As a first time mom I did quite a bit of research when I was pregnant on baby products that were important to have, but also a little more environmentally friendly, cleaner ingredients, and overall less toxic. Although, I’m still working on eliminating things as I go with the more I learn about toxins, chemicals, and ingredients. With that said, below are just a few
of my favorite baby products!
Diapers • Dyper
Initally we started using Seventh Generation diapers and we did actually like them, however, we also had the opportunity to try the company Dyper. After trying the Dyper brand we liked them a bit more for two main reasons, although they have some other benefits too! First and foremost, they have a subscription that you can set up and change to come every so many weeks for whichever style(s) of diapers you need. Super convenient, especially when we lose track of time between the hustle and bustle of being parents for the first time and then realize you need more diapers... like tomorrow and they’re already on their way! They’re also more environmentally friendly because they ”are free of chlorine, latex, alcohol, lotions, TBT or Phthalates. They're unprinted, unscented, soft to the touch, yet extremely durable and absorbent“ according to their website. We have now been using their dipers for about 3 months and we don’t foresee stopping!
Wipes • Seventh Generation
For wipes we really like Seventh Generation baby wipes and have used them since our little boy was born without any issues. Although this brand is considered a “green washing” company and doesn’t support a certain career, we still like their wipes for the fact that they work, are typically easily accessible, are less toxic than most mainstream companies (like Water Wipes, Honest Co., Hello Bello, Pampers, Huggies, etc.), and they’re reasonably priced.
Body Wash • Earth Mama
Our favorite company that makes a variety of less-toxic products is Earth Mama. While they have SO many products available ranging from pregnancy supplies, postpartum, babies and kiddos, plus adults too! Our favorite soap that we use regularly for our little boy is their lavender and orange scented body wash. The soaps are castile-based, so while they aren’t “tear-free” if they get in their eyes, you can rest assured that they dont have any artificial fragrance, triclosan, phthalates, parabens, or sulfates. Some prefer to buy unscented products for fear of the fragrances, so Earth Mama does have an unscented version of most of their products if you would prefer that.
Lotion • Earth Mama & Tubby Todd
Similar to the baby soap, we get one of our baby lotions from Earth Mama. We actually have both the lavender and orange scented lotions and enjoy them for regular usage. However, sometimes our little guy has little eczema-like patches, heat rashes, drool rashes, and when he was first born he did have a little bit of baby acne. With that said, for those issues we have used and liked Tubby Todd All Over Ointment. The ointment is really a fragrant-free lotion, but works well for sensitive skin and minor skin issues. While it is a tad pricey, a little goes a long way and they do offer a money back guarantee if you aren’t 100% satisfied with their products.
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Laundry Soap • Zum Clean
When researching laundry soaps and detergents to use on baby items, I kept coming across the Dreft company. When I looked at the ingredients in their product, I thought no way am I using that on my baby’s clothing! So after doing a little digging, I found a company called Zum Clean by Indigo Wild. They offer a wide variety of products ranging from hand soaps, to laundry soap, to wool dryer balls, scented sprays, candles, body soaps, and more. However, some of their products are made with fragrance, some are made with essential oils, and some are made with a combination. We opted to go for their lavender essential-oil scented laundry soap. They offer it in two variations: Zum Clean Lavender and Zum Baby Lullaby Lavender. The regular one comes in two sizes and the baby one is just in a smaller bottle. With that said, I reached out to the company and asked if they were made differently and they said no, it’s all the same one is just labeled “baby.” So, because of this I chose to get the regular Zum Clean Lavender laundry detergent because I could get the bigger bottle and save more money in the end, plus this variation is free of detergents and phosphates, which is free of harsh chemicals.
Crib Mattress • Naturepedic
When choosing a mattress I was really torn between trying the Newton or the company I went with, which was Naturepedic. After comparing the two, I ordered Naturepedic’s crib-size lightweight 2 stage mattress. I went with this mattress for a few reasons. First and foremost it’s completely organic and non-toxic, which is a major reason why I chose it being my little boy will be sleeping in it nightly once he outgrows his bassinet. What makes it non-toxic and organic? It has a food-grade waterproof coated surface made of non-GMO sugarcane, organic cotton fill, and is free of flame retardant chemicals! The mattress also is a 2 stage which means it has dual layer firmness support system where one side is more firm for newborns and infants and the other side is for toddlers. So, with this mattress you get more bang for your buck since it’ll last from infancy through toddler years!
Car Seat • Nuna Pipa
Ironically like many items around us, lots of car seats have flame retardants on them. Which was one of my deal breakers when trying to find not only a good quality crib mattress, but also car seat that is free of them. Flame retardant chemicals have been linked to increasing abnormal brain development including lower IQ, behavioral changes, and even linked to causing cancer. Thankfully there are a handful of flame retardant free car seat options! The brand that I chose was Nuna. Nuna offers a wide variety of car seats that range from infant carriers to convertible car seats and booster seats. The specific model I chose was the Nuna Pipa (the regular one, not the lite version). One of the main reasons why I chose this one was because you can use it with or if necessary, without the base. If the Nuna brand is out of your budget here are some other brands that offer some flame retardant free car seats: Clek, UPPAbaby, Maxi-Cosi, and Britax. Just be sure to look at the specs of the individual car seat or contact the manufacturer to ensure the one you’re looking to get is free of flame retardant chemicals.
Stroller • Guava Roam Crossover
The stroller I chose to go with was the Roam Cross Over Stroller by Guava. Technically it’s a jogging stroller, with 3 larger wheels. It is a bit pricier, but it’s 100% worth it! It’s compatible with the infant carseat I chose (Nuna - I just needed to buy the adapter which Guava offers), and it can be used from newborn (with the car seat attached) all the way up through 60 lbs! Knowing that I can use the stroller until my little boy is 60 lbs makes a HUGE difference — especially considering it is a bit expensive. The quality is great and I anticipate it lasting a long time! This particular stroller is also completely collapsible and compact for easy transportation. A few other great perks to getting this particular stroller is that the manufacture allows you to do a 30 day trial to ensure you’re happy with your purchase and a 2 year warranty!
Pack & Play • Guava Lotus Travel Crib
When looking for a pack and play, I found some reasonably priced ones, however, I was finding that many are treated with chemicals and fire retardants. I personally try to avoid as many chemicals and toxins as I can, especially knowing my precious little one will be using the particular items. With that said I went with Guava’s Lotus Travel Crib. Like the jogging stroller above, Guava offers a 30 day trial and a 2 year warranty on the Lotus too! Unlike many other pack and plays this one doesnt have a weight limit for your little ones since it sits directly on the ground. So, you can use it for quite awhile! There are a variety of packages with the Lotus, but the one I chose was the Everyday Essentials Set. This set includes the crib, mattress, an airport friendly backpack to store or transport it in, 100% organic cotton sheet for the mattress, and a shade for the top that’s rated SPF55! If you feel you don’t need the shade, they do offer the travel crib and backpack as a set for about $50 less. While this pack and play is a little pricy, it is worth it, has a variety of extras (if you choose), and comes with a money back guarantee.
All in all, there are many baby products available to you, you just need to weigh the pros and cons of each and choose whatever you feel is best for you and your family. These items are just what I chose for mine.
