How to have an green/ethical baby?

shirlgirl2004

SusanCarter wrote:

Hi, just wondering if people have any tips onhow to be green/ethical when having a baby?

I don't think it's worth discussing nappies as there's already plenty threads on that but what else can one do?

Things I've thought of so far are:
- try to minimise the amount of babystuff you have
- try not to have too many plastic things
- make your own baby food

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

I've never used baby wipes on my daughter. When they're small fleece is a lovely soft face cloth and good for wet bums too. There's no need for baby toiletries of any description until they're crawling around and really getting dirty. In fact I didn't start using soap or shampoo until DD was a year. Before that the only thing I used on her skin was water for cleaning and olive oil as a massage oil.

I've only started using toothpaste since she turned 2. Rather than using one with SLS I use Burt's Bees range. Can't remember the moneysaving alternative.

I agree with reducing the amount you buy. Children don't need shoes until they're walking so save money and the environment and wait.

Other good toys for children are pasta (cooked) and jelly. You can feed it to the dog afterward if it's got a cast iron stomach like mine have.

shirlgirl2004

cleoangel wrote:

Use Olive oil on dry patches, it works a treat. We have a bath seat and a top and tail bowl for inbetween times rather than a baby bath and although we bought reusable nappies our 9wk old is very slim and the brand we bought are too bulky and seem to push her legs apart. So she is in disposables at the mo, I have asked the Nappy Lady for advice on better ones for her. Thanks to the post earlier that gave the website.

If you have sure start they run baby massage courses for free, so we are taking part in that starting this friday. Check out the timetable of your local centre as there seem to be a lot of different activities running for free.

Having the hips further apart is the better position for a baby's hips to be in. If a baby has a problem with it's hips a pediatrician will often reccommend putting it in 2 terry nappies at once. The advantage with a little girl is once the dress is one you can't see the bulk of the nappy anyway.

shirlgirl2004

BethanL wrote:

And just to add another green benefit of breastfeeding - as long as you are feeding exclusively you are unlikely to have any periods and so won't need to use any sanitary products.

.

Don't you believe it mine came back when my daughter was only 4 months old

Threeunderthree

SusanCarter wrote:

Hi, just wondering if people have any tips onhow to be green/ethical when having a baby?

I don't think it's worth discussing nappies as there's already plenty threads on that but what else can one do?

Things I've thought of so far are:
- try to minimise the amount of babystuff you have
- try not to have too many plastic things
- make your own baby food

Does anyone have any other suggestions?


Where do I start? With a definite environmental bent and three small babes I feel I am well qualified in this. Obviously washable nappies, breastfeeding, make your own food, limit toy purchases but when you do buy try to go for long life toys and ones that will appeal to more ages and can be sold/given away eventually. None of my boys had any soap or bath products used until at least 18 months, theres just no need, my children are clean! Water and a flannel does the trick, hair is washed occasionally but doesnt get dirty very quickly, and yes they are outside a lot and are encouraged to play in the garden build mud pies etc. My 7 month old has had no bathing products used and I do wonder if the amounts used sometimes can exacerbate eczma and other skin conditions.

For those times when you don't want to use washable nappies there are eco nappies, the best I have found are motex eco, no bleach and biodegradable if you put them on your compost heap, they don't smell nasty either and fit lovely.

Dont know if anyone has mentioned but having a 'green' baby could also include educating them from an early age about recycling, natural world, saving water and energy etc. My eldest boys know what a woodlice is and waht it does and know never to stamp on insects. I think its important to instill in them an ethical approach from the start. Dont forget to teach them about composting food waste or keep a wormery ... loads of educational possibilities!

Hardly ever buy clothes for them (ahh bless) get them passed on from friends and them pass them on myself. Dont go silly at Christmas/birthdays, the more they get and the more they will expect next time, this Christmas we are thinking of guinea pigs between the three of them, or maybe a wooden playhouse to share which will last them for years of playing.

I could go on and on, its not that I'm mean, far from it, but I don't feel the need to show my kids how much I love them with material goods, take them to the park instead.

Rachel_Mac

I haven't got anything to add for those very early days, but life moves fast when you have a child, so I thought I'd add something for a bit later on - a green baby becomes a green toddler becomes a green child.

Find out if there are any Steiner Waldorf parent and child groups in your area. They are such a haven of beauty with all natural toys (no bright plastic, beeping battery nonsense,) organic wholesome snacks (we have rice cakes and fruit with water rather than the chocolate biscuit and squash you find at so many playgroups) and a total reverence for nature.
The Steiner Waldorf Fellowship would be able to help you find one near you.

Also, look at Natural Childhood by John B. Thompson, published by Gaia - I found this when I had my first child and was searching for an alternative to the standard bibles of child development, and it really connected with me.

And you may already have thought about this, but it surprises me how few have - Ditch the telly For me this is obvious - don't pollute their little brains!:j

I have also learned to pre-empt inappropriate birthday and Christmas gifts by sending relatives the Myriad catalogue (don't know how to do a link, sorry ) and suggesting that anything from there or similar would be lovely. It sounds brazen, but I was just so fed up with having to disappear noisy flashing plastic things that were well intentioned but totally unethical and totally unhelpful for my children! It might be worth thinking about doing something similar for birth gifts if you have the courage!

Judi101

I havent read through all this thread so apologies if this has been mentioned before but recycle. Keep all your baby and children stuff and pass it on to friends, family or if you dont know anyone freecycle it. We got most of our baby stuff from friends, who also got alot of it second hand. If you look after it most of it will be useable again, at least when they are little. We also got our washable nappies from freecycle.

Liney_2

MummyMiche wrote:

I've been thinking of using real nappies for some time but as i live in a 2nd floor flat at the moment with no tumble drier, it's a bit of a pain to drag washing and a baby downstairs to hang it out on line. (We are moving to a house with a garden soon). Can anyone reccomend a type of real nappy or does anyone know someone in my area who could advise me.

Thanks
Miche

I use Onelife Nappies and Wraps - bought a birth to potty set for £275.

Also got a set of washable Wipes from Organic-Ally £12 or Hankettes to save money on wipes

Liney_2

Rachel_Mac wrote:

I haven't got anything to add for those very early days, but life moves fast when you have a child, so I thought I'd add something for a bit later on - a green baby becomes a green toddler becomes a green child.

Find out if there are any Steiner Waldorf parent and child groups in your area. They are such a haven of beauty with all natural toys (no bright plastic, beeping battery nonsense,) organic wholesome snacks (we have rice cakes and fruit with water rather than the chocolate biscuit and squash you find at so many playgroups) and a total reverence for nature.
The Steiner Waldorf Fellowship would be able to help you find one near you.

Also, look at Natural Childhood by John B. Thompson, published by Gaia - I found this when I had my first child and was searching for an alternative to the standard bibles of child development, and it really connected with me.

And you may already have thought about this, but it surprises me how few have - Ditch the telly For me this is obvious - don't pollute their little brains!:j

I have also learned to pre-empt inappropriate birthday and Christmas gifts by sending relatives the Myriad catalogue (don't know how to do a link, sorry ) and suggesting that anything from there or similar would be lovely. It sounds brazen, but I was just so fed up with having to disappear noisy flashing plastic things that were well intentioned but totally unethical and totally unhelpful for my children! It might be worth thinking about doing something similar for birth gifts if you have the couradge!

Please type a link to the myriad catalogue - thanks

Rachel_Mac

https://www.myriadonline.co.uk

Hope it works!

Rachel_Mac

My first ever link!!! :j