UNWANTED BABYWIPES TUBS HOLD EVERYTHING
Every eco-conscious parent knows how challenging it can be to maintain a light carbon footprint when bringing a baby into the world, especially when it comes to diapering. To help offset my green guilt in this realm, I chose eco-friendly diapers and decided to purchase baby wipes refill packets in bulk to eliminate the excessive packaging of the plastic pop-up tubs that wipes come in.
One day I got a knock at my door when my order of baby wipes was delivered. The box looked larger than usual. I opened it, and much to my own personal brand of eco horror as a green-living parent and writer, the box was chock-full of bulky, redundant plastic tubs. Twenty of them!
I quickly checked my order online and realized in my haste and exhaustion as a new parent, I had accidentally ordered tubs of wipes instead of refill packets. What was I going to do with all of those pesky plastic tubs? I knew I had to put them to reuse!
With a little imagination, there are countless new and productive benefits to having an oversupply of these tubs. I transformed them into exploratory baby toys by tying together several different colors and textures of scrap materials, feeding them through the holes, and letting my baby tug them out magician style. The tubs are also perfectly sized to accommodate several storage needs: small toys for car trips or crayons for restaurant meals. You can use them to transport a baby’s tiny wet swimsuit or soiled cloth diaper to-and-fro. They also make handy first-aid kit holders for the glove compartment and nursery. I stash coupon clippings in one of the tubs, which I keep in the car, so I can have savings in arm’s reach on impromptu shopping trips. Pets can even benefit from the tubs, which can be converted to food and water bowls to feed your dog on road trips or after long walks or hikes.
As the saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” I’m glad that one of my mommy mishaps turned out to be a happy accident with a surprising and very useful ending.
