Diapers Q&A

How can I go green with raising my infant?

How can I go green with raising my infant? Glass bottles instead of plastic, organic and petro free baby lotion, soap, etc organic clothing and bedding, wood floors in nursery, cloth diapers.......WHAT ELSE? Thank you for your ideas!

Public Comments

1. biodegradable diapers solar house hydro car
2. Perhaps instead of organic clothing, you could just use second hand clothing so there wouldn't be so much unused junk lying around. Since organic clothing is a relatively new things, they're having to churn out tons of new things when there are plenty of used onesies out there that are perfectly healthy for your babe. Try a consignment store. Just think second hand.
3. Use low electricy light bulbs and all of that. Try not to use paper plates or things like that. If want to get a lot of information about going green, go to cafemom.com and go to join the green and simple living group. They have information about anything and everything you could possibly need. Congratulations on your decision to go cloth!
4. Breastfeeding! It saves you from having to buy quite a few things and is healthier for the baby and the planet than formula. It would also be greener to use/borrow/purchase/trade second-hand baby supplies and clothes as many of these items would otherwise end up in landfills.
5. Breastfeed! And don't buy so much of the crap that the stores tell you you MUST have. (Walkers, jumpers, etc.)
6. I used glass bottles - no problems. I had terry towel and muslin napkins (to use as a liner for the terries) - no problem. Did you know that all disposable napkins that have ever been used are still around because the plasticisers won't degrade, and that thousands of trees are chopped down every year to make disposable nappies? It's also about a third of the cost (including washing them) so you will be saving money, too. Toys don't have to be expensive, high-tech and plastic - kids get more fun from the boxes and paper that toys are wrapped in.
7. i was fed organic food when i was growing up
8. Someone suggested only breastfeeding, which is nice but it's gonna make you very sore after a while. If you have just one child it's easier, but anyone with twins should be on formula because their breasts won't get a break. The second hand clothing suggestion was best. Why buy new organic clothing when you can just recycle stuff thats already out there? That seems more eco friendly to me. Be careful with glass bottles, because glass breaks and is sharp. When he/she starts to teeth, try a booboo bunny (it's a terry cloth bunny made out of a wash cloth with a compartment for ice) instead of a plastic teething ring.
9. don't forget things in the rest of your house that baby will eventually come in contact with: organic household cleaners organic foods ( best to make you own food) glass jars to store homemade food They also have baby bassinets, swings and bouncers at Babies R us that are made with organic cotton, that are reasonably priced and cute, gender neutral... hope this helps! i do all of these as well as what you already knew about.
10. Not only can you use cloth diapers, but there is a brand of diapers called gDiapers that are actually a hybrid between cloth and disposable. I use them for my son along with Kushies cloth diapers. They have a cotton outer layer with a inner plastic liner, and you buy refills that you can actually flush in the toilet, or you can compost them. Unlike normal disposable diapers, which can take 500 years to decompose in a landfill, you can throw these away and they will decompose in 90-150 DAYS. Pretty cool concept if you ask me. I love them, and I think they are adorable, too! http://www.gdiapers.com/
11. I second the second hand suggestion, and stay away from buying all the useless stuff that manufacturers and retailers say that we need. Can I assume that you have already switched to formula? If the baby isn't here yet, then breastfeeding is far better for the planet than recycled glass bottles and organic formula. It's also better for you and baby. Don't buy baby food. If your baby is old enough to eat, then let him eat real food from the family meal. Don't use an infant as an excuse to buy a huge family car. I drove a Saturn Ion until I became pregnant with our third child, then we had to get more room for an extra carseat. I have a friend who is very happy driving a Prius with one child, and my sister (a reforming SUV driver) drives a Honda Civic with two children. Amy A, your ideas about breastfeeding are based on marketing and folklore. I hate that this forum perpetuates myths invented by formula companies like that one. I hope you refrain from giving advice about breastfeeding and leave it to those of us who have done it sucessfully. Look at this, I was shopping for books and I came across this and thought of you! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078799622X/ref=s9cart_c2_flshimg2-rfc_g1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1XTETJW7VCXY2A3MDAFE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=358864801&pf_rd_i=507846
12. Making your own baby food is a good one. That way your baby gets all the nutrition you get in mashed form. I use a KidCo food mill. You put the food in, crank the handle and baby eats what you eat for meals. It was a $13 investment that saved tons in baby food and you get to know exactly what baby gets. Also instead of cloth diapers you could look into g-diapers. They have a website and are also sold at places like Whole Foods. They are a cross between a cloth and a disposable however instead of throwing away the diaper you flush a biodegradable insert down the toilet and wash out the outer shell. They have no pins and use velcro on the back so baby can't take off his or her own diaper. And instead of wipes you could buy a box-o-rags that you re-use by cleaning with bleach or a natural cleaning agent (Shaklee makes a great one). You cut them into smaller pieces and dampen them when you have poopy diapers. They are usually recycled from old t-shirts so they aren't a rough fabric and very cost effective. Getting fabrics that are made of soy, bamboo, or other natural replenishing fibers are not only safer but usually softer and last longer. If you don't already have wood floors in your nursery, look for a demolition in your area of maybe a school, church or the like and ask about getting your wood from them. School gyms and churches usually have old wood floors full of charm and character and most often this stuff goes to the dump. Buying wood toys (such as Melissa and Doug items) ensures your baby has child-safe yet fun, educational toys that aren't full of plastic and batteries. One last thing I can think of. When storing baby food or breastmilk, buy cases of Mason jars. This eliminates the use of plastic ice cube trays (for freezing food), tupperware, and Saran wrap. The jars come in all sorts of sizes and are less expensive that Glad-ware in the long run.
13. Nurse!
14. Breastfeeding.
15. You've got a lot of material ideas but conserving energy helps tremendously too. Try line drying laundry, especially all those loads of diapers you can even hang a line inside. If you're able you might consider a high efficiency washer which saves water and electricity.
16. i am not what i would have ever considered 'green' as i grew up in a rural area and we didn't have all the 'conveniences' of city life - but now with being 'green' so much in the vocabulary, i realize i grew up kind of 'green' and am now 'green' because of money, and the health of my baby and family. i am not sure how wooden floors in nursery is more green....you get wood from trees....cutting down trees to make floors does not exactly make good sense - what about using recycled material? all the other things are good - also use cloth wipes instead of the disposables if you can breastfeed - i was not able to because of medication i use glass bottles to store my babys water in - and in 5 mos i have only broken 1 and that was because i had my diaper bag upside down use recycled paper products and cloth napkins instead of paper towels - line dry diapers, sheets, towels instead of using dryer, use dryer balls rather than fabric softener sheets grow your own garden stroll your baby to the store for shopping (less gas AND you do not buy unnecessary items as space is limited) if it is hot where you live (florida is HOT) get some very wide and strong velcro and little camping fan that is battery operated and attach to your stroller so your baby will not get over heated (not very long walks to store and try to go early morning or late evening) you will become adept at packing stuff under stroller stashing diaper bag and wearing backpack for storage as well - use a poncho for you if you get caught in the rain, and they make rain covers for most strollers if not, toys r us, has some generic ones that fit most strollers. if you can and it would be worth it, you can find a double stroller or sit and stand stroller on craigslist walking is doable for you - with gas prices, we walk a lot more + it helps me save money as individual stores (big lots, dollar tree, cvs are VERY CLOSE to my home - and that keeps me out of Walmart (who i boycott anyway) but it keeps me away from Kmart as well, which is good on the budget. grill out more with natural wood - my husband has a lawn service so this is a bonus for us - use cast iron though - not stainless or copper can we say SOOT STAINS/marks if you are not vegan get a chest freezer and buy your meat (beef, pork) from a local farmer or rancher (we are lucky there as well, my dad is a farmer only 2 hours from where we live) not so 'green' but good on the budget - learn how to 'can' vegetables and fruits - you can also freeze them as well i can not justify $7 for dish soap though and the much higher prices in my area for the 'organic' soaps and such - but as much as possible i use 'green' cleansers and household items as cleansers as well - vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, etc, natural pesticides - borax, vinegar, etc for me, one way i recycle and save money is to go to thrift stores - i am recycling products instead of going out and buying new ones (some things have to be new, but you would be surprised what you can find, i actually found my favorite diaper covers from a thrift store) wooden toys, regular household items as toys - pots/pans/spoons drums?? as few plastic toys as possible - cloth dolls, etc as a new mom you will not have time to sew - but later on it is a possibility right now the only ideas i can think of - but you get the idea