Non-Toxic Baby: Creating a Healthy Environment for Our New Addition
When I found out I was pregnant, I got right to work in researching all things baby—which ultimately was a tad overwhelming, as I outlined here. But once I realized I didn’t need to plan out the whole pregnancy by week 5, I was able to think a bit clearer and set out a plan for what we would source for Baby K.
There are SO many options when it comes to baby stuff (like seriously, wow). So when I was setting out to source what we needed for our Tiny One, I knew my research needed to start with what I wanted to avoid and work backwards from there.
Disclaimer: Do not feel like you have to do all of these things to create a non-toxic lifestyle for your little. Everyone is on their own journey when it comes to a non-toxic lifestyle, in addition to working with their own budget. It would be a disservice to you to not disclose that we did receive some assistance when it comes to finances in order to make some of these purchases a reality. If we hadn’t, we would not have been able to purchase all of these things new. My advice would be to prioritize the places baby will spend the most time and focus on sourcing non-toxic pieces for that area. Another option is to shop second hand, which will allow time for off-gassing of chemicals and cut down on expenses.
What we are avoiding
Flame Retardants: Flame retardants have been used in many consumer and industrial products since the 1970s, to decrease the ability of materials to ignite. There is growing research showing that flame retardants can have a lot of negative impacts on our bodies: endocrine disruptors, thyroid disruption, immune system issues, reproductive issues, cancer and impacts to fetal and child development as well as neurological impacts. Most conventional fabrics and upholstery have added chemical flame retardants that are definitely not something we want around our little one!
VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds pose a risk to human health. These chemicals—formaldehyde being a big offender—are included in many products that then “off-gas” in your home for months and even years to come. When it comes to choosing products that are low VOC, there is a certification called “Greenguard Gold” that we looked for to ensure that we were not bringing in harmful chemicals into baby’s life.
Unnecessary Plastic: I have been trying to limit plastic in general. When it comes to baby, I don’t plan on buying many toys that are plastic, since they often end up in baby’s mouth. We also are conscious of plastic when it comes to feeding baby and have opted for glass and silicone alternatives.
Anything “Extra”: Here’s where things may get controversial. We are really limiting the amount of baby “containers” in our home. This means no swing, walkers, jumpers, bumbo chairs or anything that is meant to create an unnatural position for baby that is beyond their physical developmental stage at that time. Another disclaimer: While I’m doing my best to support baby’s natural development, I also knew I needed to be realistic. We do have a Baby Bjorn bouncer to have on hand for times when I feel overwhelmed, touched out or just need to be able to set baby down. I’m a first time mom and don’t want to be naive, but also don’t want to sacrifice baby’s neurological development for the sake of my convenience. I opted for the Baby Bjorn because it does not have flame retardants and offers a more ergonomically correct position for baby, opposed to other containers. For more information on baby neurological development and the impact of “containers”, visit On-Track Baby.
EMFs: We are trying to be really conscious of the EMFs (electromagnetic fields) that come along with new baby products on the market, because as there are a lot of unknown health risks that come from exposure to excess EMFs. Many “smart” products that use Bluetooth or WiFi increase exposure to EMFs. Products like Snoo, Owlet, electric swings, high-tech monitors, Hatch changing pad, Lumi (this one makes me cringe because it’s literally a device you attach to the diaper—attracting energy straight over baby’s reproductive organs. YIKES!), etc.
What we sourced for Baby
Sleep
Crib: West Elm x Pottery Barn Kids Mid-Century Crib. Truthfully, I almost didn’t link this because we did NOT purchase this from the store or pay full price. Quick story: this was my dream crib—like so far from reality dream. I had decided it made sense to look for a crib second-hand because there are SO many people getting rid of them. But after seeing this crib, I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. After months of looking on Facebook Marketplace for something second-hand that I liked, I found it: someone was selling the crib. Oh, and it was brand new in the box for half the price of it new. Unbelievable!
Anyways, we chose this crib because it is Greenguard Gold Certified, meaning it meets a higher standard for VOCs released from paints, stains, glue, etc. Other brands that meet this standard are DaVinci, Babyletto, Oeuf, other Pottery Barn styles, just for examples. If we wouldn’t have found our crib, I would have gone with one of these brands second-hand.
Crib Mattress: Naturepedic. Most people go pick out a cute outfit when they learn they’re pregnant. I went out and got a mattress. Lol—no really, that was the first purchase! If you plan to have baby sleep in their crib, the mattress is something they’re exposed to often. Many conventional mattresses are filled with flame retardants and other chemicals that off-gas in the home. With baby working hard to develop & grow, it was important that we limit these toxic chemicals in the mattress. But non-toxic mattresses are not cheap. So, I actually started looking for a second-hand option. It wasn’t long before I came across a gently used Naturepedic brand mattress for about 1/5 of the retail price! I chose Naturepedic because of their organic cotton fill, formaldehyde-free materials and being Greenguard Certified. Shopping second-hand is an amazing way to find good deals on high-price non-toxic items! You would be surprised how many people are selling these things, so don’t feel discouraged!
Sheets: Burt’s Bees. Super soft and super affordable, plus they come in so many cute prints for boys, girls and gender neutral prints.
Bassinet: Guava Lotus Infant Sleep Set. I originally wanted to go with Moses Basket + stand, but wanted something that could be used after baby outgrew it. The Guava Lotus bassinet fit the bill because it converts to a travel crib. We chose this particular brand and style because it is also Green Guard Gold certified.
Baby Lounger: Snuggle Me Organic. We chose this lounger opposed to the Dock-a-Tot because, as the name implies, it is made of organic cotton.
Transportation
Car Seat: Uppababy Mesa “Henry”. We chose to go with Uppababy because the “Henry” and “Jordan” style is made with Merino Wool. Why does that matter? Merino wool is naturally flame resistant, therefore, it passes federal safety standards without the use of fire retardant chemicals. Additionally, the wicking properties of Merino wool keep babies cool on hot days and warm on cool days.
Stroller: Uppababy Cruz. We chose the Uppababy Cruz because it was the same system as the car seat. However, this was a Facebook Marketplace find for us! I found it gently used—only used twice a week for two years with the woman’s granddaughter. Score!
Feeding
Nursing Pillow: Blessed Nest Nursing Pillow. I foresee baby and I spending a lot of time together on this pillow, so I wanted to make sure it was made with high quality ingredients without chemicals. The Blessed Nest pillow is made with 100% organic cotton for the cover and the filling is organic buckwheat. Buckwheat is very flexible for the filling, which I think will be helpful for molding with baby no matter where I’m sitting.
Breast Pump (manual): Haakaa Silicone “pump”. The haakaa is a silicone “pump” that you attach by suction to the breast that you’re not nursing on, to catch and draw out letdown.
Breast Pump (electric): Spectra S2. Honestly, I don’t know how much I’ll use this, but my insurance paid for it so I wasn’t going to say no! I chose the Spectra S2 over the Medela Freestyle because the Spectra has backflow protection, to reduce the amount of milk that gets stuck in the tubes that could cause bacteria to grow.
Bottles: Glass & Silicone. We haven’t sourced too many bottles, since I will be working from home, but I knew I wanted to have a few on hand. I also knew I didn’t want to use plastic. While all plastic is required to be BPA-free (which is pretty much just marketing, as all baby bottles are required to be BPA-free), I still didn’t like the idea of plastics leeching into the milk. We chose Lifefactory glass bottles, as well as the Haakaa silicone bottle. Another option that I’ll probably snag down the line is the Comotomo silicone bottle.
Breast Milk Storage: I really don’t love the idea of storing breast milk in the typical plastic bags, for a few reasons: 1) Leaching plastic into the milk. and 2) The fat in breast milk tends to cling to the plastic. Some people use glass mason jars for storage, but we don’t really have the room for it. As an alternative, my plan is to use food-grade silicone ice cube trays to freeze the milk in 1-2 oz portions and then transfer them to a freezer bag once they’re solid. If we end up doing something different, I will try to remember to update this!
Diapering
Cloth Diapers: We are going to attempt cloth diapering for a few reasons! 1) Cost effective in that they’re reusable and can even be used for the next child. 2) No added chemicals like in many disposable diapers. I haven’t created a full stash yet, but so far we have a set of Pocket Diapers from Nora’s Nursery because they’re fairly inexpensive.
Disposable: Our cloth diapers start to fit when baby is about 10lbs, so until baby fits we’ll be using disposables. When looking for diapers, I’m sourcing ones that are free of chlorine bleaching, phthalates, fragrances, etc. Not sure what brand will be best for us, but so far I’ve purchased Honest Company and the and Seventh Generation. The other brands I’ll be purchasing are Dyper and Andy Pandy, which are made from bamboo.
Toys
Natural Rubber Teethers: We honestly haven’t sourced a lot of toys. We are trying to keep things to a minimum (especially when baby is so little), keeping in mind that the baby will most likely gravitate towards every day objects that we interact with. The few toys we have sourced are made from natural rubber rather than plastic, because I want to avoid plastic going in baby’s mouth as much as possible!
Wooden Baby Gym: We got this wooden baby gym opposed to other playmats because it’s made of wood free of toxic materials, in addition because it’s very simple—no batteries, lights, sounds, or anything that might overstimulate baby. Also! It is less expensive than a lot of popular baby gyms.
Nursery Extras
Paint: Ecos Paint. Traditional paint is loaded with chemicals. In fact, that paint smell is more than just a smell, it’s full of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are harmful to our health. With ingredients like benzene and formaldehyde (carcinogens), VOCs are nothing to mess around with. And they’re not just a threat while it’s wet, research shows that these chemicals off-gas for over 3 years! If you’re being mindful to create a non-toxic space, don’t skimp when it comes to the paint!
Rug: Wool. We decided on a wool rug vs. polypropylene, which is the common synthetic material for rugs. If you recall, wool does not require flame retardants, where most synthetic materials have these added. I think this was like the cheapest wool rug on Overstock, so it may not be as high quality as some options, but it was relatively affordable for being wool!
Glider: Ok, so gliders/rocking chairs are really freaking expensive? Once I started looking at gliders that were Greenguard Gold Certified, I just realized it was not realistic for us to get something brand new on our budget, so we decided that we would get a chair second-hand to cut costs in this area. Plus, anything second hand will have already off-gassed. I found a glider on Facebook Marketplace & turns out it was listed by another Freedom Keeper!
Dresser: Ikea Hemnes Dresser. This is the dresser that everyone seems to own, but it was the perfect size & super affordable. Plus, it is actually made from solid pine, opposed to particleboard or MDF (medium-density fiberboard), which uses formaldehyde that off-gasses in your home down the line.
Sound Machine: Yogasleep Dohm. Nothing particularly “non-toxic” about this but I was on a roll with documenting everything! The cool thing about this sound machine is it uses a real fan, opposed to recorded sound.
Diaper Pail: Ubbi Steel Diaper pail. Even though our long-term plan is to cloth diaper, I still wanted a diaper pail to trap odors. One thing I liked about the Ubbi is that it’s made of steel that locks in odors (more-so than plastic) and it doesn’t require special bags.
Changing Pad: Bumbo Changing pad. We chose this changing pad because it doesn’t require a cover—saves money & time in cleaning.
Baby Hygiene
Diaper Balm: Earth Mama Organics. A lot of traditional diaper balms are filled with petroleum, parabens, artificial fragrances + other nasty ingredients. This Earth Mama Organics balm is made with high quality, organic ingredients that are still gentle enough for baby’s skin.
Baby Powder: Primally Pure. The most popular brand of baby powder has had a LOT of lawsuits come forward showing a link between talc & cancer. This baby powder by Primally Pure is talc-free, made with organic arrowroot powder and kaolin clay to absorb moisture.
Body Wash: Aleavia Body Cleanse. Baby’s really don’t need baths that often, aside from when big messes occur. Their skin is so delicate, as is their skin’s microbiome. For baby, we haven’t sourced a specific baby body wash and will just be using the Aleavia body cleanse, which is not actually soap, so it won’t strip baby’s skin.
Obviously, I don’t have a lot of experience as a mom yet at the time of writing this. But this is how I’m approaching the journey from a non-toxic and natural development perspective. It’s possible that I may make changes as we go along, but hopefully this list is helpful if you’re starting your research to get things for baby! Did I miss something? Have questions about any of these items? Let me know!