Being a green parent means you need to make some changes when it comes to your baby and many parents struggle with making the right decisions. It’s not easy to think of all the ways you can reduce the carbon footprint and raise your baby in an eco-friendly manner. Sometimes, this can be tiring and stressful and make you want to give up on saving the planet. However, if you start the process from day one, these changes will turn into habits and becoming a sustainable family won’t be that hard.
Diapers
For the first eighteen months, this will be something your baby will use the most and it’s a great opportunity to save money and make a green change. These days, most parents go for disposable diapers because they’re more convenient and easier to use. With the eco trend constantly rising, there’s a solution even for this part of your life.
Many stores now offer eco-friendly diapers that are made from natural materials without additional fragrances or latex. This is also beneficial for your children’s health because they won’t be exposed to any harmful chemicals. If you’re struggling with finding these diapers, there are so many options online and you can even read reviews from other parents.
Food
Although their eating habits are different from ours, babies also make a significant difference when it comes to taking care of our surroundings. The most obvious choice is to breastfeed as long as you can because you can’t be more eco-friendly than that. In addition to that, this is the healthiest source of food you can provide for your child, and you should embrace this gift of nature.
When the time comes for formulas and baby food, try to make the majority of it on your own. Find local suppliers for organic fruit and vegetables, and combine the ingredients your baby will enjoy. It’s always better to make fresh food from scratch than to buy formulas full of chemicals. The store-bought stuff contains chemicals and can leave you with piles of bottles and packages, so be creative and find new purposes for these items – use them as flower pots and for storing your baby’s toys or kitchen supplies.
Nursery
The rule of thumb is really simple here – reuse, recycle and buy organic. When you start organizing the nursery, think about asking your relatives for donations, so the only thing you have to buy is a mattress, and even this purchase can become organic as well. If you like to think ahead, buy items you can keep using in the years to come. Every piece of furniture can be repainted and reused somewhere else in the house.
On the other hand, you should never add things like air purifiers to the nursery, but go for fresh flowers and plants that will clean the air. Add a natural jute rug as well, a cozy blanket, and a comfortable chair to make the room more stylish. Make sure to opt for natural materials and avoid everything that can harm your baby’s soft skin because materials that are 100% natural are the best solution for keeping everything sustainable.
Cleaning
Once your child starts crawling and walking around the house, you won’t be able to do anything at all, so be prepared for that. Curiosity makes children taste and touch everything and when that first tooth starts making its way through, everything turns into chewing material.
However, when cleaning your home, don’t use strong cleaning supplies – they will do the job, but also be a potential danger because of their content. You should avoid everything that contains toxic chemicals and turn to eco-friendly products instead. Make sure you always have vinegar, baking soda and lemon, because they can solve most of your cleaning problems.
Shopping
Your baby outgrows clothes super quickly and there’s no need for buying new and expensive things. Buying second-hand stuff is more than welcomed, and it’s a perfect way to save money and the environment at the same time. You can find a variety of baby clothes in second-hand stores and there are even some made from organic materials.
Apart from that, many parents opt for buying used car seats and strollers, because they’re much cheaper than new ones. Before you head to the store or order it online, try to find someone selling what you need. You can even find some high-end swings because babies often grow tired of them pretty quickly or just don’t like using them at all.
This change of lifestyle will help you in raising an eco-aware baby and teach your new family member how to live a better life. It’s important to start this process right away because your baby will start noticing everything from an early age. Include the whole family in the process and soon enough, you’ll see the benefits behind these new habits.