Sustainability in baby, toddler, and kids care refers to respecting the environment and aiming to reduce, reuse, and recycle resources in childcare routines. These routines cover everything starting from the very beginning of the child's life. To be able to be sustainable for baby, toddler, and kids care, parents or caretakers should be aware of the products they are using for their childcare routines, including clothes, cleaning products, food items, toys, and even furniture items that have been used in kids' rooms and any care and educational environments. So sustainability in the context of baby, toddler, and kid care requires a holistic approach, prioritizing using eco-friendly and non-toxic materials and reducing waste through recycling and composting. On the other hand, as in every sustainability effort, businesses must ensure fair labor practices and wages for workers and support the local communities to bring environmentally friendly products to the markets.

The basic guideline to follow for finding sustainable baby products is to ensure that anything you use for baby care is safe, toxic-free, and responsible for babies’ lives as well as the environment. The products you purchase must be high quality enough to allow you a long-term use. Some of the best eco-friendly, sustainable baby products you can find in the market include:

-Reusable diapers

-Organic cotton baby clothes 

-Eco-friendly sippy cups and baby bottles made out of glass or other sustainable materials

-Eco-friendly pacifiers

-Eco-friendly food wrappers, reusable food pouches

-Sustainable toys, such as the ones made from wood

-Products that allow multipurpose use

Parents want to give their little ones the best they can. Nowadays, this parental instinct is coupled with growing environmental awareness. However, there are plenty of options in the market, from reusable diapers to sustainable toys, and the abundance of options makes the decision making even more difficult for parents. On the other hand, sadly, the popularity of sustainable products brings the risk of greenwashing through the product misrepresenting their offers, so it is better to be well-informed about how to identify sustainable baby car products. To start with, you need to understand that sustainable baby care products don’t only make a positive impact on the environment but are also extremely important for your baby’s overall health. Here are some tips to keep in mind while determining if the product you are looking for is sustainable:

-Look for the materials of the product you are buying, and make sure it is made from eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, organic cotton, or recycled materials which  are non-toxic, biodegradable.

-Opt for reusable options over disposable products when it comes to products like diapers, wipes, and bottles.

-Consider buying secondhand where possible. This way, you can reduce your overall waste and contribute to the circular economy.

-Be mindful while shopping and avoid buying unnecessary items. It is always better to focus on what is necessary.

-Check out energy-efficient options while buying electrical devices such as baby monitors and bottle warmers.

It can be daunting to plan out how to reduce the carbon footprint of your baby care business. However, there are several steps that you can consider to map out your business’ sustainability journey. It is always better to start from where you can easily change.

Minimizing disposable items such as diapers, wipes, and feeding bottles and promoting reusable options among your clientele is a great way to start. You can also opt for eco-friendly cleaning products free from harmful and toxic chemicals. These cleaning products are good for the environment, help you reduce your business carbon footprint, and are better and safer for babies and toddlers.

Lastly, consider using renewable energy sources such as solar panels for your business. This kind of change requires initial investment and can be challenging to deploy; however, it will pay off the initial investment in the long run and eventually increase your brand positioning. Also, leading sustainability in your business and making impactful changes to reduce your business carbon footprint will allow you to encourage and lead sustainability among your employees and customers. So you can always lead your business circle to make more sustainable choices, such as using public transport or option or carpooling when it is possible to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute towards a greener future.

Bringing a new life to the world and growing your family is challenging. Aiming for sustainable practices while doing these requires a certain level of courage. The first step you can take to make your baby and family's lives sustainable is choosing eco-friendly and organic options in everything you use in baby care. These options are also free from harmful and toxic chemicals, so they will protect your baby and family while protecting the environment at the same time. With the growing popularity of these products, there is also a newly emerging misconception that claims that sustainable practice in baby care costs a lot for families. The cost of products mostly depends on the brands you are using; however, don't let this kind of conception stop you from looking for what is best for the environment and your family. It's always possible to find budget-friendly options in the market.

On the other hand, it is also essential to consider circularity for baby products since babies grow quickly; opting for second-hand clothes when possible and donating or selling your baby clothes, toys, and products as they grow up is a great way to achieve to sustainability in baby care.

The best way to incorporate sustainability into childrens’ routines is to be a role model for them with your actions. So start with including children into the daily routine of sorting bins, talk about being mindful while using water and electricity, and help them choose sustainably packaged products while shopping. Also, it is great to teach them about the seasonality of fruit and vegetables and make them aware of eating what is in season from a very early age. One of the most fun ways to do this is to grow a small garden together with them. On the other hand, you can encourage them to walk or cycle to the places they want to go instead of driving them everywhere, or you can use public transport as much as possible. By including them into these routines and giving them awareness, you would help your children gain essential sustainability skills. These skills gained at an early age will allow them to protect the environment and resources in every stage of their lives.

There are several certifications that parents can look for when buying eco-friendly kid-care products to ensure they are making the right choice. These certifications allow the parents to verify that the products they purchase are produced sustainably and eco-friendly way by using eco-friendly, non-toxic materials. Some certifications to look for include USDA Organic, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Oeko-Tex Standard 100, and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). It is better to note that these certifications investigate different aspects of eco-friendly kids' products, such as the quality of the materials or the supply chain cycle of the products. Check out Intengine’s website to get more information about sustainability certifications.

Growing a family in a sustainable way and also incorporating sustainability practices in children’s upbringing is not an easy job. Many people seek help for doing so and look for reliable advice for brands and businesses to make their jobs easier with their products. Intengine offers a fantastic platform for your business to connect with other companies to work towards the same goal and bring you together with sustainable, conscious parents. You can think of Intengine as a meeting place with your potential customers and business partners that will allow you to move your current business a step ahead in the sustainability game.