Teaching children about green habits can have a significant impact on their future and the environment they will inherit. While we often focus on reducing plastic waste and conserving energy, one aspect that is often overlooked is toilet habits. By encouraging green toilet habits, such as potty training earlier, using reusable nappies and wet wipes, and opting for sustainable toilet paper, we can instill eco-consciousness in children and help preserve the planet for generations to come. In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the importance of green toilet habits for children and explore some simple ways to incorporate them into your family’s routine.
The Dirty Truth About Disposable Nappies and Wipes: A Growing Plastic Pollution Problem
You might already know, but disposable nappies have a big impact on the environment. Every child that uses disposable nappies generates around 300 kilos of waste per year. In the Netherlands, this amounts to about 140 million kilos of landfill. The problem is that disposable nappies are very difficult to recycle because they contain components such as wood pulp, plastic films, and synthetic grains, as well as germs and medicine residues.
In addition to disposable nappies, there are also wipes, which are largely made of plastic. In the EU, the numbers are staggering: 33 billion baby diapers and 68 billion wet wipes (source: Plastic Soup Foundation). Wet wipes are thrown away after use and hardly recycled. The worst part: nappies and wipes are often flushed down the toilet, ending up in rivers and seas via the sewage system, and are among the ten most-found items on beaches after heavy rainfall.
– The Solution: Reusable Nappies
As an alternative to disposable diapers, you can use washable diapers, which are no longer tied with old-fashioned clothes and safety pins. These are now handy diapers with Velcro and snap buttons in cheerful trendy prints. See Nappy Alliance for more information on washable diapers vs. disposable diapers.
– Potty Training Sooner: A Green Toilet Habit
Another solution is to potty train sooner. Children in the Western world are now potty trained on average at around 3 years old, whereas in the 1940s, children were potty trained at around 12 months. Potty training sooner would save a significant amount of nappies and reduce the amount of waste. Since disposable nappies were introduced, the age of potty training has increased, but we have collectively forgotten that children can be potty trained much sooner. The right time to potty train your child depends on their mental development. 18 months is a great age for children to start potty training from a physical point of view, according to experts.
Are you ready to make a positive impact on the planet while potty training your little one? Look no further because our expert team is here to help you make green toilet habits a breeze with our innovative coaching and guidance. With our easy-to-use app, you’ll be able to teach your child how to go green while they go potty! So why wait? Download the Go Potty app today and start making a difference for the environment, one diaper-free day at a time.
