Author: Debbie Hodgson

Publisher: ABC Books

Format: Paperback
Review:
Having a baby and raising children in today’s society involves stuff, and lots of it. We quickly accumulate baby clothes, feeding paraphernalia, bits and pieces for sleeping, playing, cooking and cleaning up the inevitable mess. Debbie Hodgson challenges parents to think differently. Sustainable Baby is tagged as ‘A parent’s practical guide to consuming less and living better’.  The nappy issue is well covered in the book, with information and explanations about modern cloth nappies, as well as patterns for those inclined to sew their own. Organic all-cooking, all-sewing Earth Mother that she is, Hogdson has included pre-made alternatives for those of us without the necessary skills.

Hodgson has certainly done her research into nappies, both cloth and ‘plastic’ as she calls disposables. And it does makes you think.They are called ‘disposables’, but where do they go? And how does that affect the planet my child will inherit? Sustainable Baby asks us to consider how much convenience we take for granted, and how much stress we are putting on the earth because we can’t be bothered to reflect on our actions. Hodgson writes, “What tasks we decide to do are completely determined by our values, not by the number of minutes in our day.” And it’s true. As parents, our time is always short, but we make time for what we believe is important. There are environmentally-friendly options in every area of caring for our family, if we are willing to think outside the square. Eco-clothing, toys and food are all addressed in the book. Organic gardening, food co-ops and buying in bulk also rate a mention. There are recipes for alternative remedies, ideas for using up leftovers and a section that covers ecologically sound cleaning products for the home. This book is a practical, family-oriented application of the green mantra ‘reduce reuse recycle’. After reading it, you might re-evaluate the ways you operate on a daily basis, even if it’s just one tiny thing. On a personal note, I’ve been challenged to put my used kitchen paper towel into the compost after using it, reducing landfill just a smidgin. Sustainable Baby contains a range of helpful advice to reduce your family’s carbon footprint and tread more lightly on the earth. You may not want to go the whole hog and totally eschew the use of toilet tissue in preference to washable, re-usable cloth wipes, but you might start to realise exactly what you do throw away every day.

Sunny Days is giving away 5 copies of Sustainable Baby. Click here to enter.

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