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Top Tips For Reducing Household Waste (With A Baby!)
Once baby arrives - and you have a whole new person to take care of - it’s very easy to prioritise convenience over environmental consciousness.
Disposable nappies and wipes are automatically added to the shopping basket, as are packaged snacks and cheap plastic toys. Whatever is easiest, right? Especially while you’re sleep-deprived, exhausted, and still learning the ropes of this whole new parenting gig, convenience is king.
But there ARE a few simple swaps you can do to help reduce your environmental footprint and help reduce your household waste, even with a brand new baby! Check these out below:
1. Breast Pads
As any breastfeeding mum will attest, nursing pads are a full-time essential for at least the first 6 months - you never know when your boobs are going to start leaking! Disposable breast pads have been the norm, but why not invest in some reusable breast pads? Designer Bums has recently launched a range of Reusable Nursing Pads that are made with 2 layers of highly absorbent natural fibres, consisting of premium bamboo fleece and topped with a layer of milk-proof PUL. The bamboo fabric is chemical-free and super soft (because those nipples can be tender!), and by switching to reusable nursing pads you are preventing hundreds of single-use disposable nursing pads from entering the environment as landfill.
Shop reusable nursing pads
2. Sanitary Pads
You’ll need to stock up on maternity pads for after baby is born, and you’ll be wearing them all-day everyday for at least a few weeks post-birth. So instead of disposables, why not consider reusable pads? Designer Bums has a new range of reusable sanitary pads available in several sizes. The Ultra Heavy Flow is absolutely perfect for post-partum use, and includes 5 layers of organic cotton with a waterproof backing. Simply pop them in your undies and attach the wings with press-studs - super secure, and super absorbent.
Shop reusable sanitary pads:
3. Nappies
This is the big one. According to Sustainability Victoria, 3.75 million disposable nappies are used each day in Australia and New Zealand, and it takes about one cup of crude oil to make each nappy. This amounts to a huge amount of landfill, with regular disposable nappies taking up to 150 years to break down!
A simple swap here is to choose reusable cloth nappies. Modern cloth nappies are reusable, washable nappies that are made from soft fabrics that absorb liquids, and also have a water-resistant outer layer that keeps moisture from leaking through. Worn just like a disposable nappy, they fasten with press studs for the perfect fit, and have elastic around the legs to keep everything contained, and most also include reusable liners.
We love the Designer Bums modern cloth nappies - made from the highest quality OEKO-TEX and GOTS certified materials available that are eco-focused, natural and free of toxins, they are super soft and absorbent - and thanks to the handy press-studs, one nappy will fit size newborn all the way through to toddler
4. Baby Wipes
Here’s a stat for you - did you know that in the first year, you will use over 10,000 baby wipes?! That’s a LOT of waste right there (and a lot of $ from your pocket!). So why not consider reusable wipes?
Cheeky Wipes sell kits of cotton or bamboo wipes that you simply mix with water and essential oil. They’re actually so much easier to use - and more absorbable - than disposable wipes, and one wipe is enough to clean the messiest of nappy changes. The clever colour-coded system means you have a clean and dirty box, and the dirty wipes can simply be popped through the normal wash and then back in the box with water and oil to be used again (you don’t even need to dry them!).
5. Breast Milk Storage Bags
If you’re pumping, you’ll no doubt be amassing a healthy supply of breast milk in your freezer. Those breast milk storage bags are usually all made of plastic - but we’ve found an alternative!
One Eco Step makes great breast milk storage bags that are not only BPA and Phthalate free, but are also oxo-biodegradable - so you can throw them in the bin without hurting your conscience, or the environment.
Shop breast milk storage bags:
6. First Aid
Bumps and scrapes are inevitable for little ones, especially as they get more mobile! Rather than using plastic bandaids, we’ve discovered Patch bandages - they’re made from 100% organic bamboo fibre and free from irritating chemicals, making them perfect for sensitive skin, plus they’re also completely biodegradable.
Shop biodegradable bandages:
7. Ditch the individually-wrapped snacks
Say NO to individual plastic-wrapped store-bought snacks in favour of healthy home-made or bulk-buy treats, and store them in a reusable snack box. We love We Might Be Tiny’s range of silicone Snackies - they’re microwave, freezer, oven, and dishwasher safe too, and will last you forever.
Shop reusable snack boxes:
8. Choose well, make it last
When choosing baby accessories and toys like bouncers and playgyms, consider the premium wooden styles over the cheaper plastic options. Buying quality products that are designed to last not only means they can be kept and used for more than one child, there’s also opportunity to sell them in the booming second hand baby goods market.
We love the baby rockers from French brand Charlie Crane - made from sustainably sourced wood and featuring a removable organic cotton cover, it’s a high-quality rocker that will suit your stylish home - and you’ll have no problems passing it on after you no longer need it!
Shop these sustainable swaps & earn $$ at One Fine Baby!
You read that right! For every purchase you make on the One Fine Baby Shop you earn $ rewards to spend on your next purchase. It's really that easy. As soon as you purchase you're signed up and earning $. Find out more about the rewards program here.
Choose from thousands of products from hundreds of brands. We have your best baby products all under one roof!
P.S. Want to see some of these brands up close? Come to our next Sydney baby expo or Melbourne baby expo by visiting our Sydney baby expo page here or our Melbourne baby expo page here.
