Recently the most amazing thing happened to me: I became a Mom to a baby boy. And besides all the endless messages of joy and congratulations one friend also said something that got me thinking: “Having a child is probably the worst thing you can do for the climate and environment.” And while I still think that having children is probably the best thing that you can do to personally increase your joy and happiness, on a rational perspective he was right. Babies consume a lot of resources and produce a lot of waste. It is estimated that the average baby produces one ton of diaper waste in his lifetime. But this should not make anybody feel bad about having kids when the world is talking about the climate crisis. So here are my top tips on how to raise an eco-friendly baby and live more sustainably as a family.
Are you looking for some nice Christmas gifts for new moms, new dads and their cute babies? But you are unsure which gift to get? Of course you are tempted to buy super cute baby stuff as a Christmas gift, but will the parents really need it and like it? Or are there better Christmas gifts to get them?
When my first child was born we were flooded with gifts. We got dozen of baby outfits, play mats, blankets and toys. But we rarely got what we really wanted or needed. So here are my best (and worst) Christmas gifts for new moms, new dads or their babies for Christmas.
Have you ever tried to find a Christmas gift for a running friend? Then you probably know that finding a Christmas gifts for runners is not easy. We runners are very picky. And we probably already have everything we need. (or we think we do) So here is my guide on how to find the best Christmas gifts for runners, and which gifts to avoid.
Gifts for runners: what to get
Books
One of my favorite things to give are books about running. Fore me these are the best Christmas gifts for runners. Usually these books are a nice read, feature inspiring stories, delicious recipes or great training tips. My favorites are:
Another tip: a lot of running books also have an audiobook version. They make great gifts for runners as we can enjoy listening to them on our weekly long run. And if you give them a membership on Audible they can enjoy all the audio books they like.
Movies
Yes we runners have restdays where we do not run but just chill and watch movies. And we love to watch movies about running.
Accessoires
There are lots of running accessoiries that make great Christmas gifts for runners. My favorite ones are:
Gift vouchers also make a great Christmas gift for runners. Because then we runners can get exactly what we want and need. So if in doubt you can get a voucher of your local running store. and if this still does not resonate with you, what about giving them a voucher for a nice massage or pedicure? Trust me, all runners need massages and pedicures from time to time.
Gifts for runners: what maybe not to get
Shoes
Running shoes are a very personal thing for every runner. So unless you know exactly what shoe in which size and which color your running friend wants, avoid it as a Christmas gift. Better give them a gift voucher for a local running store (see above). There they can have a gait analysis done and can then pick the right shoe for them.
Races
So you think a race entry for this cool Marathon in this cool city is a good idea as a Christmas gift? Please check with your running friend again. They might already have other race plans and this race will not fit their training plan at all. And it would be very complicated to defer and sell this race spot again. So please do not give them race entries.
But there is one exception: if it is a trip to one of the big 6 World Marathon Majors, which all Marathon runners love to run. I have already done 4 of them: Berlin,London,NYC and Chicago, and they are definitely worth the expensive trip.
Running nutrition and supplements
As with the things mentioned above, running nutrition and supplements is way too personal. So they do not make good Christmas gifts for runners. Better buy them a nice gift voucher, so they can exactly get what they need.
Gifts for runners: what to absolutely avoid
Everything that is not about running. Just joking. We love all gifts that come from our loved ones. Happy Holidays!
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Do you have more gifts for runners? Just leave me a comment below!
Baby wearing has been practiced for centuries and is seeing a massive comeback now. This is no surprise, as it has massive benefits. Already before my son was born I was given various tools and accessoiries to wear him, and I can say that I am now a huge fan of baby wearing.
As a passionate Marathon runner I was really happy when I got a spot for Chicago Marathon, as it is one of the 6 World Marathon Majors. But then I found out that I was pregnant, and that Chicago Marathon was only 4 months after the due date. I was not sure if I should or could return to running postpartum and run a race so soon after giving birth. But giving up before even trying is not an option for me. So I secretly made a plan on how I could make returning to running postpartum work. And luckily everything worked out, and I finished the Chicago Marathon 4 months postpartum.
And we love to watch movies about running.
