Subscription orders can be cancelled at anytime. Standard delivery will be charged on each subscription order. Find out more about subscriptions.
Theyāre easy and fuss free
Your products are automatically sent to you
You save when you sign up for a subscription
You can cancel at any time
Thinking about making positive changes as an individual to look after the environment can be overwhelming, but try not to be so overwhelmed that you end up doing nothing.
Remind yourself that one small step will give you the momentum for the next one. When your little one sees you taking sustainable steps, they'll follow!
We know that the arrival of a baby brings with it a lot of stuff, some of which may not be great for the environment. So, because parents need a lot of things to care for their little ones, we thought it would be a good idea to pull together some sustainable choices and small, realistic adaptations that you can make long the way.
The WHO and UNICEF recommend that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their life, and for parents who are looking to reduce the carbon footprint of their child-raising journey, breastfeeding is a good, cost-effective choice.
In fact in 2019, a research study at Imperial College of LondonĀ showed that breastfeeding for six months saves 95-153kg of CO2 per baby.
Glass baby bottles are great. They're long-lasting, stain resistant and free from BPA, phthalates, and toxins.
If your glass baby bottles are still in good condition without damage but you no longer need them, you can store them for future children, donate them to charity, or pass them on to another new parent. Remember that whoever uses the bottles next will need to add brand-new teats.
If your glass bottles can't be reused to feed another baby, they can be easily recycled or used in other inventive ways. Once you no longer need your baby's bottles, we've got a few ideas about how you can reuse them...
Muslin cloths are a parent's (and a baby's best friend). Used to clean up baby sick, spills, and dribble, they're light, soft, breathable, absorbent, quick-drying, and machine washable.
Try to look for organic cotton muslins. These are produced without any synthetic chemicals, are hypoallergenic and have had much less impact on the environment than the non-organic kind. Some organic cotton is also GOTS-certified. This means that you can be sure it's been organically produced by a socially responsible and environmentally friendly company.
When you begin your weaning journey, silicone bibs can be really handy. They're easy to clean without the need for the washing machine, and they're durable, too. So they can be handed down or passed on from one little one to the next.
In the past, plastic has been the go-to material for brands who make baby tableware. But other, more eco-friendly options are now available, such as bamboo.Ā
Bamboo (unlike plastic) is biodegradable and doesn't contain any of the toxins and chemicals used to make some kinds of plastic. It's also very durable, and a natural, renewable resource - no fossil fuels required!
Making your own baby food using a blenderĀ means less single use plastic packaging to deal with. Most supermarket-bought baby food now comes in plastic pouches that can be difficult to recycle, rather than the old school mini glass jars.
This is also a great step to take because...
If you have some outdoor space at home and are feeling green fingered, you could try growing some veggies yourself!
If you're concerned about the environmental impact of your child's nappies, reusable ones might be a good option for you...
Never flush baby wipes down the toilet and try to use water-based biodegradable wipes.
If you want a reusable option, using cloth wipes is a brilliant alternative to disposable baby wipes. They can be used, washed and used again. If you're interested in reusable baby wipes, check out companies like Cheeky Wipes for more information.
When buying toiletries and skincare products for your baby, try to look out for options with all-natural ingredients and 100% recyclable packaging.
This one is important, especially for babies that have sensitive skin. Not only are there so many environmental benefits to using organic cotton (it isn't grown using fertilisers and pesticides), but organic cotton is also considerably softer on delicate skin than non-organic.
Plus, even though they may cost more initially, organic cotton garments last a lot longer than standard cotton, helping you a few pennies in the long run if you want to use the clothes again for another baby in the future.
It's common knowledge that little one's grow out of their clothes at record speed and buying brand-new pieces for each age stage can get pricey! That's why buying second-hand clothes from other parents, charity shops and sites like Depop, Vinted and Dotte is so good. It saves perfectly good clothing from going into landfill and is kind to your purse too!
Once your baby has outgrown some of their clothes, start the cycle again and donate them to charity shops or sell them to other parents to get some cash for a mini wardrobe refresh.
If you have pieces that you particularly love or that have sentimental value and you plan on having another little one in the future, box them up and keep them!
You should always wash baby clothes (whether store-bought or second hand) before your little one wears them for the first time. When you do wash your little one's clothes, follow these steps to save energy and a little cash...
For any outgrown clothes that are too damaged to sell or donate, make sure that instead of binning them and having them end up in landfill, you recycle them.
Most recycling plants have a drop-off point for old clothes, shoes, and other items, and some shops have schemes where you can drop off old clothes to be recycled in exchange for vouchers.
Try to teach your little one about recycling from an early age and help them to know which waste goes into which bin. Explain this to them in simple terms 'if we put this glass jar into the recycling bin, it will be made into a brand new one, again and again!'.
It's a great idea to check what your local recycling centre can recycle.