By: Caitlin McNickle, guest blogger, Lil Helper

Caitlin from Lil Helper here, and I am so pleased to introduce you to our line of sustainable family products. What started as a cloth diaper company has grown into so much more, and we are proud to share our super versatile products with like-minded families who care about the environment! We are committed to making waste-free living as easy as possible, with high quality, multi-function, low waste products designed by rocket scientists.

My journey to more eco-friendly living started a few years before I had kids. I was focussed on low-waste shopping, ditching plastic straws, and DIY composting/gardening. We cut our household garbage down by half, and I was feeling super green (in the earth-friendly way) and proud…. And then I had kids.

As a new parent, you discover that kids produce A LOT of waste. From diapers to just straight up causing chaos and messes. But thankfully in my four years of parenting, I’ve found my favorite line of products at Lil Helper. Our household waste is back down to what it used to be, despite the tiny tornados living in my house.

Check out Lil Helper’s picks for the Top Seven Sustainable Products for Moms and Babies!

1. REUSABLE BREAST PADS

These soft and perfectly designed pads are a must for me in the first six months of a baby's life. With my first child, I bought a box of disposable nursing pads. They were thick, became hard and uncomfortable at every feed and were so wasteful. Plus, they stuck to my damaged nipples, making the pain so much worse - ouch! With my second, I was prepared with a full set of regular and overnight breast pads from Lil Helper!

These breast pads are designed to be super absorbent, contour to your body to be super discrete, and they have a stay dry bamboo layer on the outside so they are always comfortable to take off and put back on.

2. CLOTH DIAPER-FOR EVERY DAY OR SWIM

Cloth Diapers are a great option for reducing waste. There is no denying the waste that a new baby brings when you think of how many diapers each child can send to the landfill. I have a stash of approximately 30 Lil Helper diapers that I used until my oldest potty trained, and used again on her little sister. They are still in amazing shape, and I expect if I have a third child, I will be able to use the same 30 diapers again! The Lil Helper all-in-2 system is easy and fits from newborn to potty training.

Ready to get started? We have a great 2 Diaper Trial Deal for new customers!

Not into the idea? Start with a reusable swim diaper and ditch the disposables at the pool or lake. Every diaper saved counts and this is the only swim diaper you’ll ever need!

3. REUSABLE WIPES

I remember buying baby wash clothes during my first pregnancy. They didn’t absorb, they weren’t soft, and I think I ended up tossing them into my toddler’s baby doll play set eventually.

But once I tried bamboo cloth wipes and t-shirt wipes, there was no turning back. We’ve swapped out our paper towels and Kleenex for a basket of wipes on the counter. Runny noses never get sore with these soft little beauties doing the wiping, and my wallet thanks me each month as we skip the paper product aisle.

4. LIFESAVER MAT

While we are talking about cutting out paper towels, I have to mention the lifesaver mat. These incredible mats are 34 inches long and 36 inches across. They are perfect for sleeping on in case your water breaks while pregnant, under sensory bins your little one splashes in, and they truly live up to the lifesaver name during potty training! This mat with a million uses features a beautiful waterproof PUL on one side, and a stain resistant, stay-dry charcoal on the other, with an absorbent layer of micro fiber in between. The ultimate solution for all life’s messes!

5. WET BAGS

Of course, if you are using cloth wipes, and especially if you switch to cloth diapers, you’re going to need somewhere to put all the laundry. Even if you don’t, it is wise to keep your diaper bag stocked with a wet bag or two for outfits that have been sacrificed to a blowout or food spill. A wet bag keeps wet/dirty items separate from the rest of your things until you can get it in the wash. We offer a variety of sizes perfect for at home and on the go!

6. BITE BAGS

Speaking of bags, the other big waste I quickly wanted to tackle was Ziplocs. Once we entered the Goldfish Cracker stage of parenting I knew we needed a solution. Enter Bite Bags.

Perfect for snacks and little hands, Lil Helper Bite Bags feature an easy pull zipper tag and snap handles on both sides. They also come in two sizes and a range of beautiful prints! No more plastic bags here.

7. HYPS REUSABLE MENSTRUAL PADS

Finally, I have to bring it back to mom one more time. As a new parent, you are going to be so focused on the baby, and that precious baby gets a million pieces of gear. But you have grown and changed too. Your body has done an incredible thing, and deserves the best. Our Hyps Reusable Menstrual Pads are made for you!

These pads feature the same stay-dry bamboo material as our breast pads and come in 3 sizes. I personally recommend them because they are so much more comfortable than a disposable pad. The dark blue material hides stains, the prints are fun, and honestly, my cycle changed so much postpartum. I am thankful to have a waste free option to wear when I suspect my period may be coming, and also to provide added leak protection if I choose a menstrual cup. They are discrete and easy to use. I can’t believe I ever used disposable pads!

My waste free mantra is a quote from Anne Marie Bonneau, “We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly”. Especially as you enter parenthood, there are a thousand things that you will learn and change about yourself. If you are able to embrace low-waste living even part-time or in some areas, we applaud you. Start with one product, or one room in your home and make simple switches that work for you and your family. And if you have any questions, never hesitate to reach out to us via email at delight@lilhelper.ca, we are happy to help!

If you have questions about any of the products discussed today, or if you want to share about your favorite sustainable products for young parents and babies, comment below or email us at blog@litefootcompany.com.