Children - Around the House

Instead of wasting food and containers on processed jarred baby food, make your own or buy in bulk. It’s actually very easy and cost effective to make your own baby food. Take what you ate for dinner, as long as it’s a balanced meal, and toss it in a blender. You can freeze it in ice cube trays for perfect portion snacks and lunches later. Make your own juice, not packaged dye with sugar. Of course consult with your pediatrician for proper dietary needs.

It really isn’t necessary to buy all new stuff for your child. Since they grow up so fast, second hand is often the best option. But, make sure you clean and disinfect anything you get. Make sure there are no loose parts that can be eaten. Furniture, clothes, shoes and toys are big purchases that someone else has already made. Get it from them, except car seats and mattresses, and you will save money and waste.

Make sure, if you do purchase toys, they are all natural materials like wood and unbleached fabric, since most of what ends up in a baby’s hands, also ends up in their mouth.

One unavoidable baby fact is diapers. Which are the best ones? Cloth diapers let your baby’s bum breathe while also saving the landfills thousands of diapers a year. They are many varieties available, some with bio degradable flushable liners, and others are washable, which you can do your self, or actually better yet, send to a launder service which is more efficient than your at home washer.

Exposure to chemicals for any child is never a good idea. Make sure the nursery is painted with natural and zero VOC paints – expecting moms this is not a do it yourself job for you- and make sure it is done well in advance of the baby’s arrival. Also, not a good idea to install new carpets just before a baby arrives. Better yet, do not install carpets at all as most off gas chemicals.

More tips: www.ecokids.ca