As you bring a new life into the world, it’s the perfect time to consider the world your baby will inherit. Make an investment in the future by registering for gifts that are safe for baby and earth-friendly too.
If you’re expecting your first baby, there’s a lot of “new” happening in your life. And some of it will be in the lovely form of baby gifts.
When it comes to choosing items to add to your baby registry, we know you want the best for your little one. And if you’re a sustainable mama (or daddy), you also want the best for the earth.
Each year, Earth Day is a reminder that the babies and children of today will inherit the world we’re creating right now. That’s motivation enough to pick out baby products that reflect your healthy-planet priorities. And when it comes to choosing baby items—from clothing to toys and gear—prioritizing sustainability has never been easier. Just check product descriptions for sustainable and healthy materials and sources, safe and fair manufacturing processes, and product longevity, then choose the items you need in the versions that are healthiest for both baby and the planet.
It sure can! A key to sustainability is keeping waste to an absolute minimum, and a baby registry is a big step in that direction. Obviously the reason for a registry is to let your loved ones know what you most need and want for your new baby, and in the end that means every gift will be just what you hoped for, with no not-quite-right items to return, and thus way less packaging, transportation, and other waste. (It also avoids those returned gifts that never make their way back onto shelves for resale.)
Share the eco-love with your loved ones
If you want to share your commitment to sustainability with your family and friends, include a personal note on your registry’s welcome page letting them know why you chose the baby items you did. Whatever gift they give, you will have planted a seed of love for the environment and its healthy future for all babies.
Eco-friendly baby gifts
Below, find some of our favorite baby gifts that are safe, environmentally sustainable—and as cute as your baby. Call it a win-win-win.
Hart + Land Bamboo Essentials
For basic but adorable baby clothing you can trust, here’s a pretty-much-perfect starter set, made from 95% sustainable bamboo rayon and 5% spandex, in what The Tot refers to as “an eco-friendly closed-loop system,” including GOTS-approved dyes. The pieces are sustainably made in India and certified by the Fair Trade Federation.
The Play Gym
This play gym includes just about everything a baby needs (and parents want) in an activity center and play mat. Included are accessories for batting and teething, plus high-contrast visuals and mirrors, for both back and tummy time. It’s made from wood that’s certified sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council and sealed with a non-toxic, eco-friendly finish, and any accessories that go in baby’s mouth are made from 100% organic cotton or silicone.
Macrame Baby Swing
A twist on the traditional baby swing, this boho fringed version is pretty enough to hang in your main living area, and it’s handmade by artisans in India of 100% organic cotton thread (with a solid wood bar).
Nook Sleep LilyPad Playmat
Give your babe a safe place to play, literally. This playmat folds up, snaps together with handles, and comes in a bunch of fun colors. In addition to repurposing 26 BPA-free water bottles and keeping them out of landfills, each LilyPad is made with eucalyptus, organic cotton, an organic cotton/nontoxic poly blend, and natural zinc (which guards against germs).
Moses Bassinet Basket
So practical, a Moses basket lets baby nap near you, wherever you are. This one from the company Swahili African Modern is made from elephant grass (with leather handles) and handwoven by Wolof women in Senegal, traditional artisan basket weavers paid above the living wage for their work. Swahili African Modern is certified by the Fair Trade Federation.
Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
In addition to being iconic, the Tripp Trapp is made from European beech wood with methods that help support a responsible forestry and wood industry, and it’s finished with water-based, non-toxic paint and free of harmful substances. Another thing that makes it sustainable? It’s designed to adapt from babies 6 months old to full-grown adults, so you can use it pretty much forever.
Buttah Organic All In One Diaper
Cloth diapers are one of the biggest steps a parent can take toward sustainability. If you’ve decided to go with cloth, the super-soft Grovia Buttah All in One diaper is a great choice. It adjusts to fit babies from 10 to 35 pounds, and the all-in-one style means no extra pad or cover is needed. It’s made from 100% organically grown material, certified by Ecocert Greenlife.
Honest Diapers
If you prefer the disposable-diaper route, you still have eco-friendly options. Actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba founded Honest Company with the aim of providing safe and effective products to families. Honest diapers are plant-based, with a core made from sustainably managed trees that undergo chemical-free processing. The diaper backing is 100% plant-based too. Bonus: Honest diapers are cruelty-free and never tested on animals.
Honest Baby Wipes
Honest Company wipes are specially designed and dermatologist-tested to be hypoallergenic and gentle on sensitive skin, containing more than 99% water and zero chemicals. They work equally well for diaper changes and sticky fingers, dirty surfaces and toys. Bonus: Wipes can be ordered in quantities from ten to 720.
Organic Diaper Balm
What should be more eco-natural than your baby’s diaper balm? This one from Earth Mama Organics is made from calendula, with no petroleum, parabens, or artificial fragrance, and it’s verified by the Environmental Working Group. In fact, the only non-vegan ingredient is organic beeswax—ethically sourced, of course. Bonus: This soothing balm is not just for baby bums! It can also be used as a general-purpose skin salve for the whole family.
Baby K’tan Organic Baby Carrier
When comfort and closeness are called for, this Baby K’tan carrier offers both. It’s a wrap-style carrier without the wrapping and also without the buckles, rings, or snaps. Instead, it slips on like a t-shirt, and it’s made of super-soft GOTS-certified organic cotton with a unique one-way stretch for an especially cozy hold.
Peach Blossom Bamboo Swaddle
You’ll definitely want a swaddle blanket, and probably a few. This one is not only beautiful, it’s made from 70% sustainable bamboo and 30% GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Baby Tree Blocks
A set of blocks should be in every baby’s toy box—they’re the original “open-ended toy,” as in, open to your baby/toddler/child’s imagination. These eco-friendly barkless blocks are made of real branches, by a company that uses reclaimed wood and the by-products of landscaping and lumber mills, along with sustainable forestry practices.
Classic Baby Beads
Another open-ended toy, these beads develop coordination as baby manipulates them in seemingly endless ways. They’re made from renewable rubberwood and colored with a non-toxic water-based finish.
Muslin Starry Night Heart Lovey
This heart-shaped lovey toy in a soothing, gender-neutral print includes an easy-to-grasp wooden ring, and it’s made of super-soft 100% organic cotton (including the stuffing).
Penguin Baby Teether
This cute teether is easy for little hands to grasp, and it’s made of 100% natural rubber, which is non-toxic, free of chemicals, and also a biodegradable, sustainable resource. Bonus: The fact that the teether is cast in one piece (no gaps or holes) prevents dirt from getting inside.
Mushie Rainbow Silicone Baby Bib
Prepare for the messy eating in your future with a super practical bib. This one has a large pocket to catch all the food bits, and it’s made from 100% food-grade silicone free from latex and harmful chemicals.
Avanchy Bamboo Stay Put Bowl & Spoon
Also for the next stage of eating, this baby bowl with matching spoon is made from sustainable and biodegradable bamboo and is free from harmful chemicals. It has a suction base made from food-grade silicone that will grip right onto a high chair tray or table, so baby won’t be tossing it to the floor (a small lever releases the grip when you’re ready to clean up).
Nook Sleep Niche Feeding Pillow
When it’s time for feeding—either bottle or breast—you’ll be glad you have a feeding pillow. This one is all-organic, with a cover made from eucalyptus and cotton fibers, plus zinc for germ resistance, and a kapok (silk-cotton) filling. Bonus: A feeding pillow is also perfect for propping up babies as they’re learning to sit on their own.
Urban Organic Burp Cloths
Burp clothes are a baby-care essential, and this sweet set uses organic cotton for any bits that will come into contact with your little one’s skin. They’re available in gender-neutral colors as well.
Organic Bandana Bibs
You’ll go through a lot of bibs, and these bandanas come in an eight-pack of fun, graphic patterns. They’re designed to be super soft and super absorbent, with organic cotton on the front and fleece on the back, plus adjustable nickel-free snaps.
Crib Mattress
Your baby will be spending a lot of time in that crib, so the mattress and bedding should be as eco-safe as possible. The Newton Baby Crib Mattress is designed to be breathable, with optimal air circulation, from the natural cover to the core made of 90% air and 10% food-grade polymer. It’s Greenguard Gold Certified for low chemical emissions, and the entire mattress is washable.
Cloud Brushed Flannel Crib Sheet
Made for cozy comfort, this flannel crib sheet is 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, with a brushed finish for extra softness. Bonus: It comes in a reusable, organic cloth bag.
Find Something You Like?
You can add any of these items to your MyRegistry.com Baby Registry. Don’t have one yet? It’s easy! Create a Universal Baby Registry today, then add baby gifts from all your favorite stores.
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