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Green Baby
A New Parent's Guide to Going Organic
By Sue Poremba
Before they had a baby, Jackie Just and her husband didn't seek out organic products, but the Minneapolis couple reconsidered that stance once they became parents. They decided to feed their son organic foods because they had many unanswered questions about autism. "We feel that organic food eliminates one possible factor," Just says.
She also attributes her son's good health to his organic diet. "He's had only a handful of minor illnesses," Just says. "I suppose there is no way to measure this officially, but having him eat organic food definitely gives us peace of mind."
"Going green" is a popular trend in all aspects of life, and it has now trickled down to the way parents approach caring for their new baby. Along with organic fruits and vegetables found at the grocery store or specialty market, baby food manufacturers now sell pre-packaged, pre-processed organic foods.
But food choices aren't the only way parents can go organic. Other options include cloth diapers over disposable, types of clothing the child wears, bathing and cleaning products and even toys.
Dr. Natalie Geary, a pediatrician in New York, N.Y., says there are two reasons why organic is better for babies: pesticides and preservatives. "Pesticides are the chemicals designed to poison the nervous systems of insects so they can't eat food while it's growing," she says. These pesticides are especially dangerous to children because "many organ systems can be subtly damaged by exposure to toxic substances."