Baba + Boo is a planet-friendly eco baby boutique specialising in reusable cloth nappies, tackling the issue of single-use nappies and helping to save thousands of plastic nappies from going to landfill every year. Entrepreneur Eve Bell, Founder of Baba + Boo started the business whilst on maternity leave, with two children under two! Eve craved something for her, so she started eco baby business Baba + Boo as a passion project. Now, she’s selling thousands of nappies and is dedicated to helping parents live simpler, more sustainable lives. We caught up with Eve to find out how she started her eco baby business and get the 101 on reusable cloth nappies…
Eco Baby Business Begins…
Q: Tell us a bit about you, what did you do before becoming an entrepreneur? What first inspired you to start Baba + Boo?
A: I’ve worked since being a waitress at 13, through university and had my fair share of rubbish jobs when I left uni until I started my career as a buyer. A career that came to end when I became mum to Seth in 2008. Having decided that I didn’t want to leave him, and with another baby on the way, I made the decision to leave working life and be a stay at home mum. This was by far the hardest thing I have ever done. Having two babies in quick succession was so so hard!
So, as if I wasn’t under enough pressure, I started a business as well! I usually blame hormones and tiredness, but I think my work ethic wasn’t being satisfied in the world of babies. I needed something for me. I developed a real passion for cloth nappies so for me, this was the perfect business.
“Throughout my childhood, my dad would never let us throw anything away that could be composted, recycled or reused. This is why I found putting disposable nappies in the bin so wrong.”
– Eve Bell, Baba+Boo Founder
I knew I had skills to design and make the nappies, however, the rest has been the steepest learning curve of my life.
For me, Baba+Boo was a passion project which has spiralled into something which I truly love. I still get goosebumps when I read reviews and testimonials from our customers on how our products have helped their busy lives.
“Our tribe is helping to bring about real change and helping us take steps towards a more sustainable future for our children.”
– Eve Bell, Baba+Boo Founder
Considering Reusable Nappies?
Q: For any new mums considering reusable nappies, what would your advice be?
A: All new mums are different and what suits someone may not suit someone else. We have some mums who make a complete switch to reusables, we have some mums who use both and we have some mums who only use one reusable a day. You don’t need to be all or nothing. We know switching to reusables when you’re used to single-use nappies can be daunting. Try using them one day a week, or in place of a couple of disposables each day to help you get used to using them. Our nappies are designed to fit around you and not the other way round.
“We know there’s so much to think about for new mums so we’ve made our nappies as simple as possible, and remember, using just one cloth nappy a day saves 900 single-use nappies going to waste.”
– Eve Bell, Baba+Boo Founder
Pros + Cons Of Cloth Nappies
Q: What are the advantages and the pitfalls of switching to reusable nappies?
A: They’re better for your baby – Our reusable nappies are made from the softest fabric and are tested to ensure that they have no nasties in them. Many parents who make the switch find that their babies don’t get as much nappy rash as when they use single-use nappies. When you feel the difference between single-use and reusable, it is like the difference between wearing paper or silk underwear!
“They’re better for your baby’s future – Eight million single-use nappies are thrown away each day in the UK alone. These end up in landfill, on our beaches or choking our marine life. Using reusable cloth nappies helps cut down the amount of discarded, single-use plastic, meaning they’re much kinder to the planet.”
– Eve Bell, Baba+Boo Founder on the benefits of cloth nappies
Better for your bank balance -The average baby gets through 4,000 single-use nappies by the time they’re potty-trained! This is not only a cost to the planet, but also a cost to new parents as they have to keep stocked up with disposables. Our reusable nappies can be washed and used again and again, meaning no need to keep stocking up.
They look fab – Most mums and dads love picking out cool and funky outfits for their little ones, and using Baba+Boo nappies makes choosing nappies part of the outfit too.
The main questions we get asked from people looking to switch to reusables is around washing reusable nappies. Many people think they are hard work or complicated and this seems to be the major perceived pitfall. But, this couldn’t be further from the truth. All you need to do is scrape off the solids and throw them in the wash. It really is that simple.
Eco-Entrepreneur The Struggles…
Q: What are the main struggles you’ve faced as an eco-entrepreneur?
I started Baba+Boo in the days when reusable nappies were hardly seen at all. It’s been a really hard slog getting to where we are now. I have tried to give up so many times but I am not very good at giving up. People say to me now things like ‘you are in the right place at the right time’ but for so many years, it was the complete opposite.
In the beginning, learning to balance my working life and my personal life was a struggle. I felt guilty for taking business calls when my children wanted my attention, I felt guilty attending business meetings, and I felt guilty that my attention wasn’t always 100% on them. But, taking those early steps into the unknown was one of the best decisions of my life, for me and for my children.
The Future For Baba+Boo?
Q: Do you have any new and exciting products in the pipeline?
Here at Baba+Boo, we’re all about helping parents live simpler, more sustainable lives. We want to help safeguard our planet for future generations, so we’re conscious not to release new products unless there is a real need for them. There are products that we are working on but we take our time to create them because we have such exacting standards.
“We want to encourage parents to buy less and buy better, so we really want to encourage people to think about what they’re buying and if they really need it.”
– Eve Bell, Baba+Boo Founder
Special thank you to Eve for sharing her story. You can find out more about eco baby business Baba+Boo on their website and shop the full range.
Christine
