Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

Most Americans are becoming increasingly conscious of the impact their lifestyle choices make on the environment. Everywhere we turn, we are encouraged to “reduce, reuse, recycle” and to decrease our “carbon footprint.”

Heck, I live in a very conservative, historically “red” state and even we recycle with the best of ‘em. Our society’s newfound focus on the environment and the “green” movement has definitely found its way to the realm of babies. And for good reason – yes, our eco-friendly choices help preserve the planet but many believe that they keep our smallest and most vulnerable family members safer and healthier.

In the interests of full disclosure, my family is not “green” – I make some choices based upon my environmental responsibility but I also have time and organizational problems which lead to me to choose convenience over environmental in many areas. Also? I drive a Suburban. Four car seats don’t fit into a Prius.

Before Baby Arrives
You can do a better job at this environmental thing than me. You can start making “green” choices before your baby even arrives. There are many products around for the nursery that are environmentally healthy. One option is low VOC paint for the walls. I am told that regular interior paint contains many, many volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). VOCs are breathable and can include benzene, toluene and formaldehyde.

Exposure to VOCs can cause headaches, allergic reactions, uncomfortable breathing, nausea, nosebleeds, fatigue and dizziness in some people. Some studies have even linked VOCs to liver and kidney damage. Since my entire home is painted with regular paint, I should probably now have my entire family screened for terrible illnesses.

I’m not aware though of any major health effect that regular paint has had on my family. I know that it smells strong and “paint-y” as it dries. Low VOC paint apparently doesn’t smell strongly. It also produces significantly fewer toxins and is not considered hazardous waste like regular paint. After learning about it, I might just have to give it a try next time I paint.

If you are re-doing the floor in the nursery, you can consider going carpet-less – use cork, bamboo or tile carpet. These floorings allow fewer allergens to be trapped in the baby’s nursery than in wall-to-wall carpeting. You could also vacuum a lot, of course, to reduce the allergens trapped in the carpet. Many believe that organic sheets and mattress pads are kinder to a baby’s skin and act as a barrier between the baby and the fire retardant chemicals used on crib mattresses. Again, I’ve never had a baby have any adverse skin reaction to his crib sheets – but if it makes you feel good, go for it. You can choose wooden toys instead of plastic.

Buy hand-crocheted stuffed animals instead of teddy bears with chemical-based, synthetic fur. Natural materials in a baby’s mouth or petrochemical materials? Seems like an easy choice. We’ve certainly got enough synthetic material toys in our house to stock a Toys R Us but I can’t find any fault in people who choose only natural material toys.

After the past few years with all of the lead paint and other safety recalls, parents who subscribe to the “all-natural” point of view just might have it right. Take it from a mom who spent over an hour sorting through a plastic tote chock full of Thomas the Tank Engine trains and comparing each and every one to the recall notice on the internet.

After Baby is Born
One look around the baby superstore reveals an abundance of new eco-friendly baby items on the market. With so many great choices, it is becoming so easy to make the “green” choice. Easy? Now we’re speaking my language.

The first big choice you’ll probably face is cloth vs. disposable diapers. The environmental debate centers on the inability of disposables to decompose at the landfill and on the use of energy, water and chemicals to wash cloth diapers. Many people believe that laundering cloth diapers has less of an environmental impact than disposables. I’m sure they’re right – but you won’t be surprised to learn that I’ve always used disposables. (I could give you all kinds of rationales and excuses – but I’ll spare you.)

The old-fashioned flat cloth diapers, closed with diaper pins and covered with waterproof plastic pants are still around. (Hot new-parent tip: old-fashioned cloth diapers make the best burp cloths and snot rags!) But they are not the only game in town anymore. Modern cloth diapers come in different fabrics – cotton, hemp and wool. They can be found in many styles and colors and are fastened with velcro, snaps or polyurethane fasteners. Some styles even have elastic around the legs and a waterproof outer layer (making a separate diaper cover unnecessary).

Many parents who use cloth diapers also use cloth wipes, which can be washed and re-used just like the diapers. Cloth diapers can be laundered at home or by a diaper service. There are also “hybrid” diapers on the market which are biodegradable either by composting or by flushing. I can’t handle the idea of washing diapers so these might be more my speed – I’ll have to check them out.

Feeding is also an important area to consider from an environmental health point-of-view. Considering the situation purely on environmental impact, breastfeeding your baby is the greenest choice you can make. Once you begin to consider bottles, a huge environmental health issue – and a relatively new one – rears its head.

Bisphenol A (often referred to as BPA) is a chemical found in polycarbonate plastic which is used to make many brands of baby bottles and toddlers’ sippy cups. BPA is believed to mimic the effects of estrogen in the body and can leech from polycarbonate plastic. It is believed that BPA exposure can lead to prostate cancer, breast cancer, early puberty onset, effects on fertility and even behavioral changes.

Most of the major manufacturers are beginning to eliminate the use of BPA in their plastics – especially in baby-related products. Take a close look at the packaging or the websites of the bottles and sippy cups you decide to use for information on use or elimination of BPAs. I don’t know exactly when the BPA issue became known, but I didn’t hear about it until after my last children were born. I found it very easy to buy BPA free bottles and sippy cups – why not? Better safe than sorry.

Your baby will likely begin eating “solid foods” at about six months. “Solid food” for a baby is rarely all that solid – rice cereal, pureed vegetables and fruits. The healthiest way to feed the baby is probably to make your own baby food. Cook and puree food – almost anything will work – then freeze it in small containers. Some parents even use ice cube trays because the cubes are perfect serving sizes. Each serving can be defrosted as needed. I have a friend who has done this for all four of her sons – she is totally amazing.

If you choose not to make your own (like me – surprised?!), there are an increasing number of organic and fresh frozen baby foods available at the grocery stores. Organic baby foods, even those manufactured by the big name brands, are pesticide-free which is great for baby’s immature digestive system. This is another area where convenience usually wins out for me. I do wholeheartedly believe that the fewer pesticides and hormones in our food, the better. But I don’t have the time (not to mention the money) to go all-organic, all the time. I haven’t chosen to make it a major priority – but we’ll get there. Baby steps.

Finally, now that your baby has arrived, you can take steps to make the rest of your house a little “greener.” Your baby will spend a good portion of her first year on the floor of your home in one way or another – sitting, having tummy time, rolling and crawling. You want that floor to be clean – but do you want it to be cleaned chemically? More natural household cleaners are hitting the market every day – brands like Method and Mrs. Meyer’s are already hugely popular.

And don’t forget your grandmother’s cleaning secrets – white vinegar and baking soda. These old-fashioned resources are not only chemical-free, they’re also really effective cleansers. Personally, I use white vinegar on my hardwoods and on my glass shower doors. But I’ve done that for many years because it works best. The environmental benefit is a bonus. I’ll use the Method and Mrs. Meyer’s products as long as they work as well as chemical cleaners – which I think they do. And they smell fantastic.

The environmental options available to new parents are almost overwhelming. Just remember that you don’t have jump in with both feet. It’s okay to just dip your toe in the water at first. Try cloth diapers at home (or even just the hybrids) but have disposables for the diaper bag and for the babysitter. Experiment with homemade baby food but have some jars in the cabinet for back-up. You will eventually figure out what works best for you and for your baby and if that is the best thing for the environment too – then more power to you!