“The times they are a changin.” Years ago while my children were very small, I strived to raise them as holistically as possible. At the time, regulations had been in place requiring baby sleepwear to be of a flame retardant material. I knew that the chemicals used for flame retardant were not safe, so I used only 100% cotton layettes for my babies. The flame retardant treated sleepwear was rough and scratchy and I could not imagine placing my newborns with their soft tender skin, in such an unpleasant material. It was preposterous, really. Because only a tiny percent of babies had been severely burned or killed by fire, the government insisted that this would solve the problem. It would have made far more sense to ban cigarette smoking in those homes with young children, which was the cause of most house fires. I also used cloth diapers, which were softer and more comfortable for the baby, not to mention the mom or anyone else who was holding her. I used cloth because I did not wish to contribute to the mounting landfill problems and because hanging diapers on a clothesline in the sun, was a natural means to bleach and disinfectant the diapers.
More than forty years later we are learning that the many pesticides used to grow cotton, end up in the clothing that is made from it and eventually, in our bodies. The growing of cotton takes up over ten million acres of farmland in the United States alone. Another problem with cotton is that it is grown as a monoculture, making it a large contributor to our many ecological problems. It is a heavy feeder, requiring large amounts of fertilizer. Much of it has been genetically modified and it is the source of political and economic problems worldwide. A few companies are growing cotton organically now and making clothing for the health conscious. This; however, does not address the impact that it is having on the environment.
My daughters would often complain to me when I made them lunches to take to school. The other children would make fun of them because their sandwiches were made of whole wheat bread instead of Rainbow® or Wonder® bread, as most of their friends’ sandwiches were made. There were a few health food stores and co-ops popping up all over the country at that time, but the big grocery chains had not yet caught on. In the past couple of decades it has been discovered that many people are allergic to the glutens contained in whole grains and those who still eat them, have opted for those breads containing multiple grains or what are considered ancient grains. Once again, what I had believed was the best thing I could do for my daughters, could have been better. Today, natural grocery stores abound, and even the bigger name stores carry at least some natural alternatives.
We have learned volumes about nutrition and thanks to the advancements in technology, most people are aware of the state of our world and they can make informed choices about many things. When I was a young mother, I believed that I was making the best choices for my children. In comparison to other mothers at the time, I was a step ahead, but with each generation more insights lead to greater changes. I am trusting that by the time my great grandchildren become parents, better alternatives to cotton will be found. It is doubtful that people will return to using cloth diapers, so hopefully they will come up with ones that are biodegradable. (Maybe they already have?) While many are now choosing to make big changes in their diets by becoming vegan, paleo, vegetarian, or any of the many diet alternatives, I believe that they are sparking a change in how we grow our food and the way in which animals are harvested, because this planet can no longer support billions of meat eaters. We must find innovative ways to bring about balance between humans and all of our fellow plant and animal species, if we are to survive.
