How to go green with baby on a budget
Posted
Monday, April 06, 2009 2:58 PM
Natural, organic, recycled, sustainable...sounds great, right? And
pricey. There's no denying that many eco-friendly products are the best
choices for our babies and our environment—but what about our wallets?
Check out these ways to help your family go green without going into
debt.
#1: Buy used
Thanks to the recession, folks are
selling stuff that's nearly new. Check local consignment sales (visit
KidsConsignmentSales.com for sales near you), Craigslist.org, eBay.com
and your local Salvation Army for a few good finds.
#2: Resist fancy toys
Face
it: Your baby doesn't care whether she's playing with a $150 designer
doohicky or the package it came in. Before splurging because a squishie
is made of organic cotton from a sweatshop-free, high-class company,
consider what “toys” you already have around the house (kitchen
cabinets are a good place to start). When you do make new toy
purchases, reach for inexpensive earth- (and baby!) friendly options,
like wooden toys with nontoxic paint. (We love the $8 wooden animal
toys at UndertheGreenRoof.com.)
#3: Breastfeed
There's
no doubt about it: If you're able to breastfeed that's the cheapest (and healthiest!) way
to go when it comes to feeding. It creates no waste and it's 100
percent free, aside from accessories or creams. Speaking of those
extras, reduce trash by opting for reusable breast pads like LilyPadz
($17, Amazon.com), and go for an all-natural nipple treatment like
Lansinoh breast cream ($8, Amazon.com).
#4: Sew something
Consider
making your own curtains, clothes or blankets. Even if you don't shell
out for organic or sustainable fabrics, you're cutting out the
store-bought product's manufacturing, packaging and transportation.
#5: Be artsy
Snap
some fun photos to hang on the nursery walls, or simply frame a few
colorful flash cards, like the adorable alphabet flash cards from The
Land of Nod ($5, LandofNod.com). For a simple alternative to framing,
hang them from a wire with clothespins, like Sonya Miles Kilian, who
has her killer low-budget nursery posted at MilesKiller.Blogspot.com.)
Baby's play-dates will think you're the coolest. Again, you're cutting
down on environmental impact (and costs) by going DIY.
#6: Buy green cleaners
Many
nontoxic, natural cleaning products—like the Clorox Green Works, Mrs.
Meyer's and Method lines—work great and have prices right on par with
their not-so-green cousins.
#7: Or make your own
To
really be eco-thrifty, make your own homemade cleaning concoctions.
Distilled white vinegar makes a fab window cleaner when mixed with an
equal amount of water. To clean out shower scum, wipe with vinegar,
scrub with baking soda and then rinse clean with water. (Find dozens
more nifty vinegar tips on VersatileVinegar.org.)
#8: Get a filter
Bottled
water is NOT necessarily better for you. Plus, it's definitely more
expensive and creates tons of waste. Instead, grab a filter for your
tap water, like the Brita On Tap Faucet Mount Filtration System ($30,
BedBathandBeyond.com).
#9: Get out
Encouraging baby to
spend time outside can cut down on the energy you'd use to say, keep
the TV running and blast the AC or heater. Plus, some items and
fixtures in your house—wood finishes, paints, mold and more—can
contribute to indoor air pollution. When you're staying in all day,
crack a window to air the place out.
#10: Use a clothesline
Dryers
use loads of electricity. Instead of grabbing a “fresh air” scented
dryer sheet, go for the real thing. Air is free. (Baby’s clothes will
smell nice and last longer too.)
#11: Trade books
PaperbackSwap.com
is absolutely ingenious: You send in any old paperback, and you can
pick one of millions of others in return. All you pay is postage. Just
think how baby's library could grow if you pulled that stack of old
novels out of the closet...
#12: Reuse bags
Cloth
shopping bags are inexpensive, easy to carry and save the earth from
bajillions of the plastic versions. And when you're just buying one or
two items? Come on, a jug of milk is easier to carry without the bag,
anyway.
-- Erin van Vuuren
> Have any easy eco-tips that we may have missed? Share yours below.