"Let everything that touches your baby be pure and natural." Sounds like every parent's dream, right? Unfortunately, unless you've done a lot of research, it's not terribly easy to go green when it comes to your baby. The modern world stresses convenience and bargain shopping, from disposable nappies to inexpensive made-in-China polyester-blend clothing. But TV shows like Wasted and movements like the recent comback of cloth nappies are changing our perceptions of how we can create and maintain an eco-friendly environment for our children, and it can start in babyhood. This gorgeous book shows you how.
With five easy-to-read chapters and funky photographs, Organic Baby goes beyond simply telling parents they should make changes – it tells you how. Starting with your baby's nursery, it guides parents through choosing appropriate furniture and bedding (preferably made from sustainable wood and natural, organic fibres), giving advice on paint, wall coverings, and flooring choices. The next step is to choose your baby's gear, and car seats, nappy bags, and toys are under the microscope. A focus on what's next to Baby's skin follows, including discussions about nappies, clothes, shoes, and even what's best to use in the bath and when grooming. Baby food gets a large section, with an excellent guide to making your own baby food, how to store it, and advice on seeking out locally-grown, organic produce. Finally, once you've made decisions and started to put the advice into practice, the final section helps parents negotiate going green in the real world – how to tell other people what you're doing and why, how to handle public spaces (think germ-ridden shopping trolleys and doctor's offices), coping with visits to friends' and relatives' homes, pets, and emergency preparedness.
Overall, this is a stunning and accessible book that really gives you insight into the choices that parents make about their baby's environment, and how to make their world just that crucial bit better. I thought that the final section was a bit of a waste – the first four sections, where the author gives heaps of relevant and interesting information about eco-friendly choices are much more valuable. This would be a brilliant book for the eco-friendly mum-to-be in your life – and if you're a parent concerned about your eco footprint, it's recommended reading.
