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Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care
In this illustrated and easy-to-use guide, noted pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene, a leading voice of the green baby movement, advises parents how to make healthy green choices for pregnancy, childbirth, and baby care—from feeding your baby the best food available to using medicines wisely. Consumer advocate Jeanette Pavini includes information for making smart choices and applying green principles to a whole new universe of products from zero-VOC paints for the nursery, to pure and gentle lotions for baby’s delicate skin, to the eco-friendly diapers now in the marketplace, as well as specific recommendations for hundreds of other products.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 3, 2008
I wasn't overly impressed by this book. That could be because I learned most of the info (organic food, natural cleaners, etc.) by osmosis from my mom when I was a "Green Kid" - way back before this Green Living Revolution.
Some things stunned me - like the extensive list of what a 'green mom' needs to take to the hospital with her. I thought back to my home birth and realized that we used some bathroom cleaner, olive oil, a shower curtain liner, and laundry soap (including a small amount of bleach). We had 2 bottles of hydrogen peroxide on hand in case we needed them also. Other than that, the things we used were already in our house, and went back into their daily use as soon as they were cleaned up.
And there you have the first step to 'greening' your lifestyle. What do you already have that you can use? Dr. Greene's book (cute word play in the title, huh?) had a lot of good information in it, especially for people who are just discovering how freaking saturated with chemicals baby items are (don't even get me started on crib mattresses!), but it seemed more like a "buy this new and expensive product" book than anything else.
Should you be concerned about air quality, organics, and all the rest with your kid? ABSOLUTELY. But there are other books out there that I have found much more helpful.
Some things stunned me - like the extensive list of what a 'green mom' needs to take to the hospital with her. I thought back to my home birth and realized that we used some bathroom cleaner, olive oil, a shower curtain liner, and laundry soap (including a small amount of bleach). We had 2 bottles of hydrogen peroxide on hand in case we needed them also. Other than that, the things we used were already in our house, and went back into their daily use as soon as they were cleaned up.
And there you have the first step to 'greening' your lifestyle. What do you already have that you can use? Dr. Greene's book (cute word play in the title, huh?) had a lot of good information in it, especially for people who are just discovering how freaking saturated with chemicals baby items are (don't even get me started on crib mattresses!), but it seemed more like a "buy this new and expensive product" book than anything else.
Should you be concerned about air quality, organics, and all the rest with your kid? ABSOLUTELY. But there are other books out there that I have found much more helpful.
May 28, 2008
Raising Baby Green was easy and quick to read and is a book I will keep around simply for the fact that Dr. Greene has put together an impressive resource guide of websites where one can find lots of information on greening one's life and home. I'm sure this book will be a great reference in the future when I'm looking to buy something, that being said, I had two problems with this book.
First, after about the second chapter this book starts to read like an advertisement to buy buy buy! For example, there is repeated references to bringing you own organic cotton sheets to wherever you give birth and using them to replace the sheets at the hospital/birthing center. Now call me pragmatic, but 300 count organic cotton sheets cost between $125-$175 for my bed, thus, these are not the ideal sheets TO GIVE BIRTH ON. They will be ruined and I know when I'm expecting a baby I don't generally have $175 dollars to throw away. Nor does he address the impracticality of packing home sheets covered in birth mess for washing.
While Dr. Green does repeatedly say you can do as little or as much greening as you like in your home, he really does seem to push for more. There comes a point when ripping up your current hardwoods floors which are perfectly good to put down new floors made from cork which is a renewable resource stops being green. If you gut your entire house to "remodel green" the question becomes, are you really being green? Or are you just buying into the latest fad and wasting valuable, usable resources?
This green baby guide seems to have bought into our consumer culture hook, line and sinker, which is the reason I was going to give it 4 stars, but I dropped that down to 3 stars when I ran into my second problem with this book: Mis-information.
On page 248 there is a section titled "How to Drive Green." Two of the suggestions given are changing your air filter (which he says will save you $130 in fuel economy) and filling your tank at night. Now if you google "10 gas saving myths" you will find several articles about, well, gas saving myths and both of these are on there. Neither filling up at night nor changing your air filter really increase you fuel economy.
Green goes on further to say that filling up at night, "decreases evaporation during pumping, so anything that escapes won't be cooked in to the ozone." So, those fumes I see/smell when I pump gas at night don't go into the ozone? Because it's night? So . . .where do they go? To the pub for a beer?
If Greene has mis-information about fuel economy in his book that can be disputed by a simple google search, it makes me wonder what else he got wrong.
First, after about the second chapter this book starts to read like an advertisement to buy buy buy! For example, there is repeated references to bringing you own organic cotton sheets to wherever you give birth and using them to replace the sheets at the hospital/birthing center. Now call me pragmatic, but 300 count organic cotton sheets cost between $125-$175 for my bed, thus, these are not the ideal sheets TO GIVE BIRTH ON. They will be ruined and I know when I'm expecting a baby I don't generally have $175 dollars to throw away. Nor does he address the impracticality of packing home sheets covered in birth mess for washing.
While Dr. Green does repeatedly say you can do as little or as much greening as you like in your home, he really does seem to push for more. There comes a point when ripping up your current hardwoods floors which are perfectly good to put down new floors made from cork which is a renewable resource stops being green. If you gut your entire house to "remodel green" the question becomes, are you really being green? Or are you just buying into the latest fad and wasting valuable, usable resources?
This green baby guide seems to have bought into our consumer culture hook, line and sinker, which is the reason I was going to give it 4 stars, but I dropped that down to 3 stars when I ran into my second problem with this book: Mis-information.
On page 248 there is a section titled "How to Drive Green." Two of the suggestions given are changing your air filter (which he says will save you $130 in fuel economy) and filling your tank at night. Now if you google "10 gas saving myths" you will find several articles about, well, gas saving myths and both of these are on there. Neither filling up at night nor changing your air filter really increase you fuel economy.
Green goes on further to say that filling up at night, "decreases evaporation during pumping, so anything that escapes won't be cooked in to the ozone." So, those fumes I see/smell when I pump gas at night don't go into the ozone? Because it's night? So . . .where do they go? To the pub for a beer?
If Greene has mis-information about fuel economy in his book that can be disputed by a simple google search, it makes me wonder what else he got wrong.
February 19, 2008
This is an invaluable book, not only for those who are pregnant or have small children, but for anyone interested in living a greener, healthier life. I've been eating organic food for several years now and made the switch to natural household cleaning products and natural and/or organic cosmetics within the past two years but this book still taught me a lot and is a wonderful reference book. I highly recommend it to everyone -- even if you only are willing to make a few of the changes you'll be healthier and will help contribute to a healthier planet.
April 4, 2008
Like everything else, this book is on a take and leave basis with me. I took the information I found useful and left what I thought was overkill or malarkey. If you're really looking into living organically, this may be a great resource for you; however, I'm at the baby step stage where I'll make certain changes but am not ready to make a complete overhaul just yet. Since being green is the "in thing" right now, you could find yourself shelling out a ton of money to make the switch. If you're crafty though, you could come up with very inexpensive ways to accomplish your green goals. I found many of the resources in the back of this book helpful.
December 30, 2008
I'm partway into this and LOVE it!
There are great ideas and a wonderful balance between health issues and other environmental issues. There are resources, studies, etc. It's well-researched and well-organized. I am pretty sure it has enough good tips that I will buy a copy at some point.
It would make a wonderful present for any parent or parent-to-be. It starts with changes to make during (or even before) pregnancy.
****
Whoo-hoo now I own a copy! Merry Christmas from Bether :-)
There are great ideas and a wonderful balance between health issues and other environmental issues. There are resources, studies, etc. It's well-researched and well-organized. I am pretty sure it has enough good tips that I will buy a copy at some point.
It would make a wonderful present for any parent or parent-to-be. It starts with changes to make during (or even before) pregnancy.
****
Whoo-hoo now I own a copy! Merry Christmas from Bether :-)
Read
June 26, 2009This book is full of useful lists that bzck up Dr. Greene's(love the name)
chapters about greening your pregnancy and your house after the baby arrives. He names products and brands that are safe and healthy. Directions for homemade products are also given. I recommend this book for any expecting parents or grandparents.
chapters about greening your pregnancy and your house after the baby arrives. He names products and brands that are safe and healthy. Directions for homemade products are also given. I recommend this book for any expecting parents or grandparents.
November 22, 2012
Not any more or less useful than other books along the same idea. Acquire less. Acquire used or buy non toxic. Make your own household cleaners (so easy). Use cloth diapers. Don't let the water run while you brush your teeth (no kidding).
Not a lot of new information but probably a good resource for families who are new to the sustainability movement.
Not a lot of new information but probably a good resource for families who are new to the sustainability movement.
December 18, 2008
In actuality, this was a great book, but I think it's probably best for people who are new to environmentalism or those who haven't already given thought to issues of sustainability and health as they relate to children.
August 8, 2019
This is a great reference for everyone trying to live an eco-friendly life, not just parents!
May 19, 2018
Read the book, I agree with the other 2 star reviews
October 9, 2019
A little dated, and mostly things anyone who has looked into green living before would know, but did learn a thing or two. Worth a good skim.
July 1, 2020
Güzel bir derleme olmuş. İçerisinde faydalı site adresleri mevcut ama doğa dostu tavsiyeler kısmına değinecek olursam çoğu günümüzde zaten bildiğimiz şeyler. İyi okumalar :)
August 17, 2020
Felt like more an overall primer on how to go green than baby specific.
A few solid good tips - like bring your own cleansers and creams in the baby bag for use at hospital.
A few solid good tips - like bring your own cleansers and creams in the baby bag for use at hospital.
March 25, 2014
Every time I have a new baby, I’m a bit of a new mum all over again. It seems like I should have at least learnt the basics after six babies, but the basics keep changing on me! The wealth of baby-related products and the methodologies are constantly being updated, while my responsibilities to my baby and to Allah I remain the same. Wait, that’s not true. My responsibilities grow as my knowledge-base grows, so while it’s great that I learned so much after having six babies, it certainly would have been nice from the start to have learned more about sustainable parenting and less about the latest parenting trends. Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care by Alan Greene is not only a great place to start understanding the immense impact one little bundle of joy can have on our entire shared environment, but it had plenty of new ideas for an old green-palmed mum like me.
Organics
I have always strived to be conscious of whether or not I am feeding my children organics, but I hadn’t fully considered the exposure to chemicals via what I put on my babies or their beds, which they mouth and suck on more than food in some stages! As Greene explains, baby sleeps up to sixteen hours a day and are almost always clothed, but the fabrics you buy for baby have not undergone the same regulated restrictions as food - actually there is good reason new clothes and bedding are suggested to be washed before using, they are made with and tainted with many chemicals, even potentially toxic ones. While I always considered organic clothing to be too expensive and maybe even extravagant, I now have a better understanding of its efficiency and would prefer to gift friends pricey organic clothing rather than anything else - except maybe fair trade chocolates for mum.
Nappies
Greene thoroughly covers issues regarding nappies, referring to current studies and for those of us, like me, who are trapped somewhere between the guilt of wishing to use cloth nappies and actually using landfill-nappies (as Greene points out, they are not truly disposable since they stick around forever!), there are some alternatives available: eco-nappies, made with less toxins and more sustainability or disposable cloth liners, which can be flushed thereby making cloth diapers easier to clean and carry. With a new, less toxic detergent on hand, Green has inspired me, and we are back in the cloth!
Labour and Delivery
The section on eco-birthing was especially interesting to me as I have birthed in several different environments, both home and hospitals. Even though I have home-birthed four of my children, they were all in different homes. In the Labour and Delivery Room section of the book as well as the Whole Home section, Green gives plenty of areas to consider when creating a safer home environment for our babies. He also details the larger impact of hospital births, offering alternative suggestions for a “carbon neutral delivery” within both hospitals and homes.
Toys
And even though I am already completely sold on the idea, I loved Greene’s section on toys where he waxes the goodness in wood, wool, cotton, and toys made of natural materials. “Research on the health effects of many plastics is still in its early stages, but it is known that some of our children’s plastic toys contain chemicals, including lead, cadmium, and toxic softeners, that may cause permanent damage to the brain, liver, and reproductive system” warns Greene. Being from San Francisco - the city Green highlights, where certain plastic toys are actually illegal - I have long known about the toxicity of plastics and their manufacturing, but rereading the litany of environmental and health problems caused by these products is always a good refresher. Plastics are so convenient and common, I find them constantly sneaking into my home! Natural materials can be more costly and time-consuming to care for, but what is time? And what is our rizq (income) for? Allah I allots us our time, so being green is an act of ‘ibadah (worship) and our money should not be spent on buying goods which are poisonous to both ourselves and the shared environment.
Overall, I really appreciated Greene’s book. Even though I consider myself an eco-jihadist, I still found through the read that there are several areas of my life in which I could do a little more greening, and there are a good variety of ways to do it.
Reviewed by Brooke Benoit for SISTERS Magazine April 2013
Organics
I have always strived to be conscious of whether or not I am feeding my children organics, but I hadn’t fully considered the exposure to chemicals via what I put on my babies or their beds, which they mouth and suck on more than food in some stages! As Greene explains, baby sleeps up to sixteen hours a day and are almost always clothed, but the fabrics you buy for baby have not undergone the same regulated restrictions as food - actually there is good reason new clothes and bedding are suggested to be washed before using, they are made with and tainted with many chemicals, even potentially toxic ones. While I always considered organic clothing to be too expensive and maybe even extravagant, I now have a better understanding of its efficiency and would prefer to gift friends pricey organic clothing rather than anything else - except maybe fair trade chocolates for mum.
Nappies
Greene thoroughly covers issues regarding nappies, referring to current studies and for those of us, like me, who are trapped somewhere between the guilt of wishing to use cloth nappies and actually using landfill-nappies (as Greene points out, they are not truly disposable since they stick around forever!), there are some alternatives available: eco-nappies, made with less toxins and more sustainability or disposable cloth liners, which can be flushed thereby making cloth diapers easier to clean and carry. With a new, less toxic detergent on hand, Green has inspired me, and we are back in the cloth!
Labour and Delivery
The section on eco-birthing was especially interesting to me as I have birthed in several different environments, both home and hospitals. Even though I have home-birthed four of my children, they were all in different homes. In the Labour and Delivery Room section of the book as well as the Whole Home section, Green gives plenty of areas to consider when creating a safer home environment for our babies. He also details the larger impact of hospital births, offering alternative suggestions for a “carbon neutral delivery” within both hospitals and homes.
Toys
And even though I am already completely sold on the idea, I loved Greene’s section on toys where he waxes the goodness in wood, wool, cotton, and toys made of natural materials. “Research on the health effects of many plastics is still in its early stages, but it is known that some of our children’s plastic toys contain chemicals, including lead, cadmium, and toxic softeners, that may cause permanent damage to the brain, liver, and reproductive system” warns Greene. Being from San Francisco - the city Green highlights, where certain plastic toys are actually illegal - I have long known about the toxicity of plastics and their manufacturing, but rereading the litany of environmental and health problems caused by these products is always a good refresher. Plastics are so convenient and common, I find them constantly sneaking into my home! Natural materials can be more costly and time-consuming to care for, but what is time? And what is our rizq (income) for? Allah I allots us our time, so being green is an act of ‘ibadah (worship) and our money should not be spent on buying goods which are poisonous to both ourselves and the shared environment.
Overall, I really appreciated Greene’s book. Even though I consider myself an eco-jihadist, I still found through the read that there are several areas of my life in which I could do a little more greening, and there are a good variety of ways to do it.
Reviewed by Brooke Benoit for SISTERS Magazine April 2013
June 27, 2011
I liked this book overall, although at times it made me feel hopeless, as in: What ISN'T bad for pregnancy/babies in the modern world?! (Ex: carpeting, air fresheners, most mattresses, etc.) The lists of things to avoid are mind-boggling, and while I was at least marginally aware of many of the items discussed in the book, seeing them all together, and examined more thoroughly, was unsettling. There were so many times throughout the book that I put it down and said to my husband, "We have to stop using _____ because of _____," that I'm pretty sure he wanted to throw the book out the window. (Or at least return it to the library.)
Another reviewer complained that the author seemed to have a "Buy, buy, buy!" mentality, encouraging new parents to run out and replace everything in their households with eco-friendly alternatives. However, I didn't get that vibe at all from this book. The author mentions numerous times that the greenest thing you can often do is reuse what's already available rather than buying something new. Still, many new parents and parents-to-be are buying a lot of new things for their babies, so it makes sense that the author would include information about what those parents should be looking for (and avoiding) as they shop.
I don't think it would be possible to follow every single rule in this book, and the author points that out right up front in the introduction. But what the book does is raise awareness about different issues/substances/toxins/etc, and give parents the information they need to make the changes that are suitable for their lives.
There are many helpful ideas I hope to be incorporating in my life, and I'm not looking forward to returning this book to the library.
(One small annoyance was the author's support of some types of bottled water. Ugh!)
Another reviewer complained that the author seemed to have a "Buy, buy, buy!" mentality, encouraging new parents to run out and replace everything in their households with eco-friendly alternatives. However, I didn't get that vibe at all from this book. The author mentions numerous times that the greenest thing you can often do is reuse what's already available rather than buying something new. Still, many new parents and parents-to-be are buying a lot of new things for their babies, so it makes sense that the author would include information about what those parents should be looking for (and avoiding) as they shop.
I don't think it would be possible to follow every single rule in this book, and the author points that out right up front in the introduction. But what the book does is raise awareness about different issues/substances/toxins/etc, and give parents the information they need to make the changes that are suitable for their lives.
There are many helpful ideas I hope to be incorporating in my life, and I'm not looking forward to returning this book to the library.
(One small annoyance was the author's support of some types of bottled water. Ugh!)
October 12, 2008
In my opinion, this is the green baby bible!
I really enjoyed reading Dr. Greene's book. For one, because I truly believe in the green movement. But more importantly, reading his book was kinda like meeting him and talking to him in person. He gives great advice without sounding preachy. He outlines in the beginning that 'every little bit helps' then proceeds to inform you on WHY it's important and HOW to do it.
The green baby movement is growing rapidly. Three years ago I had to hunt down glass baby bottles on websites from the UK and now they are sold at Babies R Us stores across the country. The only thing that would make me happier with this book is if Dr. Greene came out with a revised copy to include all the new stuff happening in 2008! Looking forward to a new edition, hopefully soon!
I really enjoyed reading Dr. Greene's book. For one, because I truly believe in the green movement. But more importantly, reading his book was kinda like meeting him and talking to him in person. He gives great advice without sounding preachy. He outlines in the beginning that 'every little bit helps' then proceeds to inform you on WHY it's important and HOW to do it.
The green baby movement is growing rapidly. Three years ago I had to hunt down glass baby bottles on websites from the UK and now they are sold at Babies R Us stores across the country. The only thing that would make me happier with this book is if Dr. Greene came out with a revised copy to include all the new stuff happening in 2008! Looking forward to a new edition, hopefully soon!
November 23, 2010
This is a great handbook to will help modern families raise their children and provide a healthy environment for themselves, as well. Who wouldn't want to give their kids the best chance for a good future?
This book gives advice on everything. It covers the days of the pregnancy, the delivery, lactation advice, clothing, food and even how to store it and what kind of containers are better than others.
It tells you how to care for the baby properly, what medications are safe, what soaps are better, and even which diapers to use.
After you master all these suggestions there is advice on organic gardening too! Did you know that certain indoor and outdoor plants are poisonous? Well you will learn about them in this book.
It will even tell you how to clean the house in environmentally safe ways. If you want to live a "green" life, this book will help you do it!
This book gives advice on everything. It covers the days of the pregnancy, the delivery, lactation advice, clothing, food and even how to store it and what kind of containers are better than others.
It tells you how to care for the baby properly, what medications are safe, what soaps are better, and even which diapers to use.
After you master all these suggestions there is advice on organic gardening too! Did you know that certain indoor and outdoor plants are poisonous? Well you will learn about them in this book.
It will even tell you how to clean the house in environmentally safe ways. If you want to live a "green" life, this book will help you do it!
August 6, 2008
Great book for a general overview of environmental considerations when you are pregnant and raising children. The authors list a ton of other books and websites you can go to for more in depth information on any topic as well. Since it is summer now and we spend so much time outside (with Fraser covered in dirt and Hammie eating grass)I especially liked the section on safe and environmentally friendly lawn and garden care. Also, the book has a very clear explanation regarding plastics (which "numbers" you definitely want to avoid and what kinds of toys you should probably reconsider) which I found incredibly helpful. My only complaint is that I wish there was more indepth information on certain topics, like composting.
August 27, 2008
This is a pretty good book, but it's more about how to switch your entire life and family over to green living than anything particularly baby related. The first two chapters are on pregnancy and labor and delivery, but after that, the topics get much more general - eco-friendly flooring, furniture, laundry detergent, etc. I would recommend this book if you are choosing to change to a green lifestyle for your baby, but if you already lead a pretty eco-conscious life, there might not be much new information here for you.
June 12, 2008
I've recently become interested in living a more natural lifestyle, and this book was very informative. It talks about everything from which foods to buy organic (if you're not buying everything organic) to cleaning your house w/ natural every-day products, etc. He provides links to websites that offer earth-friendly products. I borrowed the book from the library, but I think I want to buy it so I always have it on hand to refer to! (Great for moms or moms-to-be)
July 5, 2008
If I could give it four and A HALF stars I would. I loved this book. I found it easy to understand, non-preachy, and in the majority of the cases, doable. What I also found useful is that this doesn't ONLY apply to parents with babies. There are a lot of household and dietary suggestions that apply to anyone (eco-friendly paint, carpet, food, etc.) A must for anyone trying to be organic and eco-friendly with or without children.
September 29, 2009
Raising Baby Green is a hands-on, practical guide to making your home as pure and natural for your baby and family. It contains everything from home recipes for cleaners to product suggestions and is very clear about toxicity as it relates to certain chemicals commonly found in household products and our environment.
It is an easy read on top of everything else. All parents should read this book!
It is an easy read on top of everything else. All parents should read this book!
December 4, 2009
Awesome book! It wasn't too one-sided. It didn't try to scare you. It just made helpful suggestions as to what you can do to have a healthier and more environmentally friendly home. He started with basic suggestions that you can start with and went on to provide more involved suggestions that you can use depending on your finances, committment, time, etc. Most of his ideas just seemed so sensible. I have a million post-it notes in the book right now. Too bad it's a library book...
September 29, 2009
Although I haven't finished reading this yet, it is by far one of my favorite pregnancy books. It essentially goes through everything from conception through life and how ways to be more environmentally friendly. It even gives alternative suggestions to all the baby medicines, etc. which I think will come in really handy when that time comes.
March 30, 2008
Thia book is an excellent book for ANYONE that is interesing in learing about how to go green and WHY it's important. You can get so much out of this book whether or not you have a child or are pg. This book is PACKED with helpful knowlege and information that people really SHOULD know. Check out the table on how much pesticides are in different fruits and veggies. AMAZING! I can go on and on.
June 1, 2009
At first I thought this book was kind of annoying, but Greene gives lots of practical advice and ways big and small to change your life and our world. A criticism in general about "greening" our lives is overcoming the sometimes huge cost differential, something I thought this book didn't always address. This book covers not just raising your baby green but living more green in general.
September 16, 2009
This books has some good ideas. A lot of things I kind of knew already, but some things I hadn't really thought about doing. I'll be the first to admit that I am not a "green" person. I think about it a lot, but never really do anything. Maybe having this book peek at me from my bookshelf will remind me.
July 19, 2009
Good, basic, book. Doesn't go into too much detail about any one thing, but a nice overview. Good for people not all that familiar with the "green" movement, or who need a jumping off point for a specific idea (i.e., we'll be getting a room carpeted in the near future and this was a good place for me to start figuring out the best way to go about making the right buying choice).
March 5, 2012
This book is great for someone just entering the world of green and healthy living. It's a nice refresher for someone who is well versed in the world of knowing chemicals and organics and all that living green is all about. Dr. Green is awesome, though, and his book "Feeding Baby Green" is phenomenal- which led me to read this also.
May 13, 2016
I really wanted to like this book as I plan to "raise baby green". However, I felt like this book didn't offer a lot of information. Many of its tips were things we are already doing. I hoped for a more comprehensive book. More than serving as a guide it served as a book that made me want to seek out additional information on the topic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews