What is your child’s carbon footprint? Is it important to you? It should be! During your child’s first year alone they will go through nearly 3800 disposable diapers that will sit in landfills for decades. You may not be able to change the whole world but you can lessen your family’s impact on the environment by taking just a few simple steps.
Offset Diaper Damage
It used to be that there were only two options for diapering – cloth or disposable. And while cloth diapers do have their merits and can be great for your family, there are more eco-friendly disposable alternatives too. For example, Honest sells eco-friendly diapers that are made from all natural materials that will help to reduce your baby’s carbon footprint.
Diapers aren’t the only things that end up in landfills, either. Another way to lessen the environmental impact of diapering your baby is to ditch disposable wipes. It can be as simple as cutting up some old cotton t-shirts into squares and turning them into washable wipes. If that’s not something you want to do, you can always cut the disposable wipes in half – most of the time that will be more than enough to clean your baby’s bottom.
The Laundry Load
If you have children then you’re well aware that with all the hugs, kisses and precious moments also comes a lot of laundry. This can have a big impact on the environment so it’s best to try to conserve and do as little laundry as possible – which should be good news to any busy parent! Some ideas to try and reduce your laundry load are:
- Wear clothes more than once, and only wash when visibly dirty
- Use cold water and cold water detergent when you can
- Be diligent about cleaning the lint filter in your dryer to cut back on drying time
- When weather allows, air dry your clothes
Making just a few simple changes in your laundry routine can have a big impact the environment as well as your sanity!
Recycle
It’s been the mantra of the eco-conscious for years but there is something to that whole recycling business – and everyone can get involved! It’s not always about recycling newspapers or pop cans, because reusing is an even better way to recycle. For instance, when it comes to babies all you have to do is buy gently used items such as strollers, cribs and swings. Babies go through these things so quickly that quite often they are barely used, and maybe not even used at all. Buying used will also save you money, which isn’t a bad thing when your family is adding a new member.
One word of caution, however, for buying used baby items: check to make sure the item has had no recalls. You can check with the Consumer Products Safety Commission’s website to find recalls.
The Family Vehicle
Minivans and SUVs are all the rage for families with children, and for good reason. They offer convenience to lug around not only your entire family, but all the gear that goes along with them. You can turn your vehicle into a greener machine by trying to carpool as often as possible with other families and friends. It’s also a great idea to keep you tires properly inflated to increase fuel efficiency.
Careful planning is also a fuel-saver, as planning your route will save you time and money. Also, try to pack as many activities as you can into an outing. So if you’re taking your kids to soccer practice and you need to hit the grocery store, do both during the same trip. If it’s possible, try walking, biking or taking public transportation when you can.
Raise Nature Lovers
One of the best ways to ensure you are raising children that will become responsible stewards to the earth is to simply expose them to nature as often as possible. Go hiking, camping, fishing or simply hunt for frogs in a creek. Often it doesn’t take a lot of money or advanced planning to go on a family adventure in the nearby woods or meadow, plus it creates family time that might be lacking due to busy school and work schedules.
Lighten Up
Another great way to conserve energy is to switch out those traditional lightbulbs for fluorescent bulbs. It doesn’t cost a lot to make the switch and will save you money on your energy bills. It also cuts down on the carbon dioxide emissions from your home.
Also try to invest in a programmable thermostat. This way you can program it to specific temperatures when you’re not home and save some energy!
Change Begins with You
Remember, simply exposing your children to eco-friendly behavior will rub off on them and will ensure that they have the proper respect for the environment in the future. After all, you are raising the next generation and you want them to be responsible and respectful of their home. So, show your children how to go green!
