I get it, the second you hear the word “sustainable” you probably run the other way. It seems overwhelming of a topic. One you can’t possibly tackle on your own. Especially with little ones. But the reality is, every person choosing one small part contributes to the greater goal. Okay, but what in the world does “sustainability” really mean? The purpose of sustainable living is to try and live a life that has the most minimal impact on the environment or in a way that replenishes the resources you use.
As a parent, there are plenty of products thrown at you for convenience sake. A temporary solution that effects the long term. I want to share a few of my favorite sustainable practices that are realistic and simple to implement in your daily life as a beginner in your sustainable journey, whether you pick one or try them all. Carrying the future means protecting your little one and our planet.
- BABY PRODUCTS / When shopping for baby products, do so consciously. What materials or chemicals are they using when manufacturing? Are PBDEs or PFADs used? Those are flame retardant chemicals that have been shown to cause health issues in humans. INSTEAD look for products that are produced with sustainability in mind, like the Maxi Cosi Coral XP car seat. This car seat is produced using a new type of fabric PureCosiTM that meets flammability standards without the use of added fire-retardant chemicals, in turn, protecting babies from toxins while reducing the accumulation of PBDEs and PFAD in the environment. And on top of that, PureCosi fabrics use the most sustainable dyeing processes for the majority of fashions in order to conserve both the energy and water resources.
- REUSABLE NURSING PADS / If you are choosing to breastfeed, nursing pads are going to be your best friend. But instead of contributing to paper or plastic waste in landfills, choose a more sustainable option and opt for washable eco friendly nursing pads.
- REUSABLE TOTES / Canvas and net totes are my favorite for grocery and produce shopping. If you can shop via a farmer’s market, I highly recommend supporting your local farms. If not, I know our local grocer is always willing to use the totes that we provide and some even offer a discount (albeit minuscule of a discount — it’s more for the reduction of plastic waste that is the real reward).
- NON TOXIC CLEANERS / We switched to plant-based household cleaners a few years ago out of necessity. Our oldest daughter had a gnarly reaction to your mainstream cleaner on the market and it was a huge wake up call for us. So we went on the hunt for the most effective plant-based alternative and VOILA — it exists and is just as effective. I personally love using Thieves Household Cleaner concentrate and a reusable glass spray bottle that I refill whenever I need.
- PLANT A GARDEN / Get your littles involved and let them pick out seed and flowers for the local nursery. I highly recommend the square foot gardening method. It’s easy for little ones to actively contribute and is a well documented method to “grocery gardening”. Check out your local library for books on how to get started.
