Michelle Bexelius, co-founder of GreenThisLife.com
Having a baby can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. There is so much to learn about bringing a newborn into the world, not to mention such questions as what crib to buy, what mattress, what bottles, clothes, toys, etc. We all want to make their environment safe, welcoming and healthy.
Today I went to a home where a woman was preparing for her son’s arrival and had some questions about setting up his nursery. She had lots of questions and was concerned with creating a healthy yet stylish environment for her little guy. Babies spend 60% of their lives sleeping their first year, so it’s important to make sure their space is set up so they have a chance to grow up without toxins. Here are a few practical yet important things I told her about that can ensure the safety of baby’s space. It’s a place to start.
- To start, there are several mattresses on the market that are non-toxic, don’t contain harmful fire retardants, are breathable, and resist dust mites, mold and mildew, so her baby can have a truly healthy night’s rest.
- Once you have the right mattress, you need a crib that is made from solid wood with a non-toxic finish. Furniture finishes are often laden with toxic glues and stains, not to mention lead in some of the older models. Babies often teeth on the railings of the cribs when they are older, and the glues off-gas while they are sleeping.
- The next important thing: Make sure that almost everything that touches his skin is free from dyes and chemicals. This includes sleepwear and clothing, sheets and blankets. There are many types of sleepwear that contain fire retardants. Fire retardants are known carcinogens that are harmful to your baby’s health.
- To truly make your baby’s space as healthy as it can be, I suggest getting an air filter. Believe it or not, the air we breathe in our homes is often far more polluted than it is outside in a congested city. Bacteria, mold, dust mites and pollen are prevalent in most homes and a good quality air filter can remove them, so your immune system can function properly.
Mary Isakson
A garden is one of life’s dirty miracles. I have fond memories of my father’s small-scale composting of coffee grounds and vegetable peelings in our back yard. I picture the climbing green bean vines, and recall with fondness the tiny carrots I grew in my own small plot. I pulled them up early and was disappointed with the scrawny little orange carrots covered with hair-like roots; carrots that would scrape down to the size of splinters when cleaned. But I wonder: Would I ever have recalled full-grown carrots so clearly or so fondly? The enthusiasm that led me to yank them up early infuses my memory of those tiny carrots with warmth that no full-grown vegetables have ever invoked in me.
It was with hope of giving my urban daughters a taste of that enthusiasm, a tangible connection to the earth, that I joined a community garden. To be honest, their level of participation in gardening has been less than I expected when I joined. But in the end, it has been a great experience for them and for me. They have picked cherries, strawberries, peaches, and currants that grow in the garden and are lucky enough to take for granted this access to truly fresh fruit. They have spent many summer evenings at the garden, sometimes offering help in my plot, more often mucking about with friends in the dirt, chopping compost, catching fireflies, and hiding mysterious objects in my plot.
My tiny carrots were disappointing; at the time it felt as if my experiment with gardening was a failure. With their memory, though, has grown recognition of a connection forged. This connection informed my decision to garden as an adult, and to share the joy of a garden with my daughters. If nothing else, I believe that this will foster their understanding that in fact the earth came first, and is underneath (and the foundation of) those concrete sidewalks they tread every day.
Laurie Benenson
I've slowly come to the realization that I've accumulated enough old cables, wires, plugs, and various digital gadgets to start a Radio Shack.
The only problem is, they're all obsolete. Take this charger, for example -- from a two-generations-ago cell phone. And what about this dear old Palm Pilot? We sure had some good times together. But now it's time to throw you away, old pal. You've been usurped by my Blackberry. Which will no doubt go on to be replaced by whatever is the next big thing in all-things-to-all-people technology. So the question is: how do I get rid of all this stuff?
Ideally, there should be a special trash container dedicated to recycling electronic waste, which would be emptied along with the other three categories of cans that we have: "regular" garbage, organic waste like grass and leaves, and recyclables like paper, plastic, glass and tin. Those three categories were devised long before the incredible glut of electronic gadgetry that we now have to contend with. So what about adding a fourth category?
It's time to recognize the realities: electronic disposal is a regular part of daily life. Until our municipalities get around to offering a house-to-house service, though, there is an excellent website you can consult to find out the nearest e-waste recycling center...
Kimberly Danek Pinkson, Founder of the EcoMom Alliance
The very first thing I ever bought my son was a cradle. I was rather superstitious and not planning to baby shop until I was at least six months pregnant, but as I left Whole Foods and drove by a second hand store with baby furniture in the window, I found myself pulling over and going in. I think it was the hormones driving because before that moment, I had never shopped in a thrift store, unless you count some of L.A.’s vintage boutiques as "thrift stores," but that’s a whole other snobby, semantic story.
Anyway, the first thing I saw was this cradle. Still in its box. Never opened. FSC certified, all natural wood. I felt a little guilty about the impulse buy, but it came home with me. And fittingly, thus began my shopping adventures as a green mom.
Turns out I had nothing to feel guilty about because six years later, I still have that cradle and just thinking about it makes me feel happy again. Plus, two of my nephews, as well as the babies of three dear friends, have all come to use it. With every “recycle” I put on new bedding and tie on new ribbons. It feels good to pass on the memories of my newborn son swaddled within, and it feels good to know that my purchase is being reused over and over. My point here is that going green is easier than you may think -- and in fact, you may already be making some green choices...
As a busy and active mom, it is very important for me to make sure that my family and I live a healthy and well balanced life, not only for us but also for the environment. Around my house, we try to stick to a few simple guidelines that not only help save the environment, but energy and money too.
First and foremost, my son and I are vegans. We do not consume any animal products, and we eat foods that are as low as possible on the food chain. We don’t eat meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products -- rather, we eat soy cheese, soy yogurt, vegan burgers, etc. Many people have asked me why I chose to become a vegan, and the three main reasons are: to prevent animal cruelty, to sustain the environment, and to protect my personal health.
My family and I also recycle. In my house, it can be difficult at times trying to get everyone to do this... But to help, I placed recycling bins in various locations (not just the kitchen), which makes it easy and convenient for anyone to throw away things like plastic, glass bottles, metal, and paper and cardboard. I even posted signs on the recycle bins to show what is recyclable and what isn’t. This has really helped my family and me, and by simply recycling, we can save a lot!
Another way I conserve energy is by driving economical and affordable cars. Nowadays, we see people driving vehicles that are gas guzzlers and are extremely wasteful. By simply switching to an economical and affordable hybrid, we can save on gas money and help the environment. Personally, I have a two year-old and two dogs, and I drive a Ford Focus Hybrid.
Another simple way we conserve is by using ultra-violet light bulbs, which saves a lot of energy and money. We place these light bulbs in rooms such as the storage room and our workroom, which is often used for cleaning, ironing, and other projects. It isn’t the best lighting, but using these light bulbs means we are saving in areas that use a lot of energy but which people, like our guests or friends, normally don’t even see.
I also use newspaper bags to throw away my son's diapers. Instead of purchasing wasteful plastic bags, I simply reuse the bag that comes with our daily paper. Doing little simple things around the house can benefit everyone in the long run, and it is important to keep in mind that there are alternatives that can help save you money and make your home much more energy efficient.
