October 2022 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Scaredy Cat

growingupsc — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:26:44 +0000

Scaredy Cat Submit your coloring page for a chance to be in our paper Editor@growingupsc.com More Coloring Pages

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John McKinley

growingupsc — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:21:48 +0000

John McKinley Local Artist Hello! I’m a cartoonist and illustrator from Aptos specializing in fun and quirky characters. My work has appeared in many publications, including the picture book Monster Academy and the popular Ready, Freddy series from Scholastic Books. I started drawing at a very early age and always knew I wanted to be an artist. Drawing skills improve with practice, so I recommend kids keep a sketchbook handy. When you fill up one sketchbook , start a new one! You can really see improvement over time. I will be participating in the Santa Cruz Arts Council Open Studios Tour in October. I’ll be open the weekends of Oct. 8-9th and Oct.15-16th from 10am-5pm each day. Follow the bright green signs to studio #289. I’ll be showing some of my latest creations! Or visit me on the web at www.mckinleyink.com and Instagram @johnmckinleyart. Read More Local Artist Articles

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Financial Savvy

growingupsc — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:16:05 +0000

Five Estate Planning Myths by Shelli Strahle As parents and as partners, we work hard to provide the best opportunities for our children and to make sure our partners will be okay if something happens to us, but are we following through when it really matters? Myth #1: My child is protected because I have life insurance.You took out a $500,000 life insurance policy. Life insurance is a great way to provide liquidity in the event of your untimely demise. However, life insurance will not pay out to a minor. In the absence of a living trust with an adult trustee in charge, the funds will be frozen until an expensive and time-consuming Guardianship of the Estate proceeding is completed. The Guardian may have to request funds from a blocked account or be bonded. Once your child turns eighteen, he or she will have access to all the funds at once with no oversight. Myth #2: My spouse will inherit everything so we do not need a living trust or estate plan. Are you and your spouse both on title on your accounts? Frequently, married couples are both on title for real estate, but when it comes to banking or investing, many couples have individual accounts or business accounts. If the total value of all accounts is over $184,500, these accounts will be frozen upon death. The surviving spouse completely loses access to them. Probate or a Spousal Property Petition will be required in order to transfer the assets. Business accounts can be even more complicated depending on the situation. Just because you are married does not automatically mean that you inherit or that you will continue to have access to everything. The fantastic aspect of having a living trust in place is that even if your assets are not titled in trust, they can easily be transferred to trust by court order. Myth #3:I don’t need a living trust. I am not wealthy. I only own a house.The average home value in Santa Cruz County is over $1.4 million. When there is no living trust in place and real property is passing to someone who is not on title, the estate must go through Probate. Probate is a tedious court process that can take between five and twelve months to complete. Ordinary probate fees start at 4% of the fair market value of the real property at death even if there is a lien against the house. Mortgages do not reduce these fees. It will cost $27,000 to probate a $1.4 million estate. If there are other assets, the fee will be higher. This amount does not include filing fees, publication fees, appraisal fees, executor fees, or extraordinary fees. Probate subjects the estate to creditors, whereas living trusts can protect against certain debts such as Medi-Cal reimbursements. Administering a living trust post-death is usually easier, faster, and cheaper than Probate. Myth #4:This is my common law spouse so we do not need to do any estate planning.Common law marriage does not exist in California. Let me repeat that. There is no law giving rights to individuals who live together for a long time in California. This is a myth! If you want your non-spouse partner to inherit instead of your family, you need to create an estate plan and put it in writing. Myth #5:I have a will so my family is protected.Probate means “to prove” in Latin. Wills must be probated and proven to be valid in Court. Therefore, in many circumstances, you will not avoid Probate with a will if you have over $184,500 in assets. Moreover, your minor child cannot inherit the funds outright in Probate. When your child turns eighteen, he or she will inherit everything outright all at once and will thoroughly enjoy the new Ferrari. Many people with young children, property, or both delay setting up an estate plan for fear of facing mortality, fear of making decisions, or fear of the associated costs. Setting up an estate plan is a gift for your loved ones. Protect them when it matters most. Shelli Strahle is a local mom and the founding attorney of Strahle Legacy Planning Law Offices in Capitola, California. Ms. Strahle can be reached at Shelli@SantaCruzEstatePlanning.com or (831) 621-2165. Strahle Legacy Planning focuses on Living Trusts, Wills, Trust Administration, and Probate. Read More Articles

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Fall Craft

growingupsc — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:07:36 +0000

Spooky Fall Creations By Carmen Clark There are so many fun Halloween projects to do; from costume making to home decor, it’s hard to know where to start! These two paintings are simple and fun, and hopefully, the supplies needed are already in your art box or easily attainable. Both these projects use watercolors, which really allows the colors to overlap and create layers of colors. Watercolor and Crayon Spider Web Materials: White paper, white crayon, watercolor paints Because crayon is made with wax, it repels water, so when you put crayon on paper and then paint over it, the water will leave the crayon alone. This is especially fun when using a white crayon on a white piece of paper; the littles get a kick out of it, like it’s magic, and I never bother to dissuade them. 1) Draw a spider web, pressing with medium pressure – you don’t want to break the crayon, but you want to make sure it’s nice and thick. How to draw a simple spider web: Draw 6 lines radiating from a middle point on the paper. Start at that middle point and draw circles spiraling out from that point. Think of a color scheme, maybe it’s blues and purples, or maybe it’s autumn colors. Using a very wet brush, paint the colors on the paper. The spider web will emerge, white like the crayon, while the rest of the paper becomes colorful. Autumn Cat Materials: White paper, watercolor paints, black sharpie or permanent pen You will be using yellow, orange, and red colors (I’ve seen this with blues and greens and it’s just as pretty!) Start with yellow and paint a circle in the center of the paper Continue with orange and paint a larger circle around the yellow Do the same thing with red, paint around the orange, you want the red to hit the edges of your paper Remember: it’s okay for the colors to layer, it’ll create a lovely effect that is unique to watercolor paint Let the paint dry – probably not more than 5 minutes or so Using your pen or sharpie, draw a tree on one side of the paper, with a branch reaching out to the middle of the paper, where the yellow is. How to draw a simple tree: Draw a wavy line all the way up the side of the page, about ½ inch from the paper’s edge Draw a wavy line to the middle of the paper. Draw a second line above it. Use a U shape to create the branches at the end of the branch, but don’t connect them. Draw a cat in the middle of the branch. How to draw a simple cat: Draw an oval for the body. Draw a circle on top of the oval for the head. Draw two triangles for the ears. Draw a wavy line, going from the middle of the oval for the tail. Read More Articles

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Model UN

growingupsc — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:01:50 +0000

Model UN Training Conference for Local Students Hosted by Mount Madonna School By Lisa Martin Model UN is found in a handful of schools in the region, but there is an opportunity to expand this offering by helping students learn the academic and debate skills needed for successful MUN participation. On October 8, 2022, Mount Madonna School (MMS) will host a one-day Model United Nations (Model UN or MUN) Training Conference, with a singular purpose: introducing Model UN to students, grades 6-12, and developing a network of schools interested in bringing this exceptional educational program to more schools and students in the region. Model UN is found in a handful of schools in the region, but there is an opportunity to expand this offering by helping students learn the academic and debate skills needed for successful MUN participation. From this foundation, additional regional conferences can be organized. This training conference is open to middle and high school students, including those who are homeschooling. Participants will be separated into two tracks during the skill-building component of the conference. Conference organizers will provide an orientation to Model UN, skill-building workshops on research techniques, speech writing and public speaking, and will conclude with a mock debate. Participants will hear from an expert on regional sustainable agricultural practices so that they can understand how the larger global issue of sustainable agricultural practices occurs in our own community. Certificates of participation will be provided.Mount Madonna School is requesting $20 per student, but if this fee presents a challenge, please contact me at (408) 846-4029 or mun@mountmadonnaschool.org to discuss; Mount Madonna School’s goal is to make this conference possible for as many local students as possible. ContextModel UN is practiced by close to half a million middle, high school and university students around the world each year. It is a popular and engaging way to learn about complex global issues. In a MUN simulation, students assume the role of a diplomat of a foreign country and look at an issue or problem through the lens of their “adopted” country. Students then work together to forge consensus around a resolution that addresses the issue. It is both highly academic and inherently social, making it a fun way to learn about complex, multi-faceted issues. Skill DevelopmentPublic speaking and debate are most commonly associated with MUN participation, but there are other academic and soft skills that grow through Model UN participation. To successfully participate in MUN delegates must know their issue well, understand multiple perspectives, argue their point of view and be open to compromise. These include highly targeted research, writing policy briefs and resolutions, working towards consensus, active listening, negotiation and advocacy. This skill development occurs while exploring real-world issues like climate change, food security, gender equality and equal access to justice. Participants take deep dives into these content areas while simultaneously developing the skills needed to convey a particular viewpoint and find consensus that drives real solutions. Action and ImpactMount Madonna School’s MUN program focuses on the ways in which global issues play out in our region. A larger discussion on water scarcity and climate change has very real impacts on agriculture and tourism in the Monterey Bay region. Model UN can drive awareness and action on these issues by pointing students in the direction of key stakeholders and most importantly how they can be involved in actively creating change in their own communities. Lisa Martin is the lower school director at Mount Madonna School and is actively involved in the school’s Sustainable Development Goals initiative. She has spent the majority of her career overseas, teaching in the Middle East and southeast Asia. She has led a number of Model UN organizations and is an advocate for open, accessible global education opportunities for youth. She currently lives in her hometown of Watsonville.Use this QR code to register for the conference: Mount Madonna School Model UN Training Conference | Zero Hunger and Ensuring Sustainable Agriculture | October 8, 2022 Read More Parenting Articles

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Teach Peace

growingupsc — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:58:02 +0000

Teach Peace By Lisa Catterall One exercise we had to do was to use a long list of “invisible privileges” to rate ourselves and our own privilege. It was painful on an empathetic level, and for me, as a woman, and as a person who identifies as bisexual, on a very direct level as well. Many of the privileges on the list are ones that I didn’t have due to one or both of those statuses in my own life. Imagine there’s no countries, it isn’t hard to do… nothing to kill or die for –John Lennon At the beginning of this year, our administration announced that the school would focus on the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. We would have an assembly dedicated to the International Day of Peace on September 21, and we were given an explanation of all of the goals, why they are important, and how they were conceived of by the UN. I was impressed by how well each goal aligned with core learning objectives in engineering, in art, in science, in Spanish language, and in social science and literature classes. I tried to think of a way that my science and engineering classes could participate in a one-hour assembly devoted to world peace and ending racism. This years’ peace focus is on racism. It seemed nebulous, as if I knew very well those two things were related, but I wasn’t able to clearly articulate exactly how. And I wasn’t sure what my kids could create in the Fab Lab (a fab lab is a Makers’ Studio, it’s short for “fabrication lab”) that would be meaningful. I also didn’t know how I’d get kids in their more tribal years of separating from adults to embrace the idea. I thought back to my teacher training in “teaching in a multicultural society,” or something like that, when to everyone’s surprise, we spent an entire semester self-reflecting on our place in a systemically racist world. It was hard work. I’ve always wondered why that work doesn’t begin as soon as a preschooler sets foot in school. People assure me that it does, but I think it could be more direct. There’s no reason to leave a deep understanding of systemic racism to people with master’s degrees.One exercise we had to do was to use a long list of “invisible privileges” to rate ourselves and our own privilege. It was painful on an empathetic level, and for me, as a woman, and as a person who identifies as bisexual, on a very direct level as well. Many of the privileges on the list are ones that I didn’t have due to one or both of those statuses in my own life. The most chilling ones to me were little, everyday privileges of race that I took for granted. Like that “flesh colored” band aids were my color. Everyone in that class was struck awake by different statements on the list. For example, as an openly gay couple, my wife and I have never once chosen a location to go on vacation without considering whether our family might be subject to prejudice or violence. Students in the class had similar and painful discoveries about both their privilege and their lack of privilege for many reasons, and it was difficult to be confronted with it. There was no tool in that training I was sure I could share with younger students with the idea of exploring racism in our society. I didn’t feel equipped to help them through the difficult discoveries that are made in a class like that. When I listen to my high school students, I am sure they understand peace, war, violence and racism in a way I did not at their age, as they are living through a different time in history. I don’t know how deep that understanding goes in their psyche, and I don’t think my role is to peel them open and find out. I began to search for inspiration all around me, and one walked in the door as an artist who works on our campus and builds and displays art made with Lego bricks. Lego are perfect for teaching kids how to build up interesting designs in single layers, just like a 3D printer does. This artist who walked in my room had created a beautiful bonsai tree with used Lego bricks, and I thought, we could build a peace garden! I didn’t know what a “peace garden” really was, but it sounded cool, and like it must somehow fit the theme of the school for peace day. As I began to look into it, and look into how artists use Lego, and share these things with the kids, I was shocked at what happened in my classroom. We discovered Ekow Nimako, a Ghanaian-Canadian artist who created an exhibit using only black Lego to make large faces reminiscent of African masks. The artist was exploring representation, and the lack of representation of black people in Lego. I played with Lego constantly growing up, and my children play with it. I was shocked to realize that no set we ever used had a black minifigure, or any representation of black or African culture. I am raising Latinx children, and they have never seen a Latinx minifigure in their many Lego sets. I went on eBay when they were babies and made certain their baby toys had representation, but Lego was a complete and total blind spot for me. My students all agreed and were very surprised as well. Then we looked at peace gardens. I described the original vision of a peace garden, which was more than just a garden for contemplating and experiencing peace. The idea was for the garden to cross international borders, and for people in the garden to be able to freely walk back and forth between two nations as they explored the garden. “Do you think someday there just won’t be any more borders?” asked a student. Bingo. We are thinking about peace. And about fear. One definition of peace is that no human being on earth lives or walks in fear of violence. That simple sentence, to me, is the perfect articulation of why racism and peace are intertwined. My students and I agreed to think differently when we hear the word “racism.” Does it call to mind an image of a person the media would show us as “racist?” Or does it call to mind a person walking in fear? It felt like a call to action. The classic adage “teach peace” is more urgent to me than ever after exploring this with my students. I am looking forward to commemorating the International Day of Peace. Lisa Catterall teaches STEAM, math, science, and art at Mount Madonna School and is a senior associate of the Centers for Research on Creativity. She lectures and trains teachers and administrators on innovation in education in Beijing, China. Lisa has five children and lives in Santa Cruz County. Read More Parenting Articles

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Pregnancy Health

growingupsc — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:51:34 +0000

Pilates for Motherhood by Sandy Novembre& Amelia Foster DPT The foundation of Pilates teaches core control, breath and alignment. Understanding body awareness and form are an essential part of strengthening a Diastasis Recti, tending to pelvic floor health and improving posture. The props in a mat class or springs on the pilates equipment give both assistance and resistance to challenge muscles at their full length. Each exercise brings focus and intention to how you move your body. An integrated workout will leave you feeling elongated and connected. Physical Therapy and Pilates for prenatal and postpartum care helps with pregnancy comfort, ease of delivery and a resilient postpartum experience. As the baby and belly grow, it becomes important to strengthen while maintaining length. The instinct to tighten more can create tension in muscles that need to be flexible for labor and delivery. Pilates teaches strategies of movement to create strength and mobility to help through all the stages of pregnancy and parenthood. When it comes to the “to-do” list for pregnancy, few things can be prioritized higher than preparing your body for childbirth! At the top of the list, we recommend learning when and how to use your pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor muscles create a layered hammock of support beneath your bladder, rectum and uterus. As part of our “core”, they help stabilize your pelvis and assist in bladder and bowel control. During childbirth, the pelvic floor should relax and stretch in the “pushing” phase of labor. While many people are familiar with the concept of doing a “kegel” or pelvic floor muscle contraction, few have given thought to the sensation of actually relaxing the pelvic floor. It is common to hold tension in your pelvic floor without even realizing it! Learning where these muscles live, how to contract them, and most importantly how to relax them should be the first step in your preparation. Pilates props (like birthing balls) can be helpful feedback in “getting to know” this muscle group (see photo 1.)Once you’ve located your pelvic floor, the next step is to develop a routine to keep your body limber and mobile for the different phases of birth. This routine should include stretches for your hip rotators, hip flexors, inner thighs, and spine (see photos.) In each position, continue to practice the sensation of releasing tension in the muscles of the pelvic floor. Pelvic Floor Sit Sit on the ball (or folded towel between your sit bones) with legs wide. Feel the pelvic floor muscles in contact with the ball Stack the spine long with the ribcage over the pelvis Inhale while allowing the pelvic floor to expand on the ball Exhale and gently lift the pelvic floor off of the ball. Mermaid Sit on a blanket for ease in hips Keep ribs and hips square to the front Reach up and open as you bend your spine to the side. Supported Deep Squat Sit on yoga blocks or stool in a deep squat Keep your feet and knees wide to open the hips and inner thighs Take smooth, focused breaths releasing tension in your pelvic floor. Abductor Rockbacks Kneel on one knee with opposite leg stretched out Support upper body with arms Rock back into bent knee Relax pelvic floor while stretching inner thigh Monarch Pilates is a full service studio offering one on one Physical Therapy, Private & Semi Private Pilates and Reformer classes. We provide a variety of services to assist through the journey of pregnancy and beyond. We are passionate about helping women to enjoy this precious time and begin parenthood with confidence in your strength. Read More Articles

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Roots and Love

Laura Maxson — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:33:04 +0000

Roots and Love The RC Family Collective By Laura Maxson, LM Families in south Santa Cruz County are getting excited about a new center opening this month. Raíces y Cariño (Roots and Love), also called the RC Family Collective or RC Fam for short, will be providing services to families based on diversity, inclusivity and equity. This endeavor, headed by Nora Yerena and Juliana Reyes, is a labor of love. Both have deep ties to Watsonville. As a teen, Juliana immigrated to Watsonville from Mexico with her family. She worked for years in education and social service agencies in this community, which is dear to her heart. Her husband, a teacher in Watsonville for 21 years, also immigrated from Mexico. Nora married into a deeply rooted farming family in Watsonville. Her nearly 20 years working with families as a Certified Family Life Educator, doula, lactation professional, mental health peer counselor; and her own six children in a biracial/bilingual family, have given Nora a unique perspective on what families need for support. The birth of Juliana’s young son was key to meeting up with Nora and discovering their shared vision for serving families in their community. As a new mom living in Santa Cruz, Juliana remembers having access to family services, including support groups, baby enrichment, and wellness classes. It made a difference as a new mother to not only survive, but to thrive. Juliana and Nora are passionate about ensuring these spaces of support and wellness are available to all families in the Watsonville and tri-county area by providing accessible and equitable support. South county families have a prohibitively long commute to get to programs and classes in Santa Cruz that don’t necessarily meet their needs. Opening the Collective to bring bilingual services and classes directly to the Watsonville community is a dream come true. Individual instructors and organizations offering services to families will rent space at the RC Family Collective. The goal is for all classes and groups to be bicultural and available in both English and Spanish. The Collective is truly meant to be a joint project with the needs of the community guiding the programs.Raíces y Cariño (Roots & Love) believes the best way to ensure a child’s livelihood is by empowering their family structure, however that may look. Whole family support from babies to grandparents is the RC Family Collective’s goal. Affordable family memberships, single class passes, and individual appointments are available including a sliding scale and full scholarships as needed. Offerings (in English and Spanish) to include:Fitness (family & individual) yoga, dance, and prenatal/postpartum exercise. Parenting classes provided by Positive Discipline Community Resources (PDCR) Certified car seat installation and inspection Nursing Mothers Counsel – lactation support Kid Power International Program – personal safety education for all ages, teaching skills for strong relationships and the prevention of harm. Everyone’s Music School – affordable community music lessons. Bilingual baby sign language Childbirth Education Peer support groups for Dads LGBTQIA+ support groups for families and youth Support groups for new parents We Get It – support for parents with children with special needs Grief and loss support for individuals, couples and groups, experiencing birth trauma and/or loss Bay Area Baby Wearing – on site baby carrier library with meet-ups the 2nd Sunday of the month for parents to borrow carriers, as well as in-house bilingual baby wearing experts in between meet-ups. Centrally located at 1205 Freedom Blvd., #3B, Watsonville, Raíces y Cariño/RC Fam offers a spacious classroom/studio area for large groups, and a treatment room for licensed providers such as psychologists, massage therapists and counselors. It also features an enclosed outdoor area, childcare room, kitchenette, and a large, free parking lot. The opening celebration for RC Family Collective is Sunday, October 9, from 3 to 5pm. This free event will showcase the facility and services. Community partners will be there sharing resources and information. Visitors can expect to find information about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting issues, as well as ongoing support for older children, teenagers, and their parents. A community-based collective is ever evolving. With planned events including family dances, family karaoke night and community dinners, the RC Family Collective aims to bring a space for this community’s own roots and love to grow. Opening celebration – 10/9/22, 3-5pmRC Family Collective – rcfam.com#rcfam831 on Facebook & Instagram(831) 288-3105 call or textServices also listed at birthnet.org Read More Parenting Articles

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Doula Profile Beth Lillienthal

growingupsc — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:24:42 +0000

Beth Lillienthal, Mama Extraordinaire by Carmen Clark Beth has been to a lot of one-year-old parties, and often when she leaves her job, people have tears in their eyes, tears of gratitude, and tears of sadness. They don’t want her to go. As a post-partum doula, Beth is a professional nurturer. She explains that doulas have areas of expertise or strengths that help mothers and the whole family get used to a new baby in the house. Beth offers breastfeeding counseling and is a lactation consultant. She visits the home as a support to the family, whether for an hour at a time or a full day; she’ll counsel on baby soothing, breastfeeding, train partners on how to help new moms, cook, and sometimes just listen to the parents. Thus, when the baby turns one, the family is eager to invite the person that guided them through those first few days, weeks, or months. Being a doula affords Beth some key advantages; As an independent contractor, she has the ability to set her own schedule, and with two kids at school and being a volunteer extraordinaire, this has worked in her family’s favor. Now, as she faces her future as an empty nester, she wonders how her schedule will change. With kid number two graduating this year, she’s aware that getting some of that baby love will be a balm for the emptiness at home. As if being a mother to her own, a supporter to other mothers and a constant volunteer at the kids’ schools wasn’t enough, Beth spends time at the Sienna House, where pregnant women, often leaving bad situations, can go and be safe. The Sienna House offers shelter doulas services every step of the way, and they have programs for women to enroll in higher education, work training, and steady housing. The women have the opportunity to stay at the shelter for a year as they pick up their lives. For as gratifying as Beth’s job is on any level, this is where her support has the most impact. Often the women at the Sienna House have never been nurtured themselves, much less nurtured someone else; there is mistrust and fear built into tall walls that Beth and her co-workers steadily take down, brick by brick, with unconditional support and counseling. By showing up consistently, the women begin to trust, and soften into their new role as mother. Because the program is a year long, Beth enjoys creating a deeper connection with the women and seeing the changes they make to better their lives and their babies’ lives. Beth keeps in touch with some of the women when they leave Sienna House; she will even babysit if they’re taking finals at Cabrillo. “It’s sweet to see them grow and change and be successful,” says Beth. Beth hopes her example of service, both in her paid position and as a volunteer shows her children what the act of giving can have on the community, on an individual. Read More Moms Who Make a Difference Articles

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Happy Diapers

growingupsc — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:20:50 +0000

4 Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Disposable Diapers BY Molly Ressler Choosing the right kind of diaper is an important decision and is a matter of baby’s comfort, your personal preference, time constraints, budget, and for some, environmental impact. Photo courtesy of REDYPER™ Powered by EarthBaby It’s a fact that babies go through a lot of diapers. And we’re talking A LOT. From age 0-3, the average baby will go through up to 7,000 diapers. That means we’re throwing an estimated 20 billion disposable diapers into the trash every year in the U.S. Diapers are the third largest contributor to U.S. landfill sites in volume where they take 500+ years to break down. This means that your baby’s diapers will outlive you, your children, and even your great-great-great grandchildren. So, what’s an eco-conscious parent to do? For Santa Cruz families, there are 4 eco-friendly alternatives to disposables. Here’s what you need to know about each of these approaches so you can enter parenthood with a well-stocked changing table that’s also good for the planet. Elimination communication: Toilet-training from the get-go Elimination Communication or EC is a diapering approach that encourages your baby to go pee and poop in the toilet from as early as birth. It’s important to note that you will still need to use some diapers for sleeping, in the car, and other away-from-home situations. EC requires lots of close observation to learn your baby’s cues (great bonding time!), patience, and an openness to things getting a bit messy. Check out the San Francisco-based Diaper Free Collective for free resources and an online support group. Cloth diapers: The way grandma did diapers The world of cloth diapers has come a long way since they were first mass-produced back in 1887. Today, you have so many cloth diaper “systems” to choose from, it can make your head spin. There’s also the question of how to wash them and whether or not they’re actually better for the environment than disposables. The unfortunate truth is that in most households the difference in greenhouse gas emissions between cloth and disposables is insignificant, and in some cases, disposables have an even lower carbon footprint. To make cloth diapers a truly green option, you will need to upgrade to an energy efficient washer and dryer, use second hand cloth diapers, never wash above 140 degrees F, and line dry whenever possible. For a detailed breakdown of all the cloth diapering systems and step-by-step instructions for washing, check out Cloth Diapers for Beginners. Plant-based disposables Plant-based disposables are convenient and good for baby’s sensitive skin. They don’t use petroleum-based products or potentially harmful chemicals like conventional disposables. Parents love that most are hypoallergenic which means they don’t contain any fragrances, dyes or lotions which can irritate sensitive skin. Plant-based diapers are also typically free of phthalates but always look for brands that say “phthalate free.” Some of these diapers even claim to be biodegradable, but this is only true if you use a composting service specifically designed to handle diapers and human waste. Plant-based disposables with a compostable diaper service Photo courtesy of REDYPER™ Powered by EarthBaby If you love the idea of the convenience of disposables but wish your baby’s diapers didn’t have to sit in a landfill for 500+ years, you’re in luck. Here in Santa Cruz, REDYPER Powered by EarthBaby offers weekly diaper delivery, pickup, and composting to families who live within their designated service areas. Your baby’s diapers and wipes (choose from two plant-based brands, DYPER and Nurture) are turned to dirt in just 14 weeks at a commercial composting facility based in the South Bay. Collectively, thousands of families across the Bay Area are turning 14 tons of diapers into nutrient-rich soil every single week. This soil is then used for landscaping, sod growing, and roadside plantation projects. (It’s important to note that diapers must be composted through a licensed commercial composting facility and cannot be put in your home compost or green bin due to the presence of harmful bacteria in human waste.) Choosing the right kind of diaper is an important decision and is a matter of baby’s comfort, your personal preference, time constraints, budget, and for some, environmental impact. Whatever approach you choose, know that there are plenty of online resources and local organizations available to help you prepare and find the best choice for your family. Molly Ressler is a Santa Cruz mama and the marketing director for REDYPER™ Powered by EarthBaby, a Bay Area-based diaper composting service. In her role, she educates parents and caregivers about the environmental and health impacts of conventional disposable diapers. She also heads their Change Champion program, partnering with nonprofits and like-minded businesses to multiply REDYPER’s impact and provide diapers and other resources to families in need. Find out more at earth-baby.com. Read More Parenting Articles

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