Raising kids is expensive, and with living costs rising faster than wages do, it can be very hard to make ends meet, leaving many mamas stressed to the max. The good news is, there’s plenty of ways that you can cut down on the expenses that come with parenting, and they’re better for the planet, and better for baby!
Buy a baby bike trailer.
If you’re living somewhere with a good system of bike lanes, this is a must. Having one less car on the road saves on petrol costs, and is also a great way to get more exercise! It’s important to be aware of the safety guidelines[1]. For example, your baby will have to be at least 12 months old in order to have the neck strength to be able to ride in a bike trailer, but once they’re ready, they’ll enjoy it so much more than the car. They’ll be closer to nature, and all the wonderful new sights and sounds of the world, so they’ll be able to take it all in much better.
Don’t buy new toys/clothes where you can avoid it.
The old adage is true: babies tend to enjoy the box the toy came in more than the actual toy! Even a favorite toy tends to get discarded relatively quickly. The upside is that your friends with babies or toddlers of their own probably have a ton of toys that their kids don’t play with anymore, so you can easily get plenty of “new” toys for your little one to play with by doing a toy swap, or joining a toy library. The same swap rules apply to clothes. You’d be amazed how quickly your baby grows, and how quickly they outgrow stuff. Why spend $70 on a dress when you can spend $2, or get it for free from the fashionista at your mother’s group? There are plenty of gorgeous options available secondhand, and hopefully you’ll instill your child with a love of vintage finds. According to Babycenter[2], parents can expect to spend $20-$50 on clothes per month, so visiting your local Goodwill can mean some serious savings. Of course, the impact of the fashion[3] and toy[4] industries on the planet is huge as well. Avoiding buying new means that you’re taking a very significant step to help the planet.
You don’t need half the gadgets that you see at the baby store.
Parents survived for most of human history without electricity, let alone gadgetry. Some products are definitely important for comfort and safety, but some are just silly. Also, baby walkers have been proven time and again to be potentially very dangerous to babies, and can actually delay their physical development; they’ve even been banned in Canada, with hefty fines. So, if you see a baby walker at your local baby store, walk on by, maybe even to the manager, to ask them to consider not selling a product that can harm their target market.
Breastfeed (if you can), or borrow a breast pump.
Breastmilk is better for the baby, and better for the planet too: no equipment involved, no carbon footprint, and a major dollar-saver! Of course, not everyone is able to breastfeed successfully, but before you reach for the formula, you could consider using a breast pump. The great news is, everything except for the plastic attachments can be shared, so ask around to see if anyone you know has a pump they’re not using.
Practice the 5 Rs.
You’ve probably already heard of the 3 Rs: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, but what about Reject and Rot? When you’re making decisions about what to buy, what to get rid of, and how to do it, try to keep the 5 Rs in mind. If you’d like some tips on how to make the 5 Rs part of your parenting life, check out this comprehensive guide[5]. There are so many ways that mamas can keep things green; the little tweaks here and there really make a difference, and the planet will thank you!
References
[1]^ American Academy of Pediatrics: Baby on Board: Keeping Safe on a Bike [2]^ Babycenter: Top baby costs, and how to save [3]^ EcoWatch: Fast Fashion Is the Second Dirtiest Industry in the World, Next to Big Oil [4]^ Bright Hub: Environmental Pollution: How Toys Contribute to the Problem [5]^ Happy Eco Mama: The 5 Rs for green baby-mamas: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Rot, Reject Featured photo credit: Pixabay via pixabay.com
