These days, baby care products are more advanced than ever before and there is seemingly a solution to everything. Whether it is more convenient ways to sterilise feeding equipment or scientifically proven sound makers to help your little one drift off to sleep there are lots of things on the market to make life easier for parents and caregivers.
While things are simpler than ever before for parents and caregivers, there is also an increased pressure for parents to think about the environmental impact of their parenting style. There is no denying that raising a child from birth to adulthood takes a heavy toll on the environment, but there are many things that can be done to reduce these effects.
If you are a parent or caregiver to a young baby or toddler then you may feel at least a little bit torn between wanting to make your parenting experience more convenient, but also wanting to protect the environment. If this sounds like you then you’ll probably be pleased to know that there are many things you can do to reduce the environmental impact of parenting.
Cloth diapers
They may be the old fashioned way, but cloth diapers are becoming more popular for today’s parents. Washable and reusable, they are made from safe and comfortable materials which care for your baby’s skin, protecting it from becoming sore when the diaper is wet or dirty. Some parents are a little too squeamish for reusable diapers, but they are actually easier to deal with than you might imagine.
Firstly, you can dispose of the bulk of the waste in the toilet at changing times, and store the soiled diapers until you are ready to clean them. Wait until you have enough for a reasonably sized wash load, then do a prewash cycle to remove the bulk of the soiling. Once you have done this you can then do a full wash in clean water to sanitise the diapers.
Organic clothes and accessories
Babies grow extremely fast in their early years and so you can expect to only get a few weeks or months of wear out of each piece of clothing unless they are designed to grow with the child. This means that babies have a high turnover rate in terms of clothing, so you may want to select clothing carefully to minimise the environmental impact of your clothing choices.
Choosing organic baby clothes can be a great way to ensure you are shopping sustainable and ethically for your little one. Organic clothes for kids tend to be made from high quality, natural materials such as cotton and bamboo fibres which are long lasting, durable and easy to clean. To make your baby’s clothing options more sustainable, look into choosing cleverly designed clothing that grows with them, and avoid the temptation to buy lots of clothes. They grow so fast that you’re unlikely to get your money’s worth if you buy too many clothes.
Glass baby bottles
Glass baby feeding bottles used to be the norm but they fell out of fashion and many parents prefer plastic. Plastic bottles can certainly be convenient, but modern glass bottles are just as convenient with the added benefit of being more environmentally friendly. Once your baby is weaned they are unlikely to need their bottles anymore, and plastic ones can be environmentally costly to dispose of. Glass, on the other hand, can be recycled endlessly.
Reusable snack bags
When your baby has progressed onto eating solids you’ll need to make sure you keep a supply of snacks on hand for when they get hungry. Rather than using single use plastic bags for their food, consider getting some reusable snack bags. There are lots of different kinds out there from natural wax and fabric wraps to silicone ziploc style bags to suit your preferences.
These reusable snack bags are washable, convenient, and can save plenty of single use plastics from ending up in the landfill. Just be sure to choose ones that are safe for your baby, and never leave your child alone with something that can pose a choking hazard or otherwise be dangerous to their health and wellbeing.
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