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While most of us know that we should be shopping more sustainably to protect the planet, it’s not always that easy.
Even the people who look like they have it all figured out, like YouTube and Instagram influencer Lucie Fink, are constantly making daily choices to do their best and figuring it out as they go along.
YouTube and Instagram star Lucie Fink shares how to make sustainable, affordable and practical parenting choices with her online audience
With a background in creating content about an eco-friendly lifestyle since 2017, such as showing us how to live without plastic for a week or going without washing her hair for 14 days, Lucie has more experience than most in living sustainably. But when her son was born two years ago, she had to learn how to make a whole bunch of new eco-friendly choices, for things like diapers, toys, food waste and more.
Following a launch for Pura diapers, a company pioneering the way into sustainable disposable diapers and wipes, Lucie took some time out of her schedule for an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com to share her Top 5 tried, tested – and affordable – eco-friendly parenting hacks.
Lucie is a proud partner of Pura, who have created an eco-friendly diaper that doesn’t compromise on diaper performance.
Enhanced with soft organic cotton, they are gentle on baby’s skin. A super absorbent plant fibre core keeps skin dry and nappy leak free for up to 12 hours.
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As Lucie says: ‘If eco-friendly products aren’t priced affordably then it’s unrealistic to expect regular people to buy them. And if people aren’t buying them because they’re too expensive then these products are not making any difference to the planet at all.’
Following some of Lucie’s tips may even save you money. This is what she suggests:
1. Consider whether you need to buy everything new
If you’re lucky enough to have family, friends or co-workers offer to pass on things they no longer use, say yes!
Lucie says: ‘I love hand-me-downs and I enjoy thrifting. My husband’s cousins gave us a decent amount of products from toys to clothes so we were prepared before the baby arrived.’
This UppaBaby stroller is available to buy on Goodbuygear.com for 40 per cent less that its original listing price
If you don’t have any offers, don’t worry. Check out the website Goodbuygear.com, which could save you up to 50 or 60 percent on large purchases such as high chairs, bouncers and strollers.
‘Most of the time, a parent has never even used the items on sale but ripped open the box so they decreased in value,’ Lucie explains. ‘Every time my husband and I need to make a big purchase, we look to see if there’s an option at Goodbuygear.com’
2 Make the best planet-friendly diaper choice without compromise on price
Making eco-friendly choices is affordable through pura, who make plastic-free, perfume free and hypoallergenic diapers from just 15 cents per diaper.
While reusable diapers may be thought of as the most eco-friendly choice, it’s not always that convenient for many people – especially during the newborn stage when baby is getting through more than 10 diaper changes a day.
Lucie is a brand partner for Pura, as she admits: ‘I knew that reusable diapers were not going to be for me, but I was not happy about all the diapers we were getting through that were just building up in the trash can. Finding Pura was a game-changer! They’re affordable, they’re sustainable and the material is super soft. I just can’t get over how good they feel to the touch, which is so good for a baby’s delicate skin.’
Pura nappies are made without chlorine, perfumes, allergens, lotion or latex, instead opting for organic cotton and FSC-certified plant fiber. They are manufactured using 100 per cent green electricity with no production waste going to landfill, and the packaging is entirely recyclable. And they’re convenient to shop as you can order Pura diapers and wipes on Amazon here.
3 Find convenient ways to avoid using plastic pouches during weaning
Lucie used the Beaba baby food maker to steam ingredients and blend food for her son to experiment with as he got used to new tastes and textures
Lots of pre-prepared baby food comes in plastic pouches, but there are some great choices in plastic jars.
However, it can actually be fun – as well as time efficient – to make your own baby meals in just three hours for a whole week of meals.
‘In the baby stage, when there was more to prep, my husband looked after the baby for three hours on a Sunday afternoon, two of which the baby was napping anyway,’ Lucie recalled. ‘I spent three hours in the kitchen with a podcast on, prepping the food for the baby and for us and I was able to do a whole week of meal’s for everyone in those three hours. For him, I steaming foods like beets and pumpkin and putting the blends into silicon trays which can be frozen and defrosted when you need them. You can even get silicon pouches on Amazon to take your own food out and about.
‘I did invest in the Beaba baby food maker towards the end of the weaning, which made it more convenient. I just had to select what I was cooking, press a button and it cooked it at the right temperature and blended.’
4 Join – or start – parents’ WhatsApp groups
Does your apartment building or street have a WhatsApp group? These can be a great place to borrow things from other parents, swap products or pass things down when your child has outgrown them.
‘In my old building, we had a WhatsApp group and people were posting things they no longer needed. I got a baby walker that way,’ Lucie shared. ‘Another time, a friend wanted to borrow a blackout blind to see how her baby would react to it. The baby ended up freaking out. If that mom hadn’t tested it, she would have ended up buying a blind that her baby used just once, so it makes sense to share if you can.’
If your neighborhood doesn’t currently have one, why not start one? All it needs is a few friends to kick things off and then it can grow.
5 Anything can be a toy
Children love sensory activities, and these can be free if you think creatively.
‘You could empty water into a bucket and call it a water table,’ suggests Lucie. ‘I once emptied dried pasta into a tray and let my son go wild with it. It kept him busy for ages and it didn’t cost anything.’
Lucie loves wooden toys that last for ages like the Melissa and Doug farm set, which is currently reduced by 18 per cent on Amazon
For birthday and holiday gifts, consider long-lasting wooden toys over plastic.
‘Melissa and Doug have some lovely colorful toys that are visually appealing for children. They can be passed down through siblings and kept for years. My parents had kept some things from when I was a child. I hope that I will be able to do the same.’
Has this interview inspired you to shop more sustainably? Visit the Pura store on Amazon to see the full range of eco-friendly baby products
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