Eco-Friendly Parenting 101

Sustainably has become fundamental now that global warming is at its highest peak. Changing our ways is crucial if we want to keep our planet alive. One of the best ways to start is to embrace eco-friendly parenting. Whether you’re about to become a parent or already have a bundle of joy to nurture, the following tips will be invaluable for your eco-friendly parenting journey.

Use reusable nappies

Modern-day parents appreciate convenience most of all. Throwing away nappies instead of washing them and using them again has been almost every parent’s practice in the last 30+ years. However, considering disposable nappies end up in landfills quickly, polluting our planet severely, the reusable cotton ones are coming back as an environmentally-friendly alternative. They require more time to maintain, but you will offer your child cotton instead of a plastic cover disposable nappies feature. Deal with the spills quickly to avoid persistent stains. Use a laundry detergent made with natural ingredients to wash the cloth diapers for the ultimate sustainable practice.

Go for hand-me-downs

Accepting baby clothes from your sibling’s babies or from friends’ children who are no longer babies is a more sustainable way of raising a child than shopping for brand-new clothes. Newborn babies often don’t have the time to wear all the clothes they receive at the baby shower, leaving you with bags of brand-new bodysuits and sets to give away. The same happens to almost every new parent, allowing them to pass down clothes to future parents. When your friends offer to pass on their kids’ wardrobe, toys, or household items, accept it. Don’t waste money and encourage mass production of clothes by investing in famous brands when you can have new clothes for free. If you’re the first parent in the group without fellow parent friends to rely on for clothes, second-hand shops are an ideal alternative.

Choose sustainable toys

Raising a child means spending a fortune on toys year in and year out. As they grow older, children start playing with diverse toys through which they also learn about the world around them. When you go toy shopping, some of the best choices will be Montessori toys for 2-year-old kids that your toddler will fall in love with. From wooden stones to wooden puzzles, and building blocks – you will find a full spectrum of educational toys for toddlers that your kid will enjoy playing with and developing their skills simultaneously.

Donate clothes

Donating your baby’s clothes is another way to be an eco-friendly parent. Look for places that help people in need and donate your child’s new clothes they wore only once or never had the chance to wear. Charity shops and women’s shelters are some places that will happily accept well-preserved clothes. Don’t donate ripped or overused pieces, as they can be repurposed. Pass the clothes down o your sibling’s kids or your friends’ children that are a similar age to your kid. If you plan to have more kids, save a decent amount of clothes for the next one and save money on at least one aspect.

Breastfeeding over formula

If you’re among those women who can breastfeed without any problem, stick to that feeding option. Not only is it the healthiest option for a baby, but it also leaves zero carbon footprint on the environment. You don’t have to drive to the store to pick up groceries, nor do you need to use electricity or gas for cooking and later water for washing up. Your baby will receive the most nutrients from breast milk, and it will also help with both immune systems. Formulas are packed with additives so go with breastfeeding for as long as possible.

Rely mostly on walking

From the first day, you decide to take the newborn outside to the moment you bring them to the park to start walking, and when they are old enough to run on their own, walking will be an eco-friendly way to spend time outdoors. New mums can benefit from walking after delivery as they’ll allow their bodies to slowly become more active after spending a month indoors post-partum. Get out of a rut of driving everywhere, and go to your doctor’s appointments by foot. Spend more time breathing in the fresh air and stretching your legs to speed up the baby-weight loss after delivery. When kids grow up, teach them to spend more time walking, cycling or using public transportation to lower their carbon footprint.

Final thoughts

Becoming a sustainable parent doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll need to invest effort and dedicate yourself to eco-friendly practices from the day you welcome your child to this world. Fortunately, we have ideas to inspire you to become a better, eco-friendly parent. From clothes to toys, changing the baby and teaching them to walk, you can do so much to teach your kid sustainability and become more eco-friendly yourself.