Whether you’re reading this post because you love living a sustainable and eco-friendly life and want to know how to maintain this when your new baby arrives, or because you’re having your first baby and that in itself has made you want to learn more about being eco-friendly then you’re in the right place. These 6 easy to implement activities will help to make you be an eco-friendly parent.
1. Cloth Nappies
One of the best things you can do as an eco-friendly parent is to consider using cloth nappies instead of disposable ones. There are many benefits to using cloth nappies but the main one is the fact that they are reusable, which means you are reducing the environmental impact you make in comparison to sending non-reusable nappies to landfills.
2. Choose Organic Baby Clothing
Wherever possible, opt for organic and sustainable clothing for your baby. Organic fabrics are produced without harmful chemicals, making them better for the environment and your baby’s sensitive skin. Organic clothes are usually more expensive, but it is important to remember that quality over quantity is important and as your baby will grow so quickly, they don’t need loads of different items.
3. Buy second hand
Following on from the above point, most organic clothing brands create fantastic quality products which last a lot longer than your child will be in them for, so they are great for reselling and buying second-hand. This will save you money, make it easy to opt for the more expensive organic brands as well as helping to prevent further waste. You can also be an eco-friendly parent by buying second-hand furniture for the nursery as well as other baby gadgets like the pram.
4. Natural and Eco-friendly Baby Products
Buy natural and eco-friendly baby care products, such as organic baby shampoo, soap, and lotions, where possible. Look for products with minimal packaging and ones that can be recycled easily. Babies require such small amounts of skin care products that buying one good natural brand will last a long time.
5. Borrow and rent toys and books
Grab yourself and your baby a library card and head off to your local library to borrow new books each week. There are so many amazing stories to read; borrowing them is much more environmentally friendly than buying new books and then only reading them a handful of times. There are also lots of companies that now offer toy renting services where you can pay a small fee and borrow different toys. Again, this is more eco-friendly, prevents waste and saves you money, too. It is also a great way to find out what type of toys your little one enjoys playing with, too.
6. Baby Shower Requests
If you’re having a baby shower, consider requesting eco-friendly gifts, second-hand presents or even no gifts at all. Alternatively, ask for contributions to an experience rather than material items like a pass for the local swimming pool.
Remember, every small effort counts, and collectively, these choices can make a positive impact on the environment for your child’s future.
