Green Baby: Organic, Eco and Ethical Ways to Bring up Baby

There are numerous good reasons for bringing up baby organically.

The first and most obvious is personal choice - organic items mean no chemicals going into or onto baby, which can aggravate skin conditions such as eczema. However, choosing organic is not just good for baby, it is good for the planet too.



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The more people who choose organic, the more organic farmers are supported, meaning more organic farmland to reverse the damage done by years of poor agricultural practice. Organic farming is good for wildlife biodiversity, the soil, and helps to fight against the threat of GM crops.

Organic produce usually comes with other benefits. Packaging is minimal, produce is locally sourced where possible, and the manufacturing impact on the planet is minimal.

Many baby products are now fair trade too, meaning that the people crafting them around the world receive a fair wage for their hard work, and work in good, clean conditions with regular breaks. Buying fair trade helps those people build their futures, as well as building your baby's.

100% pure cotton is soft and gentle against baby's skin. Did you know that it is also possible to buy 100% organic cotton products, such as baby clothes, towels and bedding? Organic cotton has been grown without the use of pesticides and other chemicals, making it even more pure for baby.

ORGANIC DAY/SLEEPSUIT
IVORY

Toys, nappies and other baby items can also be made from natural materials. Other gentle, natural fabrics include bamboo, hemp and organic cotton jersey.

Photo (above) copyright of gabitamdq

There are some lovely organic clothing ranges available now, from bodysuits to bibs, blankets to booties! Both of the companies below sell a range of lovely products.

The toiletries and cosmetics that we use contain all sorts of chemicals, and the same goes for baby toiletries too. The products we rub into our skin enter the body and contribute to the plethora of chemicals floating around inside!

Baby products may claim to be kinder to the skin, but if, like me, you would prefer to have only natural substances going onto your baby, fear not! There are lots of gorgeous, yummy organic ranges available, which are super kind to baby's skin. And don't forget, newborns only need to be washed in water to begin with anyway.

Green People Organic Children Sun Lotion spf25
(no scent, 150ml)

Beaming Baby Organic Skincare Baby Wipes

Vital Touch Natalia Baby Special Skin Balm
organic and soothing balm for babies of any age! 60ml

Buy at AllPosters.com

As for nappies, the pros of using reusable nappies are threefold. First of all, it's cheaper! Some washable nappies will cost as little as £45, while a full reusable nappy system can set you back around £200-300, which seems a lot, but when you add up the cost of keeping a baby in nappies until toddler age, it can cost as much as £900 - so that's a huge saving overall! Plus, reusables can be used on more than one baby, rather than spending up to £1800 on disposables!

Secondly, it's much kinder to the environment. Most nappies take years to biodegrade (some say up to 500 years!) - think how many nappies are piling up in landfill around the world - yuk! Reusable nappies are just that - they can be washed and reused again and again, and on more than one baby. They are much easier to use these days, with biodegradable inserts to flush away the messy bit and poppers instead of pins. And if you really can't get on with reusable nappies, there are organic biodegradable disposable nappies available too!

Lastly, using organic nappies is much kinder for baby's skin. There are no nasty chemicals to leak out, and the materials used are kind on sensitive bottoms, meaning a lessened risk of nappy rash!

Resources:
Friends of the Earth Website
Hall, Sally Jane. Eco Baby. Green Books.

I bought the multipack of Pop-In nappies by Close Parent, made from organic bamboo. They come in yummy colours and are excellent for fit, staying leak free, and being kind to baby's bottom!

Birth to Potty Nappy Pack
Coconut Pop-in Bamboo MultiPack

Has anyone else been into baby shops lately and despaired at the amount of hideous plastic items everywhere?

Viewing the staggering array of bulky, plastic rubbish on offer in everything from highchairs to rockers, toys to changing units, it made me more determined than ever to source quality, sustainable baby items that were environment friendly.

When it comes to toys, a little research can bring up some beautiful ranges on the internet. In addition to looking for traditional wooden toys or organic cotton soft toys, here are some other things to consider:

* Don't be tempted by lots of electronic and complicated toys - basic toys stimulate the imagination!

* Newborns can only focus on highly contrasting colours to begin with, so black and white toys or mobiles are excellent for their early weeks

* There are companies selling fair trade and sustainable toys, meaning they have high ethical value as well as being long lasting and high quality

* Babies love to chew and suck on their toys in the early months, so by choosing toys made from safe, natural substances, you are avoiding further chemical intake for your baby

Faces
(Baby's Very First Book)

Organic Grabbing Toy Gnome pink
Kathe Kruse 89122

Pintoy Baby Twist Rattle by John Crane

When it comes to feeding babies, it is widely known that breast is best! In the UK the NHS advises breastfeeding for at least the first six months, before weaning onto solids and either continuing with breast milk or using follow-on formula (babies can't have normal cow's milk until they are a year old).

However, women are under a lot of pressure regarding breastfeeding, and in circumstances where either the baby is unable to latch on properly, or the mother is unable to breastfeed due to unbearable pain and discomfort, it can be very distressing for new mums to have to move onto bottles, because they can feel like they have failed.

I approached my breastfeeding with an open mind. So far I have been successful and hope to continue for the full six months if possible. However, all babies are different and present different problems - in our case, we have had issues with Freya being extremely hungry in the evening, and going off the breast because of an over-supply of milk, so we have opted for mixed feeding, which helps satisfy her hunger but also means she is still getting the antibodies and nutrients from her natural food. If you formula feed or mix feed, there are organic formulas available, such as HiPP Organic Baby Milk.

BOTTLES

There has been a lot of discussion recently about the use of the chemical BPA in baby bottles. Many of the major manufacturers are now going BPA free. It is one of the 50 most used chemicals in the world and appears in many household items such as jugs and food cans.

BPA stands for Bisphenol A and environmental groups have expressed concerns about its use in baby bottles, due to the chemical possibly leaking out into the milk when heated. While there is no scientific evidence as yet to prove whether or not the chemical is harmful to humans (as with so many of the chemicals in today's world!) it is now becoming the norm for bottle ranges to be BPA-free. So if this is important to you, look for bottles which clearly state they are BPA-free.

Resources:
Tommee Tippee Website

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Easi-vent 260ml BPA-free Feeding Bottles
(3-Pack)

Closer to Nature Electric Steam Steriliser Kit