Fake plastic nappies — Big fat flaw week/month

It seems my biggest flaw is procrastination. But since that's not really a green sin, I think I'll let it pass.

But diapers. Oh diapers. These have been my eco-downfall.

I didn't use cloth diapers, heralded by attachment-parenting types and most environmentally friendly moms-and-pops. It's an issue that ranks right up there with breast feeding and baby-wearing.

To start, I would like to point out that at least three studies concluded there is virtually no environmental difference between cloth and disposable diapers. There are been critics to these studies, although they did take many factors into consideration.

It seems logical that cloth diapers are better, in that there's no polluting of the landfills although there's no disputing that both types of diapers use up natural resources. But doesn't the soft cloth against baby's bottom, later line-dried in the heat of nature's sunshine, seem like a better alternative?

It didn't for me for a few reasons. First off, I didn't start thinking of myself as a green parenting until six months into my second child's birth. By the time I contemplated changing, I'd have spent several hundred dollars in start-up nappies. The cost and work precludes lower-level income earners and working moms from truly considering cloth as an alternative.

And to be truly green, I firmly believe it should be accessible to everybody, regardless of income. How else are we supposed to make significant changes for everybody?

Grist's Umbra, of Ask Umbra fame, wrote she was relieved to find out there was little difference in diapering baby. After all, 99 percent of parents use disposables at one time or another and it should be considered good that disposables aren't 50 times worse than a diaper very few people are using.

And the biggest item to note from Umbra's column:

"For one child, over two and a half years, these impacts are roughly comparable with driving a car between 1,300 and 2,200 miles." Now we know exactly how much mileage to shave off our car to compensate for diapering each kid.

Since my children are both out of diapers (actually, it's almost for my youngest, but I am not enough of a stickler and too much of an optimist to count one diaper a day as "still in diapers") I'm effectively out of the debate. But for anybody still considering how to cover baby's bum, try some eco-friendly varieties like gDiapers or Seventh Generation. By all means, if you're able and willing, use cloth, wash in cold and line dry. Or maybe, try diaper-free babies, which is really a thing and has apparently worked for some brave parents.

Or just try to compensate in other areas. Stop using central air, or turn it down. Cut shower time down to three minutes. Eat more vegetables. Drive less. And, perhaps the most important aspect of eco-parenting, encourage children to do the same.

Photo by A Fresh Perspective | Zak Metz's photostream on Flickr

From the cheap and easy file

Making your own baby food is super easy and super cheap.

Here was a little weekend project from when I had a baby. I went to my favorite superstore, Meijer, bought plentiful supplies of freezable veggies. Organic or locally grown veggies would have been even better.

For 60 cents, I purchased enough green beans to feed my then baby for a week. After steaming and blending them, I filled ice cube trays with tiny single serving size portions.

Presto. Finished for the week.

And bonus — these little servings cost about 60 cents each when you buy the jarred variety. That's what I did for for my older child. I don't think they're any less nutritious, just more expensive and bearing more waste.

But those little glass containers are super reusable for storing tiny items like nails and beads. Just FYI.