We love our little ones to pieces, however they do require an awful lot of stuff! When a baby comes along you will notice that the amount of household waste you produce goes through the roof, however there are a few small choices you can make that will help to reduce the baby’s environmental footprint. These won’t take away any time from your already hectic schedule, but are simple swaps that will save the environment as well as money. So, here are 6 ways that you can make your baby’s product more eco-friendly!
Start With A Reliable Changing Bag
We carry a lot of stuff in our changing bags, so investing in one that is reliable and sturdy from the very beginning is the best thing to do. This will make sure you don’t have to keep replacing it every few months, causing more waste in the long-run. You can also then save this bag for any future children that you may have.
There are so many great baby changing bags out there on the market, from affordable and high quality pieces to more expensive designer baby changing bags. The main things to look for are space and organisation, as these two things will make your life much easier when you are out and about!
Bamboo Nappies and Wipes
Disposable nappies are so convenient, however they have a serious impact on the environment. A nappy takes about 500 years to decompose, and each child will get through about 4000 before they are potty trained. Baby wipes are also very damaging and most of them do not decompose easily, once again contributing to significant amounts of waste. So, looking for an alternative that works for you is a great way to protect the environment.
Reusable nappies are of course the most eco-friendly and affordable option, however storing the dirty nappies and making sure you always have clean ones ready to go can be a big challenge. So, bamboo nappies and baby wipes are a great alternative. Most bamboo nappies and wipes are biodegradable, meaning they are much more easily decomposed and it takes much less time than plastic alternatives. They are also super soft, meaning they are gentle on your baby’s delicate skin.
Glass Feeding Bottles
Another thing you can do to be more eco-friendly is swapping out plastic feeding bottles for glass ones. Glass might seem like a weird choice for children, however the majority of glass feeding bottles are made from a specially tempered glass that is extremely hard to break. If it does break, it breaks into small glass pebbles instead of sharp glass shards. Many glass bottles also come with a silicone sleeve so that the baby has a better grip.
Glass bottles are generally better, as they scratch less easily so it is easier to see when the bottle is dirty. There are also no harmful chemicals in glass bottles, which is another big benefit.
Buy Pre-Loved Baby Toys
We all want our children to have the toys they need to keep them happy and to aid their development, however, they can be extremely expensive, they come in a lot of unnecessary packing and they are not easily recycled.
So, there are plenty of more environmentally and budget friendly options. Firstly, you could ask friends and family if they have any toys they no longer need that you could give them a bit of money for. Look at online marketplaces and second hand shops for pre-loved toys that often are as good as new. If you have toys your child has grown out of and you plan on having more children, keep them stored away to prevent unnecessary waste.
Rather than throwing away any toys you don’t need, make sure that you sell them on or donate them to a charity shop. Even something that you think no one else would need might be exactly what they are looking for.
Make Your Own Baby Food
Many people believe that making your own baby food takes a long time, however that actually isn’t the case. Making purees is so simple and it can easily be done in batches and frozen into little reusable pouches to make defrosting and eating so easy.
The pouches and jars that baby food comes in cause so much unnecessary waste for something that can easily be done at home. Having a few easy shop-bought options on hand is probably a good idea, however aiming to cook most of the food yourself is great for the environment. Plus, you can take the reusable pouches out with you as well, so you will always have a snack on hand if you need it.
Opt For Organic Skincare
Our baby’s skin is very sensitive, so they need to have gentle products used on them. Organic skincare is not only great for their skin as it eliminates the use of synthetic chemicals, but this also greatly benefits the environment, as much more gentle products are used to treat the water and soil that is used to help create our skincare.
Organic skincare brands are also very unlikely to test on animals, although this is something you will need to check on a brand-by-brand basis. They are more gentle on our littles ones’ skin and they are better for the environment, so it’s a no-brainer!
Final Thoughts
Overall, it is great for us as parents to be conscious of the impact our family has on the environment. Even the smallest changes can make a significant difference over time and can help to protect the world that our children are going to grow up in. Implementing eco-friendly practices into our daily lives with children will help them to grow up understanding the importance of being conscious of the environment and the impact we have on it. You have the potential to instill a lifelong interest for the environment in your children, so do what you can and start making positive changes that will benefit your bank account and the planet!