Talking About Green

Retailers love pregnant women. Anyone who has ever had a baby, and looked up what products are recommended for new babies, is bound to be amazed by the amount of “stuff” on the lists in magazines, on the internet, or in books. Does your baby really need vibrating swings and pacificiers? It is necessary to buy a crib, a moses basket, and a pack ‘n play? The answer, obviously, is no. Being green starts at birth. These are a few things that expectant parents can do to be more gentle on the planet.

Use cloth diapers

Some sources estimate that a baby goes through up to 8,000 diapers before they lewarn to use the potty. Using cloth diapers ensures that you do not fill your local landfill site with a whole heap of disposable diapers, which are not biodegradable. Did you know that sposies take around 500 years to break down completely? That means that every disposable diaper that was ever used is still in existence today. Isn’t that fact alone convincing enough to use cloth? Cloth diapers are cute, practical, and can last you for as many kids as you choose to have.

Buy an organic crib mattress

A crib and the mattress that has to go in it are very important purchases, because your baby will spend lots of time sleeping in them. Making sure that your crib mattress and bed sheets are organic is not only good for the environment – it also protects your newborn from chemicals that might be present in non-organic mattresses.

Use second hand clothes

If you have relatives or friends that have had babies already, they are probably very willing to donate their old baby clothes. Small babies grow out of their clothes very quickly. Some of the clothes that both my kids have worn still look like new now, and are ready to be used by another baby. Using second hand clothes is the most environmentally friendly option of them all, but clothes made out of organic cotton or other natural materials are another green choice.

Don’t buy things you do not need

I don’t even want to think about the energy that is needed to produce strollers, vibrating swings, and similar “big ticket” items, or about the waste products of the manufacturing process. If you think you will not use something, then don’t buy it. Not buying items you don’t need is not only a green decision, it is also good for your wallet and saves space in your home.

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