Hey, Moms and Dads (and grandparents, too), it may be easy to come up with reasons not to “green diaper” your baby, but this YouTube video (thanks WTAE-TV Pittsburgh) may get you pumped to try your hand at it.  

Did you know that alternatives to disposable diapers can actually save you money? Maybe even lots of money over the years. Did you know that YOU single-handedly can make a dent in saving the Earth (and precious resources) for future generations by incorporating green diapering into your active lifestyle–even opting for cloth or green alternatives occasionally can make a big difference!

On your mark. Get ready. Get set. Go get eco-friendly diapering inspired!

Whenever I smell Ivory soap or Johnson’s baby soap, I’m immediately brought back to my childhood.  Those soaps went together with bath time as much as the bath water.  As much as a love those product scents, times have changed.  Bathtime in my household also includes a selection of organic baby bath products.  I’m a fan of Mustela and California Baby products. 

Mustela makes a complete line of hypoallergenic baby products, including shampoo that is safe for even the youngest skin.  What I like about Mustela is the manufacturer’s keen attention to quality and safety standards and cosmetic vigiliance monitoring.  With recent news of lead in cosmetics like lipstick, the last thing I want to worry about is exposing my children to potentially harmful chemicals or hazards in shampoo.       

California Baby offers a wonderful selection of baby shampoo and bath products, all of which are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or DEA free, pure, and guaranteed free of pesticides or synthetic additives.  Shampoo evens comes in scented (like yummy lavendar) or scent-free options.   

Moms today are starting to take a close look at the ingredients in baby products, preferring natural and organic ingredients over difficult to pronounce, harsh lab created chemicals.  That’s a huge change from the days of my own childhood.  Knowing that I’m doing everything I can to limit my children’s exposure to chemicals is incredibly important–after all, I’m hoping that my own children will live long enough to tell their great-grandchildren all about the shampoos they used in childhood!

Looking for an alternative to disposable diapers (a.k.a. “sposies”), but not quite ready to dive into cloth?  Well, the happy medium might just be gDiapers.  Marketed as the flushable, Earth-friendly hybrid diaper, gDiapers are actually eco-friendly.  In a nutshell, unlike traditional disposable diapers, gDiapers aren’t harmful to the Earth.  They are eco-consciously designed to break down in a way that isn’t harmful to the Earth, meaning they circumvent the landfill issue. 

Oh, in case you’re wondering what I mean by landfill issue, you should know that it’s said to take up to 500 years (yikes!!!) for a disposable diaper to break down in a landfill.  Hey, if you didn’t know this, don’t feel bad.  Now you know!

The cool thing about gDiapers is that they involve a washable outer cover and a flushable inside.  This means comfort for both baby and the Earth!  You can click here to see the gDiapers video.

Whether you opt for cloth, disposables, something in between, like gDiapers, or a combination of options, it’s important to find a diapering solution that works for your baby, your family and your lifestyle.  Keep in mind, too, that just because you start with one type of diaper doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use that same style forever.  Personally, I’ve mixed up diapering options along the way–sometimes opting for cloth, and other times opting for leading alternatives, depending on my baby, baby’s age, and household pace–e.g., if I’m swamped or behind in laundry, I’m less likely to reach for a cloth diaper.

Now, it’s your turn.  How do you diaper your baby?  What do you think of Earth-friendly diapering alternatives?