Green Life Tips

Category: Baby

Make the best choices for feeding your baby

Shopping for baby-feeding supplies can be a daunting task. With so many choices on the market, it's often hard to distinguish which ones are best.

Which is healthier: Liquid or powdered formula? Should you choose plastic bottles or glass? For answers to these questions and more, check out the Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles and Formula.

The guide is offered by the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit, non-partisan watchdog organization.

Category: Baby

Make your own baby food

One way to be sure your baby gets the best, freshest food available is to make your own at home. Don't be intimidated if you're not a regular cook. Making baby food can be as simple as steaming and mashing fruits and vegetables.

To get started, check out wholesomebabyfood.com for recipes and ideas, including homemade apple sauce, cereal and meat dishes. The site also gives guidelines on the appropriate ages to introduce certain foods.

Category: Baby

Try cloth baby wipes instead of disposables

Use cloth baby wipes instead of disposable ones. Because disposable baby wipes are neither compostable nor recyclable, millions of them end up in landfills every year. By using cloth wipes, you can do your part to reduce waste, while saving hundreds of dollars annually.

Simple terry wash cloths will do, but you can pamper baby's bottom with organic Egyptian cotton, flannel and bamboo varieties, too.

Many baby stores sell wipe solution, but you can make your own at home, too. For recipes, visit NaturalBirthandBabyCare.com.

Category: Baby

Try reusable nursing pads for breast-feeding

If you are expecting a baby and plan to breast feed, consider using reusable nursing pads instead of disposable ones.

Reusable pads are thicker than disposable ones and are made of cloth, so you can wash them with your laundry. With reusable pads, you'll not only reduce waste, but end up spending far less in the long run.

Category: Baby

Use tea tree oil to naturally disinfect diapers

To naturally disinfect cloth diapers and other baby items, add a few drops of tea tree oil to the washer when doing laundry.

Category: Baby

Get reviews on cloth diapering products

If you're considering going the cloth-diaper route with your baby, check out Diaperpin.com, which offers reviews on dozens of products, including cloth diapers, cloth wipes, baby carriers and many more. The reviews come from real parents who use the products. The site also offers tips for using many of the products.

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Category: Baby

Are cloth diapers more eco-friendly than disposables?

Cloth diapers have come a long way over the years, with many on the market just as simple to use as disposable diapers. The jury is still out on whether cloth is actually more eco-friendly than disposable, especially now that there are biodegradeable disposable diapers on the market. To see the pros and cons, check out the list on laboroflove.com.