DH and I trend towards the eco-friendly side. We recycle almost everything (our max weekly trash is 2 grocery bags), our yard is xeriscaped with drip irrigation & desert plants, we keep our AC at 80 in the summer, we buy secondhand clothing, we carpool & own one low-mpg car, we don't use plastic food baggies or paper towels, etc.

Yet, we don't compost (don't create enough food waste anyway), I use disposable cleaning wipes in my classroom, we don't make our own personal care or cleaning products, etc. We have a tight budget since we are both teachers in a low-paying state.

So, now that LO1 is supposed to be coming in January, I'm trying to figure out what kinds of products we'll be using. A lot of the products seem to have reusable vs. disposable options, with some "sustainably-made" options thrown in (7th Generation, Honest Company.) I'm thinking about diapers, wipes, nursing pads, freezing breastmilk in disposable bags vs. bottles, etc. I just really can't fathom how much trash a baby can generate.... but then again, reusable items generate tons of laundry / washing.

What route did you take with those items and why? What was your rationale, and did you end up switching permanently or mixing it up?

We're leaning towards cloth diapering when we're caring for LO but disposables with other caregivers. I have no idea what to do about wipes or nursing pads. We're leaning toward freezing breastmilk in bags in the beginning / if there's low supply, and in freezer-safe bottles once there is enough supply. I apologize if I sound totally clueless here.... because I am

ETA: I will be home with baby 0-2 months and 5-6 months. Not sure about 3-4 months (probably pay a SAHM friend) and Grandma will take over at 7 months.