Eco - Tips
10 Eco-Baby Tips
1. Organic Bedding - During the first couple of years a lot of time will be spent in their cots so an organic cot mattress is definitely worth investing in. Conventional cot mattresses can "off-gas" toxic chemicals for years and these chemicals are easily absorbed by your baby from breathing in the fumes and absorption through the skin. These mattresses are typically made from:
- PVC (widely considered to be one of the most toxic and environmentally unfriendly plastics in use today)
- Phthalates (associated with asthma, reproductive effects and cancer) which is found in PVC
- The surface is typically treated with toxic fire-retardant chemicals such as antimony, arsenic, and phosphorous
- Polyurethane foam (made from petroleum) which is the foam filling material used in most cot mattresses typically contains all sorts of nasty ingredients including formaldehyde and is extremely flammable. To combat this hazard, toxic industrial fire retardants are added. These fire retardants are associated with hyperactivity and neurobehavioural alterations.
2. Organic Cotton or Bamboo Towels and Sheets - Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic pesticides or chemical fertilisers. Organic sheets and towels are then made without harsh chemical bleaches or dyes. So much better for your baby's skin as the porous nature of human skin allows for the absorption of the toxins into the body!
3. Reuseable Nappies -As you may have guessed I’m a huge fan of cloth nappies. In this day and age with all the modern cloth nappy varieties on offer you can get a type that suits your baby and your lifestyle. I’ve written a whole section on this so read further down for more info.
4. Toys – when buying toys avoiding plastic toys will make a huge difference to the environment. Well-made solid wood toys made from sustainable or recycled wood will last so much longer and can be passed from child to child through the generations. There is a great range of organic cotton soft toys available which are made using cotton that is grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilisers. This is especially important when babies are little and put everything in their mouth. Buy either organic cotton teethers or PVC free teethers.
5. Breastfeed – obviously cheaper and on tap 24 hours a day! It’s fantastic for baby and produces no landfill from packaging and doesn’t produce industrial waste.
6. Bottlefeeding – if you are bottle feeding consider using a certified organic formula and filtered tap water. The type of bottle you use is also extremely important. I love glass baby bottles. They are easier to clean, don’t contain BPA which can leach into the bottle and they are recyclable! More info on BPA further down.
7. Biodegradable Essentials – Go eco-friendly and use biodegradable nappy bags and wipes. We also stock wipes that have far less chemicals and fragrances than your conventional baby wipes. Another alternative which is a lot more cost-effective and better for the environment are reusable organic cotton wipes.
8. Skincare – Using organic skin care is better for your baby and the planet. Especially since a lot of these products go down the drain and into our water systems. Use products that are free from parabens, petroleum, fragrances and other harsh chemicals. This includes sunscreen which can contain invasive chemicals.
9. Research – read books, hit the internet and research about “greening” your babies room and surroundings. My favourite book is Raising Baby Green by Dr Alan Greene MD. It is fantastic and explains everything simply and clearly.
10. Don’t feel bad about not being “perfect”! I don’t believe there is a perfect parent and we have enough to worry about without beating ourselves up about not using the right products on our children. Just do what you can…every eco-friendly change is a step in the right direction and will make a difference!
What's BPA?
There has been a lot of talk lately about BPA or Bisphenol-A. It is an ongoing debate between health professionals, the food industry, concerned parents and the wider community as to whether BPA is really that bad for you but I ask you...do you want to take the chance with your family's health?
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical commonly used in the manufacture of clear polycarbonate plastic including most baby bottles. You can tell if your plastic bottles/containers are polycarbonate as it will have a no 7 or PC in the chasing arrows recycling symbol on the bottom of the bottle/container. BPA is a known endocrine or hormone disruptor and is implicated in diseases ranging from infertility, obesity, breast and prostate cancer, to diabetes, thyroid malfunction and attention deficit syndrome.
In 2008 the Canadian government labelled BPA as toxic and banned BPA from baby bottles.
The Natural Newborn stocks Milk & Tickles BPA FREE baby bottles, Green Sprouts BPA FREE baby bottles, Happy Baby glass baby bottles and Momo glass baby bottles. We also have BPA FREE plastic and BPA FREE stainless steel sippy cups and drink bottles for the bigger kids.
Source: www.foe.org.au, www.ewg.org/featured/218
Cloth Nappies
As I'm an avid fan of cloth nappies I would like to point you in the direction of some fantastic companies and websites that will explain how the modern cloth world operates. If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact me. I've used modern cloth nappies on both of my children and try to convert anyone that will listen to me!
There has been a recent study conducted by the Environment Agency in the UK comparing cloth and disposable nappies, and this report concludes that when the following practices are used:
* Use energy efficient machines
* Wash at low temperatures
* Wash with full loads
* Line dry
* Reuse nappies on more than one child
the environmental impact of reusable nappies can be up to 40% less than that of disposable nappies.
Anything that can be reused again and again without being disposed of has to be a better alternative. Anything not made of plastic has to be a better alternative. Anything with less chemicals has to be a better alternative. Not only are they better for the environment they are also a lot better for your baby. No chemicals, just beautiful fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, hemp and wool!
Reduce the amount going to landfill, Re-use cloth nappies again and again, Recycle by using them on more than one child!
Some more information can be found on our Links page.
Why organic?
Conventional cotton uses 24% of all insecticides and 11% of all pesticides used in the world each year but only covers 2.4% of all cultivated land!
Organic agriculture protects the health of people and the plant by reducing the overall exposure to toxic chemicals from synthetic pesticides that can end up in the ground, air, water and food supply, and that are associated with health consequences, from asthma to cancer. Because organic agriculture doesn't use toxic and persistent pesticides, choosing organic products is an easy way to help protect your baby and our planet.
Source: www.ota.com/index.html