For a lot of people, issues like the environment and being “green” can seem like concerns they can’t afford to have. After all, a lot of the more environmentally friendly products on the market are more expensive. But even though advertisers can make products and marketing seem like the emphasis and they have latched on to the hot buzzwords “green” and “organic”, being green isn’t really about the stuff you buy. In fact, the most important aspects of the green movement that need to be conveyed are the ideas of conservation and recycling.
Recycling though, doesn’t only mean putting your soda cans in a different garbage bag than your other garbage. Oh no….it’s much more fun than that. Recycling can mean finding an exciting new piece of artwork for your home at thrift store or Goodwill. Or when you take your sisters old set of glasses instead of buying new. Or when you have a clothes swap party with friends or with others who have similarly aged children. Additionally, recycling is when you take your old stuff to your local thrift store or charity instead of throwing it in the trash. Once you get into the habit of going to second hand stores, it really becomes exciting when you find something good. It’s much more fun than going to Wal Mart and buying one of fifteen of the same items all sitting on the shelf. If you haven’t already started browsing second hand stores, give it a try. It can be a fun activity for the whole family.
Conservation on the other hand, means using less. So one of the biggest parts of the green movement is just to buy less stuff. Plain and simple. There is nothing better you can do to reduce your outgoing money than to simply be more conscious about your purchases. Use paper napkins? Keep some on hand for messy food, but buy some cloth napkins at a restaurant supply store, second hand shop or sew your own and then use those most of the time. Want to be really green? Don’t toss your cloth napkins in the laundry after every use. Do you really need to launder that napkin that you only used to wipe a few cookie crumbs from your hands? Use the same napkin at your next meal or the next day. Can you replace a portion of your cleaning chores with old rags instead of paper towels? What about your cleaning products? Can you get rid of the ones that contain petrochemicals and artificial fragrance and make your own? Yes some organic foods are more expensive, but can you switch to mostly organic produce and then buy less processed foods? I found that processed food was truly the biggest added expense in my grocery cart and of course, it’s not as healthy. Also, consider shopping at a local farmers market, which generally has higher quality produce for lower prices.
In conclusion, I want to emphasize that being “green” isn’t about buying a brand new hybrid car (when you otherwise wouldn’t have bought a car) or outfitting your baby in all organic everything at the expense of your budget. Instead, it’s about getting the most use out of the stuff we have by recycling and sharing, and using less stuff. And it’s about buying less stuff. Every time you get an impulse to buy something, ask your self, “how often will I use this?”, “where will I store this?” and “am I trying to find happiness in buying this item?” Create a policy for yourself to give away two things for every new thing that you buy or to wait a week or even 30 days before buying anything new. For people who already shop second hand and have a tight budget, feel good in knowing that you already are being green…even if you didn’t realize it! Don’t buy something new just because it’s “green” when you wouldn’t have ordinarily bought something new. If you truly need to make a new purchase, consider the greenest option you can afford. And don’t stress about the rest. There’s hundreds of ways of going green without spending any money. And in fact, avoiding spending is probably the greenest thing you can do.
10 Totally Free Green Baby Tips
- Request a second-hand baby shower.
If you are privy to the party-planning, ask the event planners to respectfully include a note in the invites that all gifts be purchased second-hand or home made. - If you are pregnant, consider breastfeeding your baby, which is healthier for you, your baby and the environment.
- Wash your baby less. While many people include a daily bath in their baby’s routine, it really is unnecessary, especially for newborns and can dry out their skin. I recently switched to a once-weekly bath for my 18 month old, and have noticed no ill effects. (Of course I take into consideration the activity and diaper situation and bathe her when necessary.) This way you use less shampoo and soap, and less water. If you use the bath as a settling technique replace it with a quiet walk outside or a massage.
- Get a used infant car seat from a friend you trust whose child has grown out of theirs instead of buying a new one. (Note that current recommendations are that car seats should not be used after they are 6 years old and never if they have been in an accident).
- If you’re nursing, put off feeding solids for a while. While many people start to introduce rice cereal at 4 months, it is recommended that babies start solids AFTER 6 months, by nearly all major health organizations. And in fact, in many cases it is not necessary to start even then. Some studies have even found that waiting until 7 or 8 months can be beneficial. (Obviously, it’s important to consider you baby’s unique needs and talk to your healthcare provider.)
- If you’re a crafty type and have some extra fabric, sew a baby sling and then walk somewhere instead of driving.
- Quit using dryer sheets, which contain chemicals that are bad for the environment and can cause a whole host of health problems including skin disorders and cancer.
- Dry your baby’s clothes on a clothesline in the sun.
- Find something you need for your baby on Freecycle.
- Don’t buy something. When you get the hankering to buy the latest baby gadget, wait a day or two and remember just how long these items will actually be used and whether or not you can use something you already have instead. (For example, I really wanted to buy a swing for my baby, but I just put it off and put it off, and we never really needed it.) But many times I bought something, only to find we hardly even used it or my baby didn’t like it.
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