Breastfeeding is green feeding
September 10, 2008 by Jennifer
I finished with my move; well, actually I have one more day of stuff to do (cleaning out the old place) and then I’m done. The good news is you’ll be seeing much more of me around here now. Or, at least I hope that’s good news. I thought we’d kick off me coming back with some nice breastfeeding greenness.
Being that it’s green baby month here, we can’t ignore the breastfeeding discussion. If you’re a new mama, mama-to-be, or someone thinking about kids in the future, then you should know that breastfeeding is one of the greenest moves you can make as a parent.
Why is breastfeeding so darn eco-friendly?
- You’ll save energy: Breast milk requires no heating, because it’s already the perfect temperature for your baby.
- You’ll reduce waste: There’s not costly, excessive packaging involved with breast milk. One could argue that Victoria’s Secret is costly breast milk packaging – but do we really want to go there?
- You’ll reduce your need for plastics: Plastic bottles are not the most earth friendly of containers. Nipples are not usually recyclable, and rarely do people recycle the plastic bottles. Not to mention all that energy it takes to produce said bottles.
- You’ll save on gasoline: No late night jaunts out for formula and fewer car trips to the doctors because typically breastfed babies are healthier.
- What the flip are you going to do with all those empty formula containers!? Seriously.
Breast milk is an absolute perfect renewable resource. Breast milk is nutritious, earth-friendly, free and easy — all great reasons to breastfeed your tiny tree hugger.
If you need some extra help or advice concerning breastfeeding read the following:
- Should you quit breastfeeding because of toxins in breast milk
- Breastfeeding tips
- Is scheduled breastfeeding better?
- Painful breastfeeding: from normal to serious issues
- Should you breastfeed when you’re sick?
[image via stock.xchng]
great points!
i think this aspect of breastfeeding should be addressed more often.
I think the list of ingredients in formula are frightening, mostly synthetic chemicals. Also, unless otherwise specified, plastic baby bottles are typically #7 plastic.
HEy I was “green” before I was “green”
@ Amy – me too! I’ve been discussing it for years, but not many focus on the greenness of breastfeeding. They should though; it’s a major selling point.
@Katherine excellent point. It’s not so green to expose your baby to harmful chemicals and unnatural ingredients.
@Wendy
Good!
I think this is the nicest blog entry I’ve read all day! One thing that makes me sad, as a breastfeeding advocate, is how both the formula industry and the breastfeeding industry (oh, it makes me sad there’s a breastfeeding industry!) make it sound as if breastfeeding is something you have to buy a whole bunch of extra special stuff in order to do– clothes, pillows, I’ve even seen little wipes to sanitize your breasts! I love that you’ve focused on the green aspect of it.