I just read an awesome and really helpful blog from Fab Working Mom Life about what to remember when you go to the beach with a toddler. I love lists like this, because I am definitely not the type of mom who can remember a bunch of things, and we almost always end up missing something it seems obvious you would have.

Reading the list, I was struck that almost everything on there has awesome eco-friendly options, which made me think everyone could switch out a few things and our beach visits would have a more positive impact. And it is so worth it to do that, because beach days like the ones we enjoy could very well be a thing of the past if we don't clean up our act.

We love our days at the beach, and it breaks my heart that by the time our children are adults, it's expected that the oceans will have more plastic than fish in it. It honestly makes me sick to my stomach to think what my grandchildren's beach days will look like. So if I can make our beach days a little cleaner (and often even cheaper), I am going to do it. If you want to as well, I have some suggestions.

1. A Wet Bag

Instead of throwing all that wet stuff into a plastic bag, bound for the garbage, throw the wet clothes (and even the diapers) into wet bags like these ones from Planetwise. It just goes into the laundry when you get home. I recommend 2 so you can use one for diapers and one for everything else. If you do bring a plastic bag, use it for collecting trash on the beach.

2. Reusable Water Bottles

Easy, money-saving, and will help keep water clean. My favorites are Lifefactory and Liberty Bottleworks. My kid loves his little Contigo bottle.

3. Hats and Sun Shirts

We all need cover from the sun, but slow down your use of sunscreen by covering what you can with hats and shirts instead of giant globs of sunscreen. We usually buy all of this used at the consignment store or Thred Up, because there are tons there. Especially when they are little, these things get one summer of use, so you can find them as good as new.  Bring the sunscreen too, obviously.

4. Reusable Swim Diapers

Even if you aren't generally a reusable diaper family, reusable swim diapers might be a great choice. You just get two per tiny person, and you can switch them out. If you are nervous about it, you can get a size larger and put a normal diaper underneath. Brands that do them are- Thirsties, Smart Bottoms, and  Blueberry.

5. A Change of Clothes

I pack one for each kid and have a back-up set in the car trunk as well. Because toddlers should get to make a mess. We also have a change in the car, because grown-ups should be allowed to make a mess of themselves too.

6. Umbrella for shade (if needed- trees also work for this) and Towels to Stay Dry

These are basic, but no one wants to forget them. Eco-families need towels too. If you need to buy them, check out Big Ass Towels, which have a cheeky (get it? I'll be here all night) name, but great and American-made towels. Otherwise, my suggestion is to always bring as little as you can, because we all schlep that stuff and don't use it.

from Amazon

7. Healthy Snacks in Reusable Containers (no Insta-garbage!)

Just leave the pouches on the shelf at the store. Pack a few small oranges or cut up fruit or whatever treats you all love into a snack container (we swear by these stackable ones from Re-Play). Reusable sandwich bags also work really well for things like crackers. If you want your grandchildren to enjoy the beach the same as you are today, you need to stop using disposable plastic, because it is drowning out our oceans.

8. A Beach Toy of Two (Not Six or Ten)

A few cups and a shovel can really do the trick. We all know you bring a kid ten toys and they are going to play with a stick the whole time, so do yourself and the Earth a favor and think small and simple. Those plastic toys will be in landfills and water long after all of us are gone, so we want to avoid that heap. If you aren't a huge beach goer (maybe going on vacation?) check with friends for things to borrow.  Instead of buying new , check consignment stores for things that would work as a bucket or shovel. A consignment dump truck can be a lot of fun too. If you can't find much secondhand, I highly recommend Green Toys beach sets. Recycled plastic for the win!

9. Sandals

Again, if you have kids, find your closest consignment store to save money. We bought our son a pair of Keen sandals, and I definitely recommend this brand (find them used and save like 30 bucks). So ugly, but they really stand up to toddler craziness (so you can pass them on to another kid when you are done).

10. An Old Tablecloth to Sit On

I got this genius idea from my mom (who lives in Hawaii, so lots of beach experience). Instead of going and buying a new blanket or towel, just use a retired tablecloth or even shower curtain as your beach blanket. It give a retired item a second life and it works better than anything else we've done. Re-use!

This blog series "Don't Buy... Instead Try..." intends to point out some of the most egregiously unethical, wasteful, and environmentally ridiculous companies out there. Instead of dwelling on their considerable awfulness, the series will focus on the other options you have for purchasing.

Every purchase we make is a vote for the kind of world we want. 
Every single purchase is political.
 Every single purchase has ethical ramifications, and 
every single purchase should be approached with a spirit of stewardship. 

We can change the world by refusing to fund extreme greed, the mistreatment of other human beings, and the trashing of the environment. We need to stay aware of the many choices available to us. Will we get it right every time? No. But if we all make little changes, we can send companies a new message, that consumers will show up if they do the right thing. 

from affilliate dentists.com

Oh toothbrushes- we need them, we use them daily (hopefully), and we are gifted them by medical professionals. Most are also tremendously awful for the environment and for our country.

All mainstream (and most the drug store generic) toothbrushes are made of fresh plastic from China. This may not seem like a big deal, but think about the controversies about lead in plastic toys from years ago- toys have more regulations going for them than toothbrushes. So you put tons of hormone-shifting chemical into your mouth daily. Gross.

 This also means we waste tons of fossil fuels moving these tiny plastic brushes halfway around the world AND they come wrapped in plastic, so double the waste. It's something we all buy, and it sucks. The toothbrush themselves are often found in beach clean ups and other plastic messes, because we all create so much waste with them.

You can recycle or terracycle some (read more here), but that doesn't solve the problem that those little plastic sticks are traveling an awful long way. Plus, they aren't good for America.

Colgate is a mega company, selling tons of products in 200 countries, that started in New York City in 1806. Despite it's long connection to the city (and its headquarters still there), the company has not remained particularly loyal to the American worker, and the majority of the products are made overseas. It also has done a number of mass layoffs, like one in 2012 where 2,000+ workers were given the cut. The company has a mixed record in terms of ethics and the environment- their toothpaste has been cited for polluting water and poisoning wildlife. They are known for being good employers in the United States, but take that with a grain of salt since that is a small percentage of their employees.

Oral-B is much younger, started in 1950, and it is owned by the Gillette group. None of their brushes are made in the States anymore either.

It's recommended that you replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. If you are on the conservative end, that is 3 a year. For 75 years, that is 225 toothbrushes. Per person. If you have a family of four, that is 900 big pieces of plastic headed to landfills and the water. Put another way- 4.7 billion plastic toothbrushes go into landfills per year. Why? There have to be better options.

If you don't care about the environment, care about yourself. Toothbrushes don't have much regulation at ALL in what chemicals go with him. BPA and other toxic chemicals go into these things you put in your mouth everyday.

So what do you buy instead? Good news! You have so many great options!

from Tiny Yellow Bungalow

1. Bamboo toothbrushes- Tiny Yellow Bungalow (one of my favorite online stores) sells bamboo toothbrushes, but you can also get them from Amazon in bulk to save money (bmbu is another option, but they are made in China). These materials are most certainly better for your mouth (and the Earth), and often come in biodegradable packaging. It's a big investment, but like a healthier diet, it could reap some seriously positive results.

Preserve from Amazon

2. Preserve Recycled Toothbrushes- Preserve makes body care products (including razors and toothbrushes) out of recycled plastic in the USA.  Their toothbrushes are made out of recycled yogurt cups (so foodsafe plastic and way better than a regular toothbrush). Bought in bulk, they are also actually cheaper than the overly fussy ones they sell in drug stores. We use Preserve toothbrushes in our house, and they have worked out perfectly. I don't understand why every toothbrush at the bare minimum isn't recycled.

from Radius Toothbrushes

3. Radius Toothbrushes- Again, not perfect, but these Radius toothbrushes have recycled handles and then you buy new heads. This cuts down on 90% of the waste created by tossing away all those toothbrushes. This at least cuts things down by making the majority of the brush reusable for probably the rest of your life. They have a travel brush also made in the USA as well, so this might be a perfect option for your family.

4. Dr. Du-More's Toothbrush- These Dr. Dumore brushes are made out of partially biodegradable pieces in the United States. They also have recycled plastic packaging. Looks great to me, and one of the reviews is from a dental hygienist.



Want more shopping ideas? Check out the Giant List of Shopping Lists for more ideas of how you can improve the world with some small switches!

When The Boy and I were living together and finally sort of had our business together, we started buying clothes at the Gap, and we felt pretty damn snazzy. Most of my life, I did shop at Old Navy with my mom, and I loved the wall of flip flops.

Seriously, if you don't love the wall of cheap flip flops, we probably just won't get eachother. A whole rainbow of barely there footwear? Just heaven.

Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic are three levels of the same company, that go from pretty damn cheap and casual to business and a little more high end (still pretty affordable). Old Navy and Gap are great at capturing that mass appeal- they have pretty useful stuff for everyone (including kids- I know lots of people who swear by Old Navy), and none of it is all that expensive (just nice enough to make 2 kids in their 20's feel on point).

So how does a mega company make enough stuff that can stay relatively on trend and still keep prices low? A rainbow of 1 dollar flip flops cheap?

Well, you send all of your manufacturing to places that can make it cheap. Sweatshop cheap.

Gap was founded by Donald and Doris Fisher in California in 1969, and their family continues to be deeply involved in the huge international company's business.

Gap especially is known for its sometimes genius branding. I mean, you can see the white background and the people in jeans, right? Though they portray an All-American image, none of their clothing is made in America. This on its own is a bummer- moving manufacturing abroad takes jobs away from American people and it adds tons of fossil fuels and other shipping waste to its process from raw materials to stores. But worst of all, in this company's case, is that their outsourcing of labor has led them (and in turn, all of us) to fund sweatshops and grossly mistreated labor.

Since 2003, there have been multiple very serious incidents where Gap was essentially caught in this mistreatment- sweatshop workers in Saipan were forced to work extreme overtime in unsafe conditions and were even subject to forced abortions.

That's right. Forced abortions. If you are pro-life, should you support this company? If you are pro-choice, should you support them? The answer seems obvious to me.

A few years later, one of their suppliers (Western in Jordan) was caught using child labor, forcing a 109 hour work week, and even raping employees. A few years after that, an Indian factory was filmed revealing child labor. Want to read more about these situations? There is lots of information out there- start here, here, and here.

Gap did make efforts to correct these situations, but when safety proposals were attempted in India, Gap rejected it, fighting to keep unsafe factories open, to undermine inspectors, and retaining unethical labor (especially through contracting, where they benefit from super cheap labor but can turn a blind eye to working conditions) throughout their supply chain.

They refused an agreement to protect their workers from tragically unsafe working conditions. They would rather see another factory burn to the ground. Let that set in, because that's what you are getting with your rainbow flip flops and t-shirts.

Everytime we buy something, we tell the company selling it (and the larger market) "This is ok with me." So you need to ask yourself whether you want your t-shirts to come with this kind of ethical and moral baggage.

1. For Everyone- Buy Less and Buy Used

If you don't want to fund this unchristian, unethical, and ugly set of practices, but you need something and aren't rolling in the dough, your best bet is buying consignment. Always. But before we get to that, you might consider redefining what constitutes "need." As the fashion industry only gets faster and cheaper, there's a constant suggestion that you don't have enough, or that you have to have a MTV cribs style mega closet before you have everything you need. Just not true. You are better off taking what you already have to a tailor than buying a bunch of new stuff.

My guess is that at least half of Old Navy's income is impulse buys. You didn't need shorts, but now that you see them, they look cute (and are on sale) so why not. They make more money, you feel like you got a deal, and those shorts will be worn out in a summer or two. This is a huge waste of money that you could spend on so many other things, so why not just skip it? If you want to cut down on random spending, start making a list and then change your first stop for shopping-

Before my first son was born, about 96% of my wardrobe was new, with a few hand me downs and consignment pieces sprinkled in. Now that I am trying to do right as a steward of the Earth, everything I have bought is about 90% used 10% new (mostly organic and fair-trade underwear from Pact). My kids' wardrobes are probably 95% used.

This works perfectly for us, and I think it would work for most of us. For every 4 things you buy for your wardrobe, 3 should be used. It's a high bar, but the more you stretch to reach it, the more good you do.

Buying clothes used had a stigma around it when we were kids (it was like the bottom of the barrel, and even know people from home will talk about it only in terms of "charitable giving"), but in this world of fast fashion, people now throw away tons of clothes every year. There is tons of barely used clothing donated or even worse, thrown away. That means a lot of waste, a lot of unnecessary fossil fuel use, and a TON of labor stories just like one's like the Gap and Old Navy. Buying new from these companies and then donating it only deepens cycles of poverty globally.

Trust me, there is enough barely used clothes being thrown away that there is enough for everyone. In fact, if you can't find things you love at your local stores (or you feel like it is a huge intimidating step to start browsing), I suggest checking out sites like Thred Up, which has a huge collection of used clothes being updated everyday.

The bright side of buying consignment is that you don't have to say goodbye to the brands you love. If saying goodbye to Old Navy is giving you pangs, you can still buy this brand, just for half the price. You lose that immediacy of trends, since most things are a season or two behind, but you can choose things that will last you longer and be a little more classic anyway.

Not convinced? Let me prove it-

For Kids and Babies

City Threads- Ever since American Apparel was sold to Gildan (a rough day in these parts), City Threads has been our go to company when we need simple kids basics. It is made in America, cotton not synthetic materials, and they have lots of cute stuff (that doesn't have dumb sayings on it- why do companies think kids need stupid nonsense written across their chest at all times?).

Winter Water Factory- This brand, based in Brooklyn, is totally American-made and adorable. They have some of the cutest, coolest prints I have ever seen for kids clothing. It isn't cheap, but I have bought a few things from them, and they have been high quality and lasting.

Etsy- If you are looking for t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other baby and kid clothes, you can find really original and fun stuff on Etsy. These are a few of my favorites:


Urban Earth Co

For Men

American Giant- I love the sweatpants made by this American company. They also do simple t shirts (and basic dresses). Yes, they are more expensive, but if you buy 1 pair of great and lasting sweatpants instead of 5 over time, you will still save money.

Gustin- My husband is a huge fan of Gustin, and I would guess that is where he has spent the majority of his clothing budget since we switched to shopping ethically. The weird thing is that they make things to order, so do not order from them if you are on a time crunch! On the other hand, if you have things you know will need replaced, this is a no-waste way to get great looking and fitting
Zappos

Earnest Sewn- This brand does a small number of items for both men and women, but they all look great. Cool without trying too hard. Definitely on the expensive end, but they look classic and well-made enough to last.

AG Jeans- This is another company with lots of classic basics. I'll be honest with you, I still look st sites like this and feel like I could never splurge like this, but with sales and a change in shopping, it might be within reach.

For Women

Gilli- This is a great brand if you are looking for simple basics with a little style. You can find them on Amazon and they have a perfectly great website all their own (other super affordable amazon Made in America brands? Popana and M Rena). Blue Canoe is another great spot for slightly simpler dresses and cuts.

Zappos has a pretty huge Made in America Women's section. If you are looking to browse or find a specific made in America thing (including LOTS of jeans), this might be a fun place to start.

Mata Traders- This fair trade company sells really flattering dresses in great prints. Shopping fair trade will truly help women and laborers around the world, not continue their mistreatment.

Reformation- Ok, this store is cooler than I will ever be on my best day, and it's definitely more expensive than Old Navy, but it is worth checking out if you just want to see what is out there that is made in America.

For Made in America Jeans

Old Navy or the Gap your go to for jeans? Luckily, American-made jeans are actually still pretty easy to come by. They aren't as cheap, because no one was mistreated in their making. Here is an (ever-growing) list of American denim and their price range.

Roundhouse Jeans (30-70), LC King (50-130), Levi's (not all are made in America, but they do have a collection- 88-98), Rogue Territory (140-250), Ruell and Ray (175), Jean Shop (180-250), J Brand (180-280), Raleigh Denim Workshop (195-250), Rag and Bone (195-295), Tellason (200), Baldwin (200-550) Self Edge (250-350), Rising Sun Jeans (325)


Large companies like the Gap do employ tons of retail workers in their stores, so they definitely do some good, but that good only goes so far if their churning out of fast fashion has so many negative consequences as well. Fight back against fast fashion and stand up for American manufacturing with how you spend your money. If you want more shopping ideas, check out My Giant List of Shopping Lists.

I love a baby in bear ears, and Carters has brought the baby bear ears to another level. They sell ridiculously cute baby stuff, and like me, they truly appreciate a baby in ears. Yet, I am going to suggest we stop buying so much of this adorableness. Let me tell you why.

Carter's should be an American institution- the company was around since 1865, founded in Massachusets. By the 60's, the family-owned company had 7 mills in Massachusets and the South. The family sold the company in the 90's, and its headquarters and distribution center are located outside of Atlanta. But all of the mills are closed, and you cannot find one piece of Carter's Baby Clothes still made in America. They have shipped out the work and with it, a pretty important part of their American identity.

The company can be credited with an explosion of cute animals on baby butts and ears on baby hoods. That is not nothing, at the very least, it is super cute, but it may not be enough to recommend them. On closer inspection, Carter's may be doing more to hurt American babies' future than helping their present. Let me explain.

On their website, Carter's says they are not only the leading seller of baby clothes in the United States, but that they sell 10 pieces of clothing for every baby born in America. Having gone through the whole thing myself, that number actually seems low! Carters (and Osh Kosh B'gosh, which they also own) certainly is successful at dominating the market- you can find their stuff at every store that sells baby stuff, and they have a couple of spin off brands for different price points.

I bet we received that much Carters stuff as gifts, but we also bough a bunch of things ourselves in one pre-baby shopping spree. I mean, it's hard to be mad at the company that made the infant ewok happen:

You're welcome, Bub.

Carters may sell a lot to Americans, but they certainly aren't doing anything for American manufacturing or all that much for the American people- though they do have some community outreach, they aren't very transparent about what good they are doing here and abroad. The one (huge) bone I have to throw them is that they don't let clothes to waste- when there are extras, they do donate them. That's awesome, but I still feel conflicted about buying from them.

Carters clothing is manufactured all over the world. Well, everywhere but America. This manufacturing means that this great "American" company is giving American jobs away to someone else.

After I met my son and started to watch him grow, it really dawned on me that I am just borrowing this world from him. I don't want him to grow up in a world where Americans are only useful as consumers, and jobs become even harder to come by. I don't want him to grow up in a world where millions of tons of clothing waste are created every year. Most importantly, I don't want him to grow up thinking I condone an overworked mother somewhere else in the world making his clothes so that I can save a buck. I don't know for certain that is happening here, but I also can't be sure it isn't without better information from the company.  I know this is heavy, but after I met him, these things just mattered more, and I wish I had approached things differently before the Bub showed up.

Also, after he was around a pretty short time, I noticed you can buy onesies in any size used for about a dollar. And then your baby poops and pukes on them, so those 15 dollar onesies that say "Mommy's Future Investment Banker" make less and less sense.

So I want to shop to send a clear message- I am pro-cutesy baby clothes, but I think when you can buy it local (or American-made), you should.

I love some of Carter's stuff (not to mention those Osh Kosh overalls), and I would happily give them some of my money if they moved manufacturing back to the United States. They could even do a special line of it (maybe start with their patriotic, 4th of July summer stuff, all of which is currently Made in Elsewhere). But until then, I am done giving them my money.

Now, if you go shopping at Macy's, Target, or Kohl's, you will see a lot of Carters, and not much else. You might feel like there is no other option. You know what I am going to say here- not true! Let's look at what else you can do:

Looking sharp in all used clothing- picture cred- Jenny GG

1. Buy your Baby Clothes Used- YES. This is my #1 piece of advice to all future parents. 80-90% of your child's wardrobe in every size should be used. Buy a few pieces you love or can't find (damn you, baby socks), and everything else can be used.  You are so close to a consignment store. Maybe many. Once Upon a Child stores are opening everywhere, especially on the East Coast. If not, let me introduce you to my friend internet- Baby Outfitter and Swap.com. You also might have big community center sales or yard sales, a Buy Nothing Group, or family ready with hand me downs. It's all good. Don't love everything you get? It's alright. Take what works and gift what isn't you.

Buying used clothing doubles these tiny garments use, keeps at least one thing out of landfills, and maybe bet of all, it has traveled an incredibly short distance, so it isn't wasting the fossil fuels of an international trip! There is no more eco-friendly option, but it is also way more cost-effective.

An average Carter's outfit set is 18 dollars. You can get something similar (or exactly the same) in consignment for half that. If you need 10 minimum outfits per size that is 180 dollars a size to 90 (tops). In the first 2 years, they go through at least 5 sizes, so at an absolute bare minimum, you have saved almost 500 dollars in two years. That's an absolute minimum. Put that money toward college!

You might think that used clothes are going to look janky, but if you find a good place and shop there oftenish (once to twice a month), your baby will look great. We bought our son stuff from the Gap, J Crew, Carters, everywhere (all used), and we manage to keep him looking damn cute all the time. And he could care less, at least for now, so why not?


One more thing on this- Since I originally wrote this blog, it has become clear that one of the Carter's mainstays, fuzzy footie pajamas are pretty terrible for the environment. Those fleece pajamas use a lot of plastic microfibers, which wash out in the laundry and out into water sources. So, if you are buying used or new, I highly recommend 100% cotton pajamas instead of any of that fleece stuff. I can also tell you as a mom, those fleece things are often too hot. I will swear by Leveret cotton pajamas (second would be Hanna Anderson)- so any time you see those in consignment, scoop that business up.

City Threads from Amazon

2. City Threads- This LA-based company sells simple basics in great colors. Goes up into kid sizes as well. Most of the pieces are really simple, so they certainly don't have the panache of a pair of pants with a monkey on the butt, but I have a secret for you. No matter what you put them in, the cutest part of the ensemble will be your baby. Having some basics to mix with can keep them from looking like a carnival all of the time.

from Amazon

3. Winter Water Factory- This brand, based in Brooklyn, is totally American-made and adorable. They have some of the cutest, coolest prints I have ever seen for kids clothing. It isn't cheap, but I have bought a few things from them, and they have been high quality and lasting.

4. Etsy- Since I save so much money buying used baby clothes, I usually splurge a time or two on tremendously great pieces from Etsy stores. They have an endless supply of baby clothes (and accessories, with every geeky reference or girly persuasion you can dream up, and you get that warm fuzzy feeling of knowing you supported an American maker, not some corporate overlord.  Here are some of my favorite stores for baby clothes:

Madison Bows

Adassa Baby

Coyote Kids Clothing

The Wee Little Piggies

Garbella

Beach Town Baby

Oh Little Rabbit

My Baby Bee and Me

Hold You Me

Stitches and Soles

Violet and Sassafras

Crochet my Love

Shop Lulu and Roo

Nooches

Lola and Stella (on the expensive end)

Rocking Horse Lane

So, this is not even the tip of the iceberg. You can find any and all baby clothes on Etsy. If you haven't poked around yet, do it! Just try to order things ahead of time, because you are dealing with people, not the Prime machine, so things ship more slowly.

both from Two Crows for Joy

5. Two Crows for Joy- This online baby boutique sells all organic and Made in America baby clothes, from onesies to cloth diapers. They have really cute fabrics that are different from things I have seen anywhere else but are still really fun and appropriate for very tiny people.


And a few Bonus Ideas- I love Pact; they aren't Made in America, but they are fair trade and organic, and their baby socks cannot be beaten- stretchy, long-lasting, and super cute. Widgeon makes sweet bunting that may rival the bear ears, Taraluna beats out Halo because their sleep sacks are organic and Made in the USA but I think I like Swaddle Designs (based out of Seattle) best, Flap Happy makes sweet baby girl dresses (I think I bought one of these as a gift, and I am pretty sure it went over well).



There s so much out there, that you can supplement the inevitable (and still adorable, just not super ethical or American) Carters gifts with clothes that keep the environment cleaner and support American jobs. These little changes can add up, and we will leave a better world to the adorable munchkins who are inevitably going to do all sorts of gross things on this stuff anyway.