A Green Environment for Your New Baby

Posted under environment by Ellen Valentine, CNC

A new baby is a beautiful and awe-inspiring blessing to any family. From the warm, safe and very recognizable environment of moms womb, what environment, what cocoon will provide your baby safety from here on out?

Unless you specify during pregnancy that your baby will be wrapped in only the safest and best 100% cotton organic materials possible you will receive lots of gifts in blankets and crib materials that will not be supportive for newborn health. Let people know early on your preferences for organic and green. This will ensure safe and cozy crib bedding for your sweet baby. Why cotton and why organic?

Certain clothes, especially permanent press, wrinkle free and water resilient fabrics are dipped or sprayed in formaldehyde, which is also used as embalming fluid. Many fabrics on sofas, chairs and carpets are preserved with harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde. Formaldehyde has some alias names to look for: Formalin, Methanal, Methyl aldehyde, Methylene oxide, Morbicid acid and Oxymethylene.

In any home, and especially next to the baby in the crib or anywhere in nursery decor, the materials will have a direct impact on the health and long term safety of a small child. Remember that when formaldehyde or other fabric-preservatives are in conjunction with synthetic materials, or even on top of so-called natural materials derived from plants that are pesticide sprayed, you have the ingredients for a toxic soup.

Certain sensitivities are actually meant to be a warning signal that something is not right, to look at what is happening and make changes for the better. Constant contact with certain materials can spark allergies or sensitivities in the very young or old. An allergic reaction can appear as benign as a slight skin rash, or unbearable dermatitis. Allergies can also come on unexpectedly as a life threatening asthma attack or anaphylactic shock. Unexplained and unsuspected symptoms are not how you want your infant to start life.

The best way to insure a healthy environment for the entire home, starting with baby is fine though, is to buy 100% cotton, organic and from a reputable company. There are many listed in the green directories, online and most search engines.

The best way to insure a healthy environment for the entire home, starting with baby is fine though, is to buy 100% cotton, organic and from a reputable company. There are many listed in the green directories, online and most search engines.

What to Do If You Suspect Allergies?

First of all you must stop all contact with the irritant whether it is a food, a fabric, an environmental contaminant such as air, water, etc. That fact is most crucial when it comes to small children and older seniors. It is known in the healing community that a little goes a long way with both the old and the young, whether it is good or bad.

The body is equipped with digestive juice factories. Some are located in the mouth, some in the stomach, some juices that digest travel from the liver and pancreas through the hepatopancreatic duct to supply digestive help in the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.

When the body is depleted of the juices it needs to digest, even proteins which could be building blocks, become instead boulders the body simply carries along until it has the capacity to rid itself of what has become a liability. At this crucial point 75% - 80% of all foods ingested should be raw or lightly cooked.

Parents have the sacred responsibility to ensure that the entire family, and especially the child indicating danger signs, eats foods that are agreeable for their particular body type or blood type, and eat lightly steamed vegetables or fruits. In addition, having a good naturopath or nutritional counselor will create the support the parent needs to do the right thing for children who struggle with health.

Creating Green Environments is going to be our best ally for the future. Begin small and add something healthy and organic to your home each month. Eating whole and natural creates whole Human Beings. Expectant parents should begin now. Start by throwing out dead foods and replace them one by one with live food. Get older children involved in the making-home-green process. As they grow they will carry good habits forward.

Each baby is a new beginning for a family. Make it a fresh start for new and healthy resolutions for your sweet family. Look for whole and green everywhere. Live for the next generations to ensure they also have a lush green earth to enjoy.

Ellen Valentine is a nutritionist and naturopath dedicated to organic living. Organics today, a Green Earth tomorrow Wholeness is Wellness. Organics today, a Green Earth tomorrow