Expecting a new child is exciting but could be also overwhelming, especially if this is your first one. With so many baby products in the market and trying to figure out what's the most non-toxic product, making a baby registry could be stressful. I and my husband did not have a baby registry for our 1st child because we were unsure of what are necessary. We did not want to fill our spaces with things we do not need and eventually become wastes. However, I did regret not planning well before purchasing because a lot of the products we had were toxic. Therefore, for our second child, who will be here by the end of this year, we put more effort into researching non-toxic baby products and added them to our baby registry list.
Before I talk about what non-toxic and safer baby product options we recommend, I would like to start by sharing the chemicals or toxins to avoid and what to look for. It is important to learn that it is impossible to live a 100% toxin-free lifestyle in this toxic world. So, do your best on making changes to reduce your and your child's exposure to toxic substances.
WHAT TO AVOID
Plastics
Plastics contain a lot of harmful substances, such as phthalates, BPA, PVC, cadmium, heavy metals, and more. These substances could lead to serious health problems, such as hormonal-related cancer, infertility, and neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism and ADHD. Plastic is challenging to avoid living in this world, but you can start by opting for PVC-free and BPA-free, and never heat up your dish with a plastic container.
Flame Retardants
These chemicals can be found in car seats, strollers, mattresses, and even clothes. New furniture and new carpets are the largest sources of toxic off-gassing. Many of these chemicals have been associated with serious health problems, such as developmental issues in children, cancer, infertility, hormonal imbalances, etc. It is worth investing in a flame-retardant-free mattress, such as an organic futon mattress for your baby.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
These compounds are gases that are easily emitted into the air from a product. VOCs can lead to neurotoxicity, cancers, autoimmune diseases, infertility, etc. Lots of home products contain VOCs, including cleaners, paints, furniture, toys, air freshener, cosmetics, etc.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Materials
When you search for baby products, make sure you include some of the following keywords. For example, if you are looking for a bath toy, make sure you include "BPA-Free" in the search box.
Organic
Cotton
Linen
Stainless steel
Silicon
BPA-Free
PVC-Free
Certificates
Of course, most sellers are tricky, they know how to promote the products and would include some of the above keywords to their product listings. Therefore, the following certification would help you diffrentiate some of the high-quality products!
Greenguard Gold Certification
GOTS Certified Organic Cotton and Wool
Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex
MADE SAFE Certification
ALPHAPED'S NON-TOXIC BABY REGISTRY CHECKLIST
Carseats and Accessories
Infant Car Seat: UppaBaby Mesa, Clek (convertible), Nuna Rava (convertible)
Car Seat Mirror: Munchkin Brica 360
Portable Noise Machine: Baby Shusher
Strollers
Everyday Stroller: UppaBaby VISTA V-2, Bumbleride ERA
Jogging Stroller: BOB Revolution, Bumbleride Speed
Umbrella Stroller: UppaBaby G-LITE
Bedding
Crib: Babyletto
Lounger: Snuggle Me Organic
Crib Mattress: Avocado, Naturepedic, Savvy Baby
Crib Mattress Protector: Naturepedic Waterproof
Crib Sheets: Natemia, ADEN + ANAIS
Bassinet: Design Dua, BabyBay, Babyletto
Air Purifier: AirDoctor
Baby Gear and Accessories
Baby Carrier: K'tan, Solly, Ergobaby Embrace
Pack-N-Play: Guava Travel Crib, Nuna SENA
High Chair: Stokke Tripp Trapp
Table Chair: Inglesina
Bouncer: BabyBjorn Bouncer
Diapering
Changing Pad: Naturepedic Organic
Changing Pad Cover: Natemia
Cloth Diapers: Nora's Nursery, Grovia
Wet Wipes: Attitude, Pipette, Soothing Organic Baby
Dry Wipes: Whoopsie, Charlie Banana (Reusable)
Diaper Cream: Earth Mama, Weleda, coconut oil
Diaper Bag: Parker Baby, Freshly Picked, Fawn Design
Travel Changing Pad: Natemia
Feeding
Bottles: Lifefactory, Comotomo, Philips AVENT (Glass)
Milk Storage Bags: Zip Top
Burp Cloths: Milkbarn
Nursing Pillow: Nesting Pillow
Bottle Warmer: Kiinde Kozii
Electric Pump: Spectra,
Bath
Tub: Puj
Bath Toys: Scandiborn, Hevea
Towels: Natemia
Washcloths: Natemia
Baby Care & Others
Pacifier: Natursutten, Bibs
Nail Trimmers: FridaBaby
Baby Thermometer: Exergen
Nasal Aspirator: FridaBaby
Sleep Sacks: ADEN + ANAIS, Ergobaby, SwaddleMe
I hope this would ease some of your stress! This list will be updated from time to time. This checklist includes things you might possibly need in the first six months. Find what works for you while not overwhelming yourself and your home with baby products!
Comments