Upcycling, recycling or just throwing it away?

Upcycling, Recycling oder doch einfach weg damit?

There are products that are simply indispensable for the baby period and that everyone with a baby or toddler has at home. But every phase passes and the baby "grows out of it". This means that certain products are now simply superfluous and no longer usable, even though they are still fine.

Apart from selling, giving away or donating, it would be worth considering upcycling, repurposing or reusable use.

Especially if you want more children and don't want to give things away yet. Instead of storing them in the basement, you can continue to use the things - just in a different way.

Please remember, however, that some of these are care and hygiene products. Always pay attention to the safety instructions for the products! The following does not present the original purpose, but rather ideas for games or other suggestions for other purposes. If you are unsure or the product already has defects, do not use it and throw it away!

GRÜNSPECHT products:

  • Brush: The teddy bear and the monkey look a bit shaggy? Then it's time for a visit to the hairdresser. Incorporate it into the game with your child and use the GRÜNSPECHT Organic goat hair – and Horsehair brushes for dolls and cuddly toys permanently.
  • Bath sponge: If you still have a new unused (!) GRÜNSPECHT Natural sponge If you have any at home, you can use it for your daily gentle facial care.
  • Pacifier chain: The pacifier time is slowly coming to an end and the beautiful GRÜNSPECHT Wooden pacifier chains are no longer usable? Oh yes, because they are also suitable for attaching light toys or (Pixi) books (here simply thread the loop of the pacifier chain through the homemade hole) to the stroller, car seat or other devices. This way the teething ring and the comfort blanket don't always end up on the floor when you're out and about.
  • Wooden grasping toys and rattles: The beautifully designed GRÜNSPECHT are not only for touching Wooden grippers or the  Organic fabric rattle rabbit If you still have a mobile or activity board for your baby, then hang these baby toys on it too. Attach them and swap them around from time to time (to keep things exciting). You also have the GRÜNSPECHT  Gemstone Rattle  Fish ? Perfect, that gives an extra sound for your ears.
  • Teething rings and teething toys: The teething phase(s) are (finally!) over and the GRÜNSPECHT  Teething rings and Teething toys have served their purpose. No way! Do you have a dog or a cat at home? Great, then congratulations. You just got a new cat or dog toy and your pet will be happy to have a new playmate.
  • Cookie cutters from the impression set: For cutting out dough or baking biscuits, cookies or even (filled) dumplings, the GRÜNSPECHT cookie cutter is  Bio-impression sets Can be used multiple times. The rolling pin (clean it properly first!) can also be used to roll out the dough. The rolling pin is perfect for small children's hands when they want to help with baking.
  • Diaper fleece: Even if you don’t use cloth diapers (anymore), you can still use the GRÜNSPECHT  Diaper fleece continue to make wet wipes (see post on Insta - link). Also to protect the changing mat, due to its size it can be used as a tailor-made pad in the bottom area and if necessary a "major mishap" can be removed more easily.
  • Cherry stone pillow: The GRÜNSPECHT are not only loving warmth providers Cherry stone pillows are not only pleasant cool-downers. That means that even if it sounds a bit paradoxical, the heat pillows can also be used as cooling pillows. Did your little one fall when trying to walk for the first time? Try it out! The cherry stone pillow can be stored in a plastic bag in the fridge and is therefore always ready for use. The little fall is quickly forgotten!
  • Warm cuddly toy covers (without inner cushion): The GRÜNSPECHT cuddly toys are ideal as small treasure chests or for sewing into tote bags Warm-cuddly family simply ideal. It will be a cozy hiding place for the little ones.
  • Finger toothbrush: It can be used as a painting aid to get new patterns and structures in the drawings of your little artists. Simply place the marker on the finger  Finger toothbrush in the Organic finger paints Dip it in and the fun begins! Of course, there is guaranteed to be some mess.

Although the GRÜNSPECHT range does not include other equipment that is no longer of use after a few weeks or months, a few considerations for longer use include:

Baby clothes: Everyone has the bodysuits and rompers in size 50/56 or the socks for first-time babies or first-walkers at home. Use them as clothes for dolls and cuddly toys and let your child try putting them on and taking them off. (Positive side effect: Your child learns how to put them on and take them off, maybe even how to button them up and the responsibility of looking after someone.) With rompers and tights you can also cut off the feet (or sew them off if necessary) and use the clothes for a few more weeks.

Baby monitor: If a music device and a starry sky projector are integrated, it can become a bedtime ritual. Your child can even operate it themselves and may even look forward to falling asleep.

Extra bed: The extra bed can be used as a bench in the children's room (ATTENTION! Observe the manufacturer's maximum weight!). They are definitely perfect for lining up cuddly toys.

Walker: Not everyone is a fan of a baby walker - and they're not absolutely necessary either. But if you already have one, extend its lifespan by letting your child use it as a stroller for dolls and stuffed animals or to transport books and toys from the nursery to the living room (and back again).

Baby bottles: Do you have some baby bottles that are sitting unused in the cupboard? Give them to your child to playfully feed the doll or stuffed animal.

Make the world more sustainable and be creative!

Your Melissa // 34 years old, simple boy mom

Back to blog

There are products that are simply indispensable during babyhood and that everyone with a baby or toddler has at home. But every phase passes and the baby "outgrows" them. Thus, certain products simply become superfluous and unusable, even though they are still in good condition.

Apart from selling, giving away, or donating, it would be worth considering upcycling, repurposing, or multi-use.

Especially if you want more children and don't want to give things away yet. Instead of storing them in the basement, you can continue to use them – just differently.

However, please remember that some of these are care and hygiene products. Always observe the safety instructions for the products! The following does not present the original intended use, but rather play ideas or other repurposed suggestions. If you are unsure or the product already shows defects, do not use it and rather dispose of it!

GRÜNSPECHT Products:

  • Brushes: Do your teddy bear and monkey look a bit shaggy? Then it's time for a visit to the hairdresser. Incorporate it into playtime with your child and use the GRÜNSPECHT baby brush made of goat or horse hair for dolls and cuddly toys permanently.
  • Bath sponge: If you still have a new, unused (!) GRÜNSPECHT natural sponge at home, you can use it for your daily gentle facial care.

 

  • Pacifier chain: Pacifier time is slowly coming to an end and the beautiful GRÜNSPECHT wooden pacifier chains are no longer useful? Oh yes, they are, because they are also suitable for attaching light toys or (Pixi) booklets (simply thread the loop of the pacifier chain through the homemade hole) to the stroller, car seat, or other devices. This way, the teething ring and comfort blanket don't always end up on the floor when you're out and about.

 

  • Wooden grasping toys and rattles: The beautifully shaped GRÜNSPECHT wooden grasping toys or the fabric rattle are not only for grasping. If you still have a mobile or activity board for your still-a-baby, then hang these baby toys on it too. Attach them and swap them out from time to time (to keep it exciting). Do you also have the GRÜNSPECHT gemstone rattle fish? Perfect, then that provides an extra sound for the ears.

 

  • Teething rings and teething play animals: The teething phase(s) are (finally!) over and the GRÜNSPECHT teething rings and teething play animals have outlived their usefulness. Not at all! Do you have a dog or a cat at home? Great, then congratulations. You've just got new cat or dog toys and your pet will be happy to have a new playmate.

 

  • Cookie cutter from the impression kit: The cookie cutter from the GRÜNSPECHT impression kit can be used in multiple ways for cutting out dough or baking cookies, biscuits, or even (filled) pastries. The rolling pin (clean thoroughly beforehand!) can also be used for rolling out dough. Because the rolling pin is perfect for small children's hands when they want to help with baking.

 

  • Diaper liner: Even if you don't use cloth diapers (anymore), you can still make wet wipes with the GRÜNSPECHT diaper liner (see Instagram post – link). To protect the changing mat, due to its size, it can also be used as a precisely fitting underlay in the bottom area, and potentially a "bigger accident" can be removed more easily.

 

  • Cherry pit pillow: The GRÜNSPECHT cherry pit pillows are not only loving heat dispensers but also pleasant cool-downers. This means, even if it sounds a bit paradoxical, the heat pillows can also be used as cooling pillows. Has your little one fallen during their first attempts at walking? Try it out! The cherry pit pillow can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator and is therefore always ready for use. That little fall will be quickly forgotten!

 

  • Warm cuddly toy covers (without inner cushion): The cuddly toys of the GRÜNSPECHT warm cuddly family are simply ideal as small treasure chests or for sewing into carrying bags. For the little ones, this becomes a cozy hiding place.

 

  • Finger toothbrush: Further use as a painting aid is possible to bring new patterns and structure into the drawings of your little artists. Simply dip the finger toothbrush placed on the finger into the finger paints and let the fun begin! Of course, mess is guaranteed.

 

  • Baby clothes: Everyone has bodysuits and rompers in size 50/56 or first-size or crawling socks at home. Use them as clothes for dolls and cuddly toys and let your child practice dressing and undressing. (Positive side effect: Your child learns to dress and undress, possibly even to button up, and the responsibility to lovingly care for someone.) For rompers and tights, you can also cut off the feet (and perhaps sew them up) to use the clothes for a few more weeks.

While not part of the GRÜNSPECHT range, there are other pieces of equipment that have already "served their purpose" after a few weeks or months. But here are a few considerations for longer use:

Baby monitor: If a music device and a star projector are integrated, it can become a bedtime ritual. Your child can even operate it themselves and might even look forward to falling asleep.

Co-sleeper crib: The co-sleeper crib can be used as a bench in the nursery (ATTENTION! Observe the manufacturer's maximum weight specification!). They are definitely perfect for lining up cuddly toys.

Baby walker: Not everyone is a fan of a baby walker - it is not absolutely necessary either. But if you already own one, extend its lifespan by letting your child use it as a stroller for dolls and cuddly toys or to transport books and toys from the nursery to the living room (and back again).

Baby bottles: Do you also have some baby bottles lying unused in the cupboard? Give them to your child to playfully feed the doll or cuddly toy.

Make the world more durable and be creative!

Your Melissa // 34 years old, Mom of Boys

More blog posts

1 3