Going Green with our Bathroom Routine

Earth Day is just around the corner! It’s a great reminder for parents to seek out and explain more sustainable ways of living to our kids, something I want to do more of year round. Because the way I raise my kids will factor into how they raise their kids, and I want to foster a multi-generational vision for my family to care for this planet we call home.

Some simple activities you and your kids might enjoy on Earth Day (which falls on April 22nd this year, FYI) could include picking up after litter bugs (such a good lesson for kids to learn YOUNG), planting something (I plant herbs so I can cook with them all summer!), and recycle or upcycle whatever you can!

But all of those activities start outside of your home. Is there any way to celebrate Earth Day from the very beginning of your day?

For everyone with access to the wonderful world of Target, the answer is yes! Earth Day can start right in your bathroom routine this year!

I was excited to stroll into Target–the only place where I could get birthday party supplies (how is my baby already one?!), some grocery essentials AND Tom’s of Maine products (win!)–to seek out some natural products to incorporate into my morning routine. Tom’s of Maine is a brand I’ve always trusted for my kids with their fun, tasty, and natural toothpaste, but it wasn’t something I had ever tried for myself.

Enter stage right: the Tom’s of Maine Made to Matter Collection with their Wicked Cool! Deodorant. I spotted it on the shelf, popped the cap off and loved the Summer Fun smell. YES. In the basket.

It is intended for boys and girls, but I wanted to give it a try, and I loved this product for myself as a mom because it smelled amazing, felt clean, gave me 24-hour odor protection, and kept my little ones far away from the chemicals in most conventional deodorants.

I remember having a conversation with my midwife at my 6-week after-baby checkup about how (in her opinion) all adults should use natural deodorant, but especially breastfeeding moms. I, of course, had a newborn baby and a thousand things to learn, so deodorant was not at the top of my list. But I regret not making that switch sooner because as moms, we have our nurslings nestled up to us so much in a day, and every time, we are exposing them to whatever we’re wearing on our skin–which is sometimes toxic, and we don’t even realize it!

So why do I love my new Wicked Cool! Deodorant from Tom’s of Maine? It is free of aluminum, parabens, and artificial fragrances- and I am confident as I wear it along with a sleeveless shirt while I play in all kinds of crazy ways with my toddler as well as snuggle up and breastfeed my baby. Also, the price for this deodorant is actually less than the kind I used to get AND I do not have to go to a special healthy-type store to purchase it!

While I was at Target, I figured I’d get my husband on board with our Earth Day in the bathroom initiative this year and I snagged him some North Woods Men’s Antiperspirant. It’s Tom’s of Maine’s first natural antiperspirant made for men, which is perfect because it’s definitely the first natural antiperspirant that my husband has ever tried. He was skeptical that a natural product could hold up to a long day of work for him, but he found it to be 100% effective. So while he liked the way it worked and smelled, I loved that is  was free of petrochemicals and artificial fragrances. Look, Ma, we’re going green!