by Ali Wing, CEO of giggle

Single-handedly saving the planet is a tall order for any busy mom. But luckily what’s good for the earth is good for your baby, too—whether it’s protecting his or her future or making sure the home environment is pure and healthy. Here are some easy ways to go green without going overboard.

Choose diapers wisely. Whether to use cloth diapers or disposable is a hotly debated topic: Disposable diapers pollute, while cloth diapers use a lot of water resources. But now there’s a compromise: cloth diaper covers with disposable inserts that work like a sanitary napkin, minimizing what gets thrown away every day. The most responsible versions even make biodegradable inserts. Look for brands like Tushies™, Bambino Mio™ and GDiapers™.

Buy domestic. With fuel prices dramatically on the rise, more and more consumers are buying local in reaction to the increased cost of importing. Economics and politics aside, buying a crib that doesn’t have to be shipped around the globe helps preserve energy and is a great way to go green.

Buy good cleaning supplies. Make sure your "sensitive" cleaning products are nontoxic, for your baby’s health, and biodegradable, for the planet’s health. Caldrea makes wonderful cleaning products that are nontoxic, biodegradable, and work great, too.

Recycle. Hand-me-downs are back! Join the new wave of eco-minded moms who realize that clothes that are outgrown in less than three months can be shared and shared again. We don’t recommend reusing any products with health or safety considerations, such as cribs, mattresses, bedding, or car seats. But there are still plenty of other ways to cut down on the amount of "stuff" going into the landfills. Toys, books, and "gear" items are great places to conserve. Borrow, reuse, and pass them on when you’re done!

Use safer paints. Look for paints that have low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). This type of paint minimizes emissions, which not only ensures better breathing for your baby but also is more gentle to our ozone. Great news: Most major paint lines today offer a wide color palette in no- and low-VOC paints.

Invest in glass baby bottles. Not sure about BPA issues? Confused by all the conversations about plastics? Opt out of the debate (and meanwhile lessen the demand for plastics) by going with glass bottles for milk and formula.