Super Eco

Photo credit: peasap, flickr

Going green with babies is easy! And it's a great gift to give a brand-new little person, the gift of green. Babies are incredibly susceptible to potential toxins like pesticides, chemicals in plastic, etc, but the good news is that it's easy to make a cleaner, safer world for your baby. Ready?

Food.

The greenest option is breastfeeding: portable, requires no bottles, and if you eat organic so will your baby. Alternatively, there are some good organic formulas on the market. For babies eating solids, some parents opt for mashed-up table foods, but you can make your own baby food or choose an organic ready-made baby food.

Diapers.

Still not sure you can swng Elimination Communication (EC)? Never fear; cloth diapers are your next-greenest choice and they come in a huge range of eco-friendly fabrics like hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton. Use organic wool diaper covers; they're breathable and naturally bacteria-resistant.

Sleep.

Some families co-sleep, making a crib unnecessary. If that doesn't work for you, consider borrowing a crib from a friend or neighbor or picking one up used (read: already offgassed). (Safety note: be sure any used crib meets safety standards.) Do invest in an organic crib mattress; wool is a great choice.

Stuff.

Parents-to-be, even experienced ones, freak out a little and overbuy when babies are expected. Call it consumerism or just plain nesting, in reality small babies need few items. Borrow big-ticket necessities like a high chair, but we recommend buying your car seat new (a convertible kind will last years). Plastic in car seats? Unavoidable at this point. But think about your lifestyle and needs before buying baby monitors and other special baby equipment. Besides, babies are content playing with your stuff anyway, so be sure to leave access to pots and pans, wooden spoons, and the like.

Plastic.

One word: don't. There are great non-plastic alternatives in baby toys and other items. Your baby—and the environment—will thank you.