Green from the get-go
MOTHER NATURE | Organic food, clothing and accessories, all with the youngest set in mind
Chicago parents are increasingly turning to the all-natural goodness of Mother Earth to feed, swaddle and clothe their babies.
Today's tots are sleeping on organic cotton sheets, wearing organic fiber onesies and organic hemp diapers, and eating organic foods, some of it locally grown. Once a fringe and expensive lifestyle choice, organic products now are mainstream and more affordable, sold at stores such as Jewel and Target.
That hasn't stopped specialty stores selling organic baby products from popping up locally. Environmentalist Jennifer Leaphart of west suburban Westchester started producing organic cotton baby onesies and T-shirts with slogans like "World's Best Alarm Clock" in November 2005, following the birth of her second son. In June, she parlayed the brand into the Baby Blend Natural BouTEEque in Oak Park.
Leaphart believes organic foods and products have clear advantages, and not just for the babies.
"You're not putting pesticides or insecticides or other chemicals into your baby's body," she said. "And it's much better for the earth, for farming practices and farmers' health."
Leaphart said her shirts and onesies initially sold because of their snappy messages, but now more customers are specifically seeking out organic products.
"Because it's more mainstream, people are realizing they can do it," she said. "It's more realistic and it's not as expensive as it was."
The bland beige-colored organic clothing is a thing of the past, said Kathy Poehlmann, co-owner of Be By Baby, a Lake View store stocked with organic dolls, clothes, diapers, wraps and slings, among other organic products.
"Things can be really cute in organics," she said.
Poehlmann said Be By Baby is a destination for those seeking organic products, especially the store's selection of natural baby soap, diaper rash cream and oil for stretch marks. And while organic might cost more, it's not much more, she said.
Babies aren't just wearing organics -- they're eating them. Organic baby food is the fastest-growing segment of the baby food market. A 2006 report by AC Nielsen said organic baby food products increased 11 percent in dollar sales that year. Baby food giant Gerber released its organic line in 2006, adding its organic cereals, fruits and veggies and milk to other organic brands like Tender Harvest and Earth's Best.
Albany Park mom Dori Boneck's 20-month-old daughter Madeleine inspired her first business venture, a line of locally farmed, organic baby foods frozen into cubes. Boneck sells Maddy's Organic Meals at the Southport Green Market on Saturdays and at Southport Grocery. She's working to start an online business.
"It's crucial in the beginnings for their systems," she said of babies and organic foods. "There's definitely the interest out there."
Sometimes it's hard to tell if it's really organic
The organic business is booming, but how can you make sure you're getting what you're paying for? And are organic products really better for you?
The U.S. Agriculture Department has strict standards for foods labeled organic, and levies hefty fines for those who violate them. Foods called organic must be at least 95 percent organic, or farmed without toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Organic foods must also be free of antibiotics and synthetic hormones.
There is no national organic standard for other organic products, like baby blankets and clothes. Organic cotton, wool and other fibers are subject to the same pesticide-free rules as organic foods, but the process of taking that raw material and turning it into a product is not regulated. There are voluntary standards in place, said Barbara Haumann of the Organic Trade Association.
It hasn't been scientifically proven that organic foods are better in terms of safety or nutrition, said Dr. Rebecca Unger, a pediatrician with the Northwestern Children's Practice who enjoys buying organic produce at Chicago's farmers markets.
"There is a difference for the environment," Unger said. "It's better for the earth, better for the environment, and ultimately that can benefit us."
