With baby #2’s arrival rapidly approaching (only 4 weeks to go!), I’m realizing just how much stuff I don’t need. That being said, there are some things I’m so glad I kept from Ariana’s baby days that I’ll be able to use the second time around. Time to challenge myself to having a “zero waste baby,” round two. I have had to buy some things new, but I’ll get more into that below!
I learned a lot from Ariana’s baby days on how we can reduce waste, and I wanted to share what I learned with you! These items I have listed are certain to help keep your waste to a minimum.
First of all, I’d like to preface this article by saying that if you can buy something secondhand, please do so! We are so lucky to be living on a military base overseas that has a circular economy to a certain extent–there’s a free thrift store where people are constantly donating and picking up things, there are yard sales pages, freebies pages, etc. We were incredibly blessed to be able to get so many things secondhand. Baby toys, bassinets, crib sheets, cloth diapers, whatever you can source secondhand–that’s always the best and most eco-friendly option!
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1. Cloth Diapers
I’m sure this comes as no surprise to you, but cloth diapers are EASILY the main way you can reduce waste in your home. Using disposable diapers is a huge source of waste, and are also really expensive! Disposable diapers take over 500 years to decompose, not to mention all of that untreated waste sitting around in landfills that ends up contaminating our groundwater. Cloth diapers do have a steep startup cost when you’re buying them new, but you may be able to get them secondhand from a friend or a local swap page. Cloth diapers might seem daunting and like a lot of work, but I promise you, just take the plunge! It is SO worth it in the long run.
Here is the brand we used with Ariana and will also use a lot of with our son as well:
Mama Koala Cloth Diapers / $40 per pack of 6 via Amazon
2. Cloth Wipes
This is something we didn’t start using until Ariana was already 6 months old or so, and I was shocked with what an easy swap it was. Especially if you’re already cloth diapering anyways! I whipped up my own wipes using my serger and some cotton flannel I had laying around, and you can easily DIY your own as well. If you’re looking to skip the home projects and buy them instead, here is a reusable option that is made from organic cotton–plenty safe for little sensitive baby bums!
Esembly / $14 per pack of 12 via EarthHero
3. Glass or Stainless Steel Baby Bottles
I can’t honestly review what I’m about to recommend, because it’s something I’m trying for the first time as well. However, I can say that I’ve done research on it and absolutely think that going with a stainless steel or glass option is better for baby (and obviously, the environment) than plastic counterparts. I’m always thinking about micro plastics wearing off from Tupperware (or from baby bottles), so I try to keep plastic usage to a minimum in our kitchen. With Ariana, I was given some gently used baby plastic bottles secondhand. This time I want to buy them new and am planning on buying this stainless steel baby bottle. It has really good reviews!
Kleen Kanteen / $19.95 via EarthHero
Another plastic-free option is this glass bottle!
Sophie La Girafe / $15.58 via EarthHero
4. Bar Soap
We get multi-packs of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap from Amazon. We use it around our house for different things (dishwashing, body wash, hand washing, etc.) and there’s a mild baby bar soap in this pack too. Dr. Bronner’s is a really great brand that I’ve been using my whole life! I literally remember my mom using it for me when I was a little tyke, and now we’re using it with our little ones. I’ll link both the multipack and just the baby soap bars below.
Dr. Bronner’s Multipack of Bar Soap / $27.95 per pack of 6 via Amazon
Dr. Bronner’s Baby Soap / $12.87 per pack of 3 via Amazon
5. Secondhand Clothing
If you can, get secondhand clothing from a friend or family member who has had a baby recently. Other options are thrift stores, Facebook pages for your community, or “Buy Nothing” groups. Babies grow so quickly that it’s a lifesaver to be able to get a stash of clothes secondhand. This is one of the key tenets of having a zero waste baby! Side note, I was actually able to source my entire maternity closet secondhand. Secondhand is the way to go for so many reasons, but especially because it’s both eco-friendly and wallet friendly!
6. Almond Oil for Baby Skincare
I use almond oil on my face so this happens to be what we have on hand to use as moisturizer. Your baby does not need lots of special skincare products, regardless of what huge companies are trying to convince you with their elaborate marketing schemes. I’m telling you right now, using almond oil or coconut oil is a great moisturizer. Remember that a little bit goes a long way, and you can get it in glass bottles. Not to mention it is ALL natural! Get the USDA organic branded ones for an extra healthy choice.
Almond Oil / $14.99 via Amazon (Note: this one comes in a plastic bottle but it IS organic which I value higher)
Coconut Oil / $14.99 via Amazon – This kind is refined so its unscented & unflavored, which means I use it in the kitchen in recipes (no added coconut flavor but a super healthy oil!) and also for skincare.
7. DIY Baby Food or Baby Led Weaning
A TON of waste can be completely avoided by making your own baby food. Plus, ALL baby food tests for extremely high amounts of toxic metals. Yup, even organic baby food. It’s pretty scary stuff! If you’re not into making your own baby food, consider baby led weaning. I wrote a whole blog post explaining this when we were doing BLW with Ariana, so you can read more about that here! All in all, it was an excellent experience and definitely what we plan on doing with our next baby too. Either of these options will cut down a significant amount of waste in your home. Say no to all of those tiny pouches and jars of baby food, say hello to your lil zero waste baby meal plan!
See ya on the other side!
I imagine that the next time I post on here, I’ll be a mama of two! I hope my previous experience trying to be as low waste as possible with a baby in the house, also helps you reduce your waste as a parent. It can definitely be challenging, but I have faith in your ability to do amazing in your journey to have a zero waste baby/parenting experience. You can do it, friend!
