When I found out I was pregnant, I decided to channel my “[insert panic voice here] holy crap I am gonna have a baby!” stress into researching natural and organic baby essentials that my soon-to-be growing family would be using. On days when I started feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole notion of motherhood, I would flip open my computer and start exploring all the different “best of” brands, “must have” lists, and “you need these!” posts.
The number of baby essentials I came across was jaw dropping. I had no idea there were so many options! Like, too many options. There are thousands of “solutions” (see products) for every problem a new parent might face. I both love this and also find it extremely overwhelming and, to be honest, kinda wasteful. Like do we really need that much stuff?
If you’ve been following me, you know I am someone who generally falls into the “less is more” category. Over the years I’ve become really intentional about the products I buy – from what I eat to what I put on my skin.
I approached the products I’d be using for my son with this same sense of intentionality. I wanted to know what ingredients were present in the “must-have” baby skincare products? What materials and fabrics were being used in mattresses, cribs, car seats? How efficient were plastic-free alternatives and would they be worth the investment? Needless to say, putting together my registry took much longer than my husband and family and friends expected.
If you or someone you know is expecting or you’re searching for eco-friendly and natural baby products for the little humans in your life, then I truly hope you’ll find this list of some of my favorite eco-friendly and natural baby essentials helpful.
I do want to preface this list with the following caveats:
- Everyone’s needs and values will differ. It’s completely normal that something I didn’t need might be something you desperately need or vice versa. There’s no one size fits all option when it comes to parenting.
- Whenever possible, opt for second-hand first. The products on this list are products I didn’t purchase secondhand. While most of the things we use (from bouncy chairs to toys to our running stroller) were second-hand, I felt more comfortable buying certain items, such as our car seat and bed, new. I wanted to make sure I knew the history of the product (it’s best to know the history of a car seat, i.e., was the car seat in a crash? how old is it, etc.) and wanted to make sure that products I knew my son would be putting in his mouth consistently, such as his crib bars, weren’t coated with toxic ingredients. Plus, if we have more kids I wanted to make sure the products we invested in would make it through daily wear and tear and those, oh-so-fun military moves, etc. At the end of the day you have to do what you feel most comfortable with.
- Price. While many planet-friendly, organic, and natural baby brands can be pricey, not all of them are. In fact, many of the conventional brands were comparable in price to the more “natural” and organic brands. I also found that in the long run I saved more money buying one or two eco-friendly and natural baby products than if I’d bought multiple conventional products.
Anyway, without further ado, here’s a list of some of my personal favorite all-natural, organic, plastic-free, and non-toxic baby products.
1. Pura Water Bottle
I love our Pura water bottle! It’s leak proof, shatter proof (has been dropped from high chairs, car seats, and strollers more times than I care to count), and easily converts from sippy bottle to water bottle by simply changing the lid. This bottle is the only plastic-free bottle line on the market made using 100% stainless steel and 100% medical grade silicone. Highly recommend!
Doing Good:
- Made Safe Certified
- 100% plastic-free (stainless steel and medical grade silicone)
- Easily converts from infant bottle to sports bottle
- Leak proof and insulated
Products: infant bottle, sippy cup, sport insulated bottle, straw bottle, snack container, and trainer cups
Price Range: $11.99 (straw cup) – $25.99 (28 oz. sports bottle)
2. Avanchy
Whether you’re looking for stainless steel dishes, organic bamboo utensils, or roll and go silicone bibs, Avanchy has got you covered. I am personally a huge fan of their stainless steel plates, forks, and training bamboo spoons. Not only are they functional and high quality but they’re really beautiful and easy to clean and store.
Doing Good:
- Plastic-free (stainless steel, organic bamboo, and food grade silicone)
- FDA, Prop 65, and CPSIA approved
Products: Bibs, cups, straws, bowls, plates, and utensils
Price Range: $5.49 (bamboo spoon) – $89.49 (Rainbow Toddler Plus Collections)
3. Zip Top Reusable Milk Storage Bag
A reusable milk storage bag was not something I envisioned I’d use for myself. In fact I didn’t even know it existed until I started thinking about how to reduce the amount of waste my disposable milk storage bags were creating. I was hesitant at first, unsure as to how well these would actually work, but if you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative to disposable milk bags this might be a great fit for you. These bags are leak proof, extremely sturdy (they stand up and stay open on their own!) and easy to wash and sterilize. If you’re an exclusive pumper though, this might not be the most efficient solution for you as they do take up a lot of space in the freezer.
Doing Good:
- plastic-free (100% platinum silicone)
- Reusable and durable
Products: Silicone Bags, Cups, Milk Storage Bags, Kids bags
Price Range: $9.99 (kids bags) – $59.95 (Milk Storage Bags (set of 6))
4. Haakaa
Although this isn’t specifically “for kids” the Haakaa was an essential part of my breastfeeding journey. I love this silicone breast pump (I used the Haakaa Generation 2 Silicone Breast Pump with Suction Base) and can’t recommend it enough. Perfect for hand expressing as you’re weaning or “pumping” any excess overflow you may be experiencing. My haakaa was always close at hand, especially in the early days when I was producing milk at a rapid and sometimes painful rate. Plus, this little pump is great when you’re traveling! It’s extremely simple to use, clean, and store.
Doing Good:
- 100% food grade silicone
- Plastic-free
- BPA, PVC and phthalate-free
- !00% family-owned business
- Ethically manufactured
Products: Colostrum Collector, Silicone Pump, Glass Bottles, Dinnerware, Teethers, and more!
Price Range: $7.69 Silicone Shampoo Brush – $28.99 (Haakaa Generation 3 pump)
5. Mushie Silicone Bib
We have one silicone bib and it’s a Mushie Silicone bib! Made from 100% food grade silicone this bib has a deep pocket that catches food and does a great job at keeping my little guy clean as he eats! More importantly all Mushie products are non-toxic and made using materials such as food grade silicone or organic cotton. Plus, I love that they work exclusively with fair trade suppliers.
Doing good:
- Works with fair trade suppliers
- Non-toxic products
- Plastic-free
- Partner with charitable organizations that support underserved families in need.
Products: silicone dishware, organic muslin swaddle blankets, silicone toys, organic baby clothes, and more!
Price Range: $7.99 (fork set) – $59.99 (baby wrap)
6. Kind Thing Co. Long-Sleeve Recycled Plastic Bib
As my son became an independent eater, food began making its way all the way up his arms and into his hair. The term “messy eater” doesn’t even begin to cover it. To say I was tired of doing laundry after each meal is an understatement. I decided it was time to upgrade from our beloved silicone Mushie bib to a long-sleeve smock. We’ve been using Kind Thing Co. smock for a few months now and we really like it. Made of recycled plastic, this smock does a great job protecting my son’s clothing from food and liquid stains. It even has a little pouch that efficiently catches food he drops as he feeds himself. Also, it’s super easy to clean – I just throw it in the washer and then hang it to air dry.
Doing Good:
- Smock made of super-soft recycled PUL fabric
- Give back program – donate pajamas to non-profits
- partner with Eden Reforestation Project (1 tree planted for every item purchased)
Products: Reusable food pouches, bibs, pajamas, baby clothing, and more!
Price Range: $20.00 (long sleeve bib) – $38.00 (adult pajama pants)
7. Magical Wool
Magical wool really is magical. Although it may sound like a super duper crunchy solution to diaper rash (which it is, ha), it works! As soon as I spot a bit of redness and irritation, I place a little tuft of wool directly over the affected area and close the diaper. By the next diaper change, the redness is gone! It’s a mess-free, breathable, and natural way to help heal irritated skin. How does it work? Introducing Lanolin, aka, wool’s fat. Lanolin has anti-inflammatory properties that help alleviate and treat inflammation. Air pockets within the wool allows the skin to breathe helping the skin to heal much quicker! If you’re looking for a super eco-friendly 100% natural way to heal irritated diaper rashes, consider giving Magical Wool a go!
Doing Good:
- 100% bio-organic sheep wool. Sheep live freely in the German and Austrian Alps, under strict organic conditions.
- KbT certified, a strict German regulation that prohibits any harmful practices
- Zero-waste alternative to diaper creams
- 100% biodegradable and plastic-free
- Ocean safe
Product: Magical Wool
Price Range: $8.65 (30 oz) – $18.41 (140 oz)
8. Earth Mama Diaper Balm
For those of you who prefer using a diaper balm over wool, check out Earth Mama’s Organic Diaper Balm. This diaper balm is great! We often alternate between the diaper balm and Magical wool and never have any issues. They both work great. Earth Mama diaper balm is made using USDA organically certified ingredients including lavender, tea tree essential oils, St. John’s Wort, chickweed, and more! It’s easy to apply and smells really nice.
Doing Good:
- No petroleum, preservatives or artificial fragrances
- EWG Verified, with the lowest hazard rating possible
- USDA certified organic products (for most)
- plastic neutral
Products: Sunscreen, skincare, teas, deodorant, and more!
Price Range: $3.00 (lip balm) – $19.99 (tinted mineral sunscreen)
9. Bambino Mio
To be completely transparent I don’t LOVE using reusable diapers, especially if I am dealing with a number 2. But, I just can’t shake the amount of waste my disposables create so I continue to alternate between disposables and reusables. Hands down my favorite reusable diaper brand is Bambino Mio. We use Bambino’s all-in-one revolutionary reusable diapers and have never had a problem with leaking. Additionally, what I love about Bambino Mio diapers is how perfectly they fit and how easy they are to wash and dry. If you’re open to the idea of reusables or looking to test out a new reusable diaper brand, I definitely recommend Bambino Mio.
Doing Good:
- B-Corp Certified
- OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified materials
- Ethically produced
- Partners with non-profit organizations such as the Nappy Alliance (stop nappy waste), Green Alliance, and Better Act Business.
Products: Swim diapers, potty training diapers, reusable diapers, potty training toilet, and more!
Price Range: $10.99 (reusable potty training pants) – $29.99 (reusable diaper)
10. Botanical Bee Apothecary Baby Bee D’Lade
I love all of Botanical Bee Apothecary’s products. So naturally when I saw they’d designed an organic and nourishing skin care concentrate specifically for babies, I immediately ordered one! I love BBA’s Baby Bee D’lade. It smells delicious, moisturizes beautifully, and is easy to apply. Plus, I love how natural this product is – no added water, harmful preservatives, or synthetic fragrances. FYI, I love BBA products so much, I decided to join their team as an affiliate. So, make sure to use code WiseConsumer for 10% off any item when you check out.
Doing Good:
- 100% ingredient transparency
- Made in small batches in the USA
- Family-owned
- Grow their own botanicals on their family farm
Products: Facial Moisturizers, Cleansing Oils, Eyelash Serum, Nipple Balm, and more!
Price Range: $5.00 (lip balm) – $148.00 (Full Facial Care Line)
11. Candy Cloud Nestig Crib
I spent a lot of time researching cribs before I selected Nestig’s 3-in-1 crib. I decided upon this particular model as I wanted something my son could grow into vs. buying multiple different beds over time. While a bit of an investment upfront, this 3-in-1 crib converts from bassinet to crib to toddler bed and pays for itself over time. Handmade by artisans in a family-owned Brazilian factory, each crib is made using sustainably sourced wood and is free of toxic chemicals, lead and phthalates. Bonus: We love how easy this crib is to assemble and how modern it looks.
Doing Good:
- Ethically manufactured in family-owned factory in Brazil
- Each crib is tested and independently certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association
- Crafted with sustainably sourced wood harvested locally in Brazil from reforested land.
- Made in small batches to reduce oversupply
Products: Cribs, dressers, shelves, rugs, crib sheets, and more!
Price Range: $39 (sheets) – $1099 (dressers)
12. Naturepedic Organic Breathable Full Crib Mattress
Once I’d selected a crib, the next step was, of course, to find a mattress. For me, it was really important that the mattress my son slept on was free of glues, polyurethane foam, and passed flame standards without fire retardants or chemical additives. I really appreciate the effort Naturepedic makes to ensure their mattresses are safe for both people and the planet. All their mattresses are made using natural, non-toxic, organic, and renewable materials. In fact, Naturepedic makes the only breathable, waterproof, and organic crib mattresses in the world! Easy to wash, safe, comfortable, and free of questionable chemicals makes the Naturepedic mattress a winner in my book!
Doing Good:
- Mattresses are tested and certified by UL/GREENGUARD laboratories for low chemical emissions. They are additionally certified to meet their formaldehyde-free standard.
- All Naturepedic mattresses meet the organic and non-toxic standards of the Global Organic Textile Standard.
- Made Safe Certified
- Free of flame retardants, adhesives, vinyl, polyurethane foam, perfluorinated compounds and other questionable chemicals
- 1% for the planet
- Handcrafted by the Amish in the USA
Products: Mattresses for babies, kids, and adults.
Price Range: $129 (organic cotton changing pad) – $11,999 (Elysium Luxury King Mattress)
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