Raising A Zero Waste Baby: 7 Tips To Get You From Teething To Toddler

We know you’re already feeling overwhelmed to say the least, even without trying to throw sustainability goals in the mix, but take it from us as —it’s hard to keep them in the back of your mind knowing environmental impact of a baby is equivalent to about 58.6 tons of carbon each year.

Fortunately, raising a zero waste baby is actually much easier than the internet (and your mom) would have you believe. Yes, babies are messy—as indicated by the fact that you can’t find a single shirt that doesn’t have spit up stains on it—but mess doesn’t necessarily mean waste.

You may not be able to put a full-stop to the mountain of dirty diapers you’ll be changing, but you can put one on the overconsumption with the baby market. It’s easy to get caught up in the eco friendly hype and think you need all kinds of organic baby products, but when it comes to raising a child sustainably, some of the best low-waste parenting practices simply require less.

In the excitement and nervousness of a new baby, it’s easy to get caught up in the “need” to buy tons of baby paraphernalia. Between baby showers, sleepless shopping sprees, and unsolicited advice from literally everyone, you might feel like you need to keep up with a constant influx of new products that are “better for baby”.

But no, you don’t need a wet wipe warmer (especially if you’re using your own washcloths and warm water). You don’t need pacifier wipes or a WiFi-enabled crib, and believe it or not, gloves won’t be necessary when you change your baby’s diapers.Don’t even get us started on the WhyCry baby crying analyzer…

Babies have been able to survive for millennia—and they’ve done so without a special BabyBum brush for diaper cream, baby Burberry perfume, and a butt fan that prevents diaper rash. If it looks like a waste of money, it probably is.

Don’t get us wrong; there are plenty of zero waste baby products you WILL need, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to buy them new.

Baby Clothes

There are many uncertainties when it comes to having a baby. At least one thing is for sure: your baby will grow…rapidly. Until a baby is six months old, they will grow about an inch every month and will double their birth weight by the time they are five months old!

There’s little to no reason why you should spend oodles on new clothes and shoes that won’t fit for long. Finding them second-hand and in near-new condition is so easy. You might have hand-me downs from previous kids and if this is your first child, check with friends and family to see if they have a box of baby clothes collecting dust in the closet.

Next, check local garage sales and thrift stores, like Once Upon A Child across the US and Canada

When buying used baby clothes, check for the following:

• Look for unraveling. Unless you’re handy with a needle and thread, you might want to swap for something else.
• Ensure that all buttons, clasps, and zippers are present and undamaged. If buttons are about to fall off, those little hands will find it… meaning the button may likely find its way to your baby’s stomach!
• Avoid anything that’s stained or has an off-putting smell.

If you’re still in need of something, there are now lots of shops selling used kids clothes online that includes infant sizes.

Strollers

The jury is still out on secondhand strollers. While buying a secondhand stroller can save you tons of money, it is considered a safety item. If you recognize the risks and still think secondhand is the best option for you, ensure the model was made after federal safety standards became mandatory.

Buy it from reputable baby consignment shops instead of general thrift stores that have little to no quality control. Additionally, check the manufacturer’s website to look for the owner manual so you can examine it yourself to ensure that all pieces are intact and the stroller operates properly (i.e. the brakes work, the seat reclines properly, the wheel locks are secure, and the fabric attaches securely).

Also double-check the model against Consumer Affairs’ list of all stroller recalls.

Cribs & Bassinets

Unfortunately, cribs and playpens can pose several health concerns and have led to hundreds of incidents, including several deaths. Safety standards are continuously improving, meaning outdated models should be avoided. Similarly, the hardware in a crib can become aged—weakened rails and loosened joints—meaning that older versions may be less safe (even if they don’t have lead paint).

For that reason, these are items you should probably just bite the bullet and buy new, unless you’ve been given a relatively new model one from someone you know and trust. There are lots of eco-friendly cribs and non-toxic bassinets out there that put the safety of your baby as priority #1.

Carseats

Fun fact: carseats actually have an experiation date (typically about 6 years), because they’re typically designed for older cars and may not offer as much protection as those designed for new cars.

If you’re contemplating a used car seat, check out Consumer Reports’ interactive decision tree to see if it’s safe to reuse. Obviously anything that’s been involved in even the most minor car crash should be avoided, and again, source only from trustworthy expert resellers.

Other Zero Waste Baby Gear

Here are some other small zero waste baby items that you easily and fairly safely procure second hand:

• Used baby toys: Helloooo, zero waste baby toys! Just check there’s no chipped paint, loose pieces, choking hazards, or lead-containing ingredients.
• Used furniture: Easily find dressers, bookshelves, changing tables, and maybe even a rocking chair used for huge discounts. As long as there hasn’t been a safety recall on any of the pieces and they don’t contain any hazards (i.e. peeling paint, missing pieces, lead), used baby furniture is safe to buy secondhand.
• Baby bathtubs: Check for mold, mildew, and cracks.
• High chairs: Use your best judgment when buying a used high chair—you may have a tiny escape artist on your hands. If everything looks sound and secure, a hand-me-down high chair is a more sustainable and affordable option.

Stinky diapers aren’t just cause for saying “pee-ew”. They’re actually dirtying up our planet, too. This is probably one of the biggest conversations around the idea of a zero waste baby—so much so that it’s been dubbed The Great Diaper Debate.

At the beginning of the 20th century, cloth diapers were used exclusively and boiling became a regular practice (to reduce bacteria). During WWII, a “diaper service” was established in some areas of the world, bringing working mothers fresh cotton diapers as needed.

Disposable diapers made it into the market around the 1950s, quickly became cheaper than cloth options, and solidified their position as “diaper of choice” for most new parents.

Thanks to social media and increased environmental awareness, cloth diapers have reemerged as one of the top zero waste baby alternatives—and with a vengeance. Around 2005, the term “diaper hyenas” became popularized as collector editions of high-end cloth diapers became extremely popular. Some moms were willing to pay $80 for a used cloth diaper!

Frankly, that’s insane—but then again, so is the fact that in the US alone, 20 billion disposable diapers (3.5 million tons) are added to landfills every year. Each one (containing human feces) has the potential to send 100+ different viruses to nearby groundwater.

Still, life cycle assessments of energy, water, raw materials, and waste have still rendered a debate over the sustainability of a disposable diaper vs a cloth one. What many don’t consider is the extent of chemicals required (i.e. bleach) to make disposable diapers. Knowing our little one isn’t sitting a diaper of chemicals means reusable options still come out on top for us.

Reusable cloth diapers are the way to go with a plastic-free baby especially if you choose organic cotton, but knowing how to wash cloth diapers can be a process. From our own experience, reusable cloth diapers can be overwhelming, especially in the first few weeks.

In the end, we learned that blended approaches are the way to go. For example, using disposable eco-friendly diapers for the first few weeks as you’re getting use to the idea of raising a newly born human, then switching to reusables once you get a bit more into the swing of parenting. Or use reusables at home (where most diapers get changed anyway) and opt for disposables when out and about in tricky to change situations.

To truly get to the bottom of this conversation on baby bottoms, we must address baby wipes—named “the biggest villain of 2015” for causing superbugs, marine animal deaths, and fatbergs. These are giant blockages in our sewage systems. Weighing up to 40 tons, these are made predominantly of fat, oil, and—you guessed it—baby wipes.

That’s because even ‘biodegradable’ baby wipes are often not truly biodegradable. Those that claim they are often only degradable (fun fact: so is plastic) and will still take decades to break down. Like baby poop, greenwashing is everywhere in this industry and plenty of brands will try to sell you “Earth-Friendly” baby wipes that are still made of polyester.

Not only that, but wipes contain chemicals that produce a range of health concerns for babies, including (but not limited to) formaldehyde, fragrance (parfum), parabens, triclosan, chlorine, propylene glycol, SLS/SLES, PEG, and polysorbate.

That makes that dirty bum seem practically clean!

Instead, opt for organic baby wipes by way of organic cloth reusables. You can even create your own from old clothing scraps. For the washing part, use a blend of boiling and cooled water, skin-safe oil, and Castile soap, then finish off with a zero waste baby powder like that from Rainwater Botanicals.

As noted, the best zero waste product is buying nothing at all, but sometimes you’ll just need something—especially consumables that get used up, such as organic baby skin care products (think: diaper rash cream, baby powder, and moisturizer) and shampoo. Pure Castile soap is perfect for that, as it’s great for a baby’s sensitive skin, and has tons of other uses around the house.

Otherwise, if you find yourself in need of new clothes, choose sustainable baby clothes made of natural fabrics like organic cotton, which are completely compostable and non-toxic to wear.

The same goes for organic baby blankets. We know a lot of parents like to hand on to these as a keepsake well beyond baby years, but in case you’re not one of those, this will at least ensure you can safely compost the fabric.

Nowadays, there is a party (and accompanying gifts) for every milestone in a baby’s life: First, the baby shower, followed by the gender reveal party, the birth itself, first birthday, and so on. For a small human whose entire life revolves around eating, sleeping, and pooping, this means a lot of stuff that likely doesn’t get used or appreciated as much as a gift-giver might think.

Yet, we get it. Welcoming another living being into this world is definitely a cause for excitement and these celebrations are as much for parents and family as they are for baby (if not more).

To celebrate in a way that aligns with a zero waste baby lifestyle, here are a few thoughts:

• Consider asking for nothing at all. If you’re in a position where your needs are met and you’re getting everything you need by the coos and adorable movements of your newborn, consider asking friends and family members to celebrate with you—sans gifts.
• Use a gift registry. Not only will a baby gift registry help you get exactly what you and your child needs, but you can also use it as a good tool to explore the market and determine what’s best for you and your family.
• Opt for vouchers. Every day with a new baby is a journey, one that is ever-changing and unpredictable. With this in mind, ask your loved ones for gift cards so you can use them to purchase as needs arise. This way, you can get exactly what you need .
• Think long-term needs. On three hours of sleep, it’s hard to think about what will happen in the afternoon, let alone a year or two down the road. However, if you have the mental capacity to do so, consider asking for gifts that will serve you well during the months and years to come. This might be clothes that are a few sizes up, that first pair of “real” shoes, a big kid bed, or a contribution to a college fund.
• Encourage sustainable gifts. If there are things that you certainly don’t want around the house when your baby arrives, don’t feel ashamed in sharing this with friends and family. If you’re avoiding certain toxins or an abundance of plastic throwaways, organic baby toys or a non-toxic nursery rug are perfect ideas.
• Go eco with your party planning. Plastic plates, cups, cutlery, compostable confetti and streamers instead of balloons—options for replacing wasteful party peripherals are almost endless.

First things first: we know breastfeeding simply isn’t possible for every parent and many prefer not to breastfeed. Each to their own and no judgement here!

But if it is something you’re considering, it is a brilliant way to cut out some unnecessary waste. Breastfeeding is like the OG zero waste food (and one of the best renewable resources out there, we might add). Additionally conventional baby formula can have other environmental drawbacks best to miniimize using it if you can.

Whether breastfeeding or not, invest in some zero waste baby bottles, like one made of glass. They’re free of BPA, durable enough to pass on to little siblings (or babies of friends and family), and glass is infinitely recyclable—meaning they won’t sit in a landfill for around 450 years like their plastic counterparts.

Don’t forget the zero waste nursing pads! These soothe sore nipples and soak up any leaking breast milk. You can either get single-use nursing pads that are certified compostable or opt for organic washable ones.

When breastfeeding days are done and babies are developing their palates, you can expect a lot of food to end up in… well, places that aren’t a baby’s tummy. Unless you’re a believer in the 10-second rule, or have a dog, be prepared to throw a lot away (or hopefully compost if you have an indoor compost bin).

To reduce some waste in the form of baby food jars, experiment with making your own baby food. That way the food might get wasted, but at least the container isn’t.

Here are a few other tips:

• Start with small portions: Whether experimenting with new food or serving something that’s usually gobbled up, do more smaller portions instead of one large one. This will look less intimidating for your baby or toddler, and will make for less food on the floor if you turn your back for a second!

• Reuse leftovers: Fruit and yogurt make a good snack for toddlers and, when it doesn’t all get eaten, it can be put in a freezer-friendly container and turned into a smoothie at another time! Certain veggies work for this, too. Hooray for preserving food at home!

• Use beeswax wraps for snacks: Once your toddler is eating solid foods, consider using beeswax wraps instead of plastic baggies—which also happen to be better for your bundle of joy.