Green parenting

a babyMake 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.)

Baby clothes

In order to meet the demand for cotton, toxic chemicals are poured into the soil in cotton-growing countries in an effort to boost production, kill pests and control weeds. More parents are turning now to textiles made from organically farmed cotton in an effort to avoid harmful toxins, and specialist manufacturers are now producing clothing made from 100 per cent natural fibre organic cotton, hand picked in rural India and dyed using environmentally responsible dyes.

  • You can find a wide selection of 100 per cent organic cotton baby clothes from online stores such as www.thekidswindow.co.uk, www.willowtrading.co.uk, www.buyorganics.co.uk and www.alotoforganics.co.uk.
  • The high street hasn't been quick to catch up with going organic, although you can buy 100 per cent cotton baby clothes from most retailers. This is kinder to your baby's skin than man-made fibres, but will still be chemical-dense.
  • 'Look out for good quality second-hand clothes,' adds Sally Akins. 'Also, look into bamboo fabric as an alternative to organic cotton. Bamboo grows quickly without the use of pesticides, although some chemicals are used in the processing of the fabric.'

Nappies

If the idea of cloth nappies is a turn-off for you, it might be time to think again. Fully disposable nappies account for around four per cent of all household waste and it's estimated that around nine million are discarded every day in the UK, ending up in landfills where they're expected to take about 500 years to decompose.

This is terrible news for the future of the environment and our children. Modern re-usable nappies are usually shaped like disposables - you just add a flushable liner and, with some types, a breathable, colourful waterproof cover. The nappies are fixed with self-fasteners like Velcro strips or poppers and are machine-washable.

  • Although the initial financial outlay is around £200-£300 for a complete system of cloth nappies, the overall cost - even taking into account home laundering - is vastly reduced when compared with buying disposables, even after taking into account the energy used in washing them. (The average baby will stay in nappies for two-and-a-half years at a cost of around £700-£1200 for disposables per baby, depending on brand.) 'It's worth checking with your local council to see if they offer subsidised trial packs of real nappies or a cash rebate against the cost,' suggests Sally Akins. 'Remember, you don't have to buy all your nappies at once - you can build up your collection month by month.'
  • If washing nappies yourself isn't an option, there are nappy laundering services you can use which collect and drop off your nappies all freshly washed and ready to re-use. This will probably nullify the saving over disposables, but for some parents this is a good compromise, especially as the nappies could potentially be used on subsequent babies.
  • You can buy a re-usable nappy system from various online stores, including www.treehuggermums.co.uk, www.realnappycampaign.com, www.snazzypants.co.uk, www.plushpants.com and www.totsbots.com.

Cleaning and toiletries

Eco-friendly washing products and toiletries have come a very long way in recent times and now you can do the laundry without using any soap products at all!

  • Washing balls, which are filled with a special filling and can be re-used around 1,000 times, make great economic sense as well as being soap-free, meaning you don't need to use the rinse cycle on your machine.
  • Toiletries can be free from harmful chemicals, making them safer for your baby's skin and for the environment.
  • 'Green' cleaning solutions can be every bit as efficient as chemical cleaners.
  • 'On fine days, dry your washing outside: not only will it save energy, the sunlight will also help bleach out stains,' says Sally Akins.

You can find eco-friendly household products in supermarkets as well as online. The Ecover range is available from major supermarkets as well as good health food stores, and some of the big chains have launched their own ranges too. To buy online, check out www.thegreenstoreonline.co.uk, www.ecoproducts.co.uk, www.greenbaby.co.uk and www.earthlets.co.uk, all of which sell 100 per cent natural products.

Find out more

Ethical Consumer is the UK's leading alternative consumer organisation, researching the social and environmental records of companies. The unique ratings database is updated daily by a dedicated team of researchers, tracking over 50,000 companies. To check out the eco-friendliness of products before you buy, visit www.ethicalconsumer.org, where you can access free buyers' guides.