My Top 10 Minimal Zero Waste Newborn Essentials.
can you really go zero waste with a baby in the house?
Having a new baby in the house creates a huge amounts of waste. From the copious amount of nappies, the need for convenience food, the amount of wipes you’ll go through and the many many maternity pads (no one warns you about this). You may already be striving for a low waste lifestyle and worried how a new baby will change this or the idea of how many nappies you’ll go through might be making you think about changing your lifestyle all together. This was the case for me.
We weren't anywhere near perfect in the newborn days and that’s okay but I think we did pretty well, learning lots on how to save money and reduce waste with our newborn essentials. That’s why I’ve complied this list. My top 10 essentials for a new baby. Including the things I couldn't live without with a newborn in the house, the things I’ve learnt, and the things I would do differently should I have another baby. With a minimalist, zero waste mindset of course.
10 minimal, zero waste newborn essentials.
1. Cloth Nappies.
Weather cloth nappies are on your radar or not yet it is a biggy so I have to mention it first. Adding disposable nappies into the mix will increase your household waste by 90%!!!! Eye watering isn’t it? Though this does not mean you need to use them in the newborn days. Many parents are all in for cloth nappies but decide to wait until their baby fits into the One Size (often known as Birth to Potty size) which generally do not fit baby until 6-8 weeks. This is normally down to 1 or 2 things. Newborn cloth nappies can be more expensive to buy and or they do not want to put extra stress on themselves in those newborn hazy days. Which you choose is fine, but if you want to think about reducing you waste and growing to love nappy change time I would really consider looking into cloth nappies. If that means doing it from day 1 with your newborn head over to “Cloth Nappies for Newborns. Everything you need to know.”
Pin me for later….
2. Muslin cloths.
You really can never have to many. I use them for everything, drying bottoms before you put the nappy back on, putting them under bottoms when changing in case of accidents, wiping up sick, wiping up more sick, as burping cloths in case of sick incidents, you get the picture. These days they work as great make shift bibs wrapped around her to stop even her socks being covered in pasta sauce. The older tatty ones have been repurposed as dusters and cleaning cloths, some have even been used a cloths for wrapping presents. Yes really!!!
Just a note that I found the organic cotton or bamboo ones I have so much softer and longer lasting so it's definitely worth spending a little extra these more ethically made ones. Babipur is a good one stop shop for getting anything like muslins and only sell from ethical companies.
Also in my very top essentials are the larger Muslins. They are great as a cover when breastfeeding in public if you prefer a bit of modesty, as a blanket in the summer or a sun shade over the pram. Oh their also good for moping up sick......
3. Cloths Wipes.
If you try nothing else eco-friendly please just try cloth wipes. They are my super duper top must have for a baby for so many reasons.
Number one being they actually work so much better! How do I put this.... they are far more "grippy" when wiping dirty bottoms so less wipes are needed, no tackling a packet of wipes one handed while trying to hold down a wiggling baby.
Secondly there’s a few things I've never understood about single use wipes. Your advised not to use them on a newborn because their skin is too sensitive. Well, if their skin is too sensitive for whatever chemicals are in them at first, it doesn't really fill me with joy using them when their older either. For the newborn stage it is therefore recommended you use cotton wool and water. Have you ever tried to mop up newborn poop with cotton wool?? It's not something I would recommend, takes half a pact of cotton wool, some gagging and a several hand washes after. For this reason I've heard a lot of people recommend using Water Wipes but haven't used them long term because they are far more expensive. This has also never made sense to me, how can water be more expensive than chemicals? Either way they whole process is far too complicated. Lastly single use wipes are recommended as a great way of getting tar of car tyres....
In my opinion cloth wipes are the easiest and biggest money saving swap you can make, and it means your not contributing to that gross fat burg we keep hearing about (please don't flush your wipes).
If your looking for somewhere to get started a great company local to me in Sussex is Cheeky Wipes. You can get a whole set with a clean and dirty box, essential oils and all the accessories but to be honest we don't use any of it other than the wipes and the wet bag now. I have tried all sorts of recipes to wet the wipes with but really just water does a great job. In fact I would only use water on a newborn baby like midwives recommend.
At home I have a pile in the kitchen for wiping hands and face and a pile in the bathroom for nappy changes. When I need one I simply run it under the tap, it takes less than two seconds and when used chuck them in the nappy bin ready to be washed with the nappies.
The set from Cheeky Wipes might work well for you if your not using cloth nappies as well, in which case I would pop them from the dirty box straight into the washing machine for a rinse wash. They can then be added to your normal washing. They come out good as new and the process is repeated. When we're out and about I just wet maybe 4 or 5, enough for the day, and pop them in my little wet bag. You don't even need to buy fancy wipes, (although you can get some fab patterned ones). Even Poundland do simple pacts of them, or just cut up a load of old towels, t-shirts, anything will do. Cheeky Wipes sell wipes on their own if you don’t want to buy the whole set. I would recommend this.
If your still unsure of where to start I’ve written A Complete Guide to Cloth Wipes and How to Use Them.
4. A second hand Sling and a Pram.
It’s pretty self explanatory but a Pram is probably one of the first and most expensive things you will buy. Depending on your lifestyle you will want different things from a Pram. For us it was super important to have literally 4x4 wheels on the thing. Mat does a lot of running, we love a country walk (although she's always in the sling for these) and I walk a lot through muddy parks. A pretty about town pram wasn't going to do for us.
My biggest tip is to buy second hand. We got ours on Facebook Market Place, there will be hundreds out there in your local area in great condition, I promise you, it may just take a little more research as your not walking in to one shop with them all there and someone to help you with advice.
I went about it like this. Early on in my pregnancy I started to search Facebook Market Place for prams. I came across a Jane Slalom Pram with the lie flat car seat. I YouTubed and did some reading. I knew instantly this would be a great pram for us. Unfortunately the one I had originally seen sold before I make an offer. I then set Facebook to give me a notification if another one of these came up, I had time to be patient. Low and behold a week later one did and in great condition. They retail for £700 but we paid £100. I was made up. They lady we brought it off told us how much she loved it and was emotional to see it go. We Mothers get sentimental over things like this. Don’t feel funny about second hand it’s kinder on the pocket and kinder on the environment. Everyone wins.
Now the pram is in constant use but in the first year for me a sling is even more important as I do believe baby wearing is one of the most bonding things you can do and it also makes life so much easier when your hands are free to make a cuppa. Babies benefit from it so much, and maybe I'm lazy but getting to the super market and getting the Pram in and out of the car and then again at the next shop is just all too much when you can just pop them on you and walk around easy peasy. I was lucky and was handed down two slings, I've also brought a third on Facebook market place now that she's bigger.
If your not sure what you want I would recommend for the early newborn stage having a wrap sling, it holds them close to you and makes them feel all snuggled like their back in the womb (just practice with them as their not easy to get on at first) and then go to a sling library and have a try at what type will suit you as people are different shapes and sizes and so are slings. Your baby will probably also have a preference too, as will Daddy (Mat and I use different ones), and that's why second hand is great because you don't have to spend hundreds of pounds on having more than one sling. Again kind on the pocket, kind on the environment.
5. Baby Clothes.
My zero waste essential tips when it comes to baby clothes, particully if it is your first baby is to NOT buy them. You think I’m crazy right? I brought a few basics just in case even though I knew I would probably be brought lots… I ended up with over 50 baby grows! So as tempting as it is don't buy loads before! We are also super lucky to have friends with slightly older girls so have had so many beautiful hand me downs. And very excitingly we have a good friend pregnant with a girl so she will get lots of beautiful clothes Reeva didn't get much of a chance to wear.
Side note: If your using cloth nappies, they give babies big bubble butts, so size up or get some vest extenders.
On another side note: When packing your hospital bag pack easy to put on baby grows that have poppers at the front. After a week or so I was an expert at getting baby grows over the head and arms in sleeves but on the first day in hospital when faced with a tiny, very delicate looking baby I could not get them on gently enough, so on went the ones that have poppers at the front and that's how she stayed for a good few days.
6. A Next to me Cot.
It's a god send, I love love loved it. Baby is close and safe. We were handed down one which Reeva is still in (although she can now climb out of it into bed with us) but soon it will go to fore mentioned baby girl to be loved again. Ours was the Chicco Next to Me which I highly recommend.
7. A Beautiful Baby Blanket.
Again don't buy one, it's a great idea for a gift if someone asks. Relatives that can knit/crochet will no doubt make you one. My Auntie sent a lovely crocheted one in the post the day after Reeva was born. You'll use them loads and love them forever.
8. Something for them to lie on sit in.
I sound like a broken record I know but seriously you can get some amazing things second hand or handed down. This is one thing I found great to have a few of, although Reeva would only happily lie on a mat or sit in a bouncer for a maximum of 10 minutes, that was 10 minutes for me to get dressed and brushing my teeth, or to make a quick sandwich. We kept one thing in each room, so if I needed to put her down I didn't have to drag something up the stairs. I brought one baby mat with hanging things for her to look at and we were handed down another plus two baby bouncers. A lovely blanket that you may or may not already have with a beautiful wooden, even homemade baby gym above would also do, you know if you craftier than me.
9. A baby bath/ support.
I got an Angel Care one on Facebook Market place for about £3 and it was brilliant. Reeva actually loved to just sit in it anytime. She could lie back and watch the world go by, apparently it was comfier than her bouncer, go figure. However, the best advice I was given, and I tell everyone this, was by a wonderful older midwife, who when I said I was worried about giving her a bath and had read I couldn't for a week or so told me it would be fine to give her a bath whenever I wanted (please don't take this as solid medical advice and only do as you and your midwife are happy with) but to put her in the bath with Dad. She said that way baby would feel safe and secure and it's a wonderful way for Daddies to do some skin to skin bonding. She was of course right, Mat loved it and Reeva has loved her bath ever since. We did that for the first few weeks until she was big enough to sit and kick about in her bath seat happily.
10. Baby sleeping bags.
These are brilliant. Reeva hated being swaddled or in any tight swaddling contraption so the sleeping bags kept her all warm and cosy in her next to me. I must admit I was pretty organised with everything we needed but as it was super hot summer last year when Reeva was born I didn't worry about a warm sleeping bag, until night number two when the temperature suddenly dropped (damn you English summer time) and I found myself putting all sort of layers on her. Mat had to run to Sainsbury's and buy a nice warm one quickly, I guess fast fashion comes in handy sometimes.
So that's it, my top 10 essentials for a minimalist, zero waste new Mum and her new baby, the things I believe you will need to be prepared for babies arrival and everything else you realise later what’s missing, what you could really do with and what you think is defiantly worth spending money on. I hope that helps some new Mummy’s out there.
If your wondering what you the Mummy will need, make sure you read my next post, My Zero Waste New Mum Essentials. Because no-one ever tells the Mummy’s how to prepare for themselves and not just the babies.
Hannah xx
related article
to help you become a plastic free parent.
Let’s talk about nappies. Cloth nappies and why we use them.
A Beginners Guide to Cloth Nappies.
How to be an Eco-friendly Mum.
How many cloth nappies will you need to go full time and ditch the disposables for good?