Having a green baby

Having a green baby

Unfortunately, climate change is a problem that our children will inherit. However, there are ways to limit the impact on the planet the moment your little bundle of joy is born. Here are some useful tips on how to protect the environment for future generations.
Instant food Breastfeeding is the most eco-friendly way to feed your newborn. Breast milk is always at the right temperature, it's free and it's healthier for your baby. There is no packaging, no bottles and no heating or storage required. The World Health Organisation recommends that babies are breastfed for the first six months. If you are not able to breastfeed, there are organic baby milk formulas available.

At six months, it is time to introduce other foods to your baby's diet. If you can, buy organic food that is free from chemicals and pesticides. Organic food minimises the damage to the environment these substances cause.

You could try making your own baby food like pureed banana or carrot. By making it yourself, you eliminate the waste from the packaging.

A clean, green bum The biggest impact babies have on the environment is the massive number of disposable nappies used to keep them clean and dry. Almost 8 million disposable nappies are tossed in the bin in the UK every day. 90% of these nappies are dumped at landfill sites where they can take hundreds of years to decompose (source: Women's Environmental Network). That means that every single disposable nappy every sent to a landfill site is still sitting there.

A solution to the mounting nappy problem is to use reusable nappies. They are not only better for the planet but they could also cost you less especially if you reuse them as your family grows. A report released by the Environment Agency a few years ago provided evidence that washable nappies were just as damaging to the environment as disposable nappies(source: BBC News). The report revealed that it was not so much that the reusable nappy itself that was bad for the environment, but rather the wasteful habits of the users. So, if you do go the reusable nappy route, instead of using the tumble dryer, hang them out to dry, avoid ironing them if possible and wash them at 60 ºC and not 90 ºC.

Reusable nappies are not everyone's cup of tea. If the thought of washing a mountain of dirty nappies brings tears to your eyes, then go for a green disposable nappy. For a little bit extra you can buy greener disposable nappies that biodegrade faster in landfill sites.

On the other hand, if you feel that even reusable nappies impact the environment too much, you could try a technique widely used in China and parts of Africa. It means ditching the nappy altogether. Not for the faint of heart, the no nappy route requires you to watch and learn from your baby in the first few weeks when he/she needs to go. Then you take him/her to the toilet to do its business. In the west it is called Elimination Communication and you can find more information about it on a number of websites.

Wood is good Where there is a baby, you will almost certainly find toys. Sadly though, many toys are made of plastic. Plastic toys are petroleum-based and not all are made to last. Some plastic toys are poorly made and break when banged about as most babies do when they are playing.

If you spend a little more on good quality wooden toys, not only will they last longer, you can pass them on to younger siblings or friends or sell them on the web. If they get played to death, at least they are carbon neutral and will biodegrade.

When shopping for wooden toys, look for the FSC-certified label. This label ensures that the toy is not made from illegally logged timber - an industry responsible for the destruction of some of the world's most valuable forests.

Doesn't include batteries Toys with bright flashing lights and catchy tunes attract children like magnets. But once the batteries wear out, the glitz and glamour quickly fade and the toy ends up gathering dust under their bed. Batteries are made with harmful toxins and as there is no safe way of disposing of batteries, these toxins can pollute the ecosystem.

Growing up green Our children will inherit the future we create and all its problems. Start as you mean to go on. By making green choices, you can limit the impact your baby has on climate change from the day he/she is born.