The world of baby products and gear is overwhelming to say the least. There are a million options for everything. Trying to figure out what’s the most eco-friendly/non-toxic/sustainable option can be really time consuming. So I hope if nothing else, this list will save you some time. Not all of these items are on my registry. Some I’ve already purchased myself or I plan to buy eventually. To give some context for how I put my registry together, I basically started by having my friends who’ve recently had babies send me a list of their “must-haves,” something I realized pretty much every mom I know has on hand, occasionally in spreadsheet form, haha.
I also looked at a few eco- friendly and non-toxic baby registry examples online. A few of you sent me your lists as well, thanks for that! Everyone has their things that are essential, and of course that will vary. So I really thought about our lifestyle and what we would actually need. All of that said, while I feel good about this list, who knows what happens when there’s actually a baby in the mix. All babies are different. So I’ll be sure to give an update once we’ve had some time with a newborn and I can report back on what works (and what doesn’t).
Check out the nursery reveal here.
My Non-Toxic Baby Registry
Baby Carriers & Gear
Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One
This came very highly recommended from pretty much everyone I know that’s had a baby recently. It’s adjustable (so Craig and I can both wear it), it has a built in infant insert so we can use it from the newborn stage, you can use it to carry front and back, and the fabric is Oeko-Tek certified.
Moby Baby Wrap Classic
I wanted something to wear around the house that’s not as bulky as a traditional carrier, particularly during the newborn stage. This wrap has rave reviews and it’s 100% cotton.
Snuggle Me Organic Infant Lounger
This thing looks so cozy I want one in adult size. It’s made of GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Baby Bjorn Baby Bouncer
Another very popular recommendation for a non-toxic baby registry is this bouncer. Most moms called this one a lifesaver. The fabric is also OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (meaning no harmful substances).
Nook Organic Nursing Pillow
This is pricey for a nursing pillow but I put it on my registry because the fabric and stuffing is more eco-friendly than the boppy (which was also recommended by friends). I have them both on my list because I’d be happy with either one.
Nuna Sena Aire Travel Crib
I like this travel crib because you can use it from infant to 3 years with an adjustable mattress. It comes with a travel bag and folds up with one hand. It’s also machine washable and comes with a fitted organic sheet.
Strollers and Car Seat
Nuna PIPA Flame Retardant Free Car Seat and Base
My main requirements for a car seat (aside from good safety ratings) were lightweight, easy to transport, non-toxic fabrics and adaptable to more than one stroller. This one fits the bill and then some. It weighs only 8 lbs, can be used with or without the base (ideal for travel or the need to switch cars easily), and has non-toxic flame retardant free fabrics. It also has a UPF 50+ canopy for protection from the elements.
Bumbleride Indie Stroller + Bassinet
I could go on for an annoyingly long time about strollers. People are VERY passionate about their strollers, and I totally get it. They’re not cheap and it’s something you’ll have and use for several years. So finding the right one for your non-toxic baby registry requires a lot of research. So after an absurd amount of research and thinking about what we actually need for our lifestyle, I realized that two strollers make the most sense. An all terrain stroller for everyday use (we live on a trail system where we’ll do the majority of our walks) and a travel stroller.
I ended up deciding on the Bumbleride Indie for all terrain because it has great reviews (including some from friends) and it’s eco-friendly. The fabrics are made from 100% recycled PET (plastic water bottles) and are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class. There’s no fire retardants and no polyurethane foam.
UppaBaby Minu Stroller
If you’ve looked at strollers you’ve probably come across UPPAbaby. A lot of my friends have the VISTA and absolutely love it. I decided to go with the MINU because I wanted something lightweight, compact and easy to travel with. The MINU has rave reviews for it’s ease in folding (you can do it with one hand) and ability to fit in most airplane overhead compartments. It’s also compatible with multiple car seats (with an adaptor) including the Nina PIPA and has an optional from birth kit to use with newborns. UPPAbaby does not use flame retardants.
Baby Clothes and Accessories
Organic Cotton Onesies + Footies
I like the onesies from Hannah Anderson, Finn + Emma, Pehr and Gerber. I also added some Magnetic Me onesies to my registry after hearing several Moms rave about them, especially for middle of the night changes.
7 A.M. Enfant Quilted Winter Baby Wrap
I spent way too much time trying to figure out the best solution to keep an infant warm during the winter. I wanted something that would safely work with a bassinet and car seat and this does both, while keeping baby toasty if we’re outdoors.
Winter Gear
Since I’m having a February baby we’ve got to make it through at least two very cold months in New England. Let’s be real it’s three because April is not warm. I’m a big fan of Patagonia because of their sustainability practices and the quality of their clothing. I like this fleece bunting, hat and mittens for walks outside. This cozy one piece from Hannah Anderson is so adorable (I bought it as a baby gift and it’s the softest thing ever). These boots also came highly recommended from several moms as the only ones that don’t slip off.
Swaddle blankets
The swaddle blanket suggestions and recommendations were all over the place. So I figured I’d try a few different ones. For night, the HALO SleepSack and Love to Dream Swaddle Up both had rave reviews from moms. They’re also both organic cotton. I also love this organic cotton oyster print swaddle and this organic cotton swaddle from Pehr, and I can also use them as blankets, etc.
Diapering
naturepedic organic cotton changing pad
**Update: I originally had the Keekaroo changing pad on my registry but heard so many mixed reviews from people that I decided to change to the Naturepedic organic changing pad. It’s a non-toxic organic cotton changing pad with a waterproof coating. It’s the perfect size for Pehr changing pad covers.
Diapers
When we aren’t using cloth diapers, the disposable diapers we like are Dyper brand (get 25% off with this link). They offer a composting program for an extra $30/month.
BABy Wipes
I’m going to try two kinds of wipes, these are natural, plant-based, alcohol and paraben-free and biodegradable, and these wipes are all of the above but not biodegradable. I’m hoping the biodegradable ones work out but I want to be prepared if not or if we need a more heavy duty option.
Earth Mama Organic Diaper RASH Balm
Everywhere this diaper rash balm is sold it basically has all 5 star reviews. I love that it’s aluminum-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, dye-free, and sulfate-free.
Nursery
Design Dua Bassinet (use code jessannkirby for 10% off sitewide)
This will be in our room since we plan to have the baby sleep with us for a few months. I wanted something on the smaller side, eco-friendly, and that we can use once we’re done with it as a bassinet. You may recognize Design Dua because they also make the woven basket beds we have for Nora and Fuji. I have always loved their bassinets so it was a no brainer, and it’s such a beautiful piece I know I’ll find a use for it when we no longer need it as a bassinet.
Little Nomad Non-Toxic Foam Baby Mat
I discovered this brand on Instagram and bought one of their kitchen mats which is seriously the best thing ever. Their non-toxic baby mats come in a bunch of sizes and designs and they’re a female founded company based in Connecticut.
Infant Optics Video Baby Monitor
This baby monitor has great reviews and was recommended by my friend who just had a baby and loves it.
Marpac Dohm White Noise Machine
This also came highly recommended from friends, and a few mentioned it’s great for adults too.
Sophie la Girafe Teether
I’m pretty sure this was on every single list I received. It’s made of all natural rubber and food-grade quality paint.
In case you missed it: check out our pregnancy announcement.
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I don’t have a baby but I recently purchased the Baby Bjorn carrier as a baby shower gift for a family member and they use it ALL the time (and they’re both VERY active!). Loved reading about your registry picks!
Rachel
http://www.hello-her.com
Great gift! Love to hear they use it a lot.
Beware Sophie: they can get incredibly moldy and disgusting on the inside and it’s not possible to clean it out. We skipped it on our registry after seeing some horror stories about moms cutting open Sophie and finding a veritable mold farm inside.
Also — Munchkin makes some covers for the Keekaroo pad, and I’d highly recommend them or something like it! It makes the pad warmer and as we have a baby who loves pee as soon as you take off her diaper, has stopped her from peeing all over herself by absorbing what otherwise would just drip all over the changing pad (and did this morning, oops).
OMG gross! Yikes making me rethink that. And thanks for the tip I will look into the covers for the Keekaroo!
Just don’t submerge Sophie in water when you clean her and she will be fine. Even living in a super humid climate, we never had any issues with ours. Sophie is the best! Just don’t stick her in the bath tub ?.
Yeah that’s what it seems like after I researched. I found another version of the Sophie that I linked to and it looks like it might not have the hole? Hard to tell though.
Burt’s bees baby is also awesome for organic cotton clothes if you haven’t checked them out yet!!!!
Oh I’m so glad you mentioned that! I had looked at their stuff but wasn’t sure, that’s great to know.
Hi Jess, I love this registry! I know you are not finding out the sex of the baby until they are born. How are you picking “gender-neutral” colors and patterns for your baby? Has anyone given you any very gender-specific items for the baby in hopes of a certain sex?
I’m not pregnant, but I don’t think I’d want to know the sex ahead of time either, but I can imagine some people having a difficult time dealing with my choice.
Thanks for saving us a ton of time with this registry!
Hi Meredith, I honestly just sort of pick things where I like the color and don’t worry too much about the rest. I know some people want to know, but everyone has been respectful of our choice not to find out the sex. I feel like there’s so many options that aren’t just pink and blue I haven’t really had trouble with finding things that are cute and I like. Thanks for the question. xx
My little one is due at the end of February and I have so been looking forward to this post! Thank you so much for all the research you did into all of these products. I’m definitely considering almost all of them!
Yay! Congratulations and I hope it’s helpful xx
Not trying to be “that” mom because unsolicited advice is the actual worst….but keep in mind safe sleep for infants. That snuggleme lounger will be good for setting the baby down but not safe for sleep. Plus, they can only use something like that for a couple of months. Also, not sure what kind of mattress that bassinet has but may want to double-check for sleep safety (the bassinet I have has a space between the mattress and sides that made it unsafe for sleeping at night). That bjorn bouncer is worth every penny though!
Love this! I haven’t started my registry yet (I’m 15 weeks) but this makes me feel a bit more at ease about it. Question though, what website are you using to compile everything?
Thanks,
Michele
So glad! I used Babylist. I really like it and think it’s super easy to use and I like that you can literally put stuff from anywhere on it. Some people have said it’s confusing for older people or anyone that’s not super internet savvy, but honestly I’ve been on some other registries and felt the same way so I think it’s just one of those things.
What a helpful post!! I don’t have a baby but many of my friends do so these are great brands and items to look into since I’m pretty clueless when it comes to all of this, especially for the holidays! <3 x Shannon • www.essellesse.com
Yay! So glad it’s helpful xx
As a mom of a 16 month old, this is a great list. I’d also consider adding a convertible car seat on there. I know they are not usually on registry lists but you end up needing them at like 10 months or earlier! We love our Nuna rava
oh that’s great to know thank you! Going to look into that right now. xx
One thing I didn’t realize before baby is that most of the typical registry stuff only gets you through the first 4 months or so!! Toys are another good thing to register for. We are really into wooden Montessori toys (one purpose, not overly stimulating). Heirloom kids on Etsy has some absolutely beautiful wooden toys that are so well made.
Just curious if you have thought about cloth diapers? I’ve had friends who have used them, definitely a bit more work but less diapers in the landfill! Completely understandable as to why you wouldn’t want to go that route but was curious if you had considered it as an option.
I think it’s great you’re waiting to find out the sex- we don’t get many happy surprises in life, and this will definitely be one of them 🙂
I did consider cloth diapering, and spent a lot of time researching. I have a variety of reasons why I ultimately decided not to, but mainly I worry about our old septic system and the amount of laundering (we don’t have a service we can use near us) and honestly it’s not something I think I can handle, at least in the beginning. Maybe that will change 🙂
I thought that diaper balm was good when I had my first but now my second is five months old and you know what’s better? Coconut oil! Smells amazing and is also perfect for soothing sore nipples from nursing. I put them in little containers in baby’s room and by my nightstand.
Oh that’s a great idea!
I’ve tried a few baby wipe companies and like Happy Little Camper the best so far. The wipes are cotton, biodegradable, and nontoxic. Much better quality, and more moisture, than Seventh Generation.
Oh ok great will look into those! Thanks
You’re welcome. ( : They are sold at my local supermarket which is nice.
I love this list. I truly wish I had known about so many of these things before I had my first, now turning 3. I learned a lot and incorporated many of these things with my second, now 11 months. I LOVED my Design Dua Bilia Basket. It moved from room to room so easily AND I would take out with us to other peoples houses as well. I actually used the SnuggleMe in it and it fit very nicely.
I agree with another comment about the Keekaroo. It is hard and cold. Since we already had it I didn’t want to get another changing pad with my second but if I could go back I would have liked to have gone with something like the Design Dua Changing Basket which is more comfortably for the baby to lay on. I did end up getting the Green Sprouts Organic Muslin Burp Cloths to lay down on it as they fit very nicely inside and help with the moisture wicking, my second also likes to pee once the diaper is removed.
The Kinder by nature wipes are amazing and the only ones we use! And I commend your decision to not find out the gender of the baby, we didn’t find out for either and it was the most wonderful experience.
Interesting about the Keekaroo, I am sort of rethinking it and debating getting a softer organic one with covers because it seems like that’s the consensus from a lot of moms. So glad to hear you like the Kinder by nature wipes. And thank you, everyone has been pretty supportive that we are waiting to find out, but they’re not loving that we won’t share names, haha! Thanks Jessica. xx
I’ve been doing similar research, just a heads up both Bumbleride and Uppababy just PFAS waterproof coatings on their strollers. Neither Nuna nor Colugo use any waterproof coatings or flame retardants so I decided to go with their full and travel size strollers instead.
Louisiana