You’ve swapped the diapers, wipes, and baby shampoo, but what about the play mat or the crib mattress? Unfortunately it’s so easy to overlook toxic products in your home or on your registry. I thought I had it all covered at first too, only to discover that there were tons of non-toxic baby products I hadn’t considered at all.
This post is all about the non-toxic baby products that are easy to forget, why to avoid them, what to look for instead, and products we recommend!
This post contains affiliate links.
Non-Toxic Baby Products
Why Buying Non-Toxic Baby Products Matters
When I had my first baby, I had absolutely no idea how many different harmful chemicals and toxins were all through the baby products in our house. As I’ve learned more and more I am shocked and honestly disgusted by what people are putting into baby products.
So, slowly but surely we have been learning about and replacing the toxic items we had originally purchased. It’s all about small manageable changes, not a total overhaul of all the baby items in your house.
Your FREE Cheat Sheet
Whether you’ve been purchasing non-toxic baby products for a while now or this is the very first time it’s crossed your mind, the terms and certifications are overwhelming. I still struggle to remember them. So, I’ve created a free printable chart of common toxic chemicals in baby products, what you might find them in, and why they are harmful for your baby. As a bonus, I’ve also included the different certification labels you might find on non-toxic items and what they mean. You can download one for FREE by going to my free printables page.
1. Play Mats
I recently went to buy a playmat for my kids’ bedroom and couldn’t believe that many of the mats were full of PVC, formamide (banned for puzzle mats in other places but not in the U.S.), flame retardants, dyes, or toxic glues.
A safe but not insanely expensive non-toxic option for play mats is non toxic formamide free EVA foam play mats. We have the Play Platoon Puzzle Mat and absolutely love it. It’s free from BPAs, pthatlates, lead, and PVC but it is still water resistant and extremely durable.
But if you choose to shop around look for something marked GREENGOLD CERTIFIED and/or marked BPA free, phthalate free, formamide free, and PVC free.
2. Baby Bottles
When it comes to plastic baby products, bottles are one of the most important to swap since they are used multiple times a day and have warm milk or formula in them which increases chemical leaching. And even if baby bottles are marked BPA free, they can still have tons of other harmful chemicals in them. So, glass is the best option.
If you already own a certain brand of bottles, check if your brand has a comparable glass version. For example, I already owned MAM plastic bottles and when I switched to the MAM glass bottles I didn’t have to replace all the different sized nipples that went along with it. I know Dr. Brown has really nice glass bottles that even comes with a silicone sleeve.
3. Pacifiers
Some pacifier nipples contain synthetic rubber (aka latex) that can contain nitrosamines that are potential carcinogens. So, you’ll want to look for pacifiers that contain natural rubber or food grade silicone.
The plastic shield on some pacifiers can be made of plastic that contains BPA, BPS, or phthalates and some may even have decorations that contain lead, heavy metals, or paints. In order to avoid this you may want to consider fully silicone/natural rubber pacifiers or look for one that discloses it is free from BPA, BPS, and phthalates.
A few brands you might want to look at are Natursutten, Hevea, and Mushie.
4. Nursing Pillow
Some nursing pillows have foam inserts or polyester fillings that are treated with flame retardants. Others use PVC for waterproofing or stain resistance. And if that wasn’t bad enough, many pillows also are made of synthetic fabrics that contain formaldehyde or toxic dyes.
To remedy this, you’ll want to look for a nursing pillow that is filled with organic cotton, wool filling, or a OEKO-TEX certified polyester fill and has either an organic cotton cover or an OEKO-TEX certified cover.
I personally own the Snuggle Me Organic nursing pillow which is a crescent shaped nursing pillow. If you want a different shape, I recommend looking at Holy Lamb Organics or Naturepedic.
5. Sound Machines/Night Lights with EMF Exposure
Any bluetooth enabled device will give off low-level EMFs (electromagnetic fields). While there isn’t scientific evidence that this level of EMF exposure will cause harm, it is smart to take precautions. So, if you choose a bluetooth night light, just make sure you place them on the other side of the room rather than right next to your child’s head.
I personally own a Hatch Rest and we have been very happy with it. It doesn’t constantly stream or sync data but instead has an intermittent low signal. We still like to keep ours on the other end of the bedroom just in case.
If you prefer to just get a stand alone sound machine, we are going on four years with this sound machine and our kids have really liked the sound options on this one. It’s been a great option for travel because it’s small and can be either battery powered or plugged in. We like to keep batteries in it so when we go to leave the house for a trip we can simply unplug it and throw it in our bags.
6. Plates & Utensils
Anything that your kids are eating off of, eating with, or drinking out of should be at the top of the priorities list to replace. Even though many kids products are labeled as BPA-free, that doesn’t mean they don’t have BPS or BPF that also are hormone disrupters. Plus, as plastic plates and utensils get wear and tear, they can release tiny particles and your children will be ingesting microplastics with every meal. And since plastic breaks down easily when heated by warm food or washing in the dishwasher, you are breaking down the plate and also leaching chemicals out of the plate.
While bamboo may seem like a good option, many bamboo products are combined with a plastic resin to mold it into its shape. This plastic can still leach into your child’s food. So, if you go the bamboo route make sure that you find a solid bamboo option, which will likely look just like wood.
Alternatively, I highly recommend either stainless steel plates or these divided Elk and Friends Porcelain Plates with Silicone Sleeves (they even come with a silicone lid which is perfect for the many meals you toddler inevitably leaves food behind).
And when it comes to utensils, simply buy a few smaller pieces of stainless steel silverware that are kid sized. We have used KiddoBloom stainless steel sets since our first baby was born and they are sized absolutely perfectly for little hands. We have both the baby sized set and the kids sized set. The inclusion of a stainless steel spreader with the baby set and a small butter knife in the kids set made for a super easy transition to using knives as well.
7. Water Bottles & Cups
When it comes to non-toxic baby products and kid products, water bottles are something that is very easy to overlook. You might get caught up in getting your kids a super cute water bottle and forget that the thing they are drinking out of all day every day is highly important to make non-toxic.
Luckily, this is a pretty simple switch. Just grab stainless steel water bottles and glass or stainless steel cups. And don’t worry, plenty of brands still have adorable designs and patterns. My daughter is currently loving her stainless steel cat sippy cup and my son is obsessed with his stainless steel monster truck water bottle.
8. Crib Mattress & Sheets
One you swap out what your kids are eating/drinking out of and their clothes, what they sleep on is the next most important thing. This includes both the mattress and sheets.
As wild as it sounds (and is) many crib mattresses are actually filled with toxins such as flame retardants, PVC for waterproofing, and polyurethane foam that is made from petroleum based chemicals. Then the sheets are often made of polyester, which is really just another form of plastic.
To avoid these toxins, you’ll want to look for safer certifications such as GOTS, Greenguard Gold, or Made Safe. Make sure that whatever mattress you choose is made up of organic cotton, natural wool (natural flame retardant), natural latex, and polyethylene food-grade waterproofing. Some brands you may want to look into include Naturepedic and Newton Baby. However, if you are on a budget, Safety First heavenly Dreams Mattress is a budget option that while isn’t perfect is still Greenguard Gold certified.
For sheets, you’ll want to look for sheets that are 100% organic cotton and avoid vibrant colors unless they’re oeko-tex or GOTS certified with plant based dyes. You’ll also want to look for sheets labeled, “no chemical softeners,” “no flame retardants,” or “no wrinkle-resistant treatment.”Burts Bees Baby has very affordable, GOTS certified crib sheets that come in absolutely adorable patterns. As a bonus they are extremely durable too. Ours are still going strong two kids later.
9. Car Seats and Stroller
When I started my non-toxic journey, it didn’t even cross my mind that my kids’ car seats and strollers could have chemicals on them. But, many car seats and strollers have flame retardants on them PFAS coatings (Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) that are used for water and stain resistance in fabrics. These two together can cause thyroid issues, hormone disruption, developmental issues, and immune suppression. And on top of these two, some car seats and strollers will also contain PVC, Phthalates, and heavy metals like lead or arsenic.
So, when you do your car seat and stroller shopping, look for car seats that are FR-free, PFAS-free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free. A few brands to consider for car seats are UPPAbaby, Clek, and Nuna. And for strollers, Bumbleride and Nuna.
10. High Chair
Most high chairs are made of plastic and contain PVC, BPA, and BPS. Many cushioned high chairs have foam padding with flame retardants or phthalates in them that are associated with neurodevelopmental issues.. And even the wooden high chairs can have formaldehyde in them which is a known carcinogen.
To avoid toxic materials in your high chair, look for solid wood (not composite), BPA/BPS free, stainless steel or aluminum, and cushions that are made or cotton, organic fabric, or food-grade silicone.
Some common brands for safer high chairs are the Stokke Tripp Trapp chair and the Abiie Beyond Junior Wooden High Chair. But if you’ve already purchased a high chair or can’t afford the sometimes high price tag of a wooden one, try finding a silicone placemat on their tray to avoid placing food on any potentially harmful chemicals. It’s not a perfect solution, but it will definitely help
11. Breastmilk Storage
It took me until now, pregnant with my third, to realize that I’ve been pumping warm breast milk into plastic bottles and plastic bags and then freezing them in plastic trays or bags. Plus, both the warm breast milk and the frequent dishwashing encourage the leaching of chemicals.
You can solve all of this with 4 oz. glass breast milk collection bottles to use with your electric pump and a silicone breast milk storage tray. Once frozen, you can move the breast milk to plastic bags with very little risk or you can choose to store in the container of your choosing.
12. Baby Monitor
Not only do you want to avoid wifi monitors for the safety of your child, but you’ll also want to find a monitor with low EMF emissions. You can accomplish this by choosing an audio monitor, which typically has far less EMF emission, or you can purchase a monitor that is designed to minimize EMF exposure. There are actually plenty of budget options that do this, including this VTech baby monitor for under $50.
But whether you are looking to purchase a monitor or have already purchased one, you can reduce EMF exposure by keeping the monitor at least 6 feet from the crib and making sure it gets turned off when it’s not being used.
13. Teethers
It hit me just recently that I hadn’t even thought about our large collection of teethers when it came to replacing the toxic baby items in our house. My daughter was playing with a filled teether when it burst open and made me wonder not only what was inside but what the outside was made of too.
Since your baby will likely be going to town chewing on those teethers, it’s important to find ones that are food-grade materials free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, and lead. Choosing 100% natural rubber is a great option as long as your baby doesn’t have a latex allergy. You’ll also want to avoid any colored plastics or teethers with gel inside.
I just purged all my filled and colored teethers and am personally super excited to order this natural rubber one for my baby!
How to Not Break the Bank Going Non-Toxic
I know first hand how overwhelming it is to try to go non-toxic with kids, especially if you are having to replace items rather than starting from scratch. I personally didn’t know about all the toxins in baby products when I made my registry and a little while later found myself trying to find ways to replace all those items without completely breaking the bank. So, here are my thoughts since starting my non-tox journey.
Prioritize What Matters Most
Whether you are replacing items or purchasing for your first child, non-toxic items tend to be a whole lot more expensive. So, instead of stressing that you can’t do it all, prioritize what matters most. Think of things that are in frequent contact with your baby’s skin or things that they use to eat/drink.
Choose a Better Alternative When Replacing
As I mentioned earlier, we started our non-toxic journey after our first baby and we were stuck between the knowledge of the toxins we had around us and the financial inability to replace them all at once. So, we replaced the things we felt had to be replaced immediately and since then have chosen to replace things as needed. So, when I bought my kids a new play mat, I was aware of what was inside and chose a better alternative. Or when I buy my kids clothes, I try to buy organic cotton. But, that doesn’t mean I threw away their entire wardrobe first.
Choose small but manageable changes as you replace items along the way and know that every small change is making a difference. This will make switching to non-toxic baby products feel far less overwhelming and far more doable.
Buy in Bulk or Any Sale Opportunity
If you are buying non-toxic disposable items like diapers and wipes, I strongly recommend you buy any time you see a good deal.
Cut Costs Wherever You Can
For me, this whole non toxic journey actually began when I started using cloth diapers in an attempt to save some money. So, while there is some upfront cost, there are some non-toxic switches that will actually save you money. Try to make those ones first. I think you’ll be genuinely surprised at how much and how quickly you save money, especially with cloth diapers. Read here about just how much you’d save on cloth diapers based on what brand you are currently using.
Embrace Minimalism
While you may not be able to afford to replace every single toy you have in your house or every single plate/cup, consider shifting your mindset to fewer but higher quality items. Have less toys that are better quality, have only two or three bottles that are glass instead of buying tons of plastic ones. Go for one nice organic cotton blanket instead of having 10 lying around that never get used anyways.
This post was all about helping you identify the most important non-toxic baby products for you and your family and also helping you find affordable products to make the non-toxic life feel more doable. I hope this post leaves you encouraged and excited because any small steps you make towards a non-toxic life make a big difference. Remember that replacing even one or two of these items makes a huge difference. You can’t eliminate toxins completely but limiting your family’s exposure is highly valuable and a choice you won’t regret. So, make small, manageable changes as you can and know how much of a difference they are making.
-Beautifully Busy Mom
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Meet the Author
This post was written by Monica, a former teacher turned stay at home mom. After feeling very lonely at the beginning of her motherhood journey, she started this blog in hopes that other moms wouldn’t feel the way she felt. So, this blog is filled with free resources and fun activities so that you can enjoy the beautiful chaos that is motherhood. Let’s be friends 🙂
