Non-Toxic Baby Swaps: Everything You Need Without The Harmful Chemicals
Swap out your toxin-laden baby products with safer non-toxic versions. I’ve found the best non-toxic baby swaps to help you create a healthy home environment for your little ones.
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Why Non-Toxic Swaps Matter
Back when my teenagers were newborns, it was a little harder to find non-toxic products for babies. Today there are so many amazing non-toxic baby products on the market, and it’s always a bonus when you can find products at several different price points, like organic cotton crib sheets.
Products marketed toward babies may contain toxic chemicals that can impact the health of your baby, and harmful chemicals in some products have been associated with hormone disruption, asthma, eczema and cancer.
Because babies are growing and developing exponentially, they are at greater risk of developing health issues when exposed to toxins. If you start making small non-toxic swaps around your home, before you know it, you and your family will be on the way to a healthier living space!
Additives & Materials To Avoid In Baby Products
Flame Retardants– These are found in most crib mattresses, strollers, car seats, high chairs and nursing pillows. Studies suggest that infants and toddlers have higher exposures to PBDEs compared to older children or adults.
Plastics– BPA and other endocrine-disrupting plasticizers are found in plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers and baby toys. It’s not just BPA we should worry about, since other plasticizers like endocrine-disrupting BPS often replace BPA.
Phthalates– Phthalates can be found in baby care products like lotion and baby wash, in laundry detergent and dryer sheets and in plastic packaging. Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can affect neurodevelopment in young children.
PFAS Chemicals– Before a baby is even born, they can be exposed to PFAS chemicals through cord blood. Any product that is advertised as stain resistant most likely contains PFAS chemicals. When it comes to babies, some of the health effects when exposed to PFAS chemicals include reduced antibody response to vaccines, negative effects on neuro-devlopmental and development.
Formaldehyde– Formaldehyde is a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), meaning that it can off-gas into the air. Formaldehyde can be found in some crib mattresses and bedding. Short-term exposure to formaldehyde is associated with watery, burning eyes, throat pain, nausea, difficulty breathing, coughing, asthma attacks, headaches, skin rashes and fatigue. Exposure to formaldehyde also raises your risk for cancer.
From non-toxic bathing products to organic pajamas to a flame retardant-free crib mattress to plastic-free pacifiers and bottles, I’ve found the best non-toxic baby essentials for newborns and beyond.
Looking for a baby shower gift? Check out our non-toxic baby shower gift guide.
Non-Toxic Bathroom Swaps For Babies
A good portion of children’s bath products claim to have safe and gentle formulas for babies and kids, yet a large number of these products contain ingredients that may be harmful to your child’s health. The EWG surveyed more than 3,300 parents and found that children are exposed to 27 different unsafe and harmful chemicals in body care products on a daily basis. Some of these chemicals are associated with health risks like nervous system damage, cancer and hormone disruption.
Swap out conventional baby products in the bathroom for these non-toxic baby products:
Carina Organics Baby Shampoo & Bodywash
Earth Mama Baby Lotion
Crystal Quest Bath Filter
Hevea Natural Rubber Ducky
Natemia Organic Hooded Baby Bath Towel
Clean and non-toxic bath products are a must for all babies and kids, and we’ve got recommendations for everything from bubble bath to shampoo to body wash.
Banish dry skin with non-toxic lotion for babies and kids and protect them from UV damage with non-toxic mineral sunscreen for kids. For babies and kids with skin rashes, non-toxic eczema treatments are a safe way to tame inflamed skin.
Non-Toxic Mealtime Swaps For Babies
When milk or baby food is heated in plastic bottles and plastic bowls, the plastic can leach harmful chemicals into the milk or food. There are plenty of safe, non-plastic mealtime options for babies that look cute on the table and won’t break if thrown.
Here are some simple non-toxic swaps for baby’s mealtime:
Evenflow Glass & Silicone Baby Bottle
Avanchy Stainless Steel Bowl With Suction
Avanchy Stainless Steel & Silicone Baby Spoon
Avanchy Silicone Training Cup
Beyond the kitchen table, make sure you’re using the safest non-toxic cookware, non-toxic bakeware and use plastic-free food storage. For baby snacks, toss your plastic storage in the trash and use stainless steel snack containers for a healthier snacktime.
Non-Toxic Diaper Swaps
Conventional diapers often contain chemicals such as chlorine, phthalates, fragrances, and dyes, which can be harmful when they come into contact with a baby’s skin. Look for non-toxic diapers that are free from these harmful chemicals. Using non-toxic diapers can provide parents with peace of mind, knowing that they are making choices that are safer for their baby’s health and for the environment.
Here are some of my favorite non-toxic diaper essentials:
Kinder by Nature Baby Wipes
Nest Diapers
Earth mama Organic Diaper Balm
EO Hand Sanitizer Gel
Naturepedic Organic Cotton Changing Pad
Non-Toxic Must-Haves For Baby
Using non-toxic products provides peace of mind, knowing that you are doing your best to provide a safe and healthy environment for your child. Everyday baby items like a car seat and a stroller may be coated in either or both flame retardants and PFAS chemicals. These chemicals can interfere with a baby’s development, leading to long-term health issues or developmental delays.
Swap out your conventional baby essentials for these non-toxic must-have baby items:
Bumbleride Stroller
Chicco Viaro Quick-Fold Stroller
Britax B-Safe Gen2 Infant Car Seat
Britax Emblem Convertible 3 Stage Car Seat
Beco Gemini Organic Baby Carrier
Bjorn Bliss Baby Bouncer
Non-Toxic Nursery Swaps
Babies spend a lot of time sleeping, and where they sleep matters. A mattress will emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, toluene, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), benzene, styrene-butadiene, trichloroethane, and perfluorocarbons, that “off-gas” into the air. EPA research has found that indoor air is 5 times more polluted than outside air, and your baby’s crib mattress could be contributing to the poor air quality in your home.
In order to create a healthier nursery environment without harmful chemicals off-gassing, there are a few swaps for a healthier bedroom for your baby.
Naturepedic Crib Mattresses
MakeMake Organics Crib Sheets
Naturepedic Organic Nursing Pillow
MakeMake Organics Play Mat
Tuck your baby to bed on an Organic Crib Mattress for a healthier sleep environment. Beyond the mattress, make the bed or crib with the cutest Organic crib sheets for babies. These pair perfectly with adorable and comfy Organic Cotton Pajamas For Baby.
Non-Toxic Baby Clothing Swaps
Why expose your baby to potentially harmful chemicals when you don’t need to? I recommend looking for organic cotton – the most environmentally-friendly, chemical residue-free option available. Choosing baby clothing made from sustainably grown organic cotton can help you protect the health of your baby, farm workers and our planet.
Some of my favorite organic clothing brands for babies:
Burt’s Bees
Primary
MakeMake Organics
Polarn O. Pyret
Put your baby to bed in the most adorable Organic Cotton Pajamas For Kids. And when it comes to heading outdoors, send your kiddo outside with PFAS-Free Rain Gear For Kids and PFAS-Free Winter Outerwear For Kids.
Non-Toxic Baby Soother Swaps
Any plastic baby soother or toy can leach harmful chemicals, including endocrine disruptors, especially if your baby puts them in their mouth. There are plenty of safe, non-plastic baby toy options for babies.
Here are some non-toxic soothers that babies love:
Hevea Natural Rubber Pacifier
MakeMake Organics Baby Blanket
Organic Cotton Bunny
Silicone Baby Teether
If you’re looking for toys for babies and kids, check out our Eco-friendly kids gifts and baby and kids gift guide, as well as our non-toxic baby shower gift guide.
Non-Toxic Cleaning Swaps
Babies are either lying on the floor or crawling a good amount of time each day. It’s so important to use cleaners that don’t contain harsh chemicals, especially around babies, since they’re developing and are more vulnerable to toxins. Your cleaning spray shouldn’t leave behind a harmful chemical residue, and it shouldn’t release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), an off-gassing of fumes produced by cleaning products.
A 2020 Canadian study found that chronic low-level exposure to cleaning products triggered asthma symptoms and caused chronic inflammation.
Here are some recommendations for baby-safe cleaning supplies (note- baby-safe does not mean that they can ingest it).
Force of Nature
Healthybaby Cleaning Concentrate
Aunt Fannie’s Vinegar Cleaning Wipes
Attitude Baby Laundry Detergent
Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater
Babies crawl all around on the floor, put their little faces close to the flooring, and even lick the floor, so it’s important to use Non-Toxic Kid-Safe Floor Cleaner. Dishes should be washed with Non-Toxic Dish Soap, and for the rest of the house, use a Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaning Spray that doesn’t contain endocrine-disrupting ingredients and Non-Toxic All-Purpose Bathroom Cleaner.
More Non-Toxic Baby Inspiration
