I won’t even go into my car seat drama, but suffice it to say I ended up going through more hunks of plastic than strictly necessary. In our upcoming book (The Eco-nomical Baby Guide), we suggest purchasing an all-in-one car seat to avoid putting a strain on the planet. These seats “grow with the baby” and are supposed to work from birth until your child no longer needs a car seat or booster at all.

Why did I not do this? My only excuse is that I just wasn’t aware of the choices at the time. My search found just three all-in-one car seats, but they all look like great options if you want to avoid buying a new seat every couple years.

Safety 1st All-In-One Convertible Car Seat

$120—83% off!

• 5-35 lbs Rear Facing; 22-40 lbs Front Facing; 40-80 lbs Belt Positioning Booster
• QuickFit Harness System allows for easy adjustments for harness height up-front
• 5 Point Harness with easy push button buckle
• LATCH equipped

Evenflo Symphony 65 with Surelatch All In One Seat

$199.99

• Side impact tested
• SureLatch technology, which installs your seat to your vehicle as easily as buckling a seat-belt.
• Accommodates children from 5-35 pounds, rear-facing, 20 – 65 pounds forward-facing, up to 100 pounds, as a booster

Safety 1st 3 Phase Convertible Car Seat

$69.98 (46% off)

• Rear facing with the five point harness form 5-35 lbs and at least one year, forward facing from 22-40 lbs., as a belt-positioning booster from 40-80 lbs.
• The child can use the car seat up to 52 inches

If anyone has tried any of these seats (or another one we haven’t mentioned), we’re all ears. Has anyone out there managed to use just one car seat? We want to hear about it!

In search of an eco-friendly car seat, I ran across the latest must-have baby accessory: organic car seat covers. That’s right—you simply take the horrible polyester cover that came with your car seat, throw it away, and buy your baby a bamboo infant car seat liner ($40). Too cheap for your precious bundle? You may be interested in the Itzy Ritzy Baby Ritzy Rider in Organic Baby Bamboo Infant Car Seat Cover ($110) or perhaps the organic wool car seat cover ($99.95). Never mind that they cost just as much as the car seat itself!

All right, to be fair, some babies may be especially sensitive to toxins in the fabric of regular car seat covers. And it wouldn’t be a bad idea for car seat manufacturers to use natural materials in their products. But we’ll save our money for a car seat made out recycled milk jugs!

Today marks our final in a series of posts dedicated to saving cash while keeping the environment in mind.  (Check here, here, and here for some great frugal blog resources to support your money saving efforts.)  Over the past two years we’ve written dozens of posts on budget friendly, earth friendly practices, but we’ve picked our favorites to help you save money in 2010.

• Did you know that there’s one brand of high quality, name brand green laundry soap that’s far cheaper than even generics? Check this post to see how you can save money and the planet while tossing those yam-encrusted baby bibs into the wash.
• You can save hundreds of dollars by making homemade organic baby food, cloth diapering and breastfeeding.  All of these options are better for baby,  the environment and your budget.
• Should you register for brand new baby duds or hit yard sales for gently used garments?  You can probably guess which one we recommend!
• Why take the time and energy to cut back on family spending anyway?  Is it worth it?  Absolutely!  We explore the long term rewards of under indulgence for your family (and your child!) here.
• If you’d like to save over a thousand dollars to tuck into the college fund, you might want to start before your baby ever arrives.  Opt for secondhand duds for your maternity months and postpartum transition wardrobe.
• Does shopping organic mean that you’ll need to shell out hundreds of dollars on a weekly basis?  Not necessarily.  In fact, Rebecca feeds her entire family eat wholesome organic foods on a shoestring budget without too much effort.  Learn how she does it here.
• Those of us living without dishwashers use far more water and soap than our Maytag-owning peers.  What are some simple ways to save water and conserve suds?  Rebecca takes a careful look at the problem here.

Does all that penny pinching add up?  You’ll be happy to know that because of all that careful thrift, Rebecca just graduated into the dishwasher-owner category after an arduous kitchen remodel.  I am still dreaming of slipping my peanut butter covered spoons into the silverware slot of my newfangled Maytag someday, but for now I shall make good use of Rebecca’s dishwashing research!

My son is intelligent, funny, and has the bladder capacity of a small elephant.  From his first few months on this planet we’ve been unable to layer enough cloth diapers on him to keep him from leaking at night.   We tried doubling, using wool and fleece liners, and using pocket diapers with an extra liner.

The results were mixed—but all bad.  He ended up with wet sheets, yeast infections, and lots less sleep.  Finally, after several dozen attempts, we just surrendered to using disposable diapers at night.

Now with our second child, I was determined to try again with cloth at night.  She doesn’t have the huge bladder of her brother, but even if she did, I think the new hemp liners we’ve been using might be able to handle it.  They wick away the moisture, absorb quite a lot, and are a natural fabric that breathes nicely.  We’ve never had any yeast issues while using the hemp liners and being wet hasn’t woken her up.  (Oh, she’s up regularly!  But it doesn’t seem to correlate to the dampness of her diaper.)

A friend actually made us our  liners using a serger sewing machine and some thick hemp fabric–which seems to be the cheapest solution for talented seamstresses.  If you’d like to order a few, check out hemp inserts from Thirsties, Willow Sprouts, or Green Acre Designs.

So, in review, our fabulous nighttime solution is a diaper cover, a prefold, and a hemp liner closest to baby’s bottom. We hope that yeast doesn’t become a problem once again but we’ll keep you posted if it reappears.  Have you had issues with yeast or leakage at night?

It’s official.  Our daughter has started solids and consequently has entered the “gross poops” stage of cloth diapering.  We dunk and rinse in the toilet, but as much as we love cloth diapering, this phase isn’t exactly delightful.

Liners are available so that solid waste and the thin layer of paper can simply be dumped into the toilet and flushed away.  Imse Vimse, Biosoft, Real Nappies, and Kushies all offer flushable liners.  Have you used them and had good results?

Believe it or not, when your baby is just wet instead of poopy, the flushable liners can be laundered and reused which means that just one pack can last for quite awhile.  Have you found flushable diaper liners to be worth the expense? Do they prevent toilet dunking?

The world of eco-friendly baby products is a quickly-changing one. Just months ago, Joy was expecting her second child. In her confessional post, she admitted that she couldn’t bear spending so much more for an organic crib mattress. Our readers assured her that she needn’t feel guilty. But now, just a few months later, there are several very affordable “greener” mattresses on the market! Look at the ones we found:

Sealy Baby Ultra Rest Mattress $70 (21% off!)

This mattress has three non-allergenic layers. The top layer provides a plush, soft sleeping surface for baby.

Kolcraft EM782-LEC1 Sealy Naturalis Crib Mattress with Organic Cotton $88 (20% off)

Made from 150 interwoven steel coils and certified organic cotton certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A hypoallergenic sleeping layer and a protective wrap prevents allergens from clinging to the mattress.

Sealy Naturalis Crib Mattress with Organic Cotton $90 (25% off)

The Sealy Naturalis Crib Mattress with organic cotton includes naturally harvested and handled organic cotton and a hypoallergenic sleeping layer plus protective wrap for support and comfort.

*Our top pick!* Sealy Soybean Foam-Core Crib Mattress $149.

Uses a renewable resource—soybeans!—instead of relying on crude oils. This soy-based high-density foam doesn’t sag. The cover prevents allergens from clinging to the mattress.

Colgate Eco Classica I Crib Mattress $189

Made from plant-based materials instead of petroleum products.

DaVinci Organic Willow Mattress $209

The Willow mattress is made from a natural coconut palm fiber and latex-free foam to create a completely organic inner foundation that supports your baby’s sleep. It can be used on both sides.

If any of our faithful readers have tried one of these mattresses, we welcome your reviews! Did you find an eco-friendly option we haven’t mentioned? Or did you manage to forgo the crib altogether, opting to co-sleep with your baby? What worked for you?

Both Joy and I chose secondhand cribs for our little ones—a very green but actually controversial decision. Many safety experts warn new parents to never, ever, ever use a previously-owned crib. You could lose the directions, assemble it wrong, or inadvertently buy a recalled product.  After weighing the options, we felt fine about our secondhand cribs, which we discuss in more detail in our upcoming book, The Eco-nomical Baby Guide.

However, we realize that some people do want to buy a new crib—and they want something “green.” A green crib should use earth-friendly materials that don’t contain noxious glues or paints that can damage baby’s little respiratory system. We found a few options that range from affordable to . . . well, not-so-affordable. But the best part is, you don’t necessarily need to pay more than you would for a conventional crib.

DaVinci Alpha Mini Rocking Crib $149

A mini-crib made from sustainable pine. Formaldehyde- and BPA-free.

Graco Eco-Friendly Dakota Classic 4 in 1 Convertible Crib $200

Our bargain find! For only $200 you can snag this crib made from woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Finishes are water-based and packaging is from recycled materials. Converts to toddler and day bed for extended use.

Atlantic Furniture Eco-Friendly Richmond Convertible Crib $400

Transitions from a crib to a toddler bed to a daybed to a platform bed for your teenager! Made out of eco-friendly hardwood.

Babi Italia Eco-Friendly Baby Crib $600

This FSC-certified crib is an oval shape, “providing a 360-degree view” of your baby’s room.

Hiya Crib $675-925

These cribs are stylish, and that comes at a price. They use low-VOC non-toxic paints and MDF made from recycled/reclaimed materials.

If any of you have purchased one of these cribs, please chime in with your reviews! And for those of you still on the hunt for the perfect crib, here’s the place to discuss the options with other green-minded parents. Stay tuned for affordable organic crib mattress options!

What are you hoping you’ll receive for baby this year?  A new batch of cloth diapers, a bit of free babysitting, or an eco-friendly rattle?  Please tell us what you’re wishing for.  (Then you can strategically tell friends and family to read your comments!)

Cute eco-friendly rattle–just $7!

Want to skip the fluorescent plastic and flashing lights in the trinkets you tuck into baby’s stocking?  Thankfully you have several eco-friendly options that will keep baby happily entertained without the planetary impact.

Wooden Rattles. Sassy has a great line of Earth Brights toys which include the wooden Cherry Tree Rattle.  The combination of colorful fabrics and natural wood creates a nice contrast.  The natural wood crescent rattle by Green Sprouts is simple, affordable and attractive, while the natural wood hedgehog baby rattle by ImagiPlay is also a good pick for its simple design and easy function.

Fabric Rattles.  Sevi has a playful line of plush dog, turtle, chicken, fish, and butterfly rattles that will keep you and baby entertained for hours.  Wonderworld has a variety of rattles, and small toys made from eco-friendly rubber, non-toxic paints and biodegradable fabrics.  Their designs are colorful, innovative and quite cute.

Metal Rattles. If you’d like to shower baby with a ridiculously expensive rattle that will probably be lost within the week, you can opt for the Sterling Silver Baby Teething Ring Rattle by Lunt.  It’ll run you $80.00 a pop, but it isn’t made of plastic.  Still, it’s probably best to buy one of the others and then donate the rest to an environmental charity!

Which rattle is your baby’s favorite?  We also have a post on natural teething products that  work great as stocking stuffers.  Can you recommend any other small eco-friendly gifts for baby this year?

If you’re wondering how to shower the baby in your life with gifts this holiday season, you needn’t look further than last year’s posts on the Green Baby Guide. Here are some of our brilliant ideas, in review:

Green Baby Guide’s Gift Repository—We plug some of the companies we’ve had the pleasure of working with, such as Natural Pod, Pedoodles, and Monkey Foot Designs. We also get practical and suggest buying your bundle of joy bumGenius or Fuzzibunz diapers.

A beautiful Monkey Foot Designs wet bag for those cloth diapers!

Green Gifts for Baby on Etsy—Want a homemade onesie or knit cap without actually constructing it yourself? Etsy is the perfect way to treat your baby while supporting independent craftsters.

Affordable Kitchen Play Set—In this post I showed how I put together a few toys to create a play kitchen for my daughter.

Melissa & Doug Food Groups Set for Your Child’s Play Kitchen

Affordable BPA-free Sippy Cups—Joy finds a few sippy cups without BPA—all for just a few bucks.

Unexpectedly Green Holiday Gifts for Baby—In this post you will discover just how cheap . . . I mean meaningful . . . we can make our holidays.

Gifts of Experience—Do you really need to buy another toy or blanket? Read this post for alternate ideas. 

And more old holiday musings from the Green Baby Guide:

Baked Christmas Dough Ornaments

My Gift Wrap Closet

Vegetarian Holiday Recipes

The Christmas Tree Dilemma

Reusing Baby Food Jars for Holiday Gifts

We hope you enjoyed taking that little trip down memory lane. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!