7 Easy Ways to Become an Eco-Friendly New Parent on a Budget #parenting #ecofriendly #auratenyc #sustainableliving #pregnancy #newbaby

Do you feel as though your eco-friendly beliefs have been or will be compromised on becoming a parent?

Do you wonder if it's even possible to be an eco-friendly consumer when you have a baby or kids?

We're here to tell you how to become an eco-friendly new parent on a budget, read on for our top tips...



Before you become a parent it's easy to be conscious of the environment in almost all your decisions.

You can use public transport, choose sustainable products, conserve energy and water.

Heck, you can even plan an entirely eco friendly wedding, starting with sustainable engagement rings.

But what about when you become a parent?

Bombarded with all the things you 'simply must have' for your new addition, just how can parenting be more eco-friendly?

Here are 7 ways to become a more eco-friendly new parent - even on a budget!



7 Easy Ways to Become an Eco-Friendly New Parent on a Budget

Maintaining a sustainable lifestyle, or moving your new family towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle, is actually easier than you think.

There are ways to become a more eco-friendly parent, without breaking the bank.


1. Local Food

When you determine to make a change for your family toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle, you may set out on your first eco-friendly shopping trip at your local health food store.

And then you see the prices, when you may well question your decision...!

Not to disparage the health food store, but it is often not the cheapest source of healthy food.

Head to your local farmer's market to buy fresh produce, or sign up to a local organic box scheme.

Because the food is from local farms, you won't be paying for long transport or sprayed-on preservatives.



2. Grow Your Own Food

You can save money and teach your children so much by growing your own food.

The garden is the perfect playground for older babies and toddlers, and you can get started now with baby strapped into a sling.

Plus it's great fresh air and exercise for both of you!

Raised beds, vegetable planting boxes, and containers make it possible for just about everyone to grow some of their own food, however much space you have.

Tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, and squash are good vegetables to begin with, as they grow easily. 

Blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries are good fruits for beginners.

 You could even consider signing up for allotment as a great place to get your kids growing their own and learning about gardening and nature.

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3. Preserve the Harvest

Learn to can and/or freeze the extra produce from summer's bounty, when the produce is so much less expensive.

You can use the same containers year after year, and you won't have to buy canned and frozen fruits and vegetables in the winter.

This is a wonderful way to get your child involved in the seasons, sustainability and in sync with nature's flow, too.

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4. Breastfeed Your Baby

This single action reduces waste and will save you a tremendous amount of money - not to mention giving your baby the most amazing start in life!

And if you breastfeed exclusively you will not have to buy bottles, pacifiers, tins of formula, and so on.

Bottles and pacifiers are plastic or rubber and rarely recycled. And formula alone is very expensive, not to mention being appallingly bad for your child and the environment.

Breastfeeding is free and simple. Plus, the longer your breastfeed, the more you'll save.


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5. Use Cloth Diapers

One of the most eco-friendly choices you can make as a parent is to use cloth diapers / nappies. 

Disposable diapers are filling landfills at a rapid rate.

Backed with plastic and saturated with chemicals like bleach and absorbance-enhancing substances, disposable diapers do not biodegrade completely. Ever.

These days, there are so many choices for parents who want to use cloth diapers.

They can be washed and reused over and over, and a diaper cover can help prevent leaks if you're worried.

P.S. Tots Bots bamboo nappies are definitely the best in our opinion!



6. Cleaning House

Before cleaning house as an eco-friendly parent, you may have to - well - clean house!

Go through your cabinets and get rid of all the chemical-based cleaners like scouring powders, spray-on cleaners, germ-killing sprays, etc.

Replace them with simple, cheap, home-made cleaning products that are non-toxic.

White vinegar and baking soda can be used variously for an enormous number of cleaning jobs.

Vinegar and water can be used to mop wood floors, wipe counters, and wash windows.

Use baking soda to remove baked-on "gunk" in your conventional or microwave oven.

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7. Teach Your Children

Another very important aspect of being eco-friendly is teaching the next generation about the importance of preserving the environment.

As they grow, include your kids in your eco-friendly decisions and projects.

Encourage them to garden, to litter pick, to explore nature, to help wildlife and preserve our planet in every way you can.

Check out books from the library and explore relevant websites to get more tips on being eco-friendly at home and in all aspects of life.

Fostering a love of nature and the environment in your children doesn't need to cost anything but a little time and effort on your part.

And the harvest from that effort will be significant for them, their children, and the future of the planet.


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