When I was pregnant with my first daughter, low waste was not on my radar. My registry reflected what I knew at the time. I registered for many of the products I thought we needed, without thinking much about what they were made from, how long they would last, or how long our baby would use them.

When my daughter was around three months old, I started researching low waste and low tox living. I began to understand how many products are made from plastic or cheaper materials, used for a short period of time, and then lose their quality before they can be passed on. Some products get stained, scratched, cracked, or worn out and eventually end up in a landfill. Others are donated, but they may not have much life left in them by that point.

I started thinking about how different it would be to choose fewer, better-made items from durable materials. Something that could last through all of your children, then be donated or sold to another family for their babies to use, seemed like a better choice than constantly replacing lower-quality products.

That research led to a complete lifestyle change for our family. I started with baby products, but the changes continued throughout our home. We created less waste, had less clutter, and became more thoughtful about what we bought. The low waste changes also led us toward lower tox choices because I began paying closer attention to the materials and ingredients in the products we used.

I did feel guilty about the things we had bought before I understood any of this. I felt like I had spent money on products that did not fit the kind of lifestyle I wanted for our family, and that made it difficult to let some things go. Eventually, I realized that keeping something unused did not make it more valuable. Donating or passing it along gave someone else the opportunity to use it and helped us create a home that felt better for our family.

This is not a complete list of everything you need for a baby. These are some of the low waste swaps that worked for us during the first year, along with a few ways we reused items we already owned. You do not need to buy everything on this list. Start with what you have, make changes as you learn, and add things as you need them.

Cloth Diapers

We chose cloth diapers to reduce the amount of waste created by our everyday diapering routine. Disposable diapers are used once, while cloth diapers can be washed and used repeatedly throughout the diaper stage.

Cloth diapers also gave us the option to use one system for more than one child. When they are cared for properly, they can continue being used by younger siblings and then be sold or donated to another family. That gives them a much longer life than a disposable diaper that is used once and thrown away.

I also liked that cloth diapers helped us buy less. We did not need to keep purchasing disposable diapers every week or replacing them as our babies grew. We had a diaper system that we could wash, reuse, and continue using through different stages.

We also use the same diapers for swim diapers, they work better then the disposable. You can use with no liner to mimic a disposable swim diaper, it just keeps the poop in but does not hold pee. I like to put one bamboo liner in if we are going to the splash pad or if they won’t be completly in water, so they don’t leak everywhere.

There is some planning involved with cloth diapers, but our routine became simple once we figured out what worked for us. We kept the diapers in rotation, washed them regularly, and used the same system instead of continuing to buy new products for every stage.

Cloth Wipes and Wipe Solution

We use cloth wipes because they can be washed and used again instead of being thrown away after every diaper change. They work well alongside cloth diapers, but we use them for much more than diapering.

The same cloth wipes are used for diaper changes, messy hands and faces, spit-up, food, and wiping down small surfaces. I bring them with us when we leave the house because I know they will be useful for whatever mess comes up.

I make my own wipe solution and keep it in a peri bottle from postpartum recovery. Reusing the peri bottle gave it another purpose and meant I did not need to buy a separate bottle for the solution.

At home, I keep one large wet bag in the bathroom for dirty diapers and wipes. I keep one small dry bag in my diaper bag for used diapers and wipes when we are out. We have one backup of each size, so I can use a clean bag while the other one is being washed.

For outings, I put the cloth wipes into a traditional disposable-wipe dispenser and the wipe solution in one of the pockets. I just have one solution bottle and put it back in the nursery after we get home. The wipes are ready to use when we need them, and I put them into the small dry bag afterward. When we get home, I wash them and use them again.

I also keep a second set of cloth wipes in the kitchen for everyday cleanup. I use them for cleaning baby hands and faces after eating, then wash them after use.

You can read my post about cloth wipes for the wipe solution recipe and more details about how we use them.

Homemade Diaper Cream, Baby Lotion, and Sanitizer Spray

I make our diaper cream and baby lotion using ingredients I buy in larger amounts. Making them at home reduces the number of containers we go through, and buying the ingredients in larger amounts can cost less than repeatedly buying small containers of finished products.

I also like knowing exactly what I am putting on our skin. That is separate from the low waste benefit, but it is one of the reasons I prefer making these products myself.

I use the lotion on myself too, so it is not something that only gets used during the baby stage. I store the diaper cream and lotion in small mason jars, and I use the same type of mason jars for applesauce, yogurt, snacks, and other foods when we are out.

I also make my own sanitizer spray and refill the same bottle. I use a recipe that I feel comfortable using around babies, and refilling the bottle means I do not need to keep buying another spray bottle every time we run out.

Making your own products still requires research. I would not make something simply because it is homemade. I look at the ingredients, follow a recipe, and choose formulas that make sense for our family. It takes some trial and error but worth it in the end. 

Let me know in the comments if you would like me to do a blog post with my recipes. 

Bath and Personal Care

We use a soap bar for baby wash and shampoo instead of buying liquid products in plastic bottles. Once the bar is gone, there is no bottle left behind, and we do not need to replace a plastic container every time we run out of baby wash.

A wooden hairbrush and comb are two other simple items that have lasted through the baby years and beyond.

For a baby bath, I would check Facebook Marketplace before buying a new one. Baby baths are used for a short period of time, and they do not need to be expensive or complicated. A secondhand baby bath can work well as long as it is clean, safe, and in good condition.

During the newborn stage, we had one muslin baby towel that worked for both of our girls. After that, we switched to regular bath towels.

Muslin Blankets

Muslin blankets became some of the most useful baby items we had. We used them to keep the baby warm during a bath, wrap her up, clean up spit-up, and use as burp cloths.

We also used them as car seat shades, nursing covers, blankets in the stroller, and blankets during car rides. As our girls got older, they became comfort blankets. And of course they are used for traditional swaddling.

Baby Clothing

Clothing was one of the areas where I learned how quickly baby products can turn into clutter.

Babies grow quickly, and they often wear a size for a short period of time. It is easy to buy too much clothing before you know what your baby will wear, how often you will do laundry, or how quickly your baby will move into the next size.

When I started paying closer attention to our baby’s clothing, I realized that we reached for the same basic pieces over and over again. A smaller wardrobe was easier to wash, organize, and manage when our daughter grew into the next size.

Facebook Marketplace and thrift stores are the first places I check for baby clothes. Many secondhand baby clothes have only been worn a few times, and some are in excellent condition. Buying used keeps clothing in use and reduces the need to buy every piece new.

Thrifting also allows you to build a wardrobe slowly. You can start with the basics, see what your baby wears, and add more as needed instead of filling the closet before your baby arrives.

Sometimes you cannot find the size, style, or material you need secondhand. When that happens, buying new is still an option. We try to buy only what we need and look for quality pieces that can be passed down or resold after our children are finished with them.

A lot of our baby and toddler clothes are ruined from stains, rips, wear and tear and toddlers being toddlers. I keep everything that is salvageable and my next sewing project are celebration banners with this ruined clothes. Reusable birthday decorations that I can use every year and is sentimental. Or you can make into a blanket, or use the clean/ non ripped fabric in another project. 

Bottles, Plates, Cups, and Utensils

We use glass baby bottles with silicone sleeves. I prefer glass because it does not hold onto stains, smells, or flavors in the same way some plastic bottles can. The silicone sleeve helps protect the bottle and makes it easier to hold.

Glass bottles can also be used for more than one child. They need to be handled with care, but the sleeve gives them protection during everyday use. Using the same bottles for multiple children keeps them from becoming a short-term purchase.

For meals, we use stainless steel plates, and stainless steel baby and toddler utensils. Stainless steel is durable, does not stain easily, and can be used for many years. It does not wear down in the same way plastic can, and we did not need to replace these items as our children grew.

We only need one set of stainless steel bowls. We do not need twenty bowls, plates, and containers for every stage of childhood. Stainless steel is durable, easy to clean, and can continue being used as your children grow.

I also like that these bowls come with lids. If the girls do not finish something, I can cover the bowl and put it in the refrigerator instead of throwing the food away or transferring it into another container. The bowl can go from serving food to storing leftovers, which means fewer dishes and fewer containers to keep track of.

We registered for silicone baby spoons, and friends gave us plastic spoons too. Some worked fine, but several had shapes that made it difficult for our babies to get all of the food into their mouths. They also seemed like something they would quickly grow out of.

The stainless steel utensils worked well for us from the beginning, even when our babies were small. They did not feel too advanced for a baby, and my now-preschooler is still using the same utensils.

We used the straw cups to transition from bottles and during the stage when our girls were learning to use an open cup. They worked well for milk, coconut water, and smoothies, especially when we did not want to use an open cup because of spills and stains.

Once we started packing snacks and meals, we added a stainless steel snack cup each and a stainless steel bento box with a small lunch pouch and reusable freezer packs. We use reusable pouches for snacks instead of disposable ones for applesauce and yogurt.

The main reason I prefer glass and stainless steel is that we can continue using them. We did not need a new set of bottles, plates, cups, or utensils every time our children moved into a new stage. They have lasted through multiple stages and can continue being used with more than one child.

Nursing Items

The silicone nursing pads my sister-in-law gave me worked even better then disposable and cloth nursing pads. She has three children, so I trusted her recommendation.

They did not leak through, and they were easy to clean after using them. Two pairs were enough for me to rotate when I needed a switch. I could clean one pair while wearing the other, and I did not need to keep buying disposable nursing pads. I also used reusable fabric nursing pads and kept them in rotation when I needed a change from the silicone.

The Library and Baby Books

The library became one of our favorite low waste resources after having children. We did have a lot of baby books, but most of them were gifts. Books are one of the baby items I do not mind having more of because they can be used by multiple children and kept for years.

A great way to start a baby book collection is to ask for a favorite baby book instead of a card at your baby shower. Family and friends can choose a book they loved as a child or one they enjoyed reading with their own children. It is a thoughtful way to build a collection, and those books can be read by future babies too.

The library gives you a way to try books before buying more. Babies can enjoy a wide range of books, but you may not know what holds their attention until you bring different types home. Some babies prefer simple board books with bold pictures, while others enjoy rhyming stories, songs, textures, flaps, or animal sounds.

Checking out books also gives your baby more variety without needing to buy every book you see. You can return the books and choose different ones the next time you visit. If your baby becomes attached to a particular book, you can buy a copy for your home.

As our girls got older, their interests changed. The books my two-year-old loved at one year old are not always the books she reaches for now. Around age three, I started focusing more on building a quality book collection that could grow with them through the preschool years and childhood. We still use the library, but we are more selective about the books we buy and choose ones we expect to enjoy for a longer period of time.

The library is also helpful for parents. I have checked out parenting books, books about baby development, and books on different approaches to raising children. It gave me a way to learn about topics that interested me without buying every book I wanted to read.

Our library also has toy packs that can be checked out for babies, toddlers, and older children. The packs include different toys and activities, so we can try something new without buying another toy for our home. This has helped us learn what our girls enjoy before bringing more toys into the house.

The toy packs are also useful for rotating what is available at home. We can bring a pack home, use it for a while, and return it when we are ready for something different. Our library offers different resources depending on the age of the child, so it is worth checking whether your library has toy lending programs, puzzles, games, music, activity kits, or other items available.

The library has helped us give our girls plenty of books, toys, and new things to explore without buying everything permanently. We still buy books, especially as they get older, but the library helps us choose more carefully and learn what they enjoy.

Buying Secondhand: The Best Low Waste Baby Strategy

One of the most important shifts in our low waste journey was realizing that buying secondhand was not settling for less. It was choosing better.

Buying secondhand aligns perfectly with a low waste lifestyle. It keeps items in use instead of letting them sit unused in someone else’s home. It reduces the demand for new production, which means fewer resources used and less waste created. It also makes low waste living more accessible because secondhand items cost a fraction of new prices.

Safety Considerations for buying second hand:

Most secondhand baby items are perfectly safe. Use common sense and ask questions. If something feels unsafe or the seller cannot answer your questions, keep looking.

Never buy secondhand car seats unless you know the complete history. Car seats can be weakened by accidents even if there is no visible damage, and a weakened car seat will not protect your baby properly.

Be cautious with items that have been stored in damp conditions. Check for mold, mildew, or musty smells that might indicate water damage or moisture problems.

Trust your gut. If an item does not look right, does not feel right, or the seller makes you uncomfortable, walk away. There are always more items available.

Final Thoughts

I did not begin with a low waste baby setup. My registry reflected what I knew at the time, and I had not thought much about the waste created by everyday baby products.

Learning about low waste changed the way I looked at our home. I started to understand how plastic and lower-quality products can be used for a short amount of time, lose their quality, and eventually end up in a landfill. I also began to see the value in choosing fewer items made from durable materials that could last through our children and continue on to another family afterward.

That shift led me toward lower tox choices, less clutter, and a healthier feeling home. We did not change everything overnight. We learned by paying attention to what we used, what we did not use, and what we could stop buying.

This is not a complete list of everything you need for a baby. It is a collection of low waste swaps that worked for our family during the first year. Start with what you already own, check Facebook Marketplace and thrift stores before buying new, and give yourself time to figure out what works for you.

Make Low-Waste Baby Swaps Easier

Ready to simplify your baby essentials and choose items you can use through multiple stages? Browse my Low-Waste Baby Amazon Idea List for practical glass, stainless steel, silicone, and reusable favorites for feeding, nursing, diapering, and everyday life that we use.

[Shop the Low-Waste Baby Amazon Idea List →]

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