Go Green Baby

I recently had a baby and made the decision to try and minimise the impacts of the new addition to the family. I knew nothing about babies and even less about what they needed, but after a whole three months of being a new parent I think I have finally got to grips with it. If you find yourself in the same boat I hope this might come in handy.

I had already decided I would go down the reusable and eco-disposable nappy route, but I was concerned about the impacts of having to consume so much stuff, so I made a decision not to set foot in a baby superstore. I’m happy to say I have everything I need and more. I did this by becoming an eBay addict, a garage sale browser, a serial swapper and a furniture rejuvenator (I painted stuff).

Here are my top recommendations for what you need to know to kit out your eco-baby.

• Get the word out that you are expecting and the offers of second hand baby stuff will come flooding in. Babies get through clothes so quickly most people who have had their kids are keen to offload their old baby clothes. Most of the clothes passed on have been worn so little they are like new.
• You need a cot. Check out garage sales and eBay. Be mindful that there are cot safety regulations regarding the spacing of bars. We picked ours up from a garage sale, scrubbed, sanded and painted it and it looks like new. You’ll need a new mattress.
• Bassinet. This is not essential but handy if you aren’t sure where the newborn will be sleeping as it is portable. Check out eBay and garage sales. You’ll need a new mattress.
• Buggy. If you are thinking of having more than one baby think about getting a ‘Phil and Teds’ as this has an option to add another seat so you will be able to adapt this buggy when a sibling comes along. The buggy is suitable from newborn upwards. Competition for these on eBay is quite fierce.
• A baby carrier like a baby bjorn. We found this to be essential and were lent two in the end. Make your own or pick up a second hand one.
• Baby rocker. This is handy but not essential. There are loads of these which can be picked up quite cheaply on eBay.
• Baby capsule for the car. This is essential and there are safety regulations for these. Some prefer to buy new, but they can be hired or there are lots of second hand ones on eBay. Like the buggies there was a fair bit of competition for these. Check out garage sales and newspaper ads too. These should be professionally fitted – a google search should locate your nearest fitting station.
• A play mat is pretty handy. Vinnies, eBay or garage sales are great for these. They are designed to be washed as babies are messy creatures. Put it in the washing machine and it comes out looking and smelling fresh.
• Breast pump. Yes, pretty essential. eBay is great for this.
• Drawers or wardrobe. Spruce up old or second hand items with a sand and varnish or paint.
• Borrow stuff and if you see something that you’ll need as the baby grows, grab it and lend it out until you need it.
• Check out second hand baby fairs like www.babykidsmarket.com.au
• Make homemade baby wipes with pieces of cloth and water (you can add soap and essential oils like lavender) to avoid disposable wipes.

The only things I found that I bought from a shop were the towelling squares, plus snappy and plastic pants (pilchers), change mat, new mattresses and mattress protectors for the bassinet and cot (recommended for safety reasons), new sheets, bottle, teats and bottle brush, a couple of baby grows and some baby wraps.

This process might take a bit longer than filling up a trolley at the shops, but it is more interesting, fulfilling and cheaper. I’ve already got a batch of stuff that my daughter no longer needs and I can pass these on to a friend who has just announced she is expecting.

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