An eco-friendly lifestyle can have many challenges for new parents. With children, you have less time, less energy, and less money to put towards sustainable products. But not to fear, these top eco baby trends and products make it easy for parents to live a green life.
Modern-day consumerism slips into our everyday life with ease. Buying stuff is not the problem, it is the nature of our constant desire to spend money on things we don’t need. We have become completely disconnected from our purchases.
According to Kooshoo, an ethical fashion brand, 12 million articles of baby clothing end up in the landfill each year! Which is not too shocking due to the speed babys can grow. A report from PN Newswire even documented an estimated 20 billion diapers that end up in our waste system every year!
Yes, babies do need a lot of items, so don’t fret if your registry list is getting overwhelming. The positive is that there is a sustainable option for almost every product.
Tuning into a more intuitive and ecologically based method of raising our children can help us begin to take steps to return to indigenous ways of life. One of the best eco baby trends you could ever follow is to raise your baby with nature. Seek to create a future generation that loves and cares for the planet and all its inhabitants.
Why eco baby trends and products are important
Eco baby products and trends are important because they are raising awareness for a more sustainable lifestyle.
Raising children can come with a lot of waste from diaper disposal, to outgrown clothing, to toys that are left unplayed with. Eco-products and trends help us face these sustainability issues and make well-informed choices on the products we invest in. These products and trends reduce our plastic usage. They protect our children from the consumption and usage of unknown and untested chemicals and help us better connect ourselves with natural living.
When you choose to live an eco-friendly lifestyle with your baby, you will be not only improving your baby’s life but also improving the planet for future generations.
19 eco baby trends
Raising children is a ton of work. It might seem daunting to take on eco living at the same time, but if you don’t get trapped in perfectionism, then you can make progress. Here’s how.
1. Eco-Friendly baby showers
Baby showers are a great way to gather your community in celebration and shower the momma to be in gifts. However, the event can become quite wasteful. To host an eco-friendly baby shower start by decorating with reusable or repurposed decor. Create an eco-aware gift list, request no wrapping or plastic packaging, and cook vegan or plant-based food and drinks for the reception.
2. Reusable cloth diapers
For the brave and passionate eco mommies and daddies that aren’t afraid of a little poop, reusable cloth diapers are great! Modern cloth diapers are much different than you’d imagine. You can find them in different cloths and cuts, snap button fastening, and the majority is washing machine friendly.
3. Biodegradable eco-friendly diapers
If you choose to opt-out for a more modern and convenient option to diapers, there are plenty of eco-friendly diaper decisions. These biodegradable diapers can be found in many health stores, and are made without the use of harmful chemicals.
4. Natural baby wipes
In terms of cleaning, parents' work is never done. From cleaning baby bottoms, sticky fingers, and snotty noses, natural baby wipes are the best purchase. Natural baby wipes are not only biodegradable making them great for the environment, but they’re also carefully formulated to be gentle on your child’s skin.
5. Non-toxic changing pads
Baby changing pads are an essential part of every nursery and every diaper bag, but can also be surprisingly filled with toxins. Non-toxic changing pads are free of harmful substances and durable.
6. Natural baby powder
Normal baby powder contains a harmful chemical called “talcum powder”. In small doses and when only applied to the skin, the natural chemical isn’t harmful, however many parents choose to avoid this product. Many turn to herbal cornstarch powders instead which function the same, but are intimately better for the baby and the environment.
7. Organic diaper cream
Diaper rash is inevitable, even with the most attentive parents. Classic diaper creams sold on the market are filled with inorganic chemicals that can cause damage to your child’s sensitive skin. Organic and all-natural diaper creams are made with non-toxic ingredients that will heal and soothe the skin.
8. Organic baby soaps
Keeping your baby healthy means regularly, but not obsessively cleaning their bodies. It is important to choose an organic soap that will not harm their delicate skin or burn their eyes. Organic and natural baby soaps are formulated to be gentle and cleansing without any harmful chemicals.
9. Second hand baby clothes
Dressing up your child in cute outfits is still an option with a sustainable lifestyle. You can organize clothing swaps with your friends, or take hand-me-down clothing. Why spend hundreds on clothes they will soon grow out of? If you are looking to buy specific items for your little one, always remember to check out your local thrift shop first! The second hand is always better!
10. Natural baby blankets and clothes
Turning away from materials like acrylic, polyester, and spandex are a great choice. These materials are not only bad for the environment but also poor choices for your baby. Instead, new parents can choose natural materials like hemp, cotton, or wool, like these blankets from the Good Trade.
11. Breastfeeding (if you can)
Many new parents turn to formulated milk for their babies for the sake of convenience and misleading information about the benefits of formulated milk. Breastfeeding is the most eco-friendly, healthy, and sustainable option. Your body provides all the exact vitamins your baby needs without plastic packaging. However, breastfeeding isn’t possible for all mothers for so many reasons, so if you can’t, that’s okay too.
12. Eco-friendly baby bottles
Eco-friendly baby bottles are quite easy to find, like these from Como Tomo. Silicone, glass, or stainless steel baby bottles have many benefits over plastic bottles. They are sustainably made with safe materials and long-lasting quality.
13. Organic baby food
Popular baby food brands like Gerber contain high amounts of toxic metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic. Companies offering organic and all-natural baby food have become lead competitors to big brands. For parents low on time, seeking convenient and healthy baby food, organic and all-natural baby food options can be found in almost all health food stores.
14. DIY baby food
One easy way to cut down on consumption while raising your baby is to give homemade baby food a try! You will be significantly cutting down on the use page of non-reusable packaging and also providing a healthy diet of whole foods for your child without the need for preserving chemicals. Homemade baby food is also very easy to make and store. All you need to do is purée some fruits and veggies, then store them in the fridge.
15. Eco-friendly baby crib
When picking a crib it’s important to be aware of the harmful chemicals used in many plastic cribs on the market. Luckily, there are plenty of hardwood cribs available made from bamboo or other sustainable and biodegradable material. This one from Modern Nursery converts from a crib to a toddler bed so it lasts longer too. Longevity is a major factor with eco living.
16. Natural rubber pacifiers
There is still a way to give your child a soother without turning to horrifying plastic pacifiers. Rubber pacifiers are 100% natural and do not contain chemical softeners, colorants, BPA, or parabens.
17. Eco-friendly and safe crib mattress
Like many other baby products on the market, crib mattresses are often very unsafe! When searching for a crib mattress find one that is MADE SAFE certified. This certifies it is not made with ingredients suspected to cause human health issues.
18. Plastic free toys
Not only is plastic dangerous for your children, but it’s also unsustainable for the environment. Whenever possible, try switching out plastic for wood or plushie toys. There is an abundance of companies making safe and non-toxic toys.
19. Shop small business
For anything you can’t reuse, repurpose, or get second hand the most sustainable option is to purchase from small businesses. Not only is this the most sustainable and economically friendly way to purchase baby items, but it also supports other families and their children. These small businesses can also offer a lot of aid and experience to your family
The easiest way to raise your child in an eco-friendly way is to try to remain aware of your waste and make simple changes for more sustainable products like the ones listed above!
