By taking simple measures such as using reusable nappies – which are cleaner (ecologically speaking) and cheaper than disposables – parents can help the planet, their pockets and their children
IF THE PARENTS of every baby born in Ireland last year used disposable nappies, at least 375 million little soiled packages would end up in landfill sites all over the country before those toddlers are potty-trained.
That’s just from the babies of 2008 – their waste will be sitting on top of every disposable nappy ever dumped here, as it takes hundreds of years for a nappy to decompose.
If that is not a compelling enough argument for reusable nappies, then the bottom line, if you’ll forgive the pun, is that they save you money. Expect to spend about €2,000 on disposable nappies between the time your child is born and toilet-trained.
For an outlay of little more than €300, you will get reusable ones to see your child right through – and they can then be passed on to another baby.
Amid mounting concern about climate change, people are beginning to realise that the next generation needs to learn a different way to live on this planet – and that starts with us parents. It is a philosophy in tune with the current recession, because green living is often the cheaper option, and being a spendthrift is now seen as a positive characteristic.
In this time of shrinking incomes, personal necessity is accelerating a move towards greener living in a way that nebulous concerns about the “greater good” never could.
We are in transition from a time when we convinced ourselves that we “needed” so many things that we didn’t, to a new era of more considered spending.
“You know how ideas have their time? I think this is the time when people are really starting to look at their values,” says Jen Wallace, who runs the website www.tinygreenpeople.com, which offers information and advice on natural and eco-parenting. “What’s important in life is coming to the fore, now that we have had our mad few years spending money.”
The combination of conspicuous consumption and over-the-top parenting of recent years was a godsend to manufacturers and retailers of almost anything marketed for babies and children. Some parents seemed to think that their love for their children was measured by the money they spent on them.
A change in nappy fashion is indicative of a turning away from convenience at any cost.
The almost universal “are you mad?” reaction of parents is changing to one of “tell me more”, reports Monica Nugent, who has developed the first Irish brand of cloth nappies. Living in Donegal town with her husband Patrick, she can hardly keep up with demand for her Little Comfort nappies.
The birth of their daughter Victoria almost three years ago was the catalyst for Monica’s business. “I started using disposables and then thought ‘this is crazy, my bin is overflowing’.” Within five weeks she was buying reusables.
However, over time she saw a flaw in every brand she used. An accomplished sewer, she set about designing her own to overcome these drawbacks, and now sells the result, manufactured in cotton or bamboo.
While the nappy issue is undoubtedly one of the biggies, there are no compulsory criteria for green parenting. It is all about small steps (see panel) towards a more eco-friendly family life.
Jen and her husband Neil Mangan, who live in Passage West, Co Cork, fell into the first-time parents’ trap when their daughter Roisin was born nearly two years ago. They bought loads of stuff for “our little precious”. It’s a way of mentally preparing for the baby, she suggests. “I don’t know if I can handle this, but I know I can buy it stuff.”
Now they look back and say, “Weren’t we right eejits for buying half of that?” When their second child, Ciara, arrived five months ago, all they bought was a sling to carry her in.
Jen always had some interest in green issues, but “having kids really changes your perspective”. She and Neil started to look closer at how they lived and to consider what kind of values they wanted their children to have.
For them, “nappies were a huge thing that absolutely horrified us – the waste”. But she stresses that she is not a “mad eco-mum or anything like that. A lot of my friends are using disposable nappies and I still talk to them.”
Generally the whole “greener-than-thou attitude” puts people off, she says. “I think people try to do their best.”
Her hope is that people think before making choices. “Be aware of what you’re buying, where it’s coming from, what it is made from and what is going to happen when you’re finished with it”.
She is candid about one of the main aversions to cloth nappies. “People get worried about the whole ‘poo’ thing. But with these nappies you just put a paper liner in it, and all you do is fold it over and pop it in the toilet and flush it away. It means the waste is going into the waste system as opposed to the landfill system.”
The aim of tinygreenpeople.com is to direct parents towards the information they need when making choices, showing them the options. “Then they can think, ‘Maybe it would work for me’, rather than shoving it down anyone’s throat,” she explains.
Many aspects of green parenting are easier and cheaper than many people think, she adds. “It is not just for yummy mummies.”
A combination of financial, environmental and health concerns has fuelled the recent “grow your own” movement, and more families with young children are becoming involved.
Parents want to be more in control of what they put on the kitchen table, says Hans Wieland, joint manager of the Organic Centre in Leitrim.
The drop in sales of bagged lettuce reported by local shops is one indication, he suggests, of how many more people took to growing at least their own salad leaves this summer.
Polytunnels are all the rage, he says. It is estimated that an investment of about €1,500 in order to be able to grow your vegetables under cover will be repaid within a year to 18 months.
The benefits of these polythene structures are threefold: an earlier and longer growing season for many traditional vegetables such as potatoes and carrots; you can grow plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers and basil, which need a warmer climate; and all-year-round growing is possible if you choose the right varieties.
Initiatives such as the Ooooby (Out of Our Own Back Yard) community food store in Glenealy, Co Wicklow, give people a chance to sell or barter their excess produce. It was set up by organic growers Mike and Suzie Cahn of nearby Carraig Dúlra, whose four children, aged between seven and 15, are all involved in the cultivation business.
“Out on the farm, their mood is so much better,” remarks Mike, who believes passionately in the benefit of nurturing children in nature.
Primary schools have traditionally had little more than a nature table for this purpose, but some now have their own gardens. The Organic Centre is involved in a cross-Border scheme to establish such gardens, which are very popular with pupils.
Parents recognise the benefits of the outdoor activity and of their children learning that food comes from the soil, not from the supermarket.
“It is a pity the Department of Education and the politicians don’t see the benefits,” says Wieland. “It could be part of the solution to the bigger picture of obesity and hyperactive children.”
Teachers often report that it is “the black sheep of the classroom who become the kings and queens of the garden”. Where land is available, it would take no more than €2,000, he adds, for an expert to establish a sustainable garden, which teachers and children could use.
While a garden in every school may be some way off, An Taisce’s Green Schools programme is nearing blanket coverage. By the end of last month, more than 83 per cent of all schools in the Republic were registered for it, with just over half having achieved Green Flag status. If your child’s school is not involved, it is time to ask why.
The programme is a huge success in raising awareness of environmental issues among pupils. An Taisce estimates that it has saved schools a minimum of €2 million in waste, electricity, water and fuel costs this year. The trickle-down effect into homes and the wider community brings considerably more savings.
Conserving electricity by switching off lights and electrical equipment, rather than leaving it on standby, is a bit of an obsession with Beveley Plunkett. She says she sometimes drives her four children mad at their home outside Collon in Co Louth, but they have finally learnt to do it, too.
“It took a while,” she says. Getting them out of their warm beds a few times to turn off something they had forgotten seemed to be the turning point. “I felt a bit mean” – but it worked.
She also found a way to wean one of her teenagers off his 15-minute showers. “I put a clock on the wall opposite the shower and he’s down to four minutes now.”
Last year, Plunkett applied her passion for saving energy to setting up a website business, www.greencuriosityshop.ie. Its range includes products to help cut energy use, and green gifts, such as wooden toys, solar-powered gadgets and cuddly animals made from natural wool.
The first year was tough, she says, but business has picked up considerably in 2009, with electricity monitors, chimney balloons and wooden toys being most in demand. She, for one, will be hoping that more families will be making it a Green Christmas this year.
Parents' dozen: The top tips fpr more eco-friendly child rearing:
Bare truth:Reusable nappies are a no-brainer for environmental and financial reasons. An A energy-rated washing machine will enhance the eco-friendliness of this particular option. If you are sticking to disposables, look for biodegradable ones.
On tap:Breast milk is free, healthier for mother and baby, and always makes a fresh, balanced meal. What more could you ask for? You might not realise it at the time, but feeding that child will never be as simple again.
Nursery know-how: Resist the urge to over-feather the nest for a new arrival. Ask other parents rather than maternity shops what equipment is essential, and then try to borrow or buy second-hand. In turn, pass your baby’s paraphernalia on to friends or charity shops.
Go hands-free:Baby wearing is sometimes seen as being towards the hippy end of green parenting. But fans of slings and other carriers swear by their convenience and comfort for both parent and baby. See www.babywearing ireland.com.
Food matters:Aim for locally produced and/or organic, depending on your budget. Farmers' markets make a great outing for children – it may be the only place they see unpackaged food. At home, involve them in cooking and baking. And encourage healthier eating – it will enrich their childhood memories.
Play smart:Where children go, mounds of plastic toys follow. Aim to have fewer but better-quality toys. Wooden toys are certainly making a comeback (see websites such as www.mimitoys.ie and www.woodentoys.ie for eco-friendly options). Toy swaps between families can be a good idea – just make sure your child's absolute favourites are not up for grabs.
Two wheels good, four wheels bad:Doing the school run in a 4x4 has to be the antithesis of green parenting. Are you sure they can't walk, scooter, cycle or catch a bus? However, living without a car is usually impractical, and transporting more than three children at a time poses a dilemma to eco-conscious drivers. If you must have a people carrier, look for the emerging eco versions. Then use it "greenly" by giving other people's children lifts to save car trips – and by leaving it outside your front door whenever you can walk, cycle or use public transport instead.
Keep out of shops:Many a parent has found this is a key to family harmony and controlled spending. Trawling shopping centres with children in tow just stokes their desires and is likely to end in aggravation for everyone. Shop online or alone when you can.
Don't be afraid of the dirt:Encourage children to play outdoors; take them to the park, the beach, the woods. It is a cheap day out and they revel in it. Only in the US could they have coined the term "nature deficit disorder" – but as you watch the rapid advent of all things electronic into Irish childhood, it no longer seems so far-fetched. See www.coillteoutdoors.ie for places to go and things to do.
Dig in:If you have not already joined the "grow your own" revolution, now is the time to start. While few people have the space or time to become self-sufficient in vegetables, involving children in growing even a small patch of potatoes or a window box of herbs or flowers gives them the idea of nurturing plants. Every garden should also have a bird table or feeder, particularly during the winter months.
Holiday at home:Never have Irish children had so many trips abroad, as confirmed in a survey published last week by www.hotels.com, which found under-16s had travelled twice as far as their parents and only 1 per cent of them had never left the island. We know travel broadens the mind, but flying significantly increases your carbon footprint. Let your children explore their own country instead of taking every opportunity to get them out of it.
Balanced birthdays:Parties are supposed to be occasions of excess, so cutting down on birthday gifts for a child might sound a bit mean. However charity schemes such as Oxfam's Pass the Present (see oxfamireland.org) make it appealing, or maybe there is a family reason why channelling donations instead of gifts to a particular charity will make sense to your child. Meanwhile, think eco-friendly when buying gifts for your children to bring to other parties.
swayman@ireland.com
More information at: www.tinygreenpeople.com, www.littlecomfort.com, www.theorganiccentre.ie, www.greenschoolsireland.org, www.greencuriosityshop.ie.