Hi
Being the token greeny in my antenatal group, I said I would get some tips for the rest of the guys on how to be green with a baby and would love any top tips anyone has for us! Obviously there's nappies and reusable wipes ( or even the Co op bio degrabale wipes) - but what else should we do?
Thanks

Breastfeeding! Loads more green than formula.
Second hand clothes and toys (recycling).
Walk everywhere with the sling/pram (also helps get you back in shape!).
Get your shopping delivered over the internet - this is also often LOTS easier than trying to go round the supermarket with your newborn!!
Turn your thermostat down - the recommended 18-20 degrees for a nursery is often a lot cooler than us central heating addicts have grown accustomed to. So stick a couple of grobag thermometers round your house and aim to keep everywhere at 20 (you can always wear a jumper!)
And have you noticed how most of those things will also save you money? Being green can be sooo great

Grow your own fruit and veg, then its organic and cheaper!

Find yourself a car with lower CO2 emissions.

Use organic bath/shower stuff and squirty soap. Chemical stuff takes a ridiculous number of years to break down.

Ecover washing/cleaning stuff. The dishwasher tablets are better than any other brands I've tried.

And a mooncup.

compost your waste food.

if you can't face growing your own veg (I couldn't!!), get an organic veg delivery from a local farm.

try and buy English foods that haven't travelled lots of airmiles.

buy reusable breast pads (they aren't quite as absorbent, but get more so with washing, and are LOADS more comfortable).

You can buy biodegradable wipes and disposable nappies if you can't face cloth nappies.

Don't change your baby's clothes every morning if they haven't puked/wet/pooed on them - it'll save you washing lots and lots of basically clean clothes.

use freecycle to get baby gear, and to get rid of it when outgrown.

if you can't grow your own, buy organic food-keeps pesticides out of the drinking water, for starters.

Cook your own food too, learn how to replace the overpackaged ready-made stuff. It's not as hard as it looks, tastes better too once you can do it YOUR way.

Look at ethical investments-don't they get a baby bond now?

One of the nice things about 'being green' is that it is actually a natural state of being and behaving, rather than the consumer/manuafacturer powered buy-process-buy-more fest that is currently seen as ordinary nowdays.

There is SO much you can do to get intouch with this again, especially with a new baby!

Loads of tips here already!

Try asking these types of questions before buying something, eg washing powder, clothes, food ...

Is this something i could make with my resources?
Would it be cheaper to make it?
Will it be more ethical to make it?
What are the enviromental affects of me buying and using this product V me making it myself?
Do i already have something similar?
Do i really need this?
How will it improve my life experience?

With washing powder, i never thought about making my own until fairly recently, i automatically bought it - Persil Non Bio. For Years! Now i make my own with a mixture of soapnuts/ecover liquid/soda crystals and ecover laundry bleach for whites, plus vinegar in the riser drawer. I have put my tumbler away and it comes out once a fortnight for one tumble of the underwear. Having said that, its not been out since before the winter holidays.

Yipee for mooncups!

Minimal plastic/themed toys - go for toys that teach about the wonder of the planet rather than the wonder of cbeebies...

Have fun, it IS fun!

clairemow -Why couldn't you face growing your own veg? There are lots of things you can grow by basically throwing seeds in compost in a pot and water every so often,honestly they do taste better

squidette - tell me more about mooncups! I had a look in our local green shop but haven't yet bought one - partly because having only had 4 periods in three years there's not really much need at the mo! But alas, when my 'baby days' are over they'll be back...
Are they comfy? Easy to use? Gross?! (I wash nappies, so you can gauge my concept of gross)

I hadnt even heard of mooncups before i joined mumsnet....

I bought one out of curiousity more than anything to co-incide with the time that i had my mirena coil removed (i had no need for any 'wares' during this time) and i didnt want to use oodles and oodles of tampax.

I had difficulties the first time i used it, but mainly due to panic that it would get lost or stuck. But i soon got the swing of things and for the second cycle i trimmed the tail a bit as my retrival methods were getting practised, the third cycle i cut it off totally and is much more comfy now.

Its not gross or messy - far from it. Its neat and clean. I wet it with warm water and its easy to insert - there all day and i empty it in the evening, tip contents down loo and rinse in warm water and back it goes til the morning. Its so simple.

In fact, its kind of a proud feeling, that its so tidy and well-collected - i even think 'yay, its mooncup time!'. Really...

Highly recommend

nikkie, I'm a bit lazy (but could get toddler to do digging...), and also plants tend to die in my house I'm afraid as I forget to do things like water them...!!

energy savings lightbulbs. You can get ones now that are 'normal' shaped, and of a similar brightness to the ordinary ones. Get them on the internet and they're great value. There's a site that's doing a subsidised offer. Give me a min and I'll find it...

Bugger, can't find it anywhere. I'll have a look in the garage tomorrow for the receipt, if you're interested.

Just try doing some lettuce, I remember to sort my plants out if they will feed me

All you need is a window box put some compost in and sprinkle some lettuce seeds, keep it watered and thats about it!
Or peas, LO could eat them straight from the plant!

You may be able to get some free if you are on benefits/WFTC?

In the observer mag today there is a whole article on it! I have no idea how to do a link - sorry. Good luck with your search.

Use your tumble dryer for the minimum time possible just to soften the clothes or not at all.

Use reusable bags at the supermarket.

I really meant to use reusable nappies with ds1, i bought a set but never used them as I didn't have a laundry system set up to cope with them and my brain couldn't handle working it out after he was born. If I ever do it again i fully intend to do it but will set up my laundry system first.

I also used baby wipes but wouldn't do it again, or maybe only when out. They're so full of chemicals and they get wiped on your baby so many times a day. I think they smell vile in general. Maybe ripped up bits of towelling with water whilst at home.

I like this thread as climate change is really scaring me at the moment. I want my children and grandchildren to have a planet left to save.

ALthough I never think of myself as green, I feel a bit heartened by this thread as I do some green things .

You can also teach a preschooler about being green eg why you turn off the tap when brushing teeth and soaping hands. They can carry the scraps to the compost etc

Thank you all - lots of great ideas here that I plan to share. If anyone else has any more, please do - our planet needs it!
And yes, on the subject of moon cup's - their sales must be going through the roof!

My dds told the bemused nanny that they were "saving the fishes" when turning off the tap while brushing teeth, and they vie to be the one to "save the planet" (totally turn off the tv) when it's time to eat the evening meal.

lots of good ideas here

am pmsl at mooncup getting "lost" though. uh...where?

re plants. easy stuff you can grow with kids includes

mustard and cress (well duh). but you can do "hair", names etc
potatoes
mushrooms
courgettes

all of these grow splendidly in a container.

Ok the only thing I can think of to add is grow flowers. Its is easy as wee, but flowers are farmed really unpleasently.

And teach kids to cook/mend etc so that they have the make and mend mentality, so they don't feel they have to buy stuff cos they don't know how it fits together.

It's depends on where you live, and the children's age, but consider joining a local outdoor attraction as a member-usually you only need to make 3-5 visits in the course of the year to make it worthwhile for the cost, and you will really get to know and make the most of somewhere nearby instead of being tempted to make long journeys for outings all the time. They often hold special events for kids and you may get a newsletter.

Try a new place each year, and invite your friends along for meet-ups.

For example, try the local wildlife trusts, zoo, RSPB, Kew Gardens (brill for babes on up if you can get there), Barnes Wetlands Centre, rare breeds farm, stately homes, Friends of x Park. Council websites seem to be good sources too.

Tha main advantage is your child will learn about nature and why it's worth looking after it with all the day-to-day household chores!