10 Ways to Go Green With A Baby
1. Breastfeed –by breastfeeding you’re not only giving your child the best possible food but you are being environmentally friendly. Just think of all the bottles, washing, liners, formula manufacturing and packaging that go along with formula feeding.
2. Make your own baby food – there is no need to buy jarred baby food when you can make it yourself. You save some money and the environment the impact of manufacturing, transportation and garbage generating packaged baby food.
3. Use cloth diapers – ok so it’s a bit more work but over all using cloth diapers can not only be the environmentally responsible thing to do but can save close to $1500 over 3 years (according to one study I read). Just think what you could do with an extra $1500!
4. Use face cloths instead of wipes – you’ll need 3 or 4 or maybe more wipes to clean up a messy diaper which just end up in the trash or you could use face cloths with warm water and launder them with your cloth diapers. Again a little more work but it will save you money and water is much nicer on your baby’s bottom.
5. Buy items that you can use for extended periods – i.e.: infant-65lbs convertible car seat instead of infant car seat and than front facing car seat, convertible crib, stroller that converts to double stroller etc.
6. Buy second hand – babies and kids grow so fast it sometimes seems like a waste to buy new because they are in that size for such a short time.
7. Be willing to accept hand-me-downs – many parents cannot wait to unload their stocks of baby wears taking up valuable space in their house. Reap the benefits and take them off their hands. Save some money, the environment and your friend’s sanity all at the same time.
8. Make your own when you can- do you knit, sew, or bake? Make use of your talents. You can knit a blanket, sew a fitted sheet or bake your own teething cookies.
9. Wood toys instead of plastic – pretty self-explainable. Wood toys will run you more money but they do tend to look newer longer and you can resell them when your children are done with them for more than a second hand plastic toy.
10. Share resources with other parents. You can exchange books, magazines, toys, and home made food.
Labels: baby, budget, environmentally responsible, green living, second-hand, used
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