Yay for Eco Parenting

[Mandyz]

I too am happy to see this new section in the forum. Thanks.

In my experience to date, a lot of these kinds of discussions (at least in North America) are dominated by women, and I really hope to get more male voices in here! Women are not the only parents. :)

I should preface future statements by stating that I am not (yet) a parent, but I am planning to be in the near future and am preparing myself as much as possible - particularly in learning about eco- and "earthy" parenting, because these are not forms generally taught to parents. (In my experience.) I mentioned before that I enjoy a forum called the Earthy Birthy Thought Swap. And now here.

I wonder though,
what does it mean to be an eco-parent?
I don't expect there to be one answer of course, but am introducing the question for discussion.

[Shirley]

Mandyz - YES, I totally agree with your comments about getting a male perspective.

Your question is a good one - and I imagine that everyone will have a different answer.

Cloth nappies and breastfeeding obviously figure high in the eco-parenting land, but it is important to remember that just because a parent chooses/needs to bottle feed doesn't mean that parent is any less eco conscious.

Maybe it should be eco-ish parenting.... because nobody is perfect (are they??)

I think that bringing up a baby/child/teenager with the right attitudes to life, the planet, and the people around him/her is important. It's not easy to do, especially once you get past a certain age - I find it harder with my older children but keep trying to encourage them to do the right thing. It's important not to nag and force them to do things - I think they listen more to suggestion and example rather than dictatorship.

I could go on,,, and on... and will likely add some more thoughts to this later.

Good food for thought Mandyz....

[Mandyz]

but it is important to remember that just because a parent chooses/needs to bottle feed doesn't mean that parent is any less eco conscious.

I agree. That is, assuming you choose eco-friendly packaging and so forth. And when you say bottle feed I wonder, do you mean formula or breast milk? Nevertheless, while formula should be a last option I realize it is the only option for some. My concerns arise more when mothers are not properly told about their options, particularly as bottle feeding is pushed as the norm and breastfeeding is frowned upon by many (ignorant persons). Fortunately, I have observed that this is changing as well. My own municipality has an ongoing series of public advertisements promoting breastfeeding in public.

But speaking of eco-conscious bottle feeding and breast milk, I recently heard from the creator of a fabulous new simple invention that freezes breastmilk in one ounce "sticks" so that you can thaw just as much as you need instead of too much (thus leading to wasted breastmilk). It's essentially a redesigned covered ice-tray.
http://www.slimlines.biz/shop.html
It strikes me as falling under the category of eco-parenting. Plus I like to support these kinds of businesses. This was the invention of a mother, who is also a paramedic - so she often had to freeze her milk for bottle feeding.

[Shirley]

That looks really good!!!!

I couldn't breastfeed my son... he was born with cleft lip and palate. Not being able to breastfeed him was the worst part of him being diagnosed with a cleft. I tried though, and tried.. but it didn't work. I expressed.. or did my best to... for 4 months... many a tearful time!! I had to supplement the expressed milk with formula.

I agree... many mums are not encouraged to breastfeed.. certainly there was not enough support 20 years ago when my firstborn was on the scene... I was told... she's not drinking it from you... here, have a bottle of sma. It's all premixed so no hassle on the mum to make it blah blah blah.

Things have improved... when my middle child was born.. (12 in May) - I was encouraged wholeheartedly to breastfeed (not that I was thinking of anything else) - and when my youngest was born, even though it was unlikely that I could breastfeed I was encouraged and assisted as much as possible.

I wonder... what is there in terms of bottle feeding for the eco-conscious parent?? Organic.. yes.. but what else?? Anyone know???

[glenniedragon]

mmm ecobottlefeeding....I suppose the first thing to avoid is those disposable bottles that seem to have popped up in supermarkets, and whats the trade off between coldwater sterilizing (no energy but chemicals down the sink) and microwave sterilizing/boiling (no chemicals but uses energy)? thats a close call......I think I come down in favour of the microwave sterilizing but thats just because you don't run out of that! At least you can get the powdered baby milk in recycleable tins avoiding those ready mixed tetra packs.
I suppose the biggest change you can make in eco-parenting is forming the attitude of offspring to be more considerate of their surroundings. My generation was the generation of the disposable revolution, and mum used to think I was a bit strange going back to the 'old fashioned' way of doing things. I hope my offspring consider the eco aspects when maken decisions throughout their lives, including their parenting choices.

Kind thoughts
-what am I thinking about -grandchildren!
Deb

[Wombat]

Our pair are both over 20 so I don't know that I can contribute much..........at least I'm male!

Nev

[glenniedragon]

Oh Nev you have raised 2 fledglings ready to leave the nest, you have 'been there, done that'- did you get the t-shirt? I'm sure you've loads to offer

kind thoughts
Deb

[Wombat]

Of course I got the Tee shirt - a self sufficientish one!

Nev

[Tigerhair]

Jeez, the breastfeeding debate! This brings back some memories....

It was RAMMED down my throat that breast is best throughout my pregnancy.... and of course, I realised it is, but when I finally had my son and he was over 8 weeks prem and I used that god awful machine to pump the milk from my breasts ( I HATED IT and I felt dreadful after a c-section under anaesthetic!) AND when nothing emerged after 3 days and nights using the thing... (can you tell I wasn't a happy puppy?!) and I gave up.... well! I felt DREADFULLY guilty but did anyone give a monkeys bottom!? NO because I had failed my son and I was under no misapprehensions what all the midwives thought! I was SO depressed about it! There were photos of women breastfeeding ALL over the maternity ward and I didn't even have my son with me coz he was downstairs in the baby unit...

I really feel that I was treated unfairly and I was terribly upset - there should be more support for people who CAN'T!

[Shirley]

(((((((((((((Tigz)))))))))))))))

I totally agree with you. I hated that machine too... talk about trying to get blood from a stone.... (or two!)

I think that there should be some better way of dealing with it. What you are saying reminds me of the time when I had one of my three miscarriages.. ended up in hospital and what was the ward that you looked out over?? - the special care baby unit... JUST what you want to see when you've lost your own baby NOT.

It's about time all these things were thought about properly.

Anyway.. just wanted to give you a hug...

xxx

[Tigerhair]

Thanks darlin'! As you can tell it still makes me cross and upset now - over two years later! However, I can say that the fake milks are now loads better than they used to be and, yep, I still think that breast is best, but I think you can still have a perfectly healthy child brought up on the other stuff.

Thanks babe

[Upahill]

Have to say I'm planning on breastfeeding when the sprog arrives this year - but a big part of my decision is down to not wanting to support the dairy industry and the money! Tight budgets and SMA don't always meet Enviromental factors are a secondary consideration to be honest and I wouldn't rule out the bottle - I know breastfeeding doesn't always work out.

I heard that there was a goats milk formula available but I don't know the details.

[circlecross]

I think with regards to breastfeeding, if you can't do it, then you can't and no-one should berate you for that. It's none of their business. There are glass bottles, non-latex teats etc if that is more your line, or buy second hand, and give a good scrub. If however you want to bf, then it does take time, it does hurt, and I really pity you having to express straight away, as I could only do this semi-comfortably after a few weeks when junior had chomped away for a while. It hurts. whatever they say about latching on, it does hurt for a while. Health Visitors should be supportive of you trying to do this, so persevere. One HV said, "If you count to ten, and it is still agony, then try again. If it has become OK after 10, then it is OK!"

It was the nurses that tried to get me to give ds some formula in hospital, and it is when you are vulnerable, scared, knackered and delirious that you will agree (I didn't, but a friend did. Hey presto, sleeping baby, vindicated midwife, friend feeling like sh*t).
as for the rest - attitude is most important. I use cloth nappies on ds, but will use eco-dispicables if we are travelling. I try and cook most meals, but will occasionally resort to a can when pushed for time (which I recycle!) All our convenience making items just make you try and fit more into the day, so if you have to cut corners, so what? As long as you raise your child to recycle, or put rubbish into a bin, and to have similar attitudes to yourself, what else can you do?

That went on a bit!

Susan

[2steps]

When my son was born it was just assumed he would be bottle fed and the nurses fed him while he was in special care without even asking me! I was only 17 and scared to go against what 'they' had decided incase they thought I couldn't look after him properly and now I really regret that. I used cloth napppies for a while but was offered no help or advise and in the end was basically pressured into giving up and usign disposibles

When I found out was pregnant the second time, from the start I said'no way am I doing that again!' I had a fantatsic home birth and breastfed her for just over a year. Nearly everyone around me thought I was crazy but I was determined to at least try. Even my midwife was surprised by my choices and didn't offer me any advise or help. Fortunatly I didn't have any problems at all and it was great and sooooo convinent! none of that annoying sterlising and worryign about having enough bottles for a outing or carrying massive bags around we went out with my parents mum and dad once and they asked where the babies stuff was as we were getting in the car and I said 'here' pointing to my pocket All we needed was a nappy or 2 and her muslin cloth.

Our 3rd baby is due in novemeber and we're going for a homebirth and breastfeeding again. But this time I am also using cloth nappies again and have been busy sewing the 'all in one' type

[Shirley]

Sorry to hear about your first experiences.. but WOW you've turned that around BIG time... Good on you mate!!

It's really unfair that the people who need the support - ie those first time mums, and particularly (but not exclusively) younger mums.. (I was 20 with my first) don't get it. Criminal actually - when you consider the damage to the environment that disposable nappies do. Grrr.

Wishing you all the best for your next home birth in November. I'm not needing nappy patterns.. my baby days are over now!! I'd love to see them though if you've got any pics... I'm sure they would be useful to other mums/mums to be on here.