First of all, you don’t need to be a vegan or vegetarian or all-organic kind of person, to say that you care about the planet earth. There are certainly other ways. If you care about the environment now, you will think about it more once you have your little bundle of joy. You want to make a healthy space for them – clean surrounding, fresh air and just about everything being safe.
Fact is, your choice of baby clothes for one or baby bottles or bassinet can actually impact the environment, and in turn your little bundle. So you would want to think about the stuff you’ll need for your baby – the right stuff that are environmentally safe and safe for the baby as well.
And you would want to consider that when you come up with your baby shower gift registry. I know it can be pretty overwhelming putting up the registry, it’s your first time to be a parent, so that is normal. But, it can be even more overwhelming now that you have to make sure you’re putting items in the registry that are eco-friendly. Well not to worry, here’s a guide to help you curate your environmentally-friendly baby shower gift registry.
1. Baby Clothes, Sheets, and Swaddles
In case you don’t know, a baby’s skin is actually 30% thinner than a normal adult skin. This means that their skin is really delicate and sensitive, and therefore they are vulnerable to absorbing harmful chemicals that may be sprayed on non-organic fabrics or textiles.
So when you are registering for baby wears, make sure to include details that they are made from organic fibers or fabrics. It is best to pick the items that are “GOTS Certified Organic Cotton” which means that the item is made from a fabric that is atleast 95% organic fiber. Meaning, the item meets the highest standards as far as being earth-friendly and safe is concerned.
In addition, organic fibers are also super breathable, which then helps make your baby feel cool, whether they are wearing onesies or jumpsuits or those cute pajamas with their socks and hats.
2. Baby Bottles
Well, you can find a lot of plastic baby bottles that are labelled “BPA Free” – meaning they are free of industrial chemicals that are used to make certain plastics of which these chemicals are hormone disruptors.
But, recent studies show that these plastic baby bottles, although free of BPA also contain microscopic plastic particles. Although scientists are not yet certain of its impact on baby’s health, but two things are for sure: plastic bottles are not the most eco-friendly choice, and it’s “plastic.”
So when you’re registering for baby bottles, choose glass or stainless steel baby bottles instead. The good thing is that these days, there are a lot of ligher options of these kind of material, and they also come with silicone sleeves.
3. Skin Care Products
Because the baby’s skin is super delicate and sensitive and are vulnerable to harmful chemicals, you need to be careful in choosing skin care prosucts: shampoo, bath soaps, lotions, baby wipes and others.
Make sure you include in the registry that these skin care products are chemical-free. Plus, it is best to pick products that are fragrance-free, phthalate and paraben-free, and made with simple imgredients.
4. Toys and Decorations
There are a lot of really cute and bright-colored plactic toys in the market that will surely catch your baby’s attention and keep them entertained. Although, plastic toys are durable and washable, they are not eco-friendly for reasons we mentioned above about plastic baby bottles.
Studies also show that plastic toys contain more than 100 chemicals, all of which are harmful to your child. Plus, plastics stick around for eons and only contribute to further harming mother earth.
So register toys and decors that are made of natural materials, like wooden toys or organic stuffed animals and sorts.
There are certainly other items in your gift registry that also need to be eco-friendly as well. But, these are some of the most essential baby items. They are the most used of the baby items – clothes for instance are worn by the baby all the time, so you want to make sure that on top of comfort, the material they are waering is safe.
It is generally okay to include details in your baby registry – informing your guests to choose the items are made from organic, chemical-free materials, and that they are safe and earth-friendly.