Is it possible to reconcile the desire to reduce waste with being a parent? It is already so difficult to be parents, how do you become zero waste parents? If the children are young, you will have less difficulty (at least from that point of view, hurray!), because you will make the decisions. But what to do in the case of older children, who already have their own tastes and habits?
We have thought of general aspects that go beyond the advice that is also good for adults (limit disposable, do not waste ...), trying to put together some of our personal experiences:
- Take one step at a time
Our main advice is not to be in a hurry and to proceed in small steps. If your daughter loves that brand of snacks but they are individually packaged in plastic, that's the last thing you'll consider changing! However, you could start to introduce good alternatives, very tasty and with minimal or no packaging. While working and having many commitments, you can avoid snacks and packaged snacks: vary a lot and prefer savory snacks and desserts that are sold in bulk or in large packs. When and if you can, prepare snacks at home (cakes, biscuits, homemade ice cream made from yogurt and bananas, fruit icicles, bread and jam, popcorn, etc.).
What if your 5-year-old adores electronic games? Surely you won't take them away from him overnight! But you could start buying less, and used, and equip yourself with rechargeable batteries ...
- Involve them in the choices
Introduce the changes slowly and try to explain the reasons that led you to introduce those new habits. Involve your children in the search for zero-waste alternatives: for example, ask them to choose colors or pencil markers to replace plastic ones (once they are finished ;))!
- Promote reuse
If possible, choose the used one, ask for a loan, exchange it with other parents. Clothes and shoes, as well as toys, leave too quickly, especially when they are small. Find out about the shops that sell used toys in your city (here you can find our map) or organize swap parties with friends or parents of the children you attend (through kindergarten or school for example). There are also many apps for smartphones or groups on Facebook to buy used. Just be careful (as always!) when buying online.
- Spend less time indoors
Even if it were a small city park, the time spent outdoors will allow children to have countless stimuli, explore and have fun. And if they stay outside, they'll need fewer new toys!
....and here are a few more tips for those in sweet expectation:
Use natural products for body care and in particular to counteract the appearance of stretch marks.
If you are nauseous, before switching to medicines, try natural remedies, such as ginger herbal tea (once a day): the dose for a cup is 1-2 grams of root.
Take advantage of technology and libraries: instead of buying books to decide on the name or to deepen the theme of pregnancy and care of babies, subscribe to the municipal library, ask for books on loan or, if you were to buy them, prefer e-books.
Try to have your water bottle (full!) at hand at all times and have snacks with you.
Before replacing your entire wardrobe with maternity clothes, make the most of what you already have, using as much as possible what is already in your wardrobe or that of your partner. You could combine one of his shirts with leggings or short shorts during the summer, or use a cardigan or sweater with heavy socks or leggings during the winter.
Put a stop to unnecessary gifts that will arrive. Put simplicity first: and make a list of what you think you really need (room furniture included!). If possible, see her again with a couple of parents who have a two-three-year-old child: they will help you to eliminate the superfluous. To avoid that things you don't like or that don't match your tastes arrive as a gift, be precise in your requests, especially if they are handmade: choosing the model and the wool or fabric with whom you will get the gift can be a wonderful moment to spend together.