Eco-Parenting

• Toys:  Toys made of wood and other natural and sustainable materials like cotton and wool are chemical and toxin free and better for your baby or child than plastics that contain PVC and other chemicals. To reduce costs as well as your carbon footprint, you can create toys out of everyday household items, like cardboard boxes and wooden spoons.
• Personal care: It is important to protect your child’s skin from artificial fragrances and colors, mineral oils, parabens and SLS.  Instead choose shampoos, toiletries and creams that are all-natural and that do not test on animals.  These products are better for the environment and better for your family!
• Clothing:  Organic baby clothes minimize your baby’s exposure to chemicals and pesticides, and natural fibers create clothing that lasts longer.  Also, make sure you reuse clothing, and hand it down to other siblings, family or friends.  According to treehugger.com, “Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10% of all agricultural chemicals and 25% of insecticides on 3% of our arable land; that's more than any other crop per unit. That adds up to 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for a t-shirt, and 3/4 of a pound for a pair of jeans.”
• Reusable diapers:  There are three types of diapers: reusable, biodegradable or recyclable, and disposable. Reusable diapers produce the least amount of waste and are the most cost efficient:
  • Americans spend about 7 billion dollars on disposable diapers every year
  • The cost of cloth diapering is about one tenth the cost of disposables
  • Over 92% of all single-use diapers end up in a landfill
  • Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about 4% of solid waste