1. Change Your Ideas On Nappies.

Okay, in a perfect world we'd all be putting our babes in reusable nappies (and doing even more loads of washing than we already are), but realistically for most of us, that's just not going to happen. Instead of thinking, "I can't do that, so I can't do anything," think again. It's worth checking for local reusable nappy laundering services: if you're worried about the cost, rest assured that compared to the cost of buying disposables week after week after emergency-trip-out-at-midnight-because-the-baby's-just-pooed-in-his-last-nappy… well, put it this way, the price begins to look quite reasonable. AND the companies come to you – think 'Tesco Direct', the nappy version.

Unfortunately, it's also true that not every area has a local nappy laundering company. After days of scouring the internet for any information on it, I discovered that my fine plans for reusable nappies were in tatters. No one (and frankly, I can't entirely blame them) was willing to take away smelly nappies and replace them with beautiful, freshly laundered ones. Failing this, there's still another option that is at least green around the edges – biodegradable disposable nappies. Not, I grant you, as great for the environment as reusable, but a darn sight more practical. 'Nature' nappies are not only mostly biodegradable, but also (and this is important) widely available in shops like Boots and Mothercare – places you'll be visiting anyway. What's more, they are not (as you are no doubt suspecting) extortionately expensive. They're a similar price to name brand nappies, and work just as well.

2. Don't Dress Your Child In White.

Huh? What difference can this possibly make to the environment? One word: washing. Getting white clothes clean requires putting the washing machine on at a higher temperature, and using more electricity. Dress your kid in red, help the earth, and save some money too. Who'd have thought it could be that simple?

3. There's No Need For Every Day To Be Bath Day.

It's amazing, but you'll discover that kids don't die if you don't make them wet every night. I know children have the ability to find every possible bit of dirt, but flannels and soap and a quick all over sponge down will keep them acceptably clean even without a bath. And yes, I too have read all the parenting books that insist that a consistent bedtime routine is absolutely necessary, but in fact you can manage to keep most things consistent. Getting into pyjamas, bedtime story, milk and teeth cleaning can all happen. Some nights they'll be preceded by bath time and some nights they won't. Children are more adaptable than you think.

4. Pick Your Own Fruit.

Growing your own produce is being tipped as The Way to make a difference in your eating habits. Well, nice as that might be (I know people who do it, and it is tasty), most of us just don't have the time or energy (or in my case, the ability to keep anything in the plant world alive) to do this. But there are still local farms around that offer the opportunity to pick your own fruit; and in August/September time, blackberries are out there growing for free! Yes, it's more time consuming than just buying a load of strawberries or apples from the supermarket, and probably not something that you could do every week, but from time to time take the children along and make a game of it. Most kids enjoy picking fruit, especially when there's the opportunity to put it straight into their mouths, as well as into the container. It's cheap, it's fun – and it's less hassle than trying to remember to water every day and then looking sadly at your demoralised raspberry bushes and wondering why they never seem to produce anything.

5. Let's Talk Clothing.

I know the babygrow in Next is gorgeous, and the one in Baby Gap is just your tot's colour, but honestly? Is your child going to be deprived if he's not Toddler of the Year at the 2010 fashion show? The truth is, small children (and not-so-small ones, if they'd but admit it) are not going to have their childhood blighted by wearing (oh, the shame!) second-hand clothes. Look in charity shops; swap with friends whose children are different ages. Children's clothing is not a competition. By the time your daughter's climbed a couple of trees in those nice new trousers, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference, no matter what label they started with. You're not being cheap, you're being green. Embrace it!