Green parenting
Make a step towards a brighter future for your baby by trying out environmentally friendly alternatives
There are lots of areas of baby care where you can make the choice to 'go green', from the nursery furnishings you buy and the clothes you dress your baby in, to the washing products you use and the nappies you choose. Here's a guide to how you can start make caring for your baby more eco-friendly.
The nursery
Going 'green' doesn't just mean choosing eco-friendly washing products and toiletries - it now extends to homeware and decorating products too.
'On nursery furniture, for instance, look for PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) or FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) marks, which show that the wood comes from sustainably managed forests,' suggests Sally Akins from Tree Hugger Mums, a website which promotes environmentally friendly practice and has an online shop for parenting products. 'Alternatively, you could buy furniture made from reclaimed wood.'
Also:
- If you're redecorating your baby's nursery, consider choosing paint that's free from airborne toxins known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds).You'll find these paints at specialist online stores such as www.ecospaints.com, www.earthbornpaints.co.uk, www.greenshop.co.uk or www.villanatura.co.uk. Ideally, you want paints that contain only natural ingredients. These include mineral pigments, beeswax, limestone, buttermilk and plant extracts.
- Choose rugs or carpets made from natural fibres like 100 per cent wool, organic cotton, jute or hemp, which don't harbour the toxic chemicals found in synthetic products.
- Choose all-natural bedding for the cot: 100 per cent organic cotton is best as it doesn't contain pesticide residues. (You can also buy a cot made from sustainable forests and supplied by Fairtrade stockists.)
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