Environmentally Friendly Baby Products

Posted on 11. Mar, 2009 by The-Cute-Kid Photo Contest in Baby Center, For Babies, Mom Deals, Parenting

Pure Baby: Environmentally Friendly Baby Products Raise your little one with Mother Nature’s seal of approval.By Michelle Bruns

Throughout your pregnancy, you do everything you can to give your baby all the advantages you can to come into the world a strong, healthy newborn. Now that your little bundle of joy has joined the outside world, you are doing every possible thing to keep him healthy, right?

You may be surprised to learn that the things your baby comes in contact with every day are filled with harmful chemicals that can affect his growth and development, as well as harm to the environment. But, before you go online and order that pure air bubble you want to raise him in, take a peek at some of these natural alternatives that will have even Halle Berry making room for you on the go-green buggy, er, bandwagon.

Nursery

If you’re like actress Laura Dern, her environmentally friendly philosophy is “less is more.” But for the things you can’t live without, here are some green options for your pink or blue nursery:

Crib - Furniture made of pressed wood products can contain formaldehyde, which has been linked to cancer. Try PacificRimWoodworking.com for solid maple cribs and furniture that is finished with natural oils and formaldehyde-free.

Bedding – From the flame-retardant chemicals in the mattress to the pesticides in the sheets and pillows, a good night’s sleep may do more harm than good. Rule of thumb: Always choose organic, untreated materials such as wool or natural cotton.

Flooring – If you have to go carpet, sink your toes into 100 percent biodegradable carpet with wool fibers and no toxic adhesives like Nature’s Carpet by Colin Campbell’s Studio Line. Otherwise, opt for cork, wood, linoleum, or natural material throw rugs. You may find it’s a cleaner way to go for the entire house!

Paint – Older homes may have been painted with lead paint, which is harmful to babies and adults alike. Try using paints with natural pigments, such as clay. Check out GreenPlanetPaints.com for a variety of these earth- and baby-friendly pigments.

Clothing

Dress your tot to the nines like celebs Courtney Cox and Kelly Preston by choosing organic cotton garments, like the ones found at UnderTheNile.com. Or, products made from natural hemp fibers or organic cotton and hemp blend fabric can be found in baby wear and cloth diaper solutions.

Laundry Detergent

Method® (MethodHome.com) makes environmentally friendly products like their HE Compatible Laundry Detergent – Baby, which is free of harsh chemicals and dyes to reduce irritation to your tiny tot’s skin. Or, ALL® makes a Free & Clear product in a Small and Mighty® size which uses a concentrated formula in a smaller bottle, using 50 percent less material for their packaging than their 100-ounce bottle.

Health Care Products

Keep your baby’s sensitive skin soft and protected by Mother Earth by going organic with baby’s health care products. BurtsBees.com offers an entire line of ecologically friendly products called Baby Bee, while Arbonne.com offers a baby/kids line that includes sunscreen, lotion, and body/hair wash that is all natural as well.

Organic Food

What goes into your baby can be Earth-friendly as well as good for your baby. Many products on the market like Gerber Organic’s Tender Harvest® are preservative-free and made with food that is pesticide-free. Stars like Gwyneth Paltrow prefer to use a food mill to control what goes into her kiddies, but if you’re not the from-scratch type, check out stores such as Trader Joe’s Markets (TraderJoes.com) and Henry’s Market (HenrysMarkets.com) for organic food options. Or, browse the local farmer’s market for more home-grown favorites, but make sure you ask if they meet the USDA’s organic standards.

One-stop Shop to Save Planet Earth

Actress Soleil Moon Frye co-founded a store and Web site that gives you everything you need to go all-natural with your tot. TheLittleSeed.com features clothing, bedding, toys, and furniture to “help make our planet a little greener, and our children’s lives a little healthier.” Just be prepared to break out the greenbacks (products range from $4 for smaller toys to $795+ for furniture).

Whether you completely refurbish your abode or change some simple habits, you’ll not only be giving your precious babe a healthier environment, you’ll be saving the environment, too.

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