From cloth diapers to preservative free toys to organic cotton onesies to natural soaps, modern mamas are flexing their purchasing power more than ever, and 56% of us are doing our best to go green (or at least, greener). According to a poll taken by BabyCenter, women are living more eco-friendly lives to protect their children's health, and our planet, for the next generation.
So, how are we doing that? Little by little: we're buying more non-toxic cleaning products, recycling, eating organic food, using energy efficient appliances, and educating ourselves about the hazards of chemicals in our daily lives. Perhaps most importantly, though, we're teaching our kids to be smart about what they put on and in their bodies, and the importance of green living.
In recent years green living has become less of an urban/hippie trend, and more the societal norm, with the demand for eco-friendly products growing all the time. They used to be specialty products in specialty stores, but now eco-friendly products can be found in most mainstream superstores across the country.
Linda Murray, Editor-in-Chief of BabyCenter has a theory about how this shift came about: "Today's moms know small steps can add up and they want to do their part. It's a natural extension of the protective mothering instinct that kicks in the minute a woman learns she's pregnant. She becomes keenly aware of whether her food, activities, products, and environment are safe."
That pretty much sums up why I started eating organic, as well as buying chemical-free and non-toxic products whenever I can. Having kids is a pretty powerful catalyst for change - and having a strong collective voice is to speak out about the need for cleaner living for those kids is powerful as well.
Moms rule.
