Green Parenting Advice by Renowned Pediatrician, Author and Parent, Dr. Robert Sears

As parents it can be hard to find out information on green parenting advice, tips and techniques from our regular pediatricians. They don't always have the time to stop and chat or they just aren't interested in those parenting techniques.

Have you ever wished you could sit down with an experienced parent, world renowned pediatrician and expert on green parenting? I did, and my wish came true when I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Robert Sears, world renowned pediatrician, expert in green parenting, father of three, author and contributor to AskDr.Sears.com.

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "Tell me about green parenting, is it possible to define it?"

Dr. Sears: "There are different shades of green; it's all a process." "In a nutshell," Dr. Sears continues, "green parenting is trying to raise your children with as little chemical exposure as possible and raise your child and your family while trying to minimize your carbon footprint. Some parents are light green and some are dark, but it all makes a difference."

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "What are the three most important green actions parents should take?"

Dr. Sears: "Organic eating, green cleaning, and cloth diapers."

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "Organic eating and cloth diapers can be expensive. Some have even asked me about the effectiveness of green cleaning, especially when it comes to disinfecting. Do you have some advice that can help us with the costs of organic eating?"

Dr. Sears: "Try eliminating the 'dirty dozen' from your grocery shopping. These are foods that are more likely to contain harmful chemicals and pesticides, based on statistical analysis of testing conducted by the U.S. Drug Administration and Federal Drug Administration.

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "What are the foods that are considered the dirty dozen?"

Dr. Sears: "They include peaches, apples, celery, carrots, lettuce, strawberries and bell peppers. Basically those foods that you eat the outer 'skin" of. "

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "In our household these are some of the fruits and vegetables not only most commonly purchased but eaten!"

Dr. Sears: "Try purchasing the dirty dozen fruits and vegetables in their organic form. It isn't necessary to purchase everything organic, as there are also a clean 15 list of grocery items that you don't necessarily need to purchase as an organic, foods like bananas. Using these basic tips, eating organic doesn't have to break the bank."

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "Who should eat organic?"

Dr. Sears: "It's a very important step in eliminating chemicals and pesticides from your body and your child's. It is especially important for expectant and nursing mothers to be aware of what goes into their body and how it can affect the development of the fetus or their baby."

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "I am in the middle of potty training and admit that when my children where younger the choice between cloth and disposable diapers was a tough one."

Dr. Sears: One year during a family trip to Florida for vacation we packed up a great big bag full of cloth diapers and used them during their travels on their vacation. For parents wanting to reduce their carbon footprint the use of cloth diapers is an important one. There are an estimated 3.5 million tons of diaper waste in U.S. landfills, not to mention the environmentally unfriendliness use of trees, chemicals involved, environmentally unsound manufacturing production, and gas for transportation so that disposable diapers can be used."

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "But not everyone will make the choice to use cloth diapers or some like the convenience of other diapers especially when traveling or visiting other homes. Is there something else we can use?"

Dr. Sears: "Have you heard of the G-diaper? The G-diaper is a combination cloth diaper with a biodegradable, flushing insert liner that absorbs moisture, wetness and waste. You remove the diaper and flush the liner. It's that easy. If you haven't made up your mind about cloth diapers this is definitely an alternative to consider."

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "Now about green cleaning, I know that is actually one of the easiest changes I have made. But the other day my husband mentioned that I can be a little heavy handed with the vinegar."

Dr. Sears: "You don't have to make your own cleaning products for them to be clean. My book, Happy Baby: The Organic Guide to Baby's First 24 Months offers several clean, green recipes that make use of everything products in your household like vinegar, olive oil, lemons, and baking soda. But for those who don't have time or the inclination to make your own cleaning products, you can use a name brand cleaner like Seventh Generation."

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "I noticed that some of my so-called green cleaners aren't really all that eco-friendly."

Dr. Sears: "Yes that is true not all environmentally friendly cleaners are created equal. It's important to read the labels and look for the ingredients your cleaners, laundry detergent and soaps contain. Just because a label says "green" doesn't necessarily mean it is."

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "Do you have any resources you recommend for parents wanting to have a more environmentally friendly household?"

Dr. Sears: "Happy Baby: The Organic Guide to Baby's First 24 Months, of course!"

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: (Laughter) "After reading your book I am convinced of that. It answers so many more parenting questions than I imagined, and some I never even thought of.

What's the bottom line when it comes to green parenting?

Dr. Sears: "It's all about compromise. What are you as a parent willing to do to reduce your carbon footprint and make your home and children healthier? The book Happy Baby actually devotes an entire section to, how to make compromises to get what you want and need for green parenting and for your family."

AC Featured Parenting/Green Contributor: "Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me about this subject. I know your trip to Houston is a busy one with book signing and attendance at the HEB Healthy Baby and Child Expo.

For me, Dr. Sears advice on compromises and accepting them was most important. Instead of feeling like a failure for choices I may make it helps me to realize what those choices mean to the environment and my home as well as alternatives available to me.

No matter what green parenting choices you make, from updating your house with solar panels to using cloth diapers know that all those choices, the big and the small make a difference, both in the health and welfare of your children, home and family but in the environment.

For information on carbon footprints.

Dr. Robert Sears Bio

Robert W. Sears, MD, is a father of three, board-certified in Pediatrics, and a co-author in the Sears Parenting Library. "Dr. Bob", as he likes to be called by his little patients, earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1995. He did his pediatric internship and residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, finishing in 1998.

Dr. Bob has a particular passion for helping parents understand childhood vaccines and the options open to them in choosing the safest possible vaccine schedule for their child. As the solo author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, his in-depth knowledge of vaccines and the diseases they prevent has helped parent's nationwide get a better understanding of this complex and confusing issue.

Dr. Bob has appeared on the Dr. Phil show to offer advice on child behavior and parenting issues. He has also appeared on the Ellen DeGeneris show, CNN's House Calls with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the CBS Early Show, and PBS's "A Place of Our Own".

Dr. Bob is a frequent speaker at La Leche League conferences, including Colorado, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, California/Nevada and the International LLL Conference 2007 as well as various parenting health Expos. He has written for Contemporary Pediatrics, Newsweek Japan, and dozens of regional parenting magazines across the nation. Dr. Bob is co-author of The Updated Baby Book, The Premature Baby Book, The Baby Sleep Book 2005 and Father's First Steps: 25 Things Every New Dad Should Know and author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for your Child and an active contributor to the content of AskDrSears.com and several other parenting websites. He is also a regular contributor to (one of my favorite magazines) Working Mother magazine.
Sources:
Personal experience
Interview with Dr. Sears
Happy Baby (Paperback)