Want to do your bit to help save the planet but think you haven’t got the time? Think again! Our eco-tips are quick and easy enough for even the busiest of parents.

Whether it’s via David Attenborough or Greta Thunberg, it’s hard to avoid the worrying headlines about climate change.

And becoming a parent often triggers a new wave of worry about the future of the planet – especially as your little one is going to be growing up on it. You want to help, but as a parent, you’re just so busy. Where do you start?

Don’t panic!

There are some simple switches you can make that don’t take loads of time or require extra effort, but will make a difference.

‘There’s a few simple things we can all do,’ says Anna Musgrave from Friends of the Earth , who posts loads of eco-friendly parenting ideas on @eco.kids .

‘When I had my first child I found the amount of stuff you ‘needed’ overwhelming.

‘We chose to keep it minimal. As well as reducing the resources we used, it also meant less clutter in our tiny house, and everything just felt simpler and less stressful.

‘You can raise your children to be environmentally aware, and you’ll also inspire other friends and family members to give it a go.’

Best of all, they will all save you money, as well as helping to save the planet.

1. Ditch your tumble dryer

When you want to dry your family's clothes in a hurry, your tumble dryer is probably your go-to. But not only is it expensive to run , it's also bad for the environment.

Tumble dryers are a leading source of microplastic pollution in the air, according to a study . And using a tumble dryer can also increase your carbon footprint. Switching to clothes driers is not only free, you'll also be reducing the CO2 emissions your family produces.

And thanks to Fairy Non Bio, you don't need to worry about your clothes smelling damp. Their new Outdoorable Fabric Softener gives laundry the scent of being dried on the line, even when it's been dried inside.

2. Go to nearly-new sales

With buggies, cots, monitors and goodness knows what else to buy for a new baby, surveys suggest new parents racks up an average of £9,000 in costs in their baby’s first year .

Leaving aside the huge financial implications (just think what you could spend £9k on!), all this gear uses a lot of energy and natural resources to produce.

And much of it (think: moses baskets, bath supports and don’t even get us started on all the clothes they grow out of in three days) is only used for a short amount of time, so barely get any wear and tear.

Picking up stuff at second-hand events, online or from charity shops makes good use of gear that’s already been produced and will save you a fortune, too. Just remember to always buy a new mattress for cots and moses baskets.

Even better, you can sell it on when you’ve finished with it. Win win!

‘Over the years we’ve saved literally thousands of pounds by accepting hand-me-downs, trawling charity shops and buying things we need from eBay,’ says Anna.

3. Try washable wipes

We can hear you groaning, but hold up a second – washable wipes are a whole lot easier than you might think.

By now we all know how disposable wipes, most of which are made of plastic fibres, end up in landfill or part of those giant disgusting fat-bergs blocking our sewers. Bleugh!

But if you're not quite ready to use washable wipes to clean your baby’s bum, but why not start with washable hand and face wipes. Because believe us, when it comes to weaning , you'll be needing a LOT of wipes.

All you need is a bag for clean ones and a bag for dirties in your house and/or nappy bag, and just pop them in the wash at the end of the day. The gentle formulation of Fairy Non Bio PODs® will get them brilliantly clean and leave the wipes soft and ready for their next use. Fairy Non Bio has been voted the number one laundry brand for sensitive skin*. in fact, independent tests found clothes washed in Fairy are as kind next to skin as clothes washed in water alone.

Washable wipes are super-gentle on your baby’s skin, clean really effectively, and could save you on average £250 in your baby’s first 2 years.

That’s what we call a clean sweep!

* Online panel of 3,327 women among which Fairy Non Bio was voted most often as the #1 detergent & fabric softener for sensitive skin.

4. Don't leave home without a reuseable cup

Whether you’re meeting up with new mum friends in a coffee shop or wandering aimlessly around the park trying to get your newborn off to sleep, the first few months of maternity leave with a new baby often involves A LOT of coffee.

Invest in two reusable cups (so you can use one while the other’s in the dishwasher) and store it in the bottom of your buggy.

That way you won’t need to use single-use cups (very few of the ‘paper’ looking ones are recyclable) and many coffee shops offer a discount for bringing your own cup, so you can afford more caffeine to get you through the day!

5. Ditch the swim nappies

If you don’t feel ready for making the switch to washable nappies, you can still make a difference by ditching disposable swim nappies, says Anna.

‘They don’t hold wee; they’re just there on the off chance your child does a poo in the 20 minutes you’re in the swimming pool,’ she says.

‘Do yourself and the planet a favour and buy a pair of washable swimming pants, which do the job just as well.’

Chuck them in the washing machine with the rest of your swim gear and they're no extra hassle. Pop a Fairy Non Bio POD® into your drum before loading clothes on top. Or try Fairy Non Bio Washing Gel which is tough on stains – even in a cold or short wash.

6. Use a toy library

Did you have visions of your little one playing with a carefully curated selection of beautiful wooden toys? Yep, us too.

And are you now surrounded with plastic, flashing, noisy tatt? Ditto!

Wooden toys are beautiful and certainly provide opportunities for open-ended play , but there’s no denying babies are drawn to those bright lights and noisy sounds in plastic form. The more annoying the voice the better, right?

Sign yourself up to a local toy library and you can borrow toys in the same way as you borrow books. (Your local council website should have details of nearby toy libraries).

Some require a small annual fee to become a member but it's cheaper than buying new, and means you don't have the clutter of toys your child has grown out of!

7. Switch pouches for jars

Yep, we know making food from scratch is best for your baby, but we also know that there are times when you need something ready pronto!

According to Recycle Now , baby-food pouches are not usually accepted in home recycling services, but Ella’s Kitchen has teamed up with recycling company TerraCycle to create EllaCycle drop-off points around the UK, where baby-food pouches from all manufacturers can be placed for recycling. Genius!

If you like making your own but want the convenience of a pouch when you’re out and about, Doddlebags are pouches you can fill, wash and re-use.

Easiest of all, switch to glass jars. They can be recycled by most council collections (they’re usually much cheaper, than plastic pouches, too).

8. Walk to baby groups

When you have a new baby, it’s great to get out to lots of different groups to meet new people and spend time with parents going through the same sleepless night and sore boob issues as you.

With car journeys accounting for 19% of the average person’s carbon footprint in the UK , not to mention pollution from emissions, you can score an easy eco-win by walking to these instead.

If it seems a bit daunting, start by doing the shortest trips first – even just two or three a week makes a difference – and you can always build up to more.

On the plus side, you’ll get fitter, your baby will get some fresh air (and even a nap, hurray!), and research shows being outdoors can boost your mental health , too.

9. Use a soap bar

Check out the baby aisle in the supermarket and there’s 101 different products to use on your baby’s skin – but the truth is you don’t need to clutter up your bathroom with lots of single-use plastic bottles.

Tiny babies don’t really get dirty, so just need a top and tail.

If you like the routine of a bedtime bath, switch bottles of shampoo and bubble bath for just one bar of baby soap, try Dr Bronner Organic Mild Baby Soap .

For babies over six months, Lush Ickle Baby Bot Bath Bomb creates a fun fizzing in the bath and releases calming lavender oil to help send them off to sleep.

10. Do a cool wash

Another way to do your bit for the plant is by making one simple change on laundry day ...

Turning the temperature down on your washing machine is the easiest way to reduce the enviromental impact of your washing, says WWF . They explain that up to 60% of laundry's carbon footprint comes from heating water. So washing your family's clothes at 30 degrees instead of 40 degrees can help you help the planet.

And the best detergent to get clothes clean, even in a cool wash? Fairy Non Bio Washing Gel tackles dirt and stains effectively even at lower temperatures. Or pop a Fairy Non Bio POD® into your washing machine drum. Each Pod contains just the right amount of detergent and has a special ingredient that leaves clothes feeling soft against your skin.

Inspired to become an eco parent having read this? Or maybe you already are and have tips you can share with others? Either way join in the chat in our Forum, below ...

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