Recycling Green Moms

Baby’s can take a lot of resources and great deals of them are made for our convenience and not to be eco-friendly. If we take a look at what the average baby goes through in the first year of his or her life we are often shocked.  If we take a look at how many babies are born world wide around the globe these statistics are staggering!  Having a baby does not have to be taxing on the Earth, there are many ways in which we can have our baby and still maintain green living practices.  It may be different but it will nearly always be healthier and simple.

From the point of birth there are many products and supplies involved that are not so environmentally friendly and with approximately 130 million babies born world wide every year[i] this can really add up.  Some of the items that hospitals and birthing centers use during birth include plastic lined mats (many of them), drugs, instruments and a host of other necessities to make the birthing process seem easier.  Then the baby arrives and the supply list grows with diapers and wipes, all the feeding supplies and clothes, the lotions and detergents, baby powders and blankets.  This of course doesn’t include the things that make baby happy such as a swing and toys, and don’t forget the crib and changing table and a car seat or two.  Wow, with a list like this how can anyone have a baby and be green without going back to the pioneer days?

A green birth is possible in a number of ways.  One way that some women choose to have a green birthing experience is to have their baby at home under the care of a midwife.  This eliminates the vast majority of all the waste the birthing centers generate and all you are out is a few sheets.  Admittedly this is not an option for everyone though; however, getting back to a more natural child birth is a move in the green direction.  This would include saying no to drugs and labor in the shower (it will help relax you too).  Planting trees[ii] is also a way in which we can offset the impact of childbirth and other CO2 (greenhouse gas Carbon Dioxide) emissions incurred with babies.

One of the biggest problems with our choices for babies today that is choking the Earth is the carbon footprint (CO2 emissions) of the American baby.  The carbon footprint is the impact that is put on the Earth with all the products we use and all that we do; it is the carbon that we directly and indirectly emit into the Earth.  A few startling statistics regarding babies[iii] and how our choices in America affect the world include the number of babies projected to be added to the world: between 2000 and 2050 it is projected the United States will add 114 million children in comparison to Africa who will add 1.2 billion; however, the carbon footprint will be about the same.   It should concern us that just one American child has the same carbon footprint as over 100 Haitian children.  Much of this in our personal choices for parenting and all the stuff we purchase because that is what we know.  Educating ourselves about the alternatives is the first step in making a difference in our impact on the Earth and preserving the Earth for our children. The next step is doing it.

Diapers and Wipes:  On the average an American baby will go through 3,800 disposable diapers in the typical 2.5 years before potty training and with 96% of American babies using disposables this adds up!  There are alternatives to the disposable diapers and wipes that are available and simple to use.  The first and most obvious is cloth diapers.  There is an ongoing debate regarding the impact on the Earth between disposables and cloth diapers after factoring in the water and energy for drying usage; however, the majority of the studies are sponsored by the disposable diaper companies.  Purchasing or making your own cloth diapers, washing them and then line drying them will not be putting plastic waste filled diapers in the landfill to sit there for nearly 300 years.  www.diaperpin.com and www.cottonbabies.com offers information and answers to frequently asked questions regarding cloth diaper use as well as reviews and links to places to obtain cloth diapers and supplies.  Not sure about going cloth but still want to find alternatives to conventional disposables?  Flushable diapers such as those made by gDiapers[iv] is one alternative.  gDiapers uses a Velcro closure cloth outer cover that comes in many colors and a snap in inner layer in which a flushable diaper fits into.  This puts the waste in the right place; the toilet, and it is safe for most septic systems.  Additionally, a folded cloth diaper will fit into the inner liner as well!  There are several brands of ‘Earth Friendly disposable diapers’ available online and in stores.  These diapers vary and some do not use the harmful absorbent gel most conventional diapers use, others are made from resins obtained from corn.  Some of these brands include: Seventh Generation, Nature Boy and Girl and Earth Pure and they can be obtained in some local health food stores, at www.amazon.com and other online resources.  The alternative to conventional wipes includes using your old tee shirts and cutting them into 4×6 inch pieces and using those for wipes.  Want something more convenient?  Seventh Generation offers Earth Friendly wipes as well.

Lotions, Soaps and Detergents:  When already using organic and all natural products the baby can use the same lotions, soaps and detergents that you do so there is no need to buy something separate.  Organic and natural personal care products are healthier for the Earth and our bodies and gentle enough for even a sensitive baby’s skin.  If you feel you must supply something different you can try Burt’s Bee’s line of baby products[v]. 

Feeding Options:  The most economical choice, as well as being the most natural and Earth friendly feeding option for your infant, is breastfeeding.  Requiring no outside energy and always being safe and sterile, breast milk is the greenest choice we can make for the feeding of our babies.  Beyond breastfeeding choosing organic formulas and baby food ensures the safety and nutrition of the food we feed our babies as well as the ethical and Earth-friendly way in which it was obtained.  Remember to recycle the packaging!

All the Other Stuff:  Some items we just can’t get away from and there really isn’t a more Earth friendly way of doing it; such as car seats.  We need our children to be safe when traveling.  Many vehicles today are offering options of integrated 5 point child harnesses in their vehicles; however these generally only go up to 50 pounds whereas the law in many states is 8 years or 80 pounds and a booster seat would still be needed.  Another way we can green up our car seat option is by purchasing less.  Buying a seat that can be used from birth and then converted to a booster for the older child would be a greener option; however, if they are available I certainly have not found them.  What are available are seats that can go from 5 pounds to 65 pounds and seats that go from 22 pounds to 100 pounds.  Buying seats such as these can reduce the number of car seats needed in the lifetime of the child.  The swing can be eliminated from the child care options as well.  A baby wants to feel secure and loves movement; the mother’s body is the perfect way to get this and with a baby sling this is simple and eco-friendly as well.  In most countries (other than America) the infant is carried by the mother in some type of sling.  This offers security and convenience.  Slings can be purchased or made and more information can be obtained online from www.amazon.com. Moby Wrap Original 100% Cotton Solid Baby Carrier

 The simplicity of reducing your infant’s carbon footprint is to look at all your options, go natural and practice the principals of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’.  Reduce the number of items you use and send to the landfill.  This would include separate towels and wash cloths for the baby, the special lotions and detergents, the bottles and other un-necessary items.  Reuse what you can.  Buy clothing and supplies for the baby at resale shops, let baby wear the clothes that another baby in the family has worn and use a family crib or co-sleep and eliminate the crib all together.  Recycle everything that you can.  Old cloth diapers make great cleaning rags!  Every move in the green direction is an important move.