Green parenting picks up in Port City

Visakhapatnam: A meet on green-parenting brought together a bunch of parents who discussed about green parenting techniques and adopting a plastic-free lifestyle. Debashree Pal, an architect, who is associated with green parenting, encouraging environmental initiatives at an individual level.

Currently, she is involved with Cloth Diapering India group which helps parents shift to eco-friendly diapering solutions. Green Parenting Meet-up is her new endeavour where she tries to create awareness about harmful effects of single use plastic and measures on how to cut down on them.

As part of an interactive conversation, eco-friendly diapering, baby wearing and its benefits, children toys, toxic-free play material and cleaning agents were discussed. The platform provided an opportunity for those practicing green measures share their views. Gayatri, a parent, explained how the lifestyle shift she adopted worked wonders.

She believes in using a traditional etikoppaka toys for her little ones as they are long lasting. Further, she prefers cotton diapers over the plastic ones. Opting glass containers and water bottles for storing food are the kitchen rules Gayatri follows.

"We should go back to traditional methods of sustainable parenting," she says. Parents spoke about challenges they face while following zero - wastage and eco-friendly lifestyle. Some parents had complaints about not having sustainable alternatives for plastic.

When asked about baby care products, Debashree says, "I use coconut oil as it is amazing for skin, other home-made soaps, besan for my son. This apart, I use bio-enzymes for cleaning our clothes, utensils, and floors."

For best practices, a few women said they shifted to menstrual cups and re-usable cotton pads instead of plastic sanitary pads. And many parents in the group prefer using wooden toothbrush, steel straws and a complete zero wastage lifestyle.