Parents Going Organic

I’ve worked in a retail store that specializes in products for babies and expectant mothers for seven years. And it is here that I personally witnessed the growth in popularity organic products have in today’s world. I honestly can’t remember one organic product being sold in the store when I first started working there in 2001. When I left, I would estimate that at least a quarter of our store was organic, including baby mattresses, cribs and other products. The demand for these products was increasing with time. As an employee for seven years, I could personally witness the molding of products into ones in which safety became a number one priority. These organic products not only became a safety precaution but also a trend. Advertisements flourished in magazines that targeted new mothers or mothers to be. And almost every baby shower registry registered with our store contained organic products. But parents need to realize that going organic for your child is not as easy as purchasing organic products.

Former mattresses that had a reputation of excreting harmful chemicals were replaced by organic mattresses made of organic cotton and coconut fibers. While organic mattress contain no harmful material or chemicals, precautions have to be taken in order to prevent the mattress from getting wet. This can prove to be a difficult task when the mattress is supporting an infant who spits up, occasionally has a leaky diaper and drools. If any liquid comes into contact with the mattress it can become a breeding ground for bacteria.

Soon after, companies began constructing organic cribs. These cribs were furnished with beeswax instead of the traditional wood stain and gloss. Although the organic cribs cost about double what a traditional crib would, by purchasing one, you are eliminating the possibility of your child being exposed to harmful chemicals. This usually occurs when a child starts teething. A child finds comfort in biting objects, and when left in the crib for an while, the child has a tendency to bite on the rail of the crib. It is then possible that the child may be ingesting particles of wood finish. Other people argue that a child can be exposed to toxic fumes leeching from the stains on the wood. To solve this problem, companies began construction organic cribs. But unlike traditional cribs, these cribs require the parents to reapply the beeswax coating by hand a few times a year.

I decided to write a blog about this topic because it is one I have a true passion for. Over the last seven years, my job was committed to educating new parents about new products and new ways of raising a healthy child. If going organic wasn’t a expense that some parents just can't support, I would without a doubt do my best to convince every parent to raise not only your child, but your family in a organic way. But the realization that sacrifices will be made, whether its time or money, needs to be understood by the parent. People must realize that going organic is a great opportunity, but requires commitment, knowledge and money to make it a successful process.