A new royal start

MagicCat

So exciting it's nearly baby time!

Chest freezer full of food sound amazing, you are very impressive to get all that done!

I like the sound of reusable kitchen towels, can I ask where you got yours from? I use reusable baby wipes but get through loads of kitchen towel and always feel guilty even though it can go in our food recycling. And the compostable sponge sounds good too, I've just been using kitchen cloths for a while but I do miss a sponge for washing up (am aware how sad this sounds  )

QueenJess

MagicCat said:

So exciting it's nearly baby time!

Chest freezer full of food sound amazing, you are very impressive to get all that done!

I like the sound of reusable kitchen towels, can I ask where you got yours from? I use reusable baby wipes but get through loads of kitchen towel and always feel guilty even though it can go in our food recycling. And the compostable sponge sounds good too, I've just been using kitchen cloths for a while but I do miss a sponge for washing up (am aware how sad this sounds  )

I am always trying to switch things in our house, but it takes forever to research and usually I don't have the time.  I looked at tons of kitchen towel options and in the end went for a small pack (just to try) of Marley's Monsters kitchen towels.  They are horrifically expensive, but worth it if I can stop DH practically eating them daily..  I chose them based on reviews in the end and the fact that they cling together so you could wrap them round an old kitchen towel tube if you wanted.  I got mine from here: https://www.peacewiththewild.co.uk/product-category/kitchen/unpaper-towels/ and went for grey as I thought it would least show the dirt, plus DH likes "boring colours"   If they work I'll get some more interesting ones for DS to use as a napkin for mealtimes.

I'm sure you could make your own and there are loads of people selling them on Etsy too much cheaper.  I also got the sponge from the same place: https://www.peacewiththewild.co.uk/product/rowen-stillwater-heavy-duty-squeeze-cotton-sponge-grey/
DH used it earlier and said it was alright, which I take as a huge positive from him 

Which reusable baby wipes did you go for?  I've been having a bit of a look around, but you can definitely do too much research on all this stuff.  I missed all this the first time round as I and DS were so ill for so long we just couldn't manage any extra work like washing and it all became a bit pointless by the time we were better.  I am hoping it can't be as bad second time around, although I have some disposables ready in case... 

Throughout my cooking frenzy DH continually said "That smells nice, can I have some for lunch?".  If I left it up to him there would be no food left at all.  He'll be grateful in a couple of weeks I did it all!

Bargainhunter30

Well done on all the prep Jess. We got some Little Lambs bamboo baby wipes, which are still going strong over 5 years later. My aunt also made us some from old cut up towels, which are just as good, she just edged them on the sewing machine. Then we have £land baby flannels for hands and faces (6 for £1 - these are microfiber though). Resuable wipes are the best thing ever, work loads better than disposable. And we just put them in a wet bag, that all goes in the washing machine open on 90 degrees.

QueenJess

Thanks @Bargainhunter30 .  I came across those ones in my travels when I was looking for other baby things.  Hopefully if everything goes well, I will try to switch us over (after using up the disposable ones I have) and after DH has got over the shock of reusable kitchen towels.  I produced them at dinner without warning and DH looked like a startled rabbit.  I could see him thinking "what silly scheme has she cooked up now?!".

DS was perfectly happy with the arrangement...  only time will tell!

QueenJess

Our council has finally delivered the hessian "bags" we now have to use for recycling going forwards.  Apparently they are better as you can seal them and the contents will stay dry (otherwise if cardboard/paper gets wet they just bin it anyway).  We have more room for recycling than we used to now (I think), but time will tell if these things work.

Also, we are probably the only council in the country that doesn't have wheelie bins and have to use specific coloured plastic sacks for rubbish which are delivered to us every year.  If you need more then you have to get them from local libraries etc and pay for them.  They seem to think the average house uses 2 big bin bags a week.  When we moved we left a year's worth of bags behind for the new people.  Now this years ones have been delivered we have 3 years worth.  Had to contact the council and ask them what I can do with all the extra ones as there is absolutely no way I would be able to create that much rubbish!

Might also offer them round the street as all the other houses seem to generate way more rubbish than we do (even the ones with fewer people in).  I know I am consciously trying to cut down at the moment, but this was the case before then.... my mind boggles as to what people fill their bins with 🤷‍♀️I would love to only put rubbish out once a month (or less!), but got a way to go yet.   It's a work in progress.   To be fair I can't even fill one sack a week at the moment, so shouldn't be too much of a stretch to only put it out once a fortnight.  Won't be telling DH this as he will start stressing out about all the schemes in my head! I'll have to ease him in with one swap at a time until he one day realises we don't create rubbish anymore    I'm still trying to educate him on the recycling... he still can't seem to manage rinsing cartons which take all of 2 seconds.  I'm forever redoing the recycling before he puts it out.

I think I'll get DS on the case (teach them young ).  He already knows about recycling and apparently is aware I am in charge of the house.  He is only 4, but he told me that I was in charge, but when I go into hospital to have the baby it means he will be in charge.  DH interrupted saying "No, I will be in charge" and DS just laughed and said "no daddy, silly daddy" 🤣

I also got a bit bored now I've done my to do list and I can't just do nothing.  So I put 5 or 6 bits of clothing on eBay to see what happens.  I have a reminder on my phone to pull everything off before I go into hospital though as otherwise they'll probably sell whilst I am physically unable to do anything about it.  I made a deal with myself this year that I can only buy one piece of clothing for every 2 pieces that go (but I have to either sell them or have used them until they are unusable and will be recycled).  That way my clothes will slowly go down.  I will also only be buying "new" clothes second hand if I need anything (apart from underwear obviously!).  I still have fewer clothes than DH, but a few too many for me.  He keeps telling me he's a minimalist though... yeah right!

savingholmes

How exciting to be so close to having your baby. Hopefully having your parents over will help too. I'd have been tempted to leave your DS in nursery at least part time but I suppose it is too expensive - I am not a natural earth mother...

QueenJess

I've been told the whole household has to shield, so we all have to be at home for a week before. Will send DS back as soon as I've sufficiently recovered!

It's like holidays, so we still have to pay even though he won't be there, but to be honest, it's the least thing to worry about right now!

savingholmes

That makes sense - sorry I didn't think of that. I just thought how difficult it would be having a little one home all the time with another young one at home - especially after a c-section. Mine were spaced 5 years apart and he was at school part of the day which definitely helped.

QueenJess

Well DH is starting his 2 week paternity leave at the last possible minute and my parents will be around for a bit after too. So I am hoping that we can send DS back to nursery by the time DH goes back to work, otherwise things could get a bit tricky! At least DH works from home.

rugbymadfamily

So exciting that its getting so close to babies arrival! Sounds like you are fantastically well prepared 

Great work on the rubbish reduction, we are trying to do the same. I'm focusing on reducing single use plastic at the moment, got some reusable veg bags which are really handy at supermarket (still cannot figure out why they wrap veg in so much plastic!).