The Green Bathroom
By Dr. Alan Greene

The ideal bathroom for some people is a retreat, a quiet spa designed for long relaxing soaks surrounded by favorite scented candles. But when you have a baby, that concept goes right out the window. The bathroom becomes a place of joyous laughter and splashing, and perhaps, home to a fleet of rubber duckies. This is one room where small green changes can make a big difference. You can save more water here, for example, than in any other room in your home. And you’ll be making lots of decisions about products related to your baby’s health, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

With a new baby in the house, it’s likely that the number of cleansing and soothing products in your bathroom will soon expand dramatically. Now, without even thinking, parents add baby wipes, diaper creams and ointments, baby powder, baby shampoo, body wash, soaps, baby oil and lotion and sunscreen.

It’s just amazing how such a tiny body seems to require so much cleaning!

Let’s take a moment to look at the many adult products you’ve purchased to cleanse, moisturize, refresh, deodorize, sanitize and beautify your own body. If your family is anything like mine, you have an impressive collection of personal care products that includes various brands of shampoo, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, hair conditioner, moisturizers, lip balm, shaving products and cosmetics.