I am interested in raising my baby in a more environmentally friendly way. Can you give me some resources and ideas on how to do this, starting as early as possible in a baby's life?
More and more pediatricians are becoming aware of the importance of raising babies green. At a recent American Academy of Pediatrics meeting, Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician from Stanford University, autographed his latest book Raising Baby Green. The one thing in his book that struck me the most is the extensive list of resources and scientific references, which tell us we need to think more about how environmentally unfriendly ways can damage our children.
As we all know, there is an ever-increasing interest in how we as a society can do more to prevent damage to our environment. I commend you for showing an interest in this topic by starting in your own home. Recently, I discovered a website where one can determine his or her impact on the environment. This may be a good place to start: www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction.
It is important to start small; take little steps in the beginning. One way to do this is by watching what you eat and drink when you are pregnant. Taste buds can be shaped in the womb as well as when a mom is breastfeeding. A recent study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia showed that when pregnant moms drank carrot juice their babies were more likely to eat carrots. Also, when these moms ate more peaches and green beans while breastfeeding their babies were much more likely to eat fruits and vegetables.
Instead of drinking coffee during pregnancy, one can consider drinking decaffeinated herbal tea which provides 1mg of caffeine per 5 ounces. In comparison, an 8 ounce cup of brewed coffee contains 150 mg of caffeine; decaffeinated coffee has 2-5 mg of caffeine per 5 ounces.
Some preliminary research has shown that hair dyes used during pregnancy, especially the darker kinds, may lead to a higher amount of chemicals in the baby's umbilical cord. Dr. Greene did some research on the chemicals found in umbilical cord blood, and discovered 287 different industrial chemicals circulating through the body of newborns. We have to be careful to not over-interpret the implications of these chemicals. Yet, there is no current data on the long-term effects of these potential toxins (For more information on the chemical contents of cosmetics see www.cosmeticsdatabase.com).
At this point, we also do not know enough about the amounts of chemicals which may cause harm. Research from Tufts University in Boston showed that the key consideration may not be the absolute amount of chemical and pesticide exposure at one time. More importantly, it may be the cumulative amount over a lifetime that matters (See an article in Scientific American written by Soto and Sonnenschein, 1995).
Organically grown produce has become more and more popular. The number of organic farms has doubled between 1990 and 2002, and in the past three years this number has doubled again. Organic foods are now making up 3 -10% of all food consumed in North America.
In a 2006 study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (see Environmental Health Perspective, 2006, 114 (2) pp. 260-263), it was shown that when children were given one organic apple per day their urine had a significant reduction in chemicals and pesticides.
Organic milk produced by cows which have not received hormones provides more omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the baby's brain and eye development. Early exposure to omega-3 may also lead to lower blood pressure later in life, according to a recent BMJ publication.
Cotton clothes and bedding are made from cotton grown with the use of an extra high amount of pesticides. An alternative may be to use organically grown cotton when it comes to choosing bedding and clothes. A number of main line stores, such as Wal-Mart, are now selling these products. In some circles, this trend is referred to as "echo fashion". For more information on the choices available, see www.underthecanaopy.com.
The use of organic cotton as well as the elimination of harsh detergents and fabric softeners may also reduce the need for steroid use in some babies who suffer from eczema. It is wise to eliminate bleaches and to use something more natural like vinegar. Alternatives to the chemicals found in common household cleansers are club soda (for taking out stains), baking soda (for taking out odors), lemon juice and cornstarch.
Toys made out of wood may be better than toys made out of plastic given oil is required in the manufacturing of plastic. Other ways to cut down on the use of plastic is to invest in water bottles made out of stainless steel.
Consider using cloth diapers instead of plastic-based disposable diapers (These diapers are not biodegradable and are deposited in landfills. In the future, recycled disposable diapers may be used to make plastic fences). In Calgary, Community Natural Foods became one of the first stores in the city to sell environmentally friendly cloth diapers. One can simply drop the stool in the toilet - where it belongs - and get a new eco-friendly lining for the diaper.Using recycled facial tissue could save trees. It is estimated that if every North American household used one box of recycled facial tissue each year, 163,000 trees would be saved.
Exposure to smells goes beyond second hand cigarette smoke. Fumes found in paints, new carpets, dry cleaning, glues and crafts may irritate the nasal passages. Although there are no definitive studies on the impact of these irritants - one recent study claims that chlorine fumes in indoor pools may aggravate asthma - it may be wise to limit exposure (See www.artscraftstheatersafety.org for more information).
For daily tips on how to create a more environmentally friendly situation for your baby see www.healthychild.org and www.echobaby.com.
Access www.healthykids.ca for a terrific new resource in helping families raise healthy children - HealthyKids with Dr. Nieman will optimize your child's complete health.
An informed parent is ... an empowered parent.