Thinking About a Baby?
If you are thinking about having a baby any time in the future, going green is that much more important. Even if you don't plan to have children for a few years, you can start greening your world now to make it a better, more eco-friendly environment for when your little bundle of joy does arrive.
Keeping Everyone Safe and Healthy
Environmental pollutants can be very hazardous to your baby's health, long before it is ever born. A study conducted by the Environmental Working Group in 2004 found 287 different chemicals in randomly tested umbilical cord blood. The parents of these children did not work with chemicals or in any career that involved exposure to various chemicals. Out of the 287 chemicals found, 180 are known carcinogens, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development.
You may want to have your tap water tested for lead, pesticide residues, and other chemicals that may be lurking in your drinking water. Contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or online at www.epa.gov/safewater or order a do-it-yourself kit at www.discovertesting.com.
Chemical exposures that occur while a baby is in the womb or during infancy can be much more harmful than exposures that occur later in life. Therefore, it is best to minimize exposure to environmental pollution as much as possible and as early as possible. This means cutting down on your own exposure to all toxins and chemicals while you are trying to get pregnant and especially during pregnancy. Eating organic foods minimizes your risk of coming into contact with pesticides. Other things you should avoid include toxic pesticides, harsh cleaning chemicals, paint fumes, tobacco smoke, kerosene heaters or other heating stoves that give off a lot of fumes or smoke, paint fumes, and solvents such as paint thinners. If you must paint, use low- to no-VOC paints. You should also avoid exposure to mercury, lead acetate, parabens, and phthalates (all of which can be found in many things including beauty products). For a helpful web guide for green pregnancies, visit www.fitpregnancy.com/goinggreen.
Phthalates
Right now there is also a large controversy surrounding the use of plastics because of phthalates. Phthalates have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, birth defects, reproductive problems in men, and thyroid malfunction. Baby boys and pregnant women have been identified as the two groups that are most vulnerable to the effects of phthalates.
According to the Environmental Working Group, 84 percent of the U.S. population is contaminated with at least six different phthalates. Phthalates have been found in baby bottles, plastic food containers, toys, and bath and body products. People can be exposed through inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, and even intravenously from medical devices.
To reduce your exposure to phthalates, reduce the amount of plastics that you use. Avoid PVC (polyvinylchloride) products. Make sure the toys and furniture you purchase are PVC free. Do not microwave plastic food containers or baby bottles. Instead, use microwave-safe glass containers to heat food, milk, and formula. Look for baby bottles that are made with polyethylene (#2 or #4) or polypropylene (#5) or opt for old-fashioned glass bottles.
Getting the Nursery Ready
If you want to redo the nursery, consider natural flooring such as real hardwood or cork. If you want carpeting, look for low-VOC carpets such as those that carry the Green Label Plus logo, or look for natural carpeting made from wool, jute, or sisal. Regular carpeting contains a lot of chemicals.
While you plan the nursery, look for natural bedding such as organic cotton and wool blankets, organic cotton, bamboo or hemp comforters, and sheets and mattresses made from organic cotton or organic all-natural rubber stuffing. Also consider using natural cloth diapers or at least unbleached disposable diapers and wipes. Look into organic clothing for the baby, too.
Bringing Baby Home
Once the baby is born, be careful what you rub on his bottom. Popular baby care products by big brands have been found to contain all kinds of chemicals including parabens, phthalates, petroleum by-products, dyes, and fragrances. It all sounds pretty scary, as if you don't have enough to worry about living in this world, but by being informed ahead of time you can prepare yourself and your personal environment to create the best and safest possible nest for a happy, healthy family. If green living has been a part of your life for a long time, making sure you have a happy, healthy, green pregnancy will be a natural and easy thing for you to do. If the green life is new to you, it may be a little more difficult at first, but you don't have to stress about it or do everything all at once.
You can slowly incorporate green ways and products into your life and make choices that are best for you. Every little bit counts. If you can't afford an all-natural mattress but you went for the organic cotton crib set, that is fabulous. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.
Your baby will be quite happy and satisfied with having parents who love and care for her, and won't complain that everything isn't organic or all natural — at least, not until she's a teenager.
