I applaud all of you parents and caregivers who are able to use nothing but cloth diapers. I wasn’t so dedicated. When I wasn’t at home, I brought along disposable diapers. Of course, I always tried to choose brands that were not only safe for my baby but also kinder to the environment.
At home, I used cloth baby wipes when changing diapers. But when I was out and about, I found disposable baby wipes so much more convenient. I really tried to use nothing but cloth wipes and diapers but it was causing more stress than I was willing to handle. Plus, disposable wipes are great for wiping hands, faces and car seats too. I still use them now even though both of my kids are well out of diapers.
Only the safest and most natural products should be applied to your baby’s skin. This includes diaper rash creams and balms. Some people swear by creams, others by ointments and others by balms. I have included a selection of each. These products are in no particular order and none have an EWG rating of more than 1 (meaning they are super safe and natural). I always used California Baby Diaper Rash Cream and Motherlove Diaper Rash & Thrush Relief with my kids and found both really effective (although I would not recommend California Baby for open cuts because it can burn). I used The Honest Company Healing Balm in lieu of petroleum jelly for things like lubricating thermometers.
For me, New Years Day is a time to think about how my life has changed and what my priorities and goals have become. Then I try to work toward changing how I do things so that I meet my goals. In other words, I try to live life as simply as possible and not waste time on things that really don’t matter to me. This list of ways to be a green parent looks somewhat different than it would have when I first started all of this ten years ago. I think it is more manageable, less product focused, and more affordable.
Last year, I shared a post with ten non-toxic men’s colognes for Father’s Day. Since publishing that post, I have removed a couple of the colognes after discovering they weren’t so natural after all. But I have also discovered four new options, thanks to my readers. You can find these all-natural, non-toxic men’s colognes listed below. I realize that it’s probably a little late to get any of these for Christmas (unless you have Amazon prime) but maybe you know a special guy with a birthday coming up (like my husband). And please continue to let me know if you come across any other great finds.
Sleeping on your side (SOS) is the best sleep position for pregnant women – especially your left side. The use of a pregnancy or body pillow helps to make this position more comfortable. I have compiled a list of some great options for pregnancy pillows. And because you should try to avoid synthetic materials and… Read More
Although everyone needs sleep to function well, sleep is especially important for pregnant women. One poll found that more than 75% of women slept worse during pregnancy. Many pregnant women suffer from body pains, heartburn, vivid dreams, sleep apnea, nasal congestion, restless legs and insomnia. A lack of sleep can lead to depression and a decreased… Read More
Whether you suffer from a touch of “morning” sickness or you can’t hold anything down at all, you are probably desperate for some relief. Around 80% of pregnant women experience some sort of morning sickness. I was one of the unlucky few that was hit hard with severe morning sickness (also known as hyperemesis gravidarum).… Read More
I am going to get a little personal now. I love menstrual cups. They seriously changed my life. In my teenage and young adult years, I was a devoted tampon user. That’s just what you were supposed to use. They were discreet and less messy than a pad. But tampons can lead to all sorts… Read More
The vagina (or hoo-ha as my two-year-old calls it) is not a part of the body that should be ignored. In my opinion, if you are going to use a natural product anywhere in or on your body, that should be priority number one. Menstrual cups are absolutely amazing (read more here about why you… Read More
