Our Favorite Eco-Friendly Infant Products

In honor of our impending addition, we wanted to spotlight some of the best baby products we've picked up in preparation. If you've got a little one, or have a relative or friend who does, here are some fantastic eco-conscious gifts and goodies that could be perfect for baby.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on September 02 2009

As you may or may not be aware, Gimundo is a family-owned and -operated site. I write the stories you read here every day (with occasional help from content partners and freelance contributors), and my husband Jeff designed the site and prepares the images every day. My mother even chips in occasionally with some cool video links she’s stumbled across (thanks, Mom!). And any day now, we’ll be adding a new member to the Gimundo family—though we’re not so sure how productive our new employee will be (at least for a few years or so).

Anyway, in honor of our impending addition, we wanted to spotlight some of the best baby products we’ve picked up in preparation. If you’ve got a little one, or have a relative or friend who does, here are some fantastic eco-conscious gifts and goodies that could be perfect for baby.

As most parents know (and we’ve been well warned), babies like to be held. A lot. So if you’d like to retain the use of your arms for any other purpose, you may just want to pick up a hands-free baby carrier. We’ve selected an organic Sleepy Wrap, which will give our baby a comfy, womb-like spot to hang out while I’m working or doing errands around the house, and is fully adjustable, so that I can modify her position as she grows. The Sleepy Wrap comes in a variety of colors and styles, so why not pick up one for dad, too? If you’re still not sure about the whole babywearing thing, check out this great post on the topic from our friends at EcoSalon.

We found out a few months ago that we’re having a girl. Of course, we’re thrilled—but we’re not so impressed by the fact that baby girl clothing seems to be limited entirely to various shades of pink and purple. Luckily, we’ve found a few adorable and sustainable stylish alternatives, such as the beautiful organic bamboo layette gowns from the mom-created organic clothing company Kicky Pants, which are available in vivid colors like moss and orchid, and are (fittingly) as soft as a baby’s bottom; and the super-cute “I’ll Change the World Someday” organic cotton onesie from Funky Green Machine featured in this week’s subscriber giveaway.

We know she won’t be walking for quite some time, but we don’t want to send her out into the world barefoot, so we’ve also picked up some adorable Weebit and Weegee baby shoes from Simple Shoes, which include recycled material like car tires, plastic bottles, and carpet padding, in addition to organic cotton, and are decorated with ladybugs and other cute animals. Check out their baby line for teensy feet, or see their entire eco-friendly collection for children and adults of all ages.

Of course, baby’s body needs some TLC, too—and to that end, we’ve picked up a range of natural skincare products from Shaklee Baby, including their diaper cream, soothing lotion, and massage oil (which, while it may be intended for babies, is also fantastic when it comes to soothing a pregnant woman’s aching back). Shaklee also offers a wide variety of natural products for adult health, including green skin care and cleaning products. Take a look at their offerings here.

As far as toys go, infants don’t need much to entertain themselves, but we’ve come across a cool plaything that does triple duty: the Zoobie. These adorable stuffed animals can be converted into both a soft pillow and a cozy blanket—a perfect friend to cuddle with in the crib, once baby’s old enough. Zoobie’s toys are listed on the Green Parents list, so we can rest assured that there aren’t any toxic chemicals likely to damage our little one. Check out the veritable safari of Zoobies available here—their organic line will be available soon as well, so keep an eye out for that.

We’ve done all the research we can on finding the best quality products for our baby, but of course, the real verdict isn’t in quite yet—but we’re betting our little one will be thrilled with all her eco-goodies. We’ll just have to hold out for her review. (Infants can type, right?)

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