With environmental issues at a peak, it’s no wonder that today’s new parents are looking for greener options. 
United States of America (Press Release) January 28, 2008 --
Oceanside, CA (January 13, 2007) — Parents face many decisions when planning for their baby’s arrival. In addition to choosing a car seat, or nursery wall color, parents now often ask “Is this diaper biodegradable?” and “Should I choose a bottle made of polycarbonate or polypropylene?”
As a lactation consultant and perinatal educator, Rochelle McLean is often asked by parents how to make their nurseries more earth friendly. “New parents are concerned about two aspects: providing their babies an environment free of plastics and chemicals, and also reducing the waste and strain on the earth.”
There are many ways to incorporate an earth-friendly approach when buying for baby. When choosing clothing and bedding, parents should consider organic cotton and natural fibers. Not only are these fabrics healthier for baby, but also they produce less waste in production and are biodegradable. Another concern for new parents is the chemicals that leach from plastics into baby’s food. Rochelle recommends using products free of bisphenol-A when feeding baby. “There are many alternatives to polycarbonate plastics, including wood, glass and stainless steel,“ says Ms. McLean.
With environmental issues at a peak, it’s no wonder that today’s new parents are looking for greener options. Diaper waste in landfills is on the rise. According to statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there was almost no diaper waste in 1960. But by 1970, the EPA reports approximately 350,000 tons of diaper waste and by 2005, 3.6 million tons of diaper waste annually. In another EPA report, disposable diapers are documented as the third largest waste item in today’s landfills – a significant number given they are only used by a small percentage of the population.
Cloth diapers sales are on the rise and show no signs of slowing down. “These aren’t the diapers our parents used,” Ms. McLean said. “Today’s cloth diapers are user friendly, more absorbent and come in many trendy, fashionable styles and prints.” Many celebrities are using and speaking out on behalf of cloth diapers, including Dave Matthews, Kevin Bacon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
San Diego parents looking for natural alternatives often shopped online for products to suit their needs, but were lacking local venues to see the items in person. In March 2007, Ms. McLean opened a boutique geared towards natural parenting. The clothing and layette items are all made of organic Egyptian cotton, grown and manufactured without the use of pesticides or chemicals. The breastfeeding pumps and accessories are BPA-free and the wooden toys from Europe were extremely popular during the holidays, eagerly sought by parents who were afraid to buy plastic toys possibly containing lead. “The amount of organic and natural products available to new parents is growing evey year,” Rochelle says. “As concerns about the health of our families and of the earth continue to grow, more and more parents will be looking for eco-friendly alternatives.”
As a lactation consultant and perinatal educator, Rochelle McLean is often asked by parents how to make their nurseries more earth friendly. “New parents are concerned about two aspects: providing their babies an environment free of plastics and chemicals, and also reducing the waste and strain on the earth.”
There are many ways to incorporate an earth-friendly approach when buying for baby. When choosing clothing and bedding, parents should consider organic cotton and natural fibers. Not only are these fabrics healthier for baby, but also they produce less waste in production and are biodegradable. Another concern for new parents is the chemicals that leach from plastics into baby’s food. Rochelle recommends using products free of bisphenol-A when feeding baby. “There are many alternatives to polycarbonate plastics, including wood, glass and stainless steel,“ says Ms. McLean.
With environmental issues at a peak, it’s no wonder that today’s new parents are looking for greener options. Diaper waste in landfills is on the rise. According to statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there was almost no diaper waste in 1960. But by 1970, the EPA reports approximately 350,000 tons of diaper waste and by 2005, 3.6 million tons of diaper waste annually. In another EPA report, disposable diapers are documented as the third largest waste item in today’s landfills – a significant number given they are only used by a small percentage of the population.
Cloth diapers sales are on the rise and show no signs of slowing down. “These aren’t the diapers our parents used,” Ms. McLean said. “Today’s cloth diapers are user friendly, more absorbent and come in many trendy, fashionable styles and prints.” Many celebrities are using and speaking out on behalf of cloth diapers, including Dave Matthews, Kevin Bacon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
San Diego parents looking for natural alternatives often shopped online for products to suit their needs, but were lacking local venues to see the items in person. In March 2007, Ms. McLean opened a boutique geared towards natural parenting. The clothing and layette items are all made of organic Egyptian cotton, grown and manufactured without the use of pesticides or chemicals. The breastfeeding pumps and accessories are BPA-free and the wooden toys from Europe were extremely popular during the holidays, eagerly sought by parents who were afraid to buy plastic toys possibly containing lead. “The amount of organic and natural products available to new parents is growing evey year,” Rochelle says. “As concerns about the health of our families and of the earth continue to grow, more and more parents will be looking for eco-friendly alternatives.”
Email
Print
SPAM
