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Feb 25, 20237 min read

Non-Toxic Baby Registry

Updated: Sep 23




Hi Mama!

Here is your non-toxic baby registry. This is an evolving guide as I research and find new products for you and your baby.


If you are wondering why a non-toxic registry list is needed, there are some compelling reasons why it matters what we bring into our home. First, the United States safety regulation of products is how do I say…dismal. Everyday products are sold to us that contain chemicals we know are harmful or are potentially harmful. Over 40,000 chemicals are used every day in the industrial marketplace and less than 10% have been tested for safety.


We know that babies are the most vulnerable to chemical exposure and that long-term exposure and the build-up of these chemicals in their bodies can lead to lifelong health issues, including developmental and reproductive concerns, cancer, and more. Studies over the past ten years have shockingly shown hundreds of chemicals found in newborns' cord blood. One of the most persistent classes of chemicals that has been found over and over again in babies is flame retardants. Flame retardants are commonly found in baby products like car seats, strollers, and mattresses and in household items like furniture, upholstery, carpet etc.

Think of all the things that a baby comes into contact with daily. From what we put our baby in for clothing, sleeping, and playing. Think of everything in your home they touch and inevitably lick and put in their mouth – they are absorbing and ingesting countless ingredients. Many are harmless, some are not.

I created this list for you to make your life easier and to give you peace of mind. To save you time and money so that you can feel confident when registering that you are choosing options that are the safest on the market. If you would you like more help turning your home into a non-toxic haven, I have a room-by-room Healthy Home Guide.


I focused on sticking to the basics here of what I think is most important to focus on getting non-toxic. You will see common themes such as avoiding plastic whenever possible and opting for organic. I left off things like “car mirrors” that aren’t true necessities. You can find my complete registry list with “non-necessities” here.

I also left some things off of this list on purpose. For example, baby jumpers, walkers, and bouncers can hinder a baby’s physical development so I don’t recommend buying them in general – they take up a lot of space anyway ;).

There are many great brand options for some of the categories. If you don’t see a brand you know, it doesn’t mean it’s not a good option. It just means I tried to keep the list concise. You will see “Best option” Then I describe what to look for or avoid in each category so if you find a brand you like, you know how to assess if it’s a good option or not.

A big topic of concern right now is EMF’s (electromagnetic fields) and their effects of them on our health. It’s an in-depth topic and I’m currently working on a blog post about it. In general, you want to limit the amount of EMF’s in your baby’s nursery. That means not using wifi/bluetooth/smart devices that emit EMF’s like the Snoo Bassinet, Hatch Sound Machine, Owlet foot monitor etc. It’s tempting to use smart devices that allow us to extra monitor our baby but it’s not always in their best interest.

This list is meant to be a helpful resource and is not intended to cause stress. If you can’t get all of these, don’t worry. Prioritize what baby will be physically in contact with the most like the crib, mattress, bottle, car seat, and stroller.

When figuring out where to register, using a website like Babylist is a great idea to compile all your registries in one place. It not only allows you to import registries from popular registry sites like Amazon, Buy Buy Baby, and Pottery Barn but you can also add one-off items from any website. This is especially necessary when adding specialty non-toxic items.

xoxo, happy & healthy registering!

GEAR

Car Seats

Best Option: Car seats made without flame retardants and GreenGuard Gold Certified. These are currently the only options made without flame retardants


Stroller

Best Option: Stroller made without flame retardants, plastics that contain BPA, PVC, or phthalates

Lightweight, Compact, Full size: Britax B-Free, UppaBaby Vista and Cruz, Stokke, Bugaboo, Nuna

Carrier

Best option: Organic Cotton. Bamboo and Modal are okay but don’t come organic.

Wrap: K’Tan, Boba

Carriers – BabyBjorn, LILLIEbaby, Beco

Drool Pads - Ergo. This is a smart idea if you don't have an organic carrier so baby can suck, drool and chew on organic cotton.

Loungers

Best option: Organic Cotton


 

CLOTHING

Best option: 100% certified organic cotton. Look for GOTS or OTA certified.

Brands: Hanna Andersson, Monica & Andy, Burts Bees, Kate Quinn, Mini Mori, Carters (Little Planet is their specific organic line)

Sleeping Essentials

Best option: 100% certified organic cotton

Velcro Swaddles (Don’t mess with regular swaddles they are impossible): Happiest Baby, SwaddleMe Organic

Sleep Sacks: Halo, Kyte, Oliver & Rain


 

DIAPERS & WIPES

Disposable Diapers

Best option: Diapers free of latex, chlorine(look for total chlorine-free), fragrance, and lotions

Wipes

Best option: wipes free of parabens, phthalates, fragrance, essential oils and lotions. These are surprisingly hard to find super clean. There is some conflicting information with sodium benzoate mixing with citric acid, two common ingredients commonly found in “clean” diaper wipes.

Diaper Changing Pad

Best option: Pads free of PVC, Flame-Retardants, Phthalates

Diaper Changing Cover

Best option: 100% Certified organic cotton.

Diaper Cream

Best Options: Avoid petroleum products, parabens, BHA, and fragrances

Diaper Pail

Best Option: Stainless Steel. Note: Avoid fragrance lined diaper bags

Brands: Ubbi


 

NURSERY

Bedding

Best option: 100% certified Organic cotton

Waterproof cover: Naturepedic, PureGrace

Crib Bumper: Breathable Baby. A bumper isn’t completely necessary but if you do get one, it should be mesh.

Mattresses

Best option: Mattress made without flame retardants, GOTS/GOLS certified, polyurethane foam, synthetic materials

Crib & Furniture

Best option: Greenguard Gold certified. Look for untreated or safely treated solid wood (solid wood is the key word here) and furniture painted with Low VOC wood

Travel Crib: Lotus, BabyBjorn


I have an entire blog post dedicated to creating a non-toxic nursery here.

Sound Machine

Best option: plugin, Avoid all products that use Bluetooth or Wifi

Brands: Marpac

Baby Monitor

Best option: Analog and audio-only monitors. Look for low EMF monitors. Hard-wired is a good option too!



 

NURSING

Burp cloths

Best option: Organic Cotton

Bottles

Best option: Glass

Bottle Brush

Best option: Silicone

Brands: Innobaby

Milk Storage Bags

Best option: Silicone, Glass

Nursing Pads

Best option: Organic Cotton

Nursing Pillow

Best option: Organic Cotton


 

FEEDING

Pacifiers

Best Option: 100% Natural Rubber

Teethers

Best Option: Wood, 100% Natural Rubber, Silicone. Avoid PVC, Phthalates, BPA, Paint

High Chair

Best option: Made without plastics that contain BPA, PVC, or phthalates. Wood tends to be a safer option. P.S. One tip I learned from a Pediatric OT is to make sure there is a foot rest which is important for proper support for baby’s body positioning.

Utensils/Plates/Snack Containers/Storage

Best option: Wood, Bamboo, Silicone (Food grade), Stainless Steel, Glass. Avoid plastics and anything that contains BPA, PVC, or phthalates.

Bibs

Best option: Silicone (Food grade). Avoid PVC, Viny, Phthalates

Sippy Cups/Water Bottles

Best option: Glass or Stainless Steel

 

BATH

Bath Tub

Best option: Avoid BPA, PVC, and Phthalates

Brands: Puj, Primo Baby (This is big so make sure it fits your tub)

Sponges

Best option: Avoid plastic loofas, look for sea sponges

Towels

Best option: Organic cotton or bamboo

Washcloths

Best option: organic cotton or bamboo

Baby Soap & Skin Products

Best options: Avoid Fragrance, phthalates, parabens, PEG’s, Artificial Dyes, BPA, Petroleum


 

CLEANING

Laundry Detergent

Best option: Avoid fragrance, PEG’s, SLS, SLES, Dyes, 1,4-Dioxane, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Optical Brighteners, Phthalates, Parabens, Methylisothiazolinone,

Dish Soap

Best option: Avoid fragrance, PEG’s, SLS

All Purpose Cleaners

Best option: Avoid chlorine, QACs, artificial fragrances, Benzalkonium chloride, Didecyldimethylammonium chloride, C14 60%, C16 30%, C12 5%, C18 5%

All Purpose– Branch Basics, Puracy

On the Go Wipes – Handzies


 

TOYS

Best option: Wood, organic cotton, or natural rubber. Avoid plastic, PVC, and anything made in China.

Non-Toxic Toy Websites & Brands: HABA, Lovevery, Uncle Goose, Maisonette, The Tot, Hevea, Under the Nile

Play Mats: Ruggish, Toki Mat


 

FAVORITE WEBSITES

The Tot, Pottery Barn Kids, Crate & Barrel, and West Elm Kids all have a huge selection of low-tox items and in general, their products are very well made as well so they will last a long time. The Tot has everything you need for a bedroom and it's all low-tox!


OTHER ITEMS

Nursery Accessories

Diffuser: Ellia, RiteSune

Humidifier: Pure Enrichment

 

For Mama



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