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By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kids Nutrition Specialist Happy Earth Day! In honor of the celebration of Mother Earth, Mum Mums has compiled a green list of websites aimed at helping mothers, babies, and families go green. The term going green has been ubiquitous these days, but what exactly does it mean? Wikipedia defines it as: a broad philosophy and social movement centered on a concern for the conservation and improvement of the natural environment for both its own sake as well as its importance for civilization . While Earth Day is only one day a year, the collective global consciousness of protecting ourselves as well as our environment from harmful chemicals and waste is increasing by the minute. Mum Mums has provided many news stories over the past several months explaining expecting mothers and babies are particularly sensitive to toxins and chemicals in the environment and are most at risk for adverse health reactions. Any new mother can agree that having a new baby causes a dramatic shift in how we care for ourselves and our planet and that ensuring the earth is a healthy place for our babies suddenly becomes a big priority. Below is a list for helping mothers and babies go green. Diapers Babies certainly need a lot of diapers, yet diapers are typically not biodegradable and can remain in landfills for many, many years. Baby diapers, if not organic, also contain chlorine and other additives that can seep into the sensitive baby skin. At a minimum, diapers are expensive and can cost on average about $2,000 per year. Visit better for babies, the Organic Report, and G diapers for green alternatives. Clothing Babies grow out of their clothes so fast, not to mention the many stains from feedings and diaper accidents, so it seems silly to spend a great deal of money on baby clothes. A great and inexpensive way to go green for clothing is to shop resale shops for already worn baby clothes. Most certainly you can re-donate those clothes to keep the circle going. Our Green House is great site for organic baby clothes. Organic Baby Food Choosing organic baby food is good for your baby and for environment. Seeing the USDA organic label ensures the food has been produced without pesticides and protects the environment for future generations. See the Benefits of Eating Organic post for more information. Other Green Websites Several websites offer detailed green buyers guide for purchasing organic and ecofriendly baby products: The Daily Green The Green Guide Great Green Baby Green for Baby Keep in mind, it takes time to integrate a new lifestyle into your familys routine and the process may seem overwhelming. Be patient and take baby steps by doing what is most practical at the time and remember, every little bit helps.