The Best Guide for the SK8 Area

Green Parenting

Being green is something that can easily go by the wayside when you're a new parent. Changing nappies, feeding and soothing take up so much time that you focus on the minutiae of everyday life and can forget about the world around you. However, being green - at least, a pale green - is not beyond the reach of even the busiest parent. Here are some tips that I have put together.

Nappies:

Reusable nappies are the greenest option. Modern shaped nappies washed at 40 degrees and air dried in your home are the cheapest option. There are some really stylish ones around, produced by the reasonably well-known Scottish company Totsbots and now by lots of independent ‘work at home mums' with their own websites and one-off designs. Alternatively, a laundry service can save you the hassle of washing and drying. Visit www.realnappycampaign.com/ to find a local real nappy agent or laundry service.

Eco-disposable nappies, such as Moltex-oko are the next best green option. Eco-disposables are sold in a number of shops now including Waitrose, Boots and Unicorn in Chorlton. Steer clear of those large nappy wrapper machines if you want to avoid unnecessary plastic waste and expense. Degradable nappy bags are the greener alternative.

Milk:

Breast feeding is undeniably the greenest option as there is no factory processing, packaging, boiling water and no waste! If you do decide to feed your baby formula milk or move onto it after breast feeding, there are plenty of choices. Hipp offer an organic baby milk formula and you can find out more about the varies companies that produce formula milk and their ethics by checking out www.ethiscore.org/

Baby toys:

It is hard to avoid turning your home into a haven for plastic and garish tat, when you have a little one. Although I had imagined a stylish and calming cream nursery full of classic wooden toys, I soon discovered that the plastic lurid kind, bought readily by family and friends, did entertain my son more than I had hoped! If this is the case for you, look for second hand toys of this nature at car boot sales and NCT sales (just google NCT Stockport). Habitat sell some lovely wooden toys that have kept my son's interest such as fire engines and xylophones.

Baby clothes:

There can't be another time in your life when you will receive so many hand-me-downs! The good thing about second hand baby clothes is that they are unlikely to be very worn because babies grow so quickly. If they are a bit too bobbly for your liking, they may come in handy for messy play or for layering in cold weather. Apart from locally made items (your family knitting cardies and booties probably!) Fairtrade and Organic are the most ethical choices for new baby clothes. Little Green Radicals and Frugi have good ranges.

Baby wipes:

Washable soft baby cloths or organic cotton wool and water is the most environmentally-friendly option to use, but if you prefer to use baby wipes when you're on the go, look for biodegradable versions with more natural ingredients.

Baby carriers:

There are now lots of green baby carrying options and local groups around Stockport and South Manchester who can assist you in this area. There are some wonderful slings that are handmade within the North West and websites are easy to find though a search engine.

Weaning:

Avoid overly packaged shop-bought baby food if you can, and recycle packaging where possible. The greenest way to feed your baby is to make it yourself with locally-sourced and fairtrade ingredients, and freeze purees in ice-cube trays so they can be defrosted easily.  Bananas and Avocados are good on the go as they can be mashed together easily and eaten at room temperature. Making it yourself will ensure that you avoid unnecessary additives and sweeteners and support local and ethical producers.  Limited Resources sells fresh and ethical green products and is based in Stockport.    

I hope this is helpful. All the best in your green parenting quest!

Fliss Johnson-Standley

flissjohnson@hotmail.com

Fliss is dedicated and knowledgeable in all aspects of fair trade and organic baby and toddler clothes, cloth nappies and accessories.

What do you think?

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Posts: 45

At 01:39 on 19th September 2008, Marton V commented:

I'm pleased to read Fliss Johnson's very useful article about being green, advice for new parent. Thanks.

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At 09:08 on 19th September 2008, Angela S commented:

Excellent advice, certainly worth noting and passing on.

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Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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At 09:16 on 19th September 2008, Lynne M commented:

I agree with most of this but there was some discussion recently about all the washing that is needed for reusable nappies. It means the washing machine is on more often.

Did anyone watch the program about cross breastfeeding with Kate Garroway? I thought it was good and made sense but it made a lot of other people squeamish. I don't think that it would be accepted any time soon over here although it would be greener than resorting to bottle feeding if breast feeding wasn't an option.

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Joined: 14 Sep 2008
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At 12:24 on 19th September 2008, Fliss J commented:

Hi Lynne, I didn't see the program about cross-breastfeeding (I'll see if I can find it on the internet), but I'm aware of all the debates around cloth nappies. I think that it is hard to weigh up which is greener but most environmentalists would tell you that cloth nappies are still the best option. http://www.wen.org.uk/nappies/facts.htm is very helpful I find, and tells you how to improve on the global warming impact suggested in the environmental agency report that looked at this issue. Also, it says that 3 billion nappies are thrown away in the UK each year and this is not sustainable. Most parents who use cloth nappies will probably line dry when they can and use the nappies on more than one child.

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Joined: 02 Aug 2007
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At 14:23 on 19th September 2008, Victoria M commented:

I agree with Lynne in that re-using nappies creates a lot of additional washing, therefore increasing our water and electricity consumption. . . I don't really think there's a tangible benefit either way between reuseable and disposable nappies.
As for the cross-breatsfeeding thing - what it boils down to is the age-old breast v. bottle debate. I would not have let anybody else breastfeed either of my children, just as I didn't let anyone else bottle feed them very often; surely it's better to bottle-feed your own child (whilst cuddling them at the same time, and therefore bonding with them) than to let someone else have that closeness with them? In 20 years' time there will be a whole generation of cross-breast-fed kids in therapy, I reckon!
Fliss' article is excellent - thought-provoking (as we have seen!) and useful too.

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Joined: 19 Aug 2008
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At 20:07 on 19th September 2008, lucy t commented:

Great article Fliss, and you look such a cool, eco friendly mum, i hope to be as cool a mum as you, when I have babies!

Personally I think terry nappies are better for the environment and also you're pocket, as it reduces a lot of waste in landfill sites, something this country really needs to look at minimising! I agree there is a significant time implicaton, and so understand it's not practical for all. But like with mothers who do part bottle and part breast feeding. Part disposable and part reusuable nappies could work! A bit green is better than no green!

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Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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At 18:42 on 20th September 2008, Lynne M commented:

I'm not saying that I would readily let another woman breastfeed my child, but if there was a problem with breastfeeding then why shouldn't we look to other woman who are the same species rather than a cow.

Anyway, that's another debate altogether!!!

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At 20:40 on 21st September 2008, Jo D commented:

Really interesting useful article. Like most people I'm sure, I do always try to be as green as possible, but as a mad busy parent with two under 3 sometimes it is easy to forget the simple ways that you can be green as a parent - so thanks for these reminders.

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At 23:00 on 22nd September 2008, Eleanor M commented:

Thanks for a great article!

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Joined: 17 Apr 2008
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At 14:58 on 6th October 2008, Nessie M commented:

Excellent article Fliss. Certainly given me some food for thought.

Cross breast-feeding! Having adopted children i had read that it was possible to be able to breast-feed even though i hadn't given birth. My children however were toddlers by the time the formalities were concluded.

As for reusuable nappies I think i would be happy to use them at home but when out and about like the convenience of disposables. But one may well ask if i am going to be planet consience shouldn't it be all the time! As I say - food for thought.

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