7 Tips for Staying Green as a New Parent
Once the baby comes into your life, everything changes. You need to adjust your whole system to a new human being that is rapidly growing and always needs new things. That's why staying green as a new parent is not an easy task. However, it's not impossible. Check out these seven tips to make the transition easier and stay true to your sustainable way of living.
1# Pick reusable diapers
Most new parents' top environmental worry is the 5,000 or more nappies that will end up in landfills. Parents around the globe reportedly discard three billion disposable diapers annually, accounting for 2% to 3% of total household trash. With that in mind, reusable diapers can be a smart and sustainable choice to buy.
Although they first seem like a costly investment, reusable diapers end up saving you money over the long run, especially if you have more than one kid. But most significantly, using reusable diapers is much better for the environment, especially if you line dry whenever you can.
Disposable diapers are the first obstacle to staying green as a new parent.
2# Homemade baby food can save the day (and our planet)
It might be surprising to see how much food manufacturers charge to package puréed food as "baby food." There is really no reason to spend money on store-bought baby food as long as you watch that your meal is nutritious and simple for your kid to ingest. In general, store-bought contains a lot of additives and preservatives. Also, a lot of it is packaged in plastic containers, so ditching it can be great for reducing plastic in your kitchen, especially during this period.
Use fresh produce from the season to make your own baby food. Fresh food not only tastes better, but it also contains more nutrients (not to mention seasonal produce is cheaper).
3# Avoid using your car
There are significant connections between the air pollution that automobiles emit and low birth weight in children whose moms breathe that air, so it's not just about being environmentally friendly. From the pregnancy to the great years with your kid, these three steps can be a lifesaver:
- give up driving
- use phone applications or maps to locate low-pollution routes for walking or cycling
- enjoy your healthy and sustainable life
Walking is undoubtedly beneficial for you both, as is riding with a trailer when your child is older. Put them in the sling and take public transportation if you need to travel a greater distance. Babies, once awake, find the world to be fascinating, and this includes the car seat.
Teaching your little one from day one to appreciate and enjoy nature is crucial for their later development.
4# Your baby will like the reused things just fine
Some parents want to give their newborn the world. The idea that a brand-new stroller, cot, or toy is always preferable is ingrained in us from a young age. However, parents need to know that their kid will outgrow these items rapidly - often before you've even finished paying for them!
Borrow, don't buy
Adopt eco-friendly practices into your parenting (and save money) by borrowing or buying gently used products wherever possible. This will help you stay eco-friendly and give your baby great items to wear, and the person you're borrowing it from will get an excellent opportunity to get rid of clutter in an eco-friendly way. Of course, you should always make sure a used item is safe, but many gently worn baby goods are in excellent shape, if not better!
5# Breastfeeding can help with staying green as a new parent
No matter how you decide to feed your baby, we understand the immense physical and emotional effort that goes into it. Also, it takes a lot of water and produces many greenhouse gases to manufacture infant formula. Baby formula is subsequently packed and shipped to your home. Therefore, when you breastfeed, you not only help yourself and your baby, but you also help the planet.
Breastfeeding is good for you too
An important thing to note is that breastfeeding is mutually beneficial for your baby and you. When you breastfeed, hormones such as oxytocin and dopamine are secreted into your bloodstream. These hormones make you happy and satisfied and elevate anxiety. This is why experts from brightfuturestreatment.com strongly encourage their patients in recovery from addiction to breastfeed - instead of a synthetical way to get dopamine, new mothers can get it naturally.
6# Pick organic baby clothes
The finest things to use on your tiny eco-warrior are organic baby food and clothing. Natural and eco-friendly baby apparel, such as our bamboo viscose baby shirts, tend to be of higher quality and much better for the environment, making them necessary for newborns and younger children - and for people of all ages. Buying environmentally friendly infant apparel is a must. Besides being kind to their tender skin, this action will also benefit the earth.
7# Reduce the length of time spent in the tub
It's important to make your whole bathroom eco-friendly, but when you do, it's also crucial to have ways to save water. Another common myth regarding infants is that they must be washed repeatedly each day. Two or three weekly baths should be sufficient unless your infant has engaged in an intrauterine food struggle. Even if you simply fill the tub halfway for the baby, the daily water use is still in the range of 35-50 gallons.
Why not teach your little ones to share a bath if you have more than one? There shouldn't be any hygiene problems among siblings unless one of them is ill. However, if you insist that they take separate showers, try to limit the number of times each week that they do so.
Frequent baths are not necessarily good for your baby – the microbiome of their skin is still developing.
Staying green as a new parent doesn't have to be a bother
Sometimes, staying green as a new parent may seem near impossible. But, if you use these seven simple things, it doesn't have to be that hard. Try them out for yourself, and let us know how you are doing!
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