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'Raising Baby Green'

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[January 07, 2008]  "Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care." Alan Greene, M.D., with Jeanette Pavini and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo, Jossey-Bass, 2007, 306 pages.

Review by
Richard Sumrall

One important viewpoint within the green revolution is the "green baby movement." In his new book, "Raising Baby Green," pediatrician and green advocate Dr. Alan Greene writes, "I've been a champion and early pioneer in the green baby movement, joining with other pediatricians and professionals … who want to provide healthier food, more effective medicine, and safer everyday products that have no known harm for babies."

What does a "green baby" mean to parents and expectant mothers? It begins with the book's definition of the word "green." Basically the word is used to represent "a way of living in which we strive, with conscious awareness, to do things each day to … improve the quality of our environment by preserving forests, cleaning air, husbanding soil, protecting wildlife, valuing dwindling resources, and maintain our climate and our planet's crucial resources." It is this belief that Greene applies to the green baby philosophy and every part of a baby's surroundings -- the womb, the labor, the delivery room, the nursery and the important rooms in the entire house.

"The Womb, the Labor, and the Delivery Room"

What's the greatest room on the planet? According to Greene, it's the womb. The womb is a "warm and comforting place … it supplies with natural efficiency the food, water, oxygen, hormones, vitamins, and minerals … needed by every body." The nutrients and proteins pass from mother to baby through the umbilical cord; you can take advantage of this to enrich your baby's prebirth health by carefully selecting the right organic foods and healthy beverages to consume.

Since the labor and delivery room is the location of your baby's first breaths, parents should consider developing a birth plan. A birth plan helps the expectant parents choose the best options for where the baby will be delivered, the members of the health care provider team, the method of delivery (natural, medicated, etc.), the delivery specifications and the baby's first meal.

One growing trend is the decision to give birth at a free-standing birthing center. These facilities offer services for the mother that fall between the complete medical environment of a hospital and the nonmedical environment of home birthing. These birthing centers are more accommodating to green delivery options and techniques and make the comfort of the expectant mother their top priority. Couples looking at birthing centers should also consider factors such as state licensing compliance, health insurance coverage and the potential for medical emergencies.

"The Nursery, the Kitchen, and the Bathroom"

When you bring your newborn baby home, you will begin spending most of your time in three distinct areas -- the nursery, kitchen and bathroom.

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A green nursery is a room where careful consideration has been given to the composition of the construction materials, especially paint, wall coverings, flooring, furniture and bedding. A well-thought-out nursery will have green products and materials that are free from toxic substances and emissions, conserve natural resources and use recycled materials that are made to last.

The impact of a green kitchen on a baby's health is almost immeasurable. According to Greene, "Every bite of food you and your baby take is an investment in your bodies' future." This means that Mom's diet is equally important, especially if the baby is being breast-fed. A green diet includes the consumption of organic foods, milks, baby formulas, cereals and juices.

Don't forget the most important part of the green kitchen -- pure, clean water. Foods, formulas, cleaning and bathing will all be affected by clean water.

The bathroom should be adequately supplied with green products for body care, medicine, water purity and cleaners. As Greene points out, a new baby in the house means that "the number of cleansing and soothing products in your bathroom will expand dramatically."

Keeping the baby clean through natural methods is a good example of how to practice good health and hygiene. Since a baby's skin is very permeable and sensitive, they usually may not need a complete daily bath, may not need numerous washings with soaps, may not need constant applications of diaper lotions and may not need repeated dousing with baby talc powder. These prudent measures may also reduce the need for an overstocked medicine cabinet.

Many natural home remedies work as well as their commercially manufactured counterparts. A good example is diaper rash. According to Greene, a good remedy is to expose the baby's bottom to fresh air during diaper-free time and frequently change the diaper to keep the skin dry.

Maintaining a clean, sanitary bathroom is essential to a baby's health. Commercial cleaners that contain phosphates and residues can be replaced by natural, less toxic cleaning agents. Some examples include isopropyl alcohol as a disinfectant, lemon juice as a porcelain and glass cleaner, borax and lemon juice as a toilet bowl cleaner, and baking soda as a tub and tile cleaner.

"Raising Baby Green" is an excellent guide for expectant parents who are seeking a more natural and less chemically intrusive approach to their baby's health. In the introduction, Dr. Greene states, "Raising Baby Green is … a guide for parents to the techniques, foods, and new kinds of baby care products, equipment, furniture, and toys that are safer for babies and promote a sustainable environment." This book is recommended to everyone looking to raise his or her child in a healthy, natural manner that helps reduce our environmental impact on planet Earth.

[Text from file received from Richard Sumrall, Lincoln Public Library District]

 

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