Green parenting - is it possible?
Is it really possible to be a ‘green parent’, or is it only feasible if you are the proud owner of lots of cash?
Anyone who has ever spent any length of time in an organic vegetable section, stared longingly at hand-stitched, baby boots made from organic wool, (or similar) will testify that, on the surface at least, it doesn’t appear to be a particularly inexpensive way to live.
That said, there are more and more opportunities to live as a green parent, including green options when it comes to diapers, clothes, toys, and food. So how can you make changes that impact positively on your child and the planet she’ll inherit?
Use cloth diapers
Did you know that every single disposable diaper every thrown away still exists? ??Because of its complex construction, a diaper may take years to degrade completely, so burying them in landfill sites is clearly not a long-term sustainable solution for the planet. ??You might think it is too much effort to use cloth diapers or even that it’s too complicated – but modern versions are a far cry from the awkward days of safety pins and terry toweling. ??They’re shaped to fit, utilize super-absorbent fabric to cut down on the thickness, and include tabs and poppers to make putting them on a breeze. And you don’t even have to wash them – there are diaper services that do the job for you. See diapers for more information.
Yes, there is an energy cost in washing cloth diapers, but if you use 60 degree washing cycles, avoid moisture-retaining fabric conditioners, and line-dry the diapers this will still outweigh the negatives.
Be secondhand Rose…
If you’re the sort to lay down large sums of money at upscale children’s boutiques for cute little outfits that last two months if you’re lucky, then dressing your baby at thrift shops might be hard to comprehend. But think about the benefits. You could save yourself a lot of money (which you can steer into your child’s college fund – see the financial impact of having a baby) and by recycling you’re doing your bit for the earth’s resources.
If you can’t quite bring yourself to dress your precious bundle at Goodwill, try online auctions or organize clothes-swapping parties (include books and toys too as these can be very expensive and are great for passing on once your baby has outgrown them).
Another option for thinking green when it comes to clothing is to buy baby clothes made from organic cotton. They’re becoming more widely available and are a good way around the fact that cotton growing is extremely pesticide-intensive.
Raise a non-materialistic child
It can be difficult to say no to your children and the result is that kids often have far too much stuff. Control your own buying impulses so your child doesn’t grow up with the see-want-buy mentality.
Recycle whatever you can
Let her see that you reuse things and even make things – get her in on the act by making your own toys, reusing empty boxes, yogurt tubs, egg cartons and scraps of fabric to do so. Use old birthday and holiday cards to make gift tags or new cards from. Let her see that you’re responsible about waste recycling too. Use the library instead of buying books, or buy from secondhand bookstores. Take your recycling habit outdoors and invest in a water butt and a compost tub.
Clean naturally
Avoiding using toxic chemical cleaners in your home – instead, make your own eco-friendly cleaning agents using ingredients like baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar. Lemon is good for shining brass and copper; mix it with a little baking soda and it can be used on dishes and as a cleaning paste for surfaces. ??Baking soda is also a natural deodorant and is good at absorbing odors; combine it with vinegar to unblock plugged drains and sinks. Vinegar can be used in the toilet and sink to get rid of stains and for the laundry, and as a natural fabric softener. This is much better for the environment and your pocket and means that there are less toxic substances around when you have small children with inquisitive fingers.
So it does seem there are plenty of ways that we can be green parents and make a difference to the planet by taking some time and energy to redress the way that we live. If we make an effort to live in more sustainable ways, we can also affect our children’s lives and future generations to come. Everybody wants to do the best for their children – by becoming greener parents, we’ll be doing just that and not necessarily at huge expense to ourselves.
If you have any ideas about how to be a greener parent, why not post a message in our chat forum?
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Last Modified: 30/10/2007
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