tough to find in the Collingswood area.

Some moms who are committed to keeping those diapers out of the landfill, but just can’t get behind the concept of cloth, opt for biodegradable diapers, which are made of plant-sourced plastics, or hybrid diapers, which have removable, flushable, biodegradable inserts.

You could always try the diaper-free practice of "elimination communication," or, if this all seems like too much work, pick your battles elsewhere.

Breastfeeding
For those moms who are willing and able to nurse their babies, this is the ultimate no-impact option. It's free, has health benefits galore for mother and baby, and zero environmental impact. If bottle-feeding is a necessity, pumping your own milk is a good first choice; beyond that, fair-trade, organic infant formulas are available.

If neither of these options work for you, the next best thing is to ensure the brand of formula you buy is from a company not profiteering from moms in developing countries by avoiding the 1981 marketing code set by The World Health Assembly.

If you are bottle-feeding, use BPA-free bottles. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical used in the manufacture of many types of baby bottles. It is an endocrine disruptor that can alter a child's development in many ways. Consumer backlash against BPA has led to the greater availability of BPA-free baby products, including bottles. 

Dressing green
Those cute little designer baby outfits are oh-so-sweet--but not only does a baby grow out of clothes amazingly quickly, those precious outfits are regularly stained by an array of bodily fluids.

Clothing made from organic hemp. cotton, bamboo, or wool fabrics made without toxic chemicals will be gentler to a baby's sensitive skin and last longer when washed often. 

Softening on "baby-soft"
Baby advertising that targets new parents focuses on baby powder, baby creams, and lotions galore--but the truth is babies do not need any of this stuff. Many babies can even develop skin irritations and allergies as a result of their use. The best baby lotion is a few drops of plain old olive oil added to a lukewarm bath. If you must use other products, keep them natural, organic, and fragrance-free. 

Wiping out chemicals
Baby wipes, which are intended to clean babies' delicate skin, often do just the opposite. Most wipes contain a slew of chemicals, including propylene glycol (a binder also found in antifreeze), parabens (a family of compounds commonly used as preservatives), and perfumes, which can be made from hundreds of different chemicals.

Try making your own wipes using natural, reusable, organic cotton, paper towels or napkins made from recycled material, and plain water. 

Washing up
The best thing you can do for sensitive baby skin is not to cover it with synthetic chemicals. Wash with pure soap and warm water.  non-toxic cleansers with simple ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. Launder baby clothes in a mild, chemical-free detergent (or one you’ve made yourself).

The cost of raising a baby from birth to adulthood is tremendous, and its environmental impact is almost as great. A newborn will significantly increase the carbon footprint of the average home. With a little research and some effort, you can definitely find ways to green your child-rearing, saving a tremendous amount of money at the same time.