Health & Baby

Bringing Up Baby Organically

Going Organic: What You Should Know continued...

Likewise, a case of 144 Huggies disposable diapers sell for about $35.00 - while a case of 152 "green" diapers by Tender Care sells for $55.00, a difference of about 12 cents more per diaper.

Price discrepancies are even greater for "soft" goods -- like baby clothes and nursery-wear. For example, Toys "R" Us sells a baby towel set for $9.99 and an "organic" one for $22.99.

What's a parent to do? One solution, states Consumer Reports, is to shop around - and when you find a good deal, buy in bulk, particularly when it comes to organic baby food. Some companies, such as Earth's Best, discount prices if you purchase baby food by the case - offering up to 5 cents less per jar when buy 24 jars at a time. Other companies offer similar savings.

Another option is to shop local for organic groceries and, using a food processor, make your own organic baby food.

When it comes to items such as blankets, baby clothes, bedding, and even organic room decor, Rosen says it's a bit harder to know if price comparisons will really pay off. Although discount and chain stores frequently sell "natural" or even "organic" baby goods at far lower prices than specialty boutiques or "green" stores, because this part of the industry is remains unregulated, he says it's hard to know if that bargain you're getting is really a bargain at all.

He says that even when it comes to Mother Nature, "It's often a case of buyer beware."