Plastic-Free Parenting

​On this special day, when we celebrate mothers, we can honor them by choosing less plastic in the gifts we give to them and their children. Whether you’re a parent or know someone who is, you can help make parenting babies and small children less harmful to the planet by choosing plastic-free alternatives for everything from sippy cups to diapers to toys.

Feeding Time - Disposable plastic placemats and bibs help keep tabletops clean and messes contained when eating out with toddlers and small children. Plastic plates, sippy cups and utensils are designed with convenience in mind -- just “take and toss” is one brand’s motto. But all that tossing is creating a waste problem that is not so convenient. Luckily, there are lots of great alternatives to plastics, such as stainless steel plates and sippy cups and wooden or metal utensils. Cloth bibs and silicone placemats are easy to clean and keep those spills in check. 

Snacks on the Go - When carting little ones around in a stroller or packing up the family in the minivan, baggies of snacks can be a lifesaver. Replacing disposable plastic snack bags with reusable cloth snack bags is a great way to mind your plastic. Cloth snack bags come in a variety of sizes and can have zipper, velcro or button closures. Some are even waterproof. They’re super easy to wash and reuse. You can buy them locally, online or even make your own.

Diapers - The average baby in the U.S. uses between 6,500 and 10,000 diapers before being potty trained at about 30-months old. That’s approximately 27.4 billion plastic diapers every year. Making the switch to reusable cloth diapers might sound daunting, but with local diaper services that collect the dirty diapers and bring fresh clean ones to your doorstep, using cloth diapers can be just as convenient as using disposables. There are also cloth diapering classes, like Cloth Diaper 101 at The Littlest Birds in West Asheville, to help you get started. And cloth diapers and their wraps are so darn cute! Check out these cloth diapers

​Wet Stuff - Speaking of diapers...with babies and small children, there’s bound to be spills and accidents. What do you do with the dirty cloth diaper when you’re out and about? Rather than using plastic bags to contain the wet stuff, you can use a waterproof cloth bag. I even had a large trash can sized waterproof cloth bag to line my diaper pail at home when I had babies in cloth diapers. They come in all sizes and have a great many uses, like carrying wet bathing suits home from the beach or pool.

​Toys and Playthings - No matter its intended purpose, chances are a toy given to a baby will end up in her mouth. That’s how babies explore things. Plastic toys can be full of some really nasty chemicals, including lead, bisphenol-A (BPA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and phthalates. Look for toys made from wood, bamboo, or organic cotton or hemp.

In honor of Mother’s Day, we’ll be giving away a gift certificate to The Littlest Birds this week. Thanks to The Littlest Birds for donating to the Mind Your Plastic May Challenge and for caring about people and the planet!

Dawn Chavez
​GreenWorks Executive Director