Smart Mama's Green Guide: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Child's Toxic Chemical Exposure

by Jennifer Taggart

Parents often feel overwhelmed and defenseless against a never-ending recall list of toys and baby products. Deciphering unpronounceable chemicals they encounter every day can be daunting if not impossible. With environmental exposures being closely linked to 70 percent of birth defects, new parents faced with the overwhelming responsibility for their babies' health frequently turn to organic products. But they quickly find they don't have the time to practice a completely green or natural lifestyle.

THE SMART MAMA'S GREEN GUIDE delivers the information busy parents want and the tools to make informed, individual choices without the demand to go all-out green. Packed with practical tips on eliminating or reducing the hidden dangers of toxic chemicals that lurk everywhere, this book will empower readers to control what comes into their homes and make informed decisions instead of relying on government regulation of harmful chemicals.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2009

Reviews

[Kristie J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving myself credit for reading this book although I starting skimming after the first 80 pages. This is a comprehensive guide to every toxic substance your baby could possibly come into contact with in your home. The author, who I believe I read is an environmental lawyer(?), explains in detail what each toxin is, where it comes from, safe exposure limits from the EPA, how much of the toxin is harmful, what happened in toxicity studies for that substance, etc. It's a bit dense and maybe a bit over-the-top (lots of children grow up in less than perfect conditions and are fine), but there is some good advice here. I especially liked the part about not needing to buy antibacterial products because plain old soap and water are just as effective.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this through GoodReads FirstReads. Author Jennifer Taggart does a thorough job at covering a wide variety of toxic chemicals that your child may be exposed to, and gives many suggestions and ideas for reducing exposure. Items covered include things in your house (radon, flame retardants, mold, etc); lead exposure from a variety of sources; plastics and phthalates; foods (organics produce, mercury in fish, etc); toxic household cleaners, chemicals and pesticides, etc. But while the author gives many good suggestions, my main thought is that a new parent could very easily be completely overwhelmed by all the things listed in this book as being possibly harmful to their child. In addition to a multitude of warnings for the items listed above, the book also includes many other warnings and recommendations, such as to avoid microwave popcorn, talcum powder, antibacterial soap, any product with fragrance, and even warns against plastic in high chairs. I think this book is a good reference, and if a parent has a concern about a specific thing there are useful suggestions for limiting exposure, but there is just too much here for any new mom to deal with all at once. Living a healthy green lifestyle doesn't have to be "all or nothing". Small steps and changes made over time can be useful too.

[DFZ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a well-intentioned, informative book gone horribly awry. Instead of alerting parents to the dangers of certain chemicals and showing ways to avoid exposure/overexposure in a concise manner, it was a lengthy book that read like an unending procession of horrors. It was alarmist and I felt tense, not informed, while reading it.
To be fair, it does present a wide range of detailed information. It seems to be very well-researched and thought out. However, I take issue with the manner of execution. The book is not an easy read, so I feel that a shorter length would make it a bit easier for busy parents to get through. In addition, the value of the knowledge she was imparting was overshadowed by the way it was presented. Yes, this is alarming stuff and it should not be sugarcoated. Yes, you should take steps to protect your children from unnecessary exposure to harmful substances. Should a book make you aware of the dangers and make you feel helpless to stop it? No, it should not, and there should be a way to alerting parents to the dangers of various plastics and other hazards in a somewhat softer manner.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was happy to receive this book free from the Goodreads giveaways. I thought it would be right up my alley of trying for a greener way of parenting. I was wrong. I had to force myself to finish it. I was very turned off by Taggart's alarmist style and bored by her dry prose. While the book contains a lot of good information, you have to slog through far too much text to find it. A chart of things to avoid and recommended products/companies would have made the book much more helpful. I also did not like that Taggart did not take into consideration that many "natural" products containing nut oils, essential flower oils or other food ingredients can cause dangerous reactions in children that are allergic to them.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is packed with information despite being only 217 pages. There is a lot of information, but having the book handy will be helpful. It is written in a way you can read it front to back or just use either the table of contents or index to find specific parts of current interest. I would suggest this not only for people planning on children or who have children, but also for people without children just interested in reducing toxins around themselves.

[aubrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

no. i would definitely not recommend this book. i didn't understand where the STEPS part came into play in this book. it was just a lot of horribly, scary facts of what toxic chemicals we breathe, put on our bodies, put in our bodies, have in every product we use or sleep on or wear. and no hope. no tips. just the facts and good luck. no, not even good luck. just the facts. dumb. i just got the book Raising Baby Green which is what Sarah recommended as an alternative to this book.

[Libby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Won a free copy of this!! Excited about reading and then reviewing!

Stopped around chapter 3--not sure if I will get back to or not...I don't find it too terribly alarmist, but I just don't have the time or motivation to make all the changes suggested, and this may be a case of "ignorance is bliss."

[Amber Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of smart practical ideas, written in a very straightforward manner. Not my usual fare, but I enjoyed it very much, and though I currently have no children, I'd definitely keep this book in mind when and if I would decide to start a family.

[Michelle Lemaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow!!!! I just won ANOTHER book! Thank you Goodreads and Goodreads publishers!