Sustainable Newborn Essentials for the Eco-Conscious Mama
By Malia Noll
As all expecting moms know, learning the ins and outs of what a newborn needs can be a bit...overwhelming. From burping cloths and baby loungers to teething toys and blankets for all hours of the day, there’s a lot to stock. But what the eco-conscious mama faces atop all of these checklists is knowing that not all manufacturers are creating non-toxic, ethical goods. So she’s left to sift through all the noise to find brands that align with her values.
In an effort to take a bit of ease off of expecting mothers, we’ve created a guide with some of our favorite sustainable baby products that will help you gather every essential necessary while feeling good about the products you’re bringing into the home.
Keep reading for our roundup of sustainable newborn essentials for the eco-conscious mama.
For the Nursery
Image Source: Solly Baby
SOLLY BABY - SWADDLE
Crafted in small batches with a balance of stretch and buttery softness, Solly Baby’s Swaddling blanket will be the go-to wrap for soothing your little one.
Sustainable Practices:
Uses 100% certified plant-based, sustainable Lenzing™ Modal fibers
Supports fair wages and ethical manufacturing
Price: $
Our Pick: Swaddle in Fern $23
Image Source: Snuggle Me
SNUGGLE ME – ORGANIC INFANT LOUNGER
Let your little one lounge in this supportive and soft lounger that hugs them in and keeps them put as they observe everything around them.
Sustainability Practices:
Uses only GOTS certified organic, non-toxic, breathable, and hypoallergenic fabrics
Made in the USA at their headquarters in Minnesota
Organic cotton is USA-grown
Price: $$
Our Pick: Organic Infant Lounger, Slate $99
Image Source: Little Unicorn
LITTLE UNICORN – CHANGING PAD COVER
Opt for natural fibers when choosing textiles for the nursery. Little Unicorn’s 100% cotton muslin is both breathable and soft, and comes in neutral tones to match any nursery decor.
Sustainability Practices:
Uses only natural plant-based materials that are free of harmful chemicals
Cotton muslin is biodegradable
Price: $
Our Pick: Changing Pad Cover, Grey Stripe $20
Perfect for Playtime
Image Source: Colored Organics
COLORED ORGANICS – BABY TOYS
Colored Organics’ baby toys are made of food grade silicone and organic beechwood for the cleanest playtime possible. We love the classic colors and mix of materials, so these toys always look chic, even when scattered across the floor.
Sustainability Practices:
Ethical production and sourcing of matierals—no child labor, safe work environment, fair wages and capped work hours
Uses GOTS certified factories and organic textiles
Price: $$
Our Pick: Silicone + Wood Teether Ring $27.50
Image Source: WeeLittle Hedgehog- Etsy
WEELITTLE HEDGEHOG – WOODEN BABY PLAY GYM
Handmade toys? That’s music to our ears. This sweet wooden play gym is made of completely biodegradable materials including pine wood, cotton rope and cork—not to mention, all materials are 100% organic! This gym can even be folded up and stowed away for a cleaner play area when finished.
Sustainability Practices:
Made locally in New England, USA
Uses 100% organic, non-toxic materials
Price: $$
Our Pick: 6 Ring Baby Play Gym $56
Image Source: Smallable
SMALLABLE – TEETHING RINGS
You’d choose only the cleanest ingredients for something that enters baby’s mouth, and we couldn’t agree more. Smallable makes 100% silicone toys for teething that are as clean as can be, and always BPA free.
Sustainability Practices:
100% silicone, always BPA-free
Supports designers committed to ethical manufacturing & sourcing and small batch production
Price: $
Our Pick: Liewood Ian Silicone Teether $23
More Baby Essentials
Image Source: Parachute Home
PARACHUTE HOME – HOODED BABY TOWEL
One of our brand crushes, Parachute Home, now makes baby-specific products and we couldn’t be happier! Wrap up your little one post-bath in the softest, most luxurious hooded baby towel we’ve yet to find.
Sustainability Practices:
Plastic shipping mailers are made from 80% recycled content and are recyclable after opening
Oeko-Tex certified, which surpasses all other standards in safety and environmental protection
Down manufacturer is Responsible Down Standard certified
Partners with United Nation’s Nothing But Nets campaign to send life-saving malaria-prevention bed nets to those in need
Price: $$
Our Pick: Hooded Baby Towel $29
Image Source: Mushie
MUSHIE – ORGANIC COTTON BURP CLOTH + BABY BIBS
We love these solid-colored 100% organic cotton burp cloths for everyday use, which are prewashed to ensure the utmost softness for its first meeting with baby’s delicate skin. They also make stylish and practical silicone baby bibs that easily catch dribbles, so cleanup is faster than ever!
Sustainability Practices:
Uses only natural plant-based materials that are free of harmful chemicals
Cotton muslin is biodegradable
Price: $
Our Picks:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Malia Noll is a former public accountant turned self-employed copywriter who works with small businesses to build genuine connections to customers through strategic writing. Malia is based in Columbus, Ohio and specializes in promotional writing, email marketing and editing.
