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Beyond Cute and Cuddly: Sustainable Baby Gift Ideas with a Purpose
Updated: Dec 11, 2023
Hurray! A baby is born. At some point in your life, you will notice that the people around you will start having kids. Maybe you are one of them. When you have a baby your waste production might go up as well. What to give new parents that have a minimal environmental impact and is still useful? Today I share my best sustainable baby gift ideas.
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Grimms Wooden Toys
Wooden toys are much more sustainable than their plastic counterpart. It is much nicer to hold and it contains much fewer chemicals. Nowadays people are much more conscious about the pros of wooden toys and they are easier accessible. Make sure you buy toys that are certified safe. You don’t want wooden toys that are heavily treated with chemicals against fungi (this is often the case when you purchase directly from China as other countries have different regulation).
Reusable baby wipes
I love my cloth wipes. You can read more about it here. I use cloth baby wipes for lots of things. Not only when changing a diaper but also during/after a meal. We do baby led weaning (read here more about baby led weaning) so sometimes pasta sauce can be behind her ears and in her hair. I also use the wipes in the kitchen and I sometimes use them to dust. In short, you can't have enough cloth wipes because they can be used for everything.
Reusable swim diaper
Using cloth diapers is not for everyone. A reusable swim diaper is a lot less of a hassle so new moms are often much more open to it. Just like disposable swim diapers, they are available in multiple sizes or can be adjusted to size. They also have lots of super cute prints.
Baby showering glove
Bathing a baby can be fun but I enjoyed showering with my baby much more. A wet baby can be slippery. To have a better hold onto your baby while taking a shower, you can use a shower glove. This glove is made of cotton terry to have more grip on your baby. I liked showing with my baby much more compared to bathing and there is lots of skin to skin contact which we both liked.
Natural Rubber Bath toy
Bath toys are often made with plastic but this is not the most sustainable choice. Natural rubber is also a great choice for bath toys. Toys will end up in baby's mouth so it is best to choose something that is safe like these toys.
Babywearing wrap
Most babies are the happiest when they are very close to mom. To give mom her hands back, she could use a babywearing wrap. It takes a bit of practice but can be a lifesaver once you get the hang of it. Read here all about the advantages of wearing your baby.
BabyWearing Carrier
Is a wrap too much of a hassle due to the enormous amount of fabric? How about a baby carrier? A carrier is a great choice for mommies in a hurry or have multiple kids that also want attention while keeping the baby close as well. Be sure to choose an ergonomic one which is most comfortable for both you and your baby.
Wooden activity center
I have mentioned wooden toys before because I love them so much. This wooden activity center is no exception. Especially when your baby gets a little older and start to walk, this is great help for those first steps. But even before your kid reaches this age an activity center is great as it stimulates the senses in much more ways.
Natural rubber pacifier
Babies have a strong need to suck. A pacifier can be a solution. These are often made from synthetic material. These are completely made with natural rubber. This not only is much more sustainable in production, but it is also much safer as there are much fewer chemicals involved.
Natural Rubber Teether
Does the baby only chew on the pacifier? Maybe it is time for a teether. The teether is made with completely natural materials so safe to use around your baby. This teether was developed by a doctor to help provide relief from teething. This functional teether has an easy-to-grasp design so your little one can build motor grip skills as well.
Organic Cotton Drool bib
I don’t like giving baby clothes as this is subjective to taste. Babies also grow very fast and most parents already have bought baby clothing themselves or have received it. An organic cotton drool bib is not something they outgrow fast. They are great for babies who drool when they are teething for example.
Extra large muslin cloth
These are great as burp cloths. These are often made with cotton but there are also ones with bamboo. The latter are super soft and are great for drying your baby after bathing or for swaddling.
Organic Baby Rattle
This rattle is the perfect tool for encouraging your baby's development. Made from organic cotton, it's free from harmful chemicals. The crocheted surface is soft yet flexible, so it'll feel great on your baby's sore gums because it is easy to hold and chew, while the playful sound will keep baby curious!
Silicone Play and Food Mat
Eco-Gift Box
This EarthHero New Baby Gift Box has all the essentials a new mom need for any baby's critical first year of life. This box makes the most magical (and stressful) times in any parent's lives a little easier, and a LOT more sustainable. The assortment features products from several of their favorite baby brands, including reusable wipes, a cozy beanie, a natural rubber bath toy, a sweet organic cotton plushy, diaper balm, and baby wash.
Eco-Friendly Gift Box
If you still have no idea what to give a new mom, a pre-made gift box is a great idea. It saves you a lot of trouble finding thoughtful gift as everything is done for you. This box has a toy, a piece of clothing and a baby related essential. Technically this is a subscription box but you can order just one and have an amazing gift for mom and baby.
Giving new parents a useful gift can be a challenge. I hope this list of sustainably baby gifts gives you some gift-giving inspiration.
