When I was pregnant with Lyla, I did a toooon of research while putting together my baby registry. I did this for two reasons. First, it was fun looking at all of those adorable baby items. Second, I was attempting to keep things as “clean” as I could. Now, keeping things “clean” is a very broad statement. Some people go as far as using non-toxic paint and organic carpet or possibly buying 100% sustainable furniture and all organic clothing. We were on a budget folks, so as much as I would’ve loved to go all in, I had to pick and choose. I feel that most first time parents are probably somewhere in the middle like we were. You care about what you’re using and putting around your little one, but can’t afford to go all out green and frankly just “don’t want to” with cloth diapers. Here are my suggestions for those of you in that middle ground.
- Glass Baby Bottles. Plastic is a rare material in my kitchen. I de-plasticized everything many years before having kids. So, I knew glass baby bottles was the route I was in for. I have used this brand now for two babies (the same ones) and I haven’t had a single one break. These things have been launched from the high chair, dropped in the drive way, and tipped over by sleep-deprived parents hundreds of times, yet they still exist. Don’t hesitate on this one. P.S…I have made it now through two babes with only two of the large size bottles and five small ones.
- Clean Diapers & Wipes. Can everyone afford to buy the more expensive diapers? No. Could Tim and I afford them at the time? No. But, I prioritized and made it work. I got a bunch at the baby shower and I’ll never forget a dear friend mentioning how expensive they were. She was right. The key when you make this decision is to not even look at the cheaper brands and you will just get used to what you’re spending. Honest Company is great, but there are other clean brands as well. I often buy the Simple Truth diapers from Kroger. Bottom line: avoid diapers with chlorine, acrylic acid, phthalates, parabens, and bisphenols, fragrance and lotions, and formaldehyde-resin.
- Green Crib Mattress and Bassinet Mattress. This was another splurge for us, but I couldn’t ignore the issue at hand. Non-organic mattresses are sprayed down with flame retardant and other chemicals. Babies spend sooo much of the first of their little lives sleeping. I wanted to ensure they were recharging themselves for another big day of spitting up and crying versus inhaling toxic chemicals.
- Organic Bassinet Mattress Pad, Crib Sheets, & Bassinet Sheets. Once again, I knew this was where my kiddos head would be every night, every nap, for many years. When you’re looking at bang for your buck, this was worth it.
- Non-Toxic Teethers. Yes, babies put literally everything their little octopus arms can reach into their mouth. But when you are actively handing them something in which to slobber upon, look for food grade silicone or 100% natural rubber. Plastic is waaay overused in the baby arena, but there are some great alternatives when it comes to teethers.
- Baby Wash. We’ve tricked ourselves into thinking babies need to smell like something foreign to smell “good”. Babies smell great on their own….or they smell awful depending entirely on the current moment. They don’t need to smell like baby powder, lavender, honey, or a field of wild geese. Let it go. Give up this marketing scheme and do your research on how toxic synthetic fragrances are to us all. Unscented is best, but if you do go scented at least use a brand that is using unharmful ingredients. I love that doTERRA makes a wash scented only with 100% pure essential oils. Bookmark this one because once it’s back in stock, you’ll want to snag it up quickly!
- Organic Baby Food. If you can swing the extra dollars, go for the organic. It not only contains fewer pesticide residue, but typically comes in glass jars versus plastic. Also, the pouches are hugely popular. I’ve bought them, but they sort of weird me out. The biggest issue I have is that I don’t love the idea of my cutie’s food supply being shrink-wrapped in cheap plastic.
My goal as a mom is not to obsess…..goal in progress…..but simply make myself informed so as to make the best decisions possible. I can’t always afford organic, but I try to where it counts. Anyone else on the “less toxins the better” band wagon??
You can check out my entire baby registry here with my personal ratings on items: fab or flop.
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