A Place at the Table @ Cafe au Play

The Sustainable Family, Green Tip #2: Diaper "Doody"

    Did you know that over 18 billion diapers end up in American landfills every year?  Did you know that it takes up to 500 years for a diaper to decompose in a landfill?  Frankly, I think that stinks!  There are alternatives to those little plastic bundles and they are more convenient than you may think.       
   

    Cloth diapers.  My mother used cloth diapers for her children and she even laundered them herself.  Of course when we traveled she took along disposables for convenience.  She saved a lot of money and felt good about lightening her trash cans.  I'll admit, cloth diapers are not for everyone and there is little thrill in changing diapers let alone cleaning them.  But for those who are willing to give cloth a chance, there are diaper services out there.  These services will happily take away your week's load of dirty diapers, wash them, and supply you with more.  Organic cotton diapers are even available and the cost is comparable to the Huggies, Pampers and Luvs.
Green Warning: cloth diapers may not be the best sustainable practice.  Studies have shown that the amount of pesticides used to grow cotton, and the amount of water and bleach used for washing cloth diapers may be counterproductive to our attempts at living green.  Some studies have shown that climate and landfill capacity play a big role.  If you live in a dry climate with limited water and the landfills are not in danger of reaching capacity then you should buy disposables.  If the opposite is true, then cloth is the greener option.  However, organic cotton diapers are now available and if you wash them yourself there are green alternatives to bleach.  Ultimately, cloth diapers as a sustainable practice are dependent on many factors each of which you should consider.

Tidee Didee Diaper Service
www.tideedidee.com This diaper service is located in Portland and does all of the dirty work for you. 

Mother Nature's
www.mothernaturesbabystore.com A local business where you can buy cloth diapers in an assortment of colors.

Zoom Baby
www.zoombabygear.com They have organic cotton diapers in really cute patterns.

    Biodegradable Diapers.  Yes, they do exist.  If you find that cloth is too stinky to handle on your own, are concerned about the environmental effects of diaper services, or maybe feel sort of strange putting a diaper on your baby that was once used by another, then biodegradable is an alternative.  These diapers may still end up in a landfill but with a chance to decompose.  You can even compost them yourself.  And think of all the trees, plastic and hence oil you will be saving.  Most biodegradable diapers are chemical free and contain recycled wood pulp.  Stores such as New Seasons and Whole Foods have these in stock.  This is essentially a great option for parents who are hesitant about using cloth diapers but want a greener lifestyle.  The company gDiaper offers a very cool biodegradable product.
 
gDiaper
www.gdiaper.com
Possibly the best alternative to disposables that I have seen.  The company gDiaper offers diaper covers in several colors that have a replaceable diaper liner.  The liner is biodegradable and even flushable.  These are a little more expensive than buying the Huggies, but it's worth it.  Your baby will make a fashion statement in these.   

Abigail Cermak

the very hungry caterpillar and the tiny seed

Coming to the book fair at Barnes and Noble on March 8th and 9th? In addition to our various performers, we'll be featuring some crafts revolving around flowers and caterpillars. And I'm beginning my series of book reviews today with some related titles you might look for while you're there.

First, a book for babies and toddlers. If you're a new parent, you might not yet know Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Carle is justly famous for his gorgeous illustrations, formed as collages from handpainted paper. But his stories are just as compelling. This is the story of a little caterpillar who eats and eats and eats until, at last, he is transformed into a butterfly. Like other great books for the littlest children, it works on many levels. The story itself, a kind of tall tale, as the little caterpillar eats increasingly unbelievable quantities of food, always pleases toddlers. The progress from the quiet darkness of the opening to the exciting brilliance of the ending makes for a great read. And the story is constructed so that talking about the days of the week and about numbers becomes an obvious preoccupation for those who love this story, (since on Monday, the caterpillar eats one apple, on Tuesday, two pears, and so on). Carle has written abut other insects, too, in The Very Quiet Cricket, The Very Busy Spider, The Very Clumsy Click Beetle, The Very Lonely Firefly, and The Grouchy Ladybug.

If you're going to get another Eric Carle book, because you already know and love him, or because you're growing beyond these books for the littlest readers, look for The Tiny Seed. It's the story of a seed blown by the wind into the path of many dangers. But by virtue of its size, it remains safe--safe from the hot sun, safe from the cold mountain, safe from the wet ocean and safe from the dry desert, safe from the hungry bird and the hungry mouse. Along with only three other seeds, it has the chance to sprout. But even now, their futures are uncertain. In the end, only the tiny seed grows--into a huge and beautiful sunflower, that itself produces many tiny seeds. Like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this book fascinates children who are learning about metamorphoses, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly, and from seed to sprout to flower to seed. And more importantly, it really resonates with children who are feeling their smallness in the world, because of the way in which it suggests that smallness can be strength.

The Sustainable Family: Start with Baby

Let's face it neighbors...without our individual practices of living green, our impact on the environment is not going to heal itself.  We are fortunate to live in Portland, Oregon where there are the resources to attain a sustainable lifestyle.  My weekly post, The Sustainable Family, will be a valuable tool for all who wish to tread a little lighter and live in harmony with the planet.  My suggestions will not only be good for the environment, but for our communities and our families as well.

Let's start with Baby.  If we instill mindful practices in and with our children, then we will see those same practices come to fruition in future generations.  For those of you new to parenthood, there are simple solutions to begin your sustainable family.  Buy local, buy organic, live green.  Following is a list of local businesses that offer organic baby clothing, natural baby furniture, and environmentally sensitive baby products from bath gels to diaper creams. 

Harvest Moon Boutique
www.harvestmoonboutique.com
They offer clothing and accessories made with organic cotton, soybean and bamboo fibers.  They also have environmentally safe baby bath products.  A family owned local business.

Go Natural Baby
www.gonaturalbaby.com
Here in Portland, Go Natural Baby sells fair trade, organic cotton, herbal dyed clothing and bedding for baby.  Check out their natural furniture as well.

Mother Nature's
www.mothernaturesbabystore.com
Located on SE Clinton, Mother Nature's has a great selection of earth friendly baby products.  They offer cloth diapers and wraps as well as wooden toys and teethers.

These are just a few of several stores located in the Portland Area.  If you just search the web for natural or organic baby products, you will find the resources are almost endless.   That being said, I welcome you and yours to a new green life.

Abigail Cermak