Welcoming a baby into your life is a transformative experience. As a first-time parent, you will likely be excited about buying everything your baby needs without giving it much thought. For instance, you may shop for single-use nappies, plastic toys, bags, or bottles, which you cannot recycle and thus contribute to environmental waste. But now, with the creation of a new life, it is time to embrace an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle that will create a healthy future for the next generation. That said, this blog will offer eco-friendly parenting tips and how you can make sustainable choices in the present that will benefit your kids in the future.
Ask Yourself: Does Your Baby Need It?
You need to realise that your tiny human has minimal needs. All it wants is lots of love and care. So, the next time you feel something is a ‘must-have’ and you feel tempted to click ‘buy now,’ just pause for a moment and ask yourself, ‘Will this make my life easier, or will it end up getting lost in storage soon?’ Furthermore, you can opt for pre-loved products such as a baby cot, a diaper-changing station, a baby bathtub, etc., which will save you money and prevent these products from going straight to a landfill.
Choose Practical Comfort Over Plastic Clutter
Bath towels, soft toys, comforters, etc., are an indispensable part of your everyday life with your little one. However, not all products are created equal. Many baby products comprise inferior plastic and synthetic materials. Brands like Riff Raff have designed multi-purpose comforters that are durable, machine-washable, and made with little hands and mouths in mind. Choosing fewer, thoughtfully made items can help you invest in quality over quantity, which is far more planet-friendly in the long run.
Use Sustainable, Reusable Diapers
Disposable nappies contribute tremendously to landfills and are incredibly difficult to recycle. Due to their plastic and chemical composition, studies show that diapers take approximately 150 to 500 years to decompose. As new parents, you can be mindful of this notable ecological problem and make a simple, conscious choice of using reusable cloth nappies that serve the same purpose. These nappies can be easily cleaned and reused several times without compromising your baby’s comfort.
Feed by Keeping the Planet in Mind
Whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your baby, you can choose sustainable solutions. For example, if you express breastmilk, you can store it in a glass bottle instead of a plastic one. Similarly, if you are using a bottle to feed your baby, you can choose BPA-free milk bottles or good-quality glass bottles that can be easily sterilised and used for your baby. Also, as your baby begins to consume solids, use metal spoons, containers and plates for their food. Try to avoid single-use plastics wherever possible.
Clean Without Using Chemicals
When you have a baby in your house, you strive for utmost cleanliness everywhere, including their clothes, bedsheets, tables, toys and floors. While keeping everything around your baby is non-negotiable, you can make a simple shift in your choice of cleaning agents. Instead of using harsh, synthetic chemicals that are environmentally damaging and harmful, you can choose cleaning agents that feature chemical-free and sustainable solutions. This simple choice will save the planet and not irritate your baby’s soft and sensitive skin. It’s a win-win situation indeed!
Final Word
As a new parent, you will likely be overwhelmed by things you should do for your baby and things you must avoid. You don’t have to stress about everything and doubt your choices and actions for your precious one. You will think and do what is best for your baby as a parent. So, trust your instincts and your decisions. And remember, if you embrace these simple, eco-friendly parenting techniques, your baby and their generation will benefit from your choices in the long run.
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Riff Raff
