More than a quarter of parents think it is impossible to be eco-friendly with a newborn, survey finds

Sustainability is barely considered during first stages of child’s life, say 64 per cent of those polled

Parents feel they have no time to be climate-conscious, let alone teach children to be (iStock)

More than a quarter of mums and dads think it is impossible to be eco-friendly with a newborn.

A study of 2,000 parents found coping with sleepless nights, nappy changes and constant feeds leads to a struggle to be green during the first couple of years of having a new baby.

And six in 10 feel they have ‘no choice’ but to continue using single-use items such as nappies and baby wipes.

In fact, 64 per cent admitted sustainability is barely even a consideration and that it very much takes a backseat during this period of their child’s life.

Despite this, 67 per cent of those polled said they would like to use higher numbers of environmentally friendly products on their little ones.

The study, commissioned by Baby Dove, which has launched biodegradable baby wipes, also found a third have felt judged for not being a greener parent.

Loose Women star Stacey Solomon, who has teamed-up with the baby care brand, said: “As a parent, I am so aware of every choice I make impacting the future world my children will live in when they grow up.

“With three children, it’s a constant cycle of wiping bums, loads of washing and making snacks.

“So it’s important for us to be as conscious as we possibly can in the choices that we make.

“I want to lead by example for my kids, making small changes like using refillable bottles and finding things around the house that I can upcycle instead of throwing away can make a big difference.

“My youngest pickle is one and any parent knows how easy it can be to rely on single-use products, even when we know we shouldn’t.”

The study also found that during the first 12 months of their child’s life, parents will typically spend £1,944 on non-sustainable baby products such as unrecyclable wipes and nappies.

The biggest barriers to being greener are the high cost of eco baby products (42 per cent) and the time it takes to clean reusable items, such as nappies (39 per cent).

A lack of availability (31 per cent) is also a hindering factor.

In addition, three quarters of mums and dads don’t feel well enough informed on how to be a ‘green’.

Despite not always choosing green options, many parents are still conscious of the impact of buying particular items, with two-thirds worried about the amount of landfill they may be causing by using non-sustainable baby products.

Ms Solomon added: “It was one less thing to think about when I discovered Baby Dove had created Biodegradable Wipes which biodegrade in just six weeks — the same as an orange peel.

“The packaging is also fully recyclable which isn’t always the case for biodegradable wipes.

“Importantly, they’re affordable and hassle-free without compromising on quality and gentleness on baby skin.”

The study, carried out through OnePoll, also found parents would be more inclined to buy green baby products if they were cheaper (65 per cent) and more widely available (38 per cent).

And seven in 10 said they would use biodegradable wipes if they could readily buy them.

Nikki Comiskey, from Dove, said: “At Dove, we believe in care that goes further: for our consumers as well as our planet, which is why we are committed to making all our plastic packaging reusable, recyclable and compostable by 2025.

“Being more sustainable should not have to come at a cost and it’s with everything else to contend with, new parents looking to be more sustainable should not have to compromise.

“Our Baby Dove Biodegradable Wipes are a practical solution for parents looking to make small changes to reduce their waste consumption, without compromising on quality.”

SWNS