If I were a Terry Pratchett witch, I would be cackling. As it is, I’m simply Going Granola.
Item: Detoxing the house
Got rid of the conventional cleaning products, things possibly containing bleach, ammonia and formaldehyde, etc. Parabens, phthalates and the likes in my soaps, creams and perfumes also hit the road. I’m making my own essential oil from Thai Basil (soaking in oil for now, will move on to distillation if/when I acquire a distiller, God Oilessentialis willing). I’m in a tizzy about the recently purchased (expensive) mattress and its toxicity level (they get treated with stuff, as you may imagine, for all kinds of happy and unhappy reasons). There are probably a few more corners in our house I still need to inspect.
Item: Baby Gear
Going organic and/or reusable. No PVCs (soft plastic), not to even mention anything painted. Only American/Euro made stuff unless proven safe and/or boutique/handmade in some beautiful village. Also acceptable are used baby clothes, stains and all. I just acquired my very first one, from my favorite Brooklyn ’boutique,’ Fence on 16th, where something like 10% of my own clothes comes from and it looks like a good source of baby things too.
Item: Baby ‘handling’
Dispose of the nonsense crib and stroller racket. Sleep with baby. Considering “babywearing“, constant carrying of the child a la Amazonian tribes for months (6-8 they say) of constant touch. Obviously, breastfeeding (Goddess Lactata willing).
Item: Bottled water
I don’t exactly know what is the deal with plastic water bottles, whether they do or do not leech plastic into the water. But I find them to be the most wasteful and unnecessary product on the market, at least in New York City where water tastes so good. So, for a few months now I’ve been using either the aluminum (lined with porcelain) or the stainless steel bottle filled either with regular or filtered tap water. Both of these bottles have caused me one or two problems along the way (aluminum is pain in the neck to unscrew when thirsty at night, and the stainless steel one has a little whole on top that leaks into my bag when not upright). But, in the last 5 months, I’ve bought total of 3 disposable plastic water bottles, while in the past that number would have been a lot higher, averaging at least 1 a week.
All of this. and much much more, while trying not to annoy my love who lately wonders whom is it he married.