Local vegan blogger Molly Tranchin has been paving the way for animal-friendly, eco-conscious Dallasites for years. Her blog, FashionVeggie, features everything from all-natural beauty products to faux-fur parkas to the best vegan restaurants she tries on her travels.
The new mom to baby River is enthusiastic about raising her son to share her plant-based ideals. Here, she shares her favorite pieces in her all-vegan nursery (situated inside her all-vegan Lakewood home), her must-have baby products, and her tips for other new parents.
Can you walk us through your decision to raise River with a vegan lifestyle? Any common misconceptions of veganism in general, or of raising children vegan, that you’d like to clear up?
For me, it’s an easy decision; done correctly and with focus on health, it’s a very healthy diet for a child! (Just like an omnivorous diet needs to be done correctly, lest it lack adequate nutrition, the same goes for a vegan diet.) The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics now supports raising your children this way. I certainly don’t see it as “forcing your lifestyle” on a child, at least not any more than I view feeding your child meat/dairy as such. I am also just so excited to raise my children in a way where, three times a day, they make a difference for our planet and are reminded of their values.
What was most important to you design-wise when planning River’s nursery?
Our nursery is definitely on the smaller side, so making the space feel serene and airy despite the size was a challenge and a priority. Everything in there is eco-friendly and vegan. We didn’t set out to have an animal theme, or any theme at all really — it just kind of happened. We have black and white photos of animals on the wall, all of his towels are hooded with little animal ears on them, and we have oversized stuffed animals tossed around the space.
What are some of your favorite vegan and nontoxic pieces in the nursery?
I LOVE the sustainable metal wall art (recycled brass with organic patina) in the shape of rain drops on the wall. It’s by woman-run Post Alchemy. I also love the compact-but-comfy rocking chair. Did you know that IKEA has a section of eco-friendly, non-toxic furniture now?
What are some other vegan, eco-friendly baby products you’ve discovered and loved?
I use cloth diapers by KangaCare. I was super nervous about taking on the whole cloth diaper thing, but it’s been super easy and not at all gross. If I’m traveling, I use Bambo’s eco-friendly disposable diapers. I like Babyganics for shampoo/body wash and lotion (not tested on animals). The Tot (a woman-run boutique here in Dallas) is a fabulous place to find eco-friendly, non-toxic clothing, toys, pacifiers, and crib mattresses.
What words of wisdom would you like to impart on other new parents?
Allow yourself the grace and space to learn as you go! You can read every baby book in the world but every baby is different, and some things you just won’t know until you’re in the moment. Do what feels right for you. For instance, I had friends telling me I needed to have River on a tight sleep/wake/feed schedule, but that felt wrong. So he drives our schedule, and he’s a plump, happy baby who has slept through the night since two-and-a-half months. I’m glad we followed our instincts.
Follow @fashionveggie on Instagram to see more from Molly.
