10 Great Green Baby Gifts
Author: Virginia Ginsburg

Our babies deserve luxury, even at their young age. Their
innocence and the joy they bring is worthy of the best
comfort that we could offer. We like buying and giving out
gifts for them. Gifts that we know are well appreciated
through their angelic smiles and happy gurgles. However,
their luxury should not compromise the environment.
Consider the following ideas when buying or giving a baby
gift.

Gifts for Dressing Up

Organic cotton and organic bamboo fibers not only save the
earth, but also save one's skin from chemical additives
that can cause irritation and allergies. Baby skin is far
more sensitive than adults', making organic choices far
preferable to other fabrics.

For diapers, the question is: which is greener - disposable
or cloth? Disposables tend to be unfriendly to the
environment as it takes 200 - 500 years to decompose. Cloth
diapers require more energy since they require serious
chemical processing to make them re-usable. A good solution
is to look for more biodegradable diapers. One such diaper
is gDiapers, which are breathable with plastic-free
flushable refills to keep babies dry and avoid diaper rash.

Tub-Time Gifts

Skin care is also of utmost importance. There are very few
regulations placed on bath products, and most are filled
with undesirable chemicals for both the environment for
your skin. Chemical preservatives that you have to watch
out for are Parabens. Check baby shampoo, toothpaste and
gels from these chemicals, as they tend to irritate
sensitive skin. Rather than picking just any bath product,
look for natural cleansers that have been cleared by one of
several reliable environmental organizations. One great
inexpensive but effective ingredient is the Baking Soda.

The Playful Baby

Lots of toys today contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) often
called 'vinyl' which is the second-most commonly used
plastic in the world. It is also the most harmful to the
environment and can potentially harm your baby, as well.
During sucking or chewing, vinyl softeners can leak into
the baby's mouth. As a result, PVC baby toys and teethers
have recently been banned from the market by some
governments.

As an alternative, try cloth or wooden toys with non-toxic
finishes, especially those that encourage creativity and
imagination. As toxins are doubled indoors than outdoors,
playing outside is also one of the best experiences for
your baby, and it's free!

Gifts for a Healthy Home

A new and beautiful nursery does not necessarily mean a
safe one. Health risks may rest on the traditional
furniture, paints and fabrics, all of which may have
chemicals and toxins in them. Instead look for a natural
wood crib with non-toxic finish, an organic crib mattress
made of certified organic materials and fabrics, organic
crib bedding for the baby's sensitive skin, hardwood or
cork flooring instead of carpets and non-PVC painting and
finishes.

The Baby Traveler

Baby travelers need extra equipment. Although some plastic
is better than others, glass is still the best option when
it comes to transporting foods and liquids in an
environmentally-safe manner. One serious concern with
plastic baby bottles is the presence of Bisphenol-A (BPA)
which have been found to leach after repeated use. To avoid
the presence of bacteria in feeding bottles, always check
them for scratches, chips and cracks, especially on the
nipples. Other than glass, one good alternative is to use
#5 plastic bottle or silicone

Bedtime Gifts

The crib is practically the baby's home. As parents, we
know that babies want to sleep and sleep and sleep some
more. Hence, it has to not just be comfortable, but safe,
as well. One great step to greening your baby's home is to
have a sustainable natural wood crib and organic mattress
inside an uncarpeted nursery. Avoid Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOC) paint and finishes as they release low
level of toxic emissions into the air even after years of
application.

Accessories for the Baby

Some of the best gifts for babies are those that are both
useful and eco-friendly. For example, introduce your friend
to organic and biodegradable diapers, bamboo onesies, and
all of the other necessities that they will go through like
mad in the first few years of life.

Who could forget baby wipes? And baby wash! And diaper rash
ointment! Parents will both appreciate these gifts and,
even better, they will actually use them!

So if you are considering giving a baby gift, use the
opportunity to promote green products; leave a legacy that
you can pass on to the future generations. .

The Gift of Love

There can never be a better gift than for the whole family
to provide a healthy, loving and caring home. This is a
priceless gift that becomes more valuable as the baby grows
into a well-rounded person ready to face the world with
that special consciousness and challenge to care for the
earth and his environment.


About the Author:

Virginia Ginsburg writes about sustainable products, green
living, and her quest for a socially-conscious lifestyle.
She is founder of Green Baby Gifts
(http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com), which offers
beautifully-wrapped baby gifts made of bamboo fiber and
packaged in completely recycled and recyclable packaging.