The Energy Survival Kit for New Parents + Tutorial

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There is one thing that parents of a newborn can never have enough of—energy! The first year is filled with sleepless nights which leaves most parents running on empty.

The nursery may be filled with a beautiful new crib, a changing table with cloth diapers, a rocking chair, an infinite number of baby clothes, and gifts from family and friends—and they will need all of those things, but none of these essentials will give them what they need most—which is energy.

New parents soon discover how valuable and essential anything is that soothes the baby. Chaos ensues when the batteries in baby’s soothe and glow seahorse die—because she won’t nap without it. The same thing goes for the baby swing, sound machine, bouncy chair, and Jumperoo—they just make life easier and give parents a moment to do things, such as shower on occasion to re-energize.

Energy comes in many forms—coffee, convenient meals or snacks, and even batteries which keep baby’s favorite comforts running—not to mention also keeping the Wii remote working so the parents can watch Netflix on the rare occasion they get to relax! Whatever it takes to keep the energy flowing so that parents can keep going, and going, and going…

With energy in mind, I put together the perfect gift for new parents which includes essentials to keep them energized to meet the demands of a newborn, and so that they are prepared to keep life running smoothly for baby while also keeping the environment in mind.

 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Energy Bars
• Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso (cans are recyclable)
• Two Reusable Travel Mugs
• Ground Coffee (use what you have on hand)
• Glass jar with lid (an old mason jar you have on hand will work)
• Children’s Book (purchase used at a thrift store)
• Fine Tip Marker
• Reusable Shopping Bag
• Plastic Adjustable Organizer Container (that a child couldn’t open)
• Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ AA Batteries
• Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ AAA Batteries

 

1. Fill the organizer container with batteries

I found a clear plastic organizer container on clearance at Home Depot. I tested out the latches to make sure they were strong enough so that a child wouldn’t be able to open the box. 

I also purchased the batteries at Home Depot. I browsed the batteries located in the front of the store by the checkouts and I chose the Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ batteries in both AA (the world’s first AA battery made with 4% recycled batteries) and AAA because they are Energizer’s® highest performing and most reliable alkaline batteries—which means fewer batteries used, creating less waste and having less impact on the planet.

You will need to determine how many batteries you need based on the size of the organizer container that you purchase. I needed 24 AAs and 12 AAAs to fill a 9” organizer—this will keep the new parents prepared with batteries for a long time, especially since the Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ batteries are Energizer’s® longest lasting alkaline ever and also hold power for up to 12 years.

 

2. Pour coffee grounds into the glass jar

I found a glass jar at Target in the Dollar Spot, but using a mason jar that you already have on hand is a great way to recycle a reusable jar. Fill the jar with ground coffee.

 

3. Write a note in the book

Instead of giving the couple a greeting card that has no use after the couple reads it, give a children’s book instead! A children’s book will be used numerous times. Pick up a book at a thrift store and not only save paper but recycle a used book. Write a note on the inside cover or on the back of the book using a fine tip marker—don’t forget to sign your name! Allow it to fully dry.

 

4. Fill the reusable shopping bag with all of the items

Now it’s time to assemble the gift! Why waste paper by using a gift bag when you could give a gift that keeps on giving. Place all of the items into the reusable shopping bag and the parents will be able to use the bag many times over. The gift will include: a battery kit, two reusable travel mugs, a jar of coffee, energy bars, Starbucks Doubleshots, and a children’s book.

 

This gift will be useful and essential! Let the new parents know that this is The Energy Survival Kit for New Parents. If you want, you could even recycle a grocery sack to create a tag with “The Energy Survival Kit for New Parents” written on it.

 

Learn more about Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ batteries and share a tip  in the comments about what new parents can do to keep energized?