Raising a Green Baby - 8 Eco Friendly Must Haves for Every Green Mom
After raising our baby as green and toxin free as possible for his first year of life, I have compiled a list of 8 GREEN MUST HAVES for infancy.
- Your Breast - There is absolutely nothing more green and organic then breastfeeding. If you could, you should, and if you cant, you should try anyway. It is best for baby, its best for mom, and it doesn’t leave a footprint. You never have to worry about forgetting your bottle at home, never worry about the milk being too warm or too cold and best of all, its always fresh! It is natural and beautiful and the perfect way to nurture your child. Like the saying goes, breast is best.
- A good, reliable baby carrier - I have tried several baby carriers such as the Baby Bjorn, Moby wrap, Pea in a Pod sling, Kangaroo Fleece Adjustable Pouch (KFAP), and the Ergo. For all of those considering baby wearing, please spare your backs and your wallets and do not purchase a Baby Bjorn. Your backs are guaranteed to hurt after as little as 15 minutes. Ouch! The Moby wrap is awesome and was used quiet often for the first 2 months. There is a learning curve, but once you get in the groove of it you are bound to love it. Baby feels nice and snug and its a great transition from the womb to the outside world. Another great carrier was the Pea in a Pod sling by Mom and Me Creations. I say “was” because I don’t think they are being sold anymore for personal reasons.. but it wouldn’t hurt to find out. It is an adjustable pouch made out of hemp fleece that is soft and very durable. Baby Kev spent a lot of time in there when he was between 2 and 4 months. I have also used the KFAP pouch which was pretty comfortable, but being made out of polyester it always made me and baby very sweaty. The last and best carrier which I am still using daily and see myself using well into the 2nd year is the ERGO. I love love love this carrier. I have carried my 23lb baby ALL day long with no aches and no pains. The sleeping hood is perfect for private breastfeeding sessions and is great for giving baby that quiet time when nap time approaches. It is hands down the best carrier I have ever used.
- Hand Blender and Chopper - Every Eco friendly and health oriented mom should be preparing their own baby food - no ands, ifs or buts about it. It is quick, easy and no jarred baby food could compete with it nutritionally. This hand blender by Cuisineart gets two thumbs up. I have been using one for the past 4 years and it has proven to be very durable and reliable. I have used it to make baby food, chopped salads, ground flax seeds and more. It is a great value for the price.
- Eco Friendly Diapers - More and more parents are turning to cloth diapering as the Green Revolution takes place. Many reviews make cloth diapering seem so easy breezy that it tempts the eco friendly seekers to give it a shot. Cloth diapers are obviously incomparable to any disposables when it comes to comfort for your baby. I love the idea of having organic fibers caressing my baby’s tush. However, not everyone can make cloth diapering work for them. In my household we use a combination of Eco Friendly disposables and organic cloth diapers. Baby NatureCare disposable diapers are made with non chlorine absorbent materials and are biodegradable, plastic and latex free. They even use 100% compostable consumer packaging. They are soft and comfy and come very handy when we are on the go.
- Sophie the Giraffe - This is one of the most popular natural teethers around, and for a good reason - babies love it! Handmade in the French Alps, Sophie the Giraffe is made from phthalate-free rubber and food quality paints. Soft, light and easy to grasp, Sophie the Giraffe is perfect for little hands and makes a happy squeak when squeezed. My son loved it from the first time he munched on it. Chewing on Sophies head and feet delights him each and every time. I love that it offers natural relief to his aching gums.
- Weleda Calendula Baby Cream - I love this cream. I have used it with both boys and we have never had a diaper rash if the cream was in use. I feel very safe and assured using this cream on Kevs delicate skin and even use it on my hands when they are in need. It smells nice and is easy to apply, not too thick or greasy.
- Cherry Wood Rattle by Camden Rose - Constructed from high quality, non toxic materials, this maple and cherry wood rattle can keep a little one entertained for quiet some time. This toy serves two purposes in our household, my little one seems to love the beautiful music he makes with it, and it acts as a great teether when he is looking to chew on something hard. It is one of those toys that always makes my “to go” tote. This rattle seems to be so durable that I think it will be a great pass down to the next generation.
- Eco Friendly Baby Shoes - Many parents get all hyped up with trying to be as Eco friendly as possible and in the search for greener alternatives they neglect to consider foot wear. I like to try and buy from companies that are walking on the sustainable path. This is where I came across TOMS Shoes. They work on a One for One basis meaning that for every pair of shoes that you buy, they will give one pair of shoes to a child in need. They use the purchasing power of each individual to help someone in need. Their website states that they have given away over 150,000 shoes and are planning to reach 300,000 by the end of 2009! I think for this reason alone, people should be motivated to make a purchase from them. TOMS should be updating their children shoe selection in the later part of October, but check out a pair for yourself. They are made from recycled rubber and cotton canvas.
IsaBooties is another Eco Friendly brand that carries a nice selection of baby shoes great for pre walkers. Though they are not made from natural fibers, Isabooties do refer to their products as Eco Friendly as they are 100% animal free, formaldehyde free, and are made in the USA under fair trade.
Posted by greenourkids in Featured Articles, Natural Living, Natural Parenting on October 8th, 2009 | 3 responses
3 Responses to “Raising a Green Baby - 8 Eco Friendly Must Haves for Every Green Mom”
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When we had our baby we laundered his clothes with this home made eco friendly recipe. Its all natural and gentle for baby’s skin and great for the planet.
Here is the recipe i used for powder laundry detergent:
1 bar Fels Naptha bar soap (about 4 cups grated)
2 cups 20 Mule Team Borax
2 cups washing soda
Grate the soap and mix it with the borax and washing soda. Then seal in an air tight container.
For light load, use 1 tablespoon.
For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.
The estimated cost per load is about $0.08 which means you’ll be saving a ton of money and helping the environment.
I also used 1/2 cup white vinegar in the rinse cycle in place of fabric softener.
I’ve used this for years and it works great!
Thank you for the great recipe!
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