The average American child will generate 58.6 tons of CO2 annually (compared with 0.1 tons of CO2 in much of the developing world)¹, and infants are responsible for upwards of 50% of the waste generated in a typical household. Thankfully, welcoming a snuggly new addition doesn’t have to be so trashy! Here’s the rules we’re following to raise our low-waste Wild One.

1. Take the Hand-Me-Downs. 

No, really. I know the organic, fair-trade onesies in the Etsy shop look adorable, but chances are baby will outgrow them before they even ship! Our little one fit in new born clothes for approximately three weeks, and at 6 months is cruising well into her 9ms. We were so, incredibly thankful to receive several boxes of baby clothes from a neighbor, many of them in nearly brand new condition (because, again, baby outgrows them before you blink). 

Don’t hesitate to source the baby items you do need secondhand, or even borrow from a friend. Although several of our baby items were unexpectedly purchased new because we needed them during lock-down (#thankscovid), I’m already looking forward to lending them out. Friends or co-workers with older kiddos, local Buy Nothing groups, and second-hand shopping sites (ranging from Craigslist to Mercari) are great resources for gently-used baby gear.

2. Beware the baby-aisle 

As soon as you announce your pregnancy, the baby aisle at every big box store will conspire with dozens of well-meaning friends and relatives to tell you what you absolutely must have to survive parenthood. While there are certainly some products that are useful (you can find my “lifesaver” list here), the reality is remarkably simple: Your baby needs you. He needs you to comfort him when he cries. She needs you to feed her and snuggle her to keep her warm.  No baby bouncer, plastic contraption, or bells-and-whistles toy can replace you (or dispel your baby’s innate curiosity about typical household items). 

Don’t believe me? Here’s my baby playing with an egg carton. 

3. Cloth diaper 

Even figuring that babies get 8 diaper changes a day (and if you’ve met Wild One’s bladder, you know that’s a conservative estimate!), babies will go through nearly 3,000 diapers in their first year alone.  Babies wear each diaper for only a few hours— but the diaper that barely made it through nap-time (or worse, was soiled before you could even fasten little’s onesie!) will release toxic chemicals as they break down in landfills for hundreds of years. In fact, there are more than 3,300,000 tons (aka 6,600,000,000 pounds) of disposable diapers currently resting in landfill.  

Cloth diapers end the vicious single-use cycle and, better yet, are more convenient than disposables. Read more about the convenience case for cloth diapering (and the diaper brand I recommend!) here. 

4. Embrace your inner milk machine (+ how to recycle those formula bottles!)

The first 4-6 months of baby’s life will be a hazy blur of feeding and sleeping (and when you’re really desperate, feeding and sleeping at the same time…).  Breastfeeding is pretty inherently low-waste, but you may find yourself needing to pump. If you’re looking to store just a few extra bottles (or pumping at work for use over the next few days), 8 oz. mason jars* or silicone breast milk bags* are fantastic options. If you need to establish a larger freezer “stash,” know that breast milk freezer bags can be recycled at store drop-off points (a type #4 plastic like grocery bags). And no judgement if you choose formula, because #fedisbest. Some formula containers are curbside recyclable, but TerraCycle also offers a free mail-in program to recycle baby formula and other health & nutrition products. 

5. Go Full On “Master Chef” with DIY Baby Food

When baby is ready to start purees and solids, make them yourself– saving money and eliminating single-use packaging ($1.50 for a throwaway pouch of baby food? No thanks!). I use leftover fruits and veggies (mostly from our Misfits Market deliveries*) and our decades-old blender (no need for a fancy baby contraption). Whatever Wild One doesn’t eat immediately, I freeze into 1 oz. portions in our Souper Cubes (really, these things are workhorses in my kitchen). Then, I transfer the frozen cubes to mason jars for longer term storage. When she’s ready to eat, I pop one down from the freezer and it defrosts in minutes. Viola– competition-worthy baby food with minimal effort!

6. Support sustainably-oriented companies

Y’all, I am a proud admin of my local Buy Nothing group, an avowed minimalist, and yet I LOVE me some small businesses. I am overwhelmed by the ingenuity and effort of some small companies to create thoughtful, environmentally-mindful products. Sourcing baby items made from natural or non-toxic materials like organic cotton, wood, and silicone is SO much more enjoyable when I get to support small businesses along the way.

I have a few benchmarks for buying things new: In addition to first seeing if I can source a similar item secondhand, I prioritize purchases that are non-toxic with minimal packaging.

Found value in this post? Please share with friends!

Join the Sustain Initiative Community

Subscribe to get our latest content by email.

Subscribe

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Built with ConvertKit

*Links may be affiliate links, meaning I receive compensation to support Sustain Initiative at no cost to you. It’s a win-win!