When becoming a parent we are bombarded with all the must have gadgets that are out.  What does your baby really need for his or her well being?  Love, nourishment and nurturing are perhaps the most important.  Here are 10 simple tips to consider when choosing to raise a green baby.

1.  Natural Pregnancy and Birth

Choosing a natural pregnancy and birth can be the beginning of a healthier life for your baby. The  atmosphere, the people present at birth, and the mothers well being all have an impact on the baby.  Whether you are birthing at home with a midwife, in a birth centre, unassisted or even in a hospital you can make a conscious birth choice.

2.  Nourishment for Baby

So, baby  is born and the first thing is to offer the breast.  Breastfeeding is the most natural and ultimate nourishment you can share with your baby.  It takes no bottles, no prep time and is ready whenever baby is.  If you choose not to breastfeed or have a situation where it is not possible then I would suggest organic baby formula.

3.  Cloth or Eco Diapers

Natural elimination is a great way to keep from using diapers at all.  It does take patience.  I will be honest.  Most of the time my children ended up in diapers even though I love the concept.  For choosing a green diaper there are many cloth options.  From simple pre folds, all in one and one size fits from birth to toddler you have an array of choices.  If cloth isn’t your thing there are eco conscious disposible diapers.  They are made from natural materials rather than filled with chemicals.

4.  Cloth or Eco Baby Wipes

The easiest baby wipes I have found yet are to take old recieving blankets made from cotton and cut them into pieces.  If you really want to take the time you can sew around the edges. Baby wash cloths work well too. You can just keep them in a convenient space and wet them with warm water as needed.  Another option if you prefer disposible is to use select a size paper towels.  You put these into a container with a natural combination such as baking soda and water.  The wipes are inexpensive and healthier.  If you would like to buy pre made wipes there are cloth and eco disposibles available as well.

5. Natural Skin Care Products

The amount of products your baby needs on his or her skin is minimal.  Babies naturally smell sweet so why cover them with lotions and stuff that they do not need. Washing baby simply with water is enough especially when they are in arms.  For diaper rashes you can make or purchase calendula salve which is excellent for healing.  You can also make or purchase herbal baby powder.  There are many natural baby skin care products if you choose to use them.  They are much better as a green alternative to synthetic choices.

6.  Natural Clothing

Your babies skin needs to breathe.  If you choose natural fiber clothing the skin breathes better.  Cotton, hemp, bamboo, linen, flax, and wool  are some natural choices.  Buying clothing at a thrift or consignment store is a green option to buying new.

7.  Wear Your Baby

We can learn many things from indigenous cultures.  Many have worn their babies on their backs and carry them wherever they go during daily activities.  There are so many baby slings and wraps to choose from.  Choose one that is comfortable to your body.  I highly recommend finding one that does work for you though because this I have used more than anything else.

8.  Natural Toys

A baby does not need to be surrounded by toys, toys and more toys.  After all they are exploring the world and people around them which is a lot.  After a few months if you choose a toy or two going simple is really the best.  It does not overwhelm you or the baby.  There are non toxic wooden rattles and cloth options which are much better than plastic toys.  Staying away from battery operated, noisy toys can keep things simple and peaceful.

9.  Blanket

A nice natural fiber blanket is something that I use often with my babies.  It can be made from cotton, bamboo or silk and something that is soft for them to lay on, cover and cuddle with.

10.  Nature

Aah how could I have saved the best for last!  Spending time in the natural world with your baby can help bring balance into life.  A fussy baby can often be calmed in the peaceful outdoors.  It also helps establish a connection to nature for the future.

These are a few simple green tips for your baby and you.  Enjoy!  Please visit Path to Nature’s Marketplace for your green baby goods.

Recently I read a blog by a young lady that is a daughter of a green living expert.  She talked about how being raised in a green, eco conscious home made such an impact on her life.  Her childhood memories were more than non toxic cleaners, cloth shopping bags, organic and natural foods.  Her mother made a conscious choice to be green.  Their home and lifestyle was a mirror of this.

After reading this article it helped me realize how much my choices truly do matter to the well being of not only myself, but my children, community and the world.  Is your life a mirror of peace, love and positivity?  This is all a part of being green too.  Living green is a lifestyle that will eventually touch every aspect of your life.

Living green means making conscious choices in your life.  When you raise your awareness you learn to live in harmony with body, mind and spirit.  It will more than likely be a process as you follow the path of being green.

You may first find that you are replacing the plastic shopping bags with cloth, choosing organic local foods, using non toxic cleaning supplies, wearing natural fiber clothing, clearing the clutter from your home, using herbs or natural healing, choosing cloth/eco diapers for the children, discovering sustainable toys and more.

Eventually you may find yourself changing jobs, growing spiritually, enjoying peaceful solitude and spending time in nature.  Relationships may change form as you make more positive uplifting choices. You will become conscious of the choices you make and how they impact life on this planet.

So, I hope that when my children grow they will remember my attempts at filling our life with all things green, but most importantly love and compassion.  At times I get discouraged and feel more enlightened choices could be made.  Then I connect with that small, still voice within and remember to have compassion for myself as well.

Being green is a lifestyle of becoming conscious and raising our awareness.  May I encourage you to start where you are and consider the path to living green.

After being awakened by  a two year old toddler at predawn this morning, I lay in bed contemplating what an urban green utopia would be like. It is said that ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ So, what would  an urban green village look like? 

For starters there would be a sense of community and people would help each other  without expecting anything in return. Those that enjoy getting up at predawn might head over and take the toddler out journeying through the nearby woods while a mama with a baby gets a little more rest. 

We would begin our days in meditation and yoga surrounded by a living green space.

The perfectly manicured lawns would be turned into ‘let it all hang out’ garden spaces where most of our food and medicine would be grown.  There would be a perfect play area for the kids to hang out and play freely without worrying about cars or other distractions.  The village would have a natural sustainable wood fence all around to keep the smaller children from wandering off. 

Nothing would be owned by anyone.  We would simply be stewards of what we were given.  We would share openly and cooperatively with others.  This reminds me of the the other day when I went for a walk with my son.  He saw a riding toy in a neighbors yard and just walked right up and hopped on it to play.  I said, “hmm, if only the world were that way and we could have things without owning them, freely sharing with one another without fear.” Of course as soon as my son was convinced to move on, the father of the tots toy came and tugged it quickly inside.

There would be a community kitchen for sharing organic, locally grown foods.  We would also have a private kitchen in our living space for those times that we would like to dine alone. The living spaces, even if they are apartments,  would be simply set up with green eco conscious furnishings, linens, cleaning supplies, flooring, walls and more.  There would be living plants indoors and growing on our balconies.  The roof tops would be green and alive.

There would be solar and other alternatives for power plus the purest water possible.  Our laundry would hang freely blowing in the wind for drying and in the sun for brightening.

Our children would have simple, natural cloth or wooden toys, art supplies and books that help expand their imagination. They would be clothed in nature inspired colors with breathable fabrics running barefoot as often as possible. We all would be living with the rhythms of the earth and in harmony with nature.

We would gather in community dressed in our natural fiber clothes with song, dance and music from a variety of cultures. We would talk story often especially with the elders who would be respected and cared about. The elders would share their wisdom with us in a gentle way without being judgemental or critical. We would make decisions for the village based on consensus.

There would be a village economic system so there would not be as much pressure and emphasis on money. There would be barter and sharing with one another, living in cooperation.

We would travel by foot, bikes, transit or eco conscious vehicles if going a longer distance. Our common needs would be within the village. We would head over to the co-op and community library with our cloth reuseable bags. Then stop by to pick up some raw milk, handmade cheese, eggs and honey (unless we were vegans.)

The village doctors would be the wise ones that would share their knowledge of herbs, foods and natural living for our well being. They would not seek to take our power from us but empower us to take responsibility for our own choices.

Babies would be born naturally in the comfort of the mothers home in their peaceful, tranquil space being surrounded only by those that the family would choose. They would have support of the village as they transitioned into motherhood.

Well, I could go on and on about living green in an eco conscious urban village. I have always had the perspective that you needed to live in a rural area to be green. However, my perspective has been changing.  I realize it is through our conscious choices that we live green regardless of location.

Just one question today though, “where is our village?” In a few days we will be going to an organic farm in Cape Breton. We will be in a co housing, small community situation. I will let you know if we found our village!

If you are ready to create your green utopian home and lifestyle, Gaiam has everything from bamboo socks to alternative energy resources. They are a lifestyle company in Colorado that supports natural living. Let’s build a green village. It starts with you!