Becoming a new mom is a significant and magical moment you will never forget. However, it can also be nerve-wracking because there is so much to think about, especially if you’re attempting to live an eco-friendly life.
From decorating the nursery and buying plenty of clothes, to the dangers of gestational diabetes and other health concerns you or your baby can experience, it can all get to be overwhelming.
Alone with changing moods in home decoration, many people are trying to be more mindful of their “footprint” on the world and want to do what they can to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. However, with diapers, wipes, and other essentials, new moms may be at a loss on how to accomplish rearing their newborn while focusing on sustainability and “living green.”
With that in mind, we wanted to take a look at some eco-friendly lifestyle tips for new moms.
1. Diapers & Baby Wipes
One of the first stops on your shopping spree should be visiting Eco Pea’s website. Not only do they have biodegradable diapers, their bamboo baby wipes and subscription service also make taking care of diaper duty a lot easier and much more eco-friendly.
2. Reusable Shipping/Produce Bags
As you’re probably well aware, some stores add an additional fee for using their bags. Like all your groceries and other purchases weren’t enough and they need just HAVE to pass the small cost of bags on to you.
Unfortunately, with all of the shopping you’re going to be doing, those costs can add up, not to mention the impact of all those plastic bags on the landfills and environment. The good news is that many stores will give you a discount if you bring your own bag.
3. Homemade Baby Food
All of those tiny glass jars or baby food add up quickly and, as above, add to our landfills. Making homemade baby food may seem daunting, but it can actually be relatively straightforward. As opposed to spending a large chunk of your afternoon or evening steaming and pureeing, opt for more easily mash-able foods such as bananas, peas, avocados, and vegetables out of your small garden. There are a lot of websites and YouTube videos dedicated to this option and spending an hour or so reviewing them could help you pursue this eco-friendly tip.
4. Ditch the Plastic
Living an eco-friendly life means that you should forego plastic any time you can. Using wooden and other toys made out of eco-friendly materials and opting for glass baby bottles as opposed to traditional plastic ones.
Cloth bibs, biodegradable trash bags, and anything else that can replace the plastic in your life will help keep you on the path of living a more eco-friendly life.
5. Buy Secondhand When Possible
Hand-me-downs are great but usually not in quantities enough to completely cover your needs, but that doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy brand new things. Secondhand shops and of course, Etsy, Craigslist, and other websites are great places to get a lot of what you need while helping to minimize your footprint.
When you can’t buy secondhand items, purchase clothing made from sustainable or recycled materials from companies with ethical practices.
You’re going to have plenty on your mind and hands with the new baby, and with the tips above, living more eco-friendly doesn’t have to be one of them. Focus on these before the baby even arrives, and you can rest easier knowing that you’re doing everything you can to ensure the health and well-being of both your infant and our fragile ecosystem.
