I read this book and liked quite a bit, but felt it wasn't really geared towards the every day person. I have a decent income, yet it overwhelmed me on it's push to buy, buy, buy to keep my family safe. It wasn't until I was almost finished that I realized his Hollywood connection, but it had seemed incredulous up to that point how he'd attracted so many celebrities as just a non-profit green guy.
All that namedropping made it harder to see the book as aimed at everyday people (I wanted to see regular people talking about their changes and making it work, not people with millions to work with). Several of the shops mentioned in the resources section for places to buy from "just happened" to be owned by celebrities. A lot of the items mentioned as critical were really advertorial for specific brands and of course very expensive. There were a few homemade recipes & ideas, but just as many pushes for things that are a financial stretch for many people. A lot of cheap greener living items were barely touched on. Cloth diapers were a tiny paragraph and not given much kudos yet that is a huge item that is feasible for any income level. Only 1 of the 4 diaper brands listed in the resources was cloth.
The intention was there, but IMO there are other books by regular people that are more inspiring, more realistic in what you're able to do time-wise and financially and still be as green and safe as you can.
I've been receiving e-newsletters from HealthyChild.org since the birth of my first child two years ago. So I was thrilled when I got word that they'd published a book. I immediately ordered three copies (one for myself, two for friends), sight unseen. Got the book yesterday, sat up most of the night pouring over it. The verdict? Excellent.
Seriously, this book is exactly what I've been looking for. I've been pretty disappointed with the majority of books targeted at parents that bill themselves as "green" or "eco." Many of them look gorgeous -printed on recycled paper with lots of pretty, glossy photo spreads. Some of them take on a "holier than thou" tone that I find to be a big turn off. And most of them skimp on the concrete details and information we parents need to make the right choices for our families.
Healthy Child, Healthy World is filled with good, solid information to help any parent navigate the complexities of raising a child in a world over-burdened by chemicals. It provides helpful buyer and information resources in the back. And while it does include anecdotal celebrity cameos throughout, I didn't feel like I had to belong to an exclusive club (or be fabulously wealthy) in order to heed much of the advice in the book. Best of all, where most books of this sort leave me feeling wretched and panicked by the time I've finished reading them ("I've poisoned my child!"), this book left me feeling empowered.
Happy Reading!
Buy Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home Now
Healthy Child Healthy World is an excellent, comprehensive resource for living a cleaner, greener life not only for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren too!
It simply spells out what we CAN do right now to get the toxins out of our lives. For example, on page 159, the author gives alternatives to traditional mosquito repellents. Two actual brand names of natural repellents are given which have been found to be effective. Another tip he gives is to plant scented geraniums, lemon thyme, marigold, and basil next to our homes to repel the bugs.
There are many, many jewels of information in this book. Some examples include, a recipe for homemade soft scrub(ber), running your water on cold first thing in the morning flushes out lead from pipes (from older houses), a recipe for an all-natural pest killer for your garden, a list of safe and unsafe seafood to consume, and how to know if your produce is conventional, organic, or genetically modified by looking at the PLU#.
From the food we eat to choosing toys and clothes, even raising a green pet, everything is covered in this book. It is well-laid out, easy to read, with tips throughout to put you into action.
The chapters are as follows:
Introduction. Your (Kid's) Health is Your Wealth
Chapter 1. Doing the Bump: Preparing for Baby
Chapter 2. Cleanup Time: Safe Suds and a Greener Clean
Chapter 3. A Clean Plate: Choosing, Eating, and Storing Healthier Food
Chapter 4. The Beauty Part: Natural Body Care
Chapter 5. Child's Play: Safer Toys, Gear, and Clothing
Chapter 6. Splendor in the Grass: Greener Gardens, Yards, and Outdoor Spaces
Chapter 7. Every Sip-and Breath-You Take: Clean Water and Air Solutions
Chapter 8. BFF: Raising a Green Pet
Chapter 9. Safe House: Healthy Home Improvement
Chapter 10: It's All Good: How to Grow Your Impact
I highly recommend this book to every parent AND grandparent! Thank you Christopher Gavigan for putting together such a comprehensive resource and guidebook!
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Healthy Child Healthy World teaches everyone about the chemicals we are exposed to in our pet products, cleaning supplies, food, landscape, body care products, plastic items and more AND it gives easy soultions to every problem it illuminates. Rather than feel overwhelmed, I learned so much from this book and feel empowered to make simple changes that I know will help protect my family's health now and in the future. Essenial reading for all!
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As a new parent I have certainly experienced the urge to do everything I can to provide a good environment for my little girl. The fun part of the job is trying to make her feel secure in our love which seems as natural a thing as there could be. The harder part is providing her a safe and healthy environment to grow and thrive in today's world. The problem there lies in finding the relevant information and corresponding suggestions regarding how to implement changes that will positively impact our family without driving us crazy. The answers to these issues can be found in this book by Mr. Gavigan. It provides what could be an overwhelming amount of information in a way that it can be easily digested and referenced over time. It also emphasizes the importance of taking the little steps over making complete lifestyle changes that would cause even the most resolute parents among us cower. I would recommend this book for personal use or as a gift without reservation.
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This book is the first one I've read on Ayurveda which makes immediate sence. Written in a practical straight forward way, It is obvious the author genuinely cares about his readers.
