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Natural, ethical and organic baby products

Baby products are a huge and profitable industry, and new parents may find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer range of products available that are claimed to enhance their child's development.  However, babies grow very quickly, so a lot of the stuff you buy for them can rapidly become obsolete.  A more ethical approach is to buy secondhand equipment such as prams, pushchairs and cots, and in turn to give away or sell them when your child outgrows them.  There are also a number of other issues regarding bringing up a baby in a green and ethical home:

Toys:
The main issue here is the use of plastics.  In addition to not being very environmentally friendly, plastic baby toys have been linked with health and developmental problems.  Phthalates, which are plastic softeners, are no longer allowed in teething products in the UK, although they are still found in other toys that a baby may put in its mouth.  The concern is that when scratched or damaged, toxic chemicals can leach out, which have been linked with cancer, kidney damage, developmental and reproductive disorders.  The risk is particularly an issue for babies, as their organs are less able to deal with toxins.  Several European governments are actively restricting the use of PVC because of toxicity concerns.

Ethical parents can opt for wooden toys made from sustainable wood, avoiding tropical hardwoods.  Look for the use of nontoxic eco friendly paints.  Toys and games made from recycled materials are another green option.

Washable Nappies:
Convenience versus the environment is a difficult issue for many parents, especially when it comes to nappies.  I recently read that a shocking 8 million disposable nappies are thrown away in the UK each day, which then end up in landfill.  They are non-biodegradable and using nappy sacks creates even more unnecessary waste.  Not only does this have an adverse impact on the environment, the chemical absorbents used in disposable nappies, such as sodium polyacrylate, and the synthetic fragrances, can be absorbed by the skin.

The Woman's Environment Network estimates that by using washable terry nappies parents can save 500 pounds over a child's nappy wearing lifetime.  There is a lot more choice when it comes to buying washable nappies these days, including non-bleached organic cotton ones.  Eco nappy soaks are available, as are special washing services, which can actually work out to be more energy efficient than putting them in the machine at home.  There are all sorts of fastenings to choose from, depending on what works best for your baby, including poppers, ties and clips.  The initial cost may be off-putting, but it can work out to be cost-effective in the long term, especially if you reuse them for your next child.

Organic Baby Food:
Breast milk is considered best for young babies.  Apart from the health benefits, another good reason to avoid substitutes is the questionable ethical practices of some of the larger companies.  For instance, in 2001 Avent was taken to task for misleading labels comparing its products to breast milk, and Nestle has been the subject of a boycott for its aggressive marketing techniques.  Organic baby food is favored by many parents who want to make sure their child is not exposed to any artificial additives or pesticide residues, and there are some good ethical brands to choose from.

Organic baby clothing, bedding and towels:
Many parents prefer to use clothes, bedding and towels made from organic cotton that hasn't been treated with lots of toxic chemicals.  Not only is this a more eco friendly option, but it's considered better for a baby's health not to expose its skin to such chemicals.  Because children grow up so fast, another ethical alternative to expensive new clothes is to buy secondhand ones.  If you're not planning on having more kids, a green solution is to donate used baby clothes to charity shops or give them away through Freecycle.