Before Oliver was born, I had all kinds of grand plans about reducing waste. I vowed our first child would be warmly welcomed into a world of second-hand everything, coddled in reusable diapers, and cleaned with low-waste eco-friendly reusable cloths.
We dreamed would float gently through babyhood, nary a wasted scrap of paper in sight.
Well, as the saying goes, no good plan survives contact with King Baby. Once the poop and barf start flying, and survival mode kicks in, you do what works.
Along the way, we have managed to keep the waste to a dull roar. Here are a few tips from a brand-new parent that can help you make this experience relatively green without losing your mind.
Tip #1: Survival mode is real — acceptance is key
When you are sleeping in 1-2 hour stretches, thoughts of your environmental impact take a back-seat to the overwhelming need for sleep, food, a shower — some semblance of normal life.
The first three months of a baby’s life are called the “fourth trimester” because they need a mind-boggling amount of care.
You might, like me, find yourself in a daze, ordering several types of bottles on Amazon Prime because the thought of going to the store amid all the chaos is just too much — and that’s totally okay.
The term that best describes the parental experience of the first few months of a baby’s life is “survival mode.” Everything falls away except caring for this precious bundle of (high maintenance) joy. Don’t be too hard on yourself if creating some waste means things are a bit easier.
Tip #2: Go cloth!
Newborn babies go through 8 to 12 diapers a day. Over six months, you’re looking at nearly 2,000 diapers.
Cloth diapers are easily the superhero on this list, and it’s become so much easier with the introduction of diaper services. Some companies make the process simple by delivering fresh diapers each week and taking the used ones away.
We have found cloth diapers to be easy and leak-resistant when they are properly put on. Bonus: they also offer reusable wipes.
Tip #3: Borrow first, thrift second, buy new as a last resort
One universal truth of baby stuff is that all of it is useful for a very short time. Oliver outgrew his bassinet within six weeks. We have two full bins of clothes that he has outgrown in his first three months of life.
The second universal truth is that, despite this, a whole industry exists to convince you (and your loved ones) to buy brand new baby stuff.
Any other parent will be glad to be asked for stuff. They’ll practically beg you to clear out their basement, closet, attic, whatever.
And if you can’t find what you want in the freebies, consider renting! The Toy Exchange Club offers toy rentals for developmentally-appropriate toys.
Tip #4: DIY is your best friend
Babies are simple creatures. They like high contrast items and fun textures. They don’t care if it’s paper glued on cardboard or an upcycled plastic bottle full of beads.
I made a set of four Montessori mobiles (the Munari mobile is pictured above) that would have cost upwards of $150 to buy online. I used spare paper, cardboard, fishing line and dowels to make the mobiles and scrap plywood to make a stand that they hang from. I guarantee you Oliver doesn’t know the difference.
The opportunities get better as kids get older, and loads of social media accounts are devoted to DIY baby things that reuse materials. Check out accounts like @Montessori.on.a.budget and @lovebloomlearn on Instagram.
Tip #5: Pass it on
Contribute to the ongoing underground parental sharing economy. No baby stuff should ever hit the landfill. A quick post on Facebook can find a home for most items.
We already have friends lined up to borrow our bassinet. Lots of our clothes came secondhand from a friend, who will get them back for their second kid with interest (in the form of more clothes). We have a motorized swing from my cousin, who will get it back when he has his next baby, and then we’ll take it when that baby outgrows it!
Helping someone else avoid waste is just as good as avoiding waste in your own home!
