Photo courtesy of Kai Kids

I’m currently expecting my third child and so far (even though I’m now in my third trimester) I haven’t done a thing to get ready for this baby!  But I can remember how much time and thought we put into organizing our supplies, gear and nursery when we were expecting our first!

Here are a few tips for new parents hoping to provide the healthiest and greenest start for their wee one:

• Borrow as much as you can. Hand-me-down clothing, highchairs, even cribs can help save a lot of money and a lot of energy and pollution too. Just make sure that second-hand gear passes current safety regulations.

• Buy organic and non-toxic: Going completely green can be costly and out of reach for many families. In time and with greater demand, prices will fall, but until they do, prioritize. Here’s where to spend your money:

1) Safe baby bottles, sippies and soothers
Look for Bisphenol-A free plastic, glass, stainless steel, silicone and natural rubber products.

2) Natural and organic skincare
Most conventional baby products are full of chemical fragrances, stabilizers and preservatives. These can enter a baby’s bloodstream through her skin and can disrupt her hormone systems. Spend your dollars on non-toxic, natural skincare products.

3) Bedding
Conventional cotton and synthetic bedding is treated with chemical flame retardants and fabric finishers which can off-gas. So choose organic cotton or bamboo blankets and crib sheets.  Buy a natural rubber or latex mattress if you can afford it.  A cheaper alternative is to have a custom futon made from 100% organic cotton.  At the very least, invest in an organic cotton mattress cover.

4) Clothing
Look for organic baby clothes, or put them on your gift registry. If budget is a concern, try to buy organic onesies: aim to make the first layer of clothing organic, then dress your baby in a conventional sleeper or outfit overtop. Or try hand-me-downs: after dozens of washes most of the chemical residues are washed away, and used clothing saves not only money, but the energy that would have been used to produce new items.

Do you have some good tips on how to get your home baby-ready? I’d love to hear them!

~Nancy

Nancy DeHart is a journalist and mother of two boys under four. She and her husband own Kai Kids, a Canadian online boutique specializing in ethically-made, eco-friendly clothing and accessories for babies, toddlers, new moms and moms-to-be at kaikids.com. She also writes a blog on her adventures in green parenting at blog.kaikids.com. You can follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/greenmum.