About Us

Creating a network of environmentally aware parents across the UK

We have set up Baby's First Planet after being shocked by the level of consumerism surrounding pregnancy and birth and the disastrous effects that this has on the environment. When preparing for the arrival of our little girl, we found it to be time consuming and difficult to source second hand mother and baby goods. Although there were various sources, these often involved scouring web pages late at night and many unanswered emails. One half of BFP is currently on maternity leave but will soon be going back to her job in the NHS. The other half is working very hard in her role in a therapeutic profession. Between them, they try to devote as much time as possible to BFP.

Although it is very early days, we are trying to create a network for environmentally aware parents across the UK .
We need as many eco-parents to register with our site so that the network can start to grow. Please post eco-tips and tricks related to topics of your choice on our forum so that other people can benefit from your expertise and wisdom! Please keep hold of anything that may be of use to others rather than throwing it away - kids' clothes, cots, prams and pushchairs, toys, furniture etc. Save on energy, trees, labour, waste, packaging and money by advertising these things on the BabyCycle area of the website. Once you have recycled your baby's things, keep your eyes open for things that could be of use to you from others! No money should either be requested or expected for items given away. This is a not-for profit website.

If you are lucky enough to receive goods from other forum members then please re-advertise them and your other goods when you have finished with them. Hopefully, together, we can significantly contribute to the decline in consumerism of 'mother and baby' products.

Another issue that is close to our hearts is that of reusable nappies. Eight million disposable nappies end up as landfill every year (90% of all nappies). These take many years to decompose - indeed none of the disposable nappies ever produced have decomposed yet. As disposal sites are becoming saturated, the nappies are being incinerated, generating huge volumes of carbon dioxide. Synthetic materials in disposable nappies are activated upon contact with urine, forming gel-like substances. These maintain contact with soft baby skin for as long as the nappy is worn for. Taking into account the cost of energy required to launder these nappies (still a much sounder choice vs disposables), the average cost saving is of the order of £500 per baby and that's just for the first child. Obviously, nappies can be kept and shared for as long as the threads keep going! They are soft, comfortable and so effective that nappy rash is kept well away from soft bottoms! See our links relating to reusable nappies.

Over the coming weeks and months, we will try to collect information and ideas relating to environmentally sound, safe cleaning products for homes and bath products babies. If you hear of any events which may be of interest to network members then please place an advert on the forum or inform the website administrators so that it can be advertised on 'events' section of the site.

Are you an eco mum? or even an eco dad?

If so, this site is for you.