Worried sick about plastic -- or even feeling a teeny bit queasy? Here are a few alternatives for common baby items, and resources for where to buy 'em. (And don't forget, you could always make your own.)
Squeaky clean and PVC-free.
Photo: iStockphoto
Bathtubs
Non-plastic baby tubs seem to be hard to find; probably the best you can do here is to use a nylon mesh sling or recyclable polypropylene Tummy Tub in your sink or regular tub. Dedicated greens can reduce waste by siphoning used bathwater out the window and into the garden -- just make sure not to throw the baby out with the bathwater (sorry, we had to slip that one in).
Bibs
Organic cotton bibs are safe, reusable alternatives to vinyl, and can be found at Kate Quinn Organics, Our Green House, and Taraluna. The ECO Disposable Bib from Nature Babycare is manufactured from wood pulp and non-GMO maize.
Bottles
Parents concerned about chemicals such as bisphenol A leaching from plastic can feed their tots with glass bottles from Evenflo. BornFree also sells glass bottles, as well as bottles made from BPA-free plastic.
Changing tables and pads
A bamboo, low-VOC-paint, hardware-free table from Our Green House serves double duty as a bookshelf. Top one of these with a vinyl-free changing pad from Parenting by Nature or Green Mountain Diapers, and you're good to go.
Cribs and mattresses
Avoid plastic cribs and vinyl-encased mattresses by buying an organic cotton and latex mattress from Soaring Heart, and sustainably sourced wood cribs from Our Green House.
Diapers
Yes, even a child's bodily functions can be handled greenly. Dress your baby in organic cotton diapers from Under the Nile and Kushtush Organics, or in bamboo-fiber nappies from Geobel Nursery Products. Squeamish parents who want to avoid washing cloth diapers can try biodegradable, flushable gDiapers. And there's always the diaper-free method for those not faint-of-heart.
High chairs
This adjustable high chair from Our Green House is made with wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a nontoxic finish, and low-emission glues.
Sippy cups
Take a look at our advice on purchasing sippy cups, then snatch up a shiny stainless-steel cup from Klean Kanteen or an aluminum bottle made by Sigg.
Strollers
Unfortunately, there appear to be no plastic-free strollers wheeling about. The good news is that Baby Planet has a handy stroller recycling program for its customers, and also helps consumers donate usable strollers of any brand to families in need. The best plastic-free alternative may be to tote your child around in a sling, like the organic cotton Little Star Sling.
Teethers
A 100 percent organic cotton teething ring, flat cat toy, and crate of teething veggies from Under the Nile provide PVC- and phthalate-free relief for sore baby gums.
Tableware
Ceramic and enamel dishes are safe non-plastic options, or you can try these sustainably harvested (and possibly more kid-proof) bamboo bowls, and utensils from Bambu.
Ask Umbra on trash, toxics, and tots
Home Economics of the JP Green House, Part 1
Comments
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CKapadia Posted 12:43 pm
22 Sep 2007
The faction that promotes the idea, you are what you buy, so buy green: folks, this type of consumerism is the problem in the first place, simply putting another twist on it isn't really going to change all that much. Essentially, it seems that some people nowadays have no real core identity at all; so they've essentially created this ideology and religion around the virtue associated with buying the right products, and now their particular brand of consumerism provides them with the identity they sorely need. At least this is how it often seems to me.
The faction that has nothing better to worry about, must be living these very peaceful, yet drab and dull lives, and so worry about a wide variety of things. What a luxury to worry about whether or not you can keep your child completely plastic-free! The vast majority of the world would laugh that such a topic might create such enormous anguish or heated emotion. They have real things to worry about.
The most sober approach to the environmental movement is that it is a movement for better community, more social justice, and a better life for all of us. Focusing on these trivial items just demeans the whole thing, makes it meaningless to the vast majority of the world's people.
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CrunchyParent Posted 11:38 am
23 Sep 2007
I was struck recently after reading about the toll that plastic has taken on our ecosystem in the relatively short while since its invention (see the article that prompted my response and my thoughtshere). Little things like bottle caps, tampon applicators, and plastic bags have all added up to create this mess we've made. Surely small steps like utilizing alternatives to the plastic products we use in abundance in our homes, as well as the associated shift in consciousness that comes from seeking out alternatives to plastic will make a difference over time.
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