November 2009 Issue

Kermit is right; it's not easy being green. By now, we realize we must reduce the amount of junk we purchase, limit the trash we produce and recycle as a last resort.

This is much harder once you bring a child into the world. Diapers alone wreak havoc on landfills. And, don't get me started on the pre-packaged kid snacks and food that are covered in layers of plastic, foil, and cardboard. (Suck it, Lunchables!)

Children keep us very busy, exhausted and often on the go. So, when it comes to purchasing products, we are easily seduced by those items that offer convenience.

Unfortunately, the same products that make life easier for us are harder on the earth. With a little more consideration and forethought, though, we can minimize the ill effects our kids have on our world. This way, we ensure-while our children may make a daily mess of our houses-that they won't make more of a mess of the earth than it already is. Here are some ways to be a greener parent in and around your house:

FOOD

Breast feeding. Besides being super nutritious and great for bonding with your baby, breast feeding eliminates the packaging of formula and the water needed to dilute it.

Buy organic. Fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides and petroleum-based fertilizers help to avoid the harmful effects they have on the ecosystem.

Grow a garden. Fresh veggies that kids and babies need can be grown in a garden organically. Kids are more likely to eat them if they have helped to grow them.

Make your own snacks and lunches. These days it's hard to find snacks that are not mummified in a barrage of plastic, foil, and cardboard. Preparing your own nutritious snacks or lunch items and putting them in reusable containers greatly decreases the trash factor.

DIAPERS

Typical disposable diapers are made of plastic and take up to 500 years to break down in a landfill. Today there are several earth-friendly diaper options including:

Cloth. Washing is obviously the downside. But it is not too bad, once you get used to it.

G Diapers. These are plastic-free and have an outer washable layer. The core can be flushed, composted or tossed in the trash and will biodegrade.

Eco-Friendly Brands. Tushies, Nature Baby, and Seventh Generation are diaper brands that offer a variety of eco-friendly features and all of them are chlorine-free (avoiding the toxic byproduct of chlorine production, dioxin). If you have to use disposables, pick one of these.

Wipes. While baby wipes are very handy to have with little ones around, they, like diapers, take a long time to decompose. For diaper clean-up, wet wash cloths are just as effective. Napkins, which are biodegradable, and a little water can do the trick for messy faces when you're out and about.

CLOTHES

Buy used/Give away. Plenty of stylish, gently-worn clothes can be found in second-hand shops or from friends and family with older children. When your children outgrow their clothes, be sure to give them away to friends, relatives, or a local charity.

Laundry. Washing your children's clothes in cold water and line drying them saves energy, saves money and extends the life of clothing by preventing shrinkage and breakdown of the fabric.

Remember, kids sometimes change their clothes with their moods. Before you transfer them from the floor to the washing machine, check if they are dirty enough to warrant washing.

GETTING AROUND

When possible, walk or bike with your children to school. Beside saving gas and being green, it's a nice time to talk with your children and find out what's on their minds.  If school is too far, then walk or bike to the park or library.

EDUCATE

Indoctrination works! Guide children in making good choices. Parents are the best teachers: set a good example by making earth-friendly choices and explaining the benefits these actions have on our planet. Publicly humiliate them when they use too much toilet paper!

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