Most days of the week I stumble across an article about some celebrity’s baby. Seriously, they’re everywhere. Between Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, and, of course, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, one might think that babies are the hottest celebrity accessory since Grace Kelly carried a Birkin (to hide her pregnant belly … which brings us right back to celebrity babies!). It might be because I read a lot of websites dedicated to eco-friendly celebs, but it certainly seems to me that most of these famous parents are making a common decision regarding their kids — going green with their nurseries.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I think it’s fantastic when the rich and famous bring attention to a cause so important, I have no complaints. Well, actually, I do. The things they buy are, for most of us, prohibitively pricey, so while they might be setting a great example for other new moms and dads, reading about baby Sunday’s $1200 crib doesn’t make a green nursery seem terribly accessible. I hate that regular folks on regular budgets think that they can’t afford a green baby’s room because they don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on special organic bedding.
Going green doesn’t have to break the bank. You just need to do the research, and, thanks to my good friend the Internet, research is easy! Get familiar with environmentally themed parenting sites that give practical shopping tips, like Green Mom Finds and Eco Child’s Play, and you’ll be well on your way to pampering your little one with green goodies. Seriously, I don’t even have kids, and I enjoyed poking around these sites, so this is research you’ll enjoy. Of course, another green option that’s even cheaper more affordable could be right under your nose: hand me downs. Reuse, reuse, reuse! I know you want the best for your baby, but before you trash a perfectly good crib so that you can buy a bamboo one that better suits your socially responsible senses, think about what you’re doing with the old one. Creating unnecessary trash doesn’t really help anyone out. Still unsure where to start? While you could call up Jessica Alba and ask her for eco-friendly pointers, you might have better luck checking out Happy Green Baby’s tips on creating a green nursery. Or, if you have tips of your own, please share!