Family Care

GREEN BABY, TODDLER AND CHILD

We are living at a time when environm entally conscious parenting
FCO Office
U of T Family Care Office
is more possible then ever.
214 College St.
Dr. Alan Green, author of Raising Baby Green Koffler Student Services Centre
What is Green ? (416) 978-0951
The word green encompasses a way of living in which individuals and family.care@utoronto.ca
organizations consciously strive to do things each day that, in seemingly www.familycare.utoronto.ca
small but incremental steps, improve the quality of our environment. As
parents, it is important to understand how the environment affects our
children and how raising our children affects the environment. With this Diaper Resources:
in mind, we can do as little or as much as we wish on the green front. Comfy Cotton Diaper Service
Living green does not require a revolution in our lifestyles: every little act www.comfycotton.ca
is a contribution!
ABC Diaper Service
Below are a few tips to consider when parenting green: (416) 429 8459

Select the right diaper Teddy Bear Diaper Service

There are several diaper options available to parents. Should you (416) 798 - 2327
choose the conventional diaper, do know that many Toronto www.seventhgeneration.com/diap
municipalities now let you put disposable diapers in the green bin. Also, ers
there are companies that will pick up, deliver and recycle disposable Second-hand Online
diapers. Some green companies make disposable diapers that are resources:
chlorine and latex free. Cotton diapers can be reused and do not contain Craigslist is a very popular
harsh chemicals. These are available to buy or, if you prefer, you can website that offers both free items
make your own. Several GTA-based companies will deliver clean, (under the free section) as well
sanitized cotton diapers and remove your soiled ones on a weekly as items up for sale. Check out
basis. There are also biodegradable diapers and diaper liners, which are the baby & kids section in
not reusable but can be flushed down the toilet and will break down particular.
within 4 months, posing less harm to the environment. These are great
alternative but their environmental convenience does come at a higher http://toronto.craigslist.org
price!
Similar sites include:
Avoid plastic baby bottles that contain BPA
Canada became the first country to label BPA a dangerous substance, www.Kijiji.ca &
and has banned the use of BPA in baby bottles. BPA is a chemical www.usedtoronto.com
found in many plastics, but can be harmful, especially to babies. Used
or older bottles may still contain this substance so try using glass There are also online networking
bottles, or check the recycling symbol on your plastic bottle. If it contains groups that facilitate the
the number 1, 2, 4, or 5, it is probably safe. Do the same with plastic exchange of FREE things
toys, sippy cups, and food containers. between people in Toronto.

Use plain, unscented soaps and baby oils for bathing Email them for membership:
Soaps with the fewest ingredients are less likely to have chemicals that
can irritate your childs skin. Look for products that say fragrance free http://freecycle.org
or phthalate-free. You can also make your own bubble bath by
combining phthalate-free baby shampoo, glycerine, and water. There Free4KidsTOreuse (yahoo group)
are many health food stores that carry natural soaps made solely from
natural ingredients and some even come free of packaging. Eating Green:

Choose natural alternatives to conventional products

Instead of buying baby wipes, use natural cotton wool with water. These
contain fewer chemicals and come with less waste. You can also make
some of your own toys, like play dough. A home-made version is easy,
inexpensive and organic. Refer to the back for a complete recipe.
www.foodshare.net
Make your own baby food
This can be quick and easy. There are several reliable books and web
Centre for Women & Trans
sites that offer recipes and simple tips for making baby food. Check People
with the Family Care Office as we hold annual workshops on this topic. University of Toronto
Find specialty stores that offer organic childcare products 563 Spadina Ave, Room 100
North Borden Building
Specialty boutiques can be expensive and may thus not be an option
(416) 978 8201
for everyone. However, they do carry products in different price ranges
including organic clothing and bedding, baby carriers/slings, as well womenscentre.sa.utoronto.ca
as many other eco-friendly products. Grassroots, diaper-eez and Baby
on the Hip are just some of the many eco-friendly boutiques in Toronto. For a list of farmers markets in
Toronto check out the Citys
website: www.toronto.ca
 EDIBLE PLAY-DOUGH RECIPE
Re-use clothing, toys, equipment, etc.
Babies and young children grow so fast that buying clothes for them can
4 Tablespoons of white flour
be expensive. Second-hand gear is both an economically and
2 Tablespoons of salt
environmentally sustainable option. There are many second-hand
childrens specialty shops in the city as well as great web sites that allow 2 Tablespoons of water
for the exchange of pre-loved goods be they for a fee or for free. You 1 Dropper-full of vegetable oil
can also organize your own clothing swap with friends or neighbours to
Food Coloring (Preferably natural.
trade clothes that you are no longer using. The Family Resource Centre
You can make your own with fruits,
supports a childrens clothing exchange while the Family Care Office
veggies, leaves, etc. or add a
(FCO) offers a periodic maternity clothing exchange. The FCO also has
package of Koolaid)
lists of free and second-hand resources available in the GTA.

Please note, however, under Canadian law you cannot import, sell, or Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
Mix water and food coloring in
even give away products that do not meet the requirements of The
second bowl. Add the colored water
Hazardous Products Act. For a detailed list of childrens products that
to the dry mix slowly while mixing
have been deemed unfit for re-use contact Health Canada or visit
with a wooden spoon. When all the
their website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca.
water is absorbed, knead the dough
When painting walls, use paints that say low or zero VOCs with your hands until the mixture
VOCs are harmful vapours that are released into the air while paint reaches the desired consistency.
dries and can linger in your home long after the paint has dried causing Store in an air-tight container in the
fridge when not in use. Dough lasts
skin and eye irritation, headaches, and breathing problems. Children
a few days, till it starts to dry out.
may be especially susceptible to the effects of VOCs.
Online Resources:
Eat well! Support local food and organic agriculture
Perhaps the easiest way to incorporate green into our lives is through
eating green. And this does not only mean less meat and more veggies! www.greenlivingonline.com
Consider choosing organic food that does not use pesticides and
www.ec.gc.ca/education
herbicides in its production. There are many shops, including some big-
name grocery stores that now carry competitively priced organic
www.greenfootsteps.com
produce. As for local food, it is fresh and local! This means it travels a
shorter distance to your home. When shopping for local produce look
http://greenlivingideas.com
out for food marked with the Foodland Ontario logo.
Specialty Baby Stores carrying
Food Shares Good Food Box is a convenient and eco-friendly way to
eco-friendly products and/or
shop for local and/or organic food on campus. Boxes are delivered on a
diapers:
bi-weekly schedule to Student Family Housing on Charles as well as U
of Ts Womens Centre but there may be other drop-off locations closer
Baby on the Hip
to you. In the spring/summer months, support local farmers by visiting a
969 Queen St East
farmers market nearest you. And dont forget to bring your child(ren)!
(416) 465-4141
Books for More Information About Green Living www.babyonthehip.ca

Diaper-Eez
Raising Baby Green: The Earth Friendly Guide to Pregnancy,
2309 Blooor Street W
Childbirth, and Baby Care. Greene, Alan, M.D. 2007.
(416)762-5811
www.diaper-eez.com
Written by a paediatrician, this book offers parents advice on how to
make healthy green choices. From feeding your baby the best foods
Grassroots
available, to decorating the nursery in eco-friendly ways to using
medicines wisely, Raising Baby Green is packed with information! www.grassrootsstore.com

408 Bloor St West (Annex)

Holistic Parenting: Raising Children to a New Physical, Emotional,
(416) 944-1993
and Spiritual Well-Being. Wiese Sneyd, Lynn. 2000.
372 Danforth Ave (at Chester)
This thought-provoking book tackles green issues from a holistic,
(416) 466-2841
alternative medicine perspective. Chapter topics include Environmental
Concerns, Homeopathy, Eating Well in spite of Our Food, etc.
Organic Lifestyle
All books are available at the Family Care Office. 87 Avenue Rd #260
(416) 921-7317

Baby Food websites:

www.wholesomebabyfood.com

www.kidsorganics.com

June 2011