The joys of being a first-time mom are plentiful, but I have to say, my favorite part has definitely been building out our dream registry.

Since we are minimalists at heart, we wanted to make sure we were maintaining a practical outlook on what we’d actually use and also ensure whatever we purchased wouldn’t pose a health risk to us or our little one. Just from the initial stages of research, it wasn’t hard to see how many baby products were made with terrible ingredients including known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, skin irritants, and asthmagens.

While this took many hours, this post encompasses mostly everything we were able to narrow down for our registry as first-time parents, and I hope you find it helpful as you think about your baby needs!

And as we continue to add to our own family and learn through product experimentation, I’ll come back to this post periodically to make updates. Feel free to share below what other non-toxic, minimalist products worked well for you and your family too!

TIP: If you’re looking for the best, universal baby registry as you browse this list, I highly recommend Babylist (they even have a browser extension that you can use that will allow you to easily Add to Babylist from any site!)

Bathing

When it comes to bath time, there are so many different products to choose from. We kept it to just the essentials because we know that baby’s don’t need excessive or daily bathing unless they’re actually dirty.

  • Boon Soak 3-Stage Bathtub: This is a convertible bathtub that will adapt as baby grows! It has no BPA, PVC or phthalates. The other options we explored included the Puj Infant Bath Tub and the Stokke Flexi Bath, but to be honest, we aren’t even sure how much we’re going to actually use a dedicated tub.
  • Organic Bamboo Bath Towels: There’s a ton of products out there like this, but choosing organic bamboo or cotton reassures us that baby isn’t exposed to synthetic or toxic materials via their skin. Plus, I love that we will have something that is the perfect size and function for baby’s body.
  • Dr. Bronners Unscented Castile Soap: This soap is biodegradable and safe for skin. All Dr. Bronner’s soaps are vegan, meaning they’re made with plant-based ingredients and are never tested on animals (check out their Leaping Bunny logo). We already trust and use Dr. Bronners for a lot of our other cleaning needs like upholstry, carpets, counters, floors, and bathrooms, but it’ll be nice to have an unscented option for baby-related items and bath time.

At this time, we aren’t really worried about “baby-specific” lotions or oils. If needed, we will opt for the extra shea butter, cocoa butter, or lanolin laying around the house, or order something from Earthley! We also aren’t buying any washcloths or bath toys (which are notorious for housing trapped moisture and thus, mold!). If you are in the market for other baby bath products, check out websites like Scandiborn and The Tot.

Bedding, Sleep, and Lounging

As we get to know our little one, bond, and establish a breastfeeding routine, it is important to keep her close to us during sleep time. In fact, we didn’t even set up a nursery, so that allowed us to keep things very simple. Here’s what we plan on using for sleep time:

  • SnuzPod Bedside Sleeper + Fitted Sheets : Okay, this thing is way cool. It will fit baby for up to 6 months and has very practical features including a base that allows for rocking or inclining for reflux, and a removable bassinet. The mattress itself is made with OEKO-Tex 100 certified materials, meaning it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals or substances. You can either use this as a standalone crib or affix it to your bed as a bedside sleeper using the provided straps.
  • Wearable Blankets/Sleep Bags: Since we are having a winter baby, and we needed something in place of blankets for safe sleep, we decided to get a few different wearable blankets to last her through the winter and spring. Since my hubby likes to keep the house a lot cooler than I usually feel comfortable with, I know baby is probably going to be pretty cold herself, so we got a few different tog options from Kyte Baby, Copper Pearl, and Spearmint Love.
  • Dock-A-Tot: We wanted this less for the non-toxic aspect, and more for the convenience and versatility of use. Not only can we use this as a comfy changing table, but it can also be used for naps, lounging, or play time.
  • Touchable Night Light: This small, touchable, and cordless nightlight will be perfect for middle of the night feedings and changes so we don’t have to turn on all the lights. It’s lightweight, super easy to operate (just a tap on the top of the light), and has a hook on the bottom so that it can hang.

Because we are trying something called the NOEL Method (which I’ll document in another post), the sleep section of our registry did not include common sleep or “container” products like pacifiers, bouncers, seats, or swaddles.

Breastfeeding/Feeding

Our goal is to breastfeed our baby for as long as possible, and I’m really excited about all the benefits breastfeeding has on the physical and emotional health for both me and her! Here are some of the breastfeeding essentials we plan on using:

  • Haakaa Manual Breast Pump: I am so excited that a product like this exists. There is no set up, no cords, and no noise. It’ll simply go on the side that I’m not nursing on and catch milk from there using suction! I also love that it’s made from high-quality food grade silicone and is BPA, PVC and phthalate-free. You’ll notice that there are a few options to choose from, and my dear sister was generous enough to gift us the one with the suction cup base and lid, so we literally don’t have to “cry over spilled milk”.
  • Spectra S1 Breast Pump: We were lucky enough to get this covered 100% by our insurance, so it didn’t actually go on the registry. But, it’s worth mentioning here if you need a solid, durable, and highly-rated breast pump. While I can’t speak to the efficacy of its function yet, there are many mamas on Amazon who can. This is perfect for me as someone who works from home and may be in calls while trying to pump. I did turn this thing on and its super quiet (at least for my standards).
  • Dr. Brown Glass Bottles: Even though the bottles that come with my breast pump are BPA-free, BPAs aren’t the only plastic-related toxic compound we are worried about. So, instead of taking the risk of any toxic chemicals from the plastic breast pump bottles leaching into my breast milk (like phthalates), we opted for glass bottles and these bottle adapters.
  • Organic Reusable Nursing Pads: For breast pads, I wanted something natural, reusable, and thus, more economical than the disposible pads. I am excited to see how these hold up versus reusable pads, but if I need those as backup, or I end up liking them better, I’ll opt for ones made with organic cotton.
  • Earthley Milk Flowin’ Salve: In the case of clogged milk ducts or for an unfortunate case of mastitis, this breast salve will help sooth soreness and keep milk flowing by promoting lymphatic health.
  • 4 oz Mason Jars: Instead of plastic or silicone bags, we plan on getting (and reusing) 4-6oz jars to store breast milk. While silicone itself isn’t a terrible option, I love how we can reuse the glass jars for far more than just breastmilk. Since we grow some of our own food, we can also use these to store jams, jellies, and minced garlic. We already are starting to reuse quart-sized jars to stock up on soups for baby’s arrival. If you’re super economical like us, don’t even bother adding these to your registry or purchasing them. Just start saving your old pasta and jelly jars now and look up videos on freezing food in them.
  • Nursing Bras: I learned my lesson to go high-quality on these. Although it’s hard to go non-toxic with a lot of nursing bras, I aimlessly bought a 3-pack of cheap polyester nursing bras for $20 and have spent weeks washing and re-washing them to get the chemical smell out. I still wouldn’t feel comfortable using them with the toxic stench that remains. Learn from me, cheaper isn’t always better, especially when it comes to something touching baby’s food source. So, I am excited to use brands like Bodily for their OEKO-Tex fabric, and Sweat + Milk which have nursing bras stylish enough to wear long-term.

When we decide to introduce solid foods, we will have these bibs on hand and will look for non-toxic and convertible high chairs like the Stokke Tripp Trapp.

Carriers/Wraps

  • Solly Wrap: For those days and nights that we will be lounging around the house, we wanted a wrap that would be flexible and comfortable for all-day wear while keeping baby close to us for comfort. This Solly Wrap is so soft and functional, and it’s versatile enough to be worn by my 6’7” husband and my short 5’1” self with ease.
  • Lille Baby Carrier: My hubby and I are really active. We love to hike, run, walk, bike, or do anything where we can be in nature. So, we also wanted something else that is quick to put on and take off, and would be durable enough for adventures. We chose this because of the amazing customer reviews that mention how breathable, comfortable, and simple this carrier is.

Carseats and Strollers

While safety was obviously paramount to us when choosing a car seat and stroller, we also realized how many of these products come with toxic flame retardants. One brand we quickly trusted was Nuna due to its high-quality standards for material safety and product durability:

  • Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat: Although this model isn’t stroller compatible (unlike their other models like the PIPA), and won’t be leaving the car, we love the versatility of this convertible carseat, as it comes with infant inserts, a reclinable base, and will last baby well into toddlerhood (up to 65lbs)! It seemed like the obvious choice for safety, function, and durability, especially since it has easy-to-clean materials free from toxic flame retardants and has many practical features like flip-open cup holders.
  • Nuna TAVO Stroller: While Nuna has several different adaptable strollers to choose from, we wanted one system that didn’t require separate parts, but would last baby throughout all sizes. While this is one of the more expensive strollers on the market, it has an incredibly sleek and sophisticated look with so many great features like an all-weather UPF 50+ canopy with a zipper window, a reclining backrest and adjustable calf support, and a removable infant insert. From the moment we opened it, we realized how lightweight and easy to operate this stroller was. Most of it’s functions can be executed with just one hand! But our favorite part is that it’s GREENGUARD GOLD certified, which is such a big deal. When a product is GREENGUARD GOLD certified, it means that it has met the strict standards for ensuring that it does not contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that many household-related products are notorius for emitting.

Clothes (Baby)

We wanted to make sure we had a few articles of clothing to get baby started on her “capsule wardrobe”. This included a few basic onesies, sleepers, gowns, socks, hats, and wearable blankets for each size (newborn, 0-3, 3-6, etc.). Most of the clothes we got were gender-neutral to use for future babies, but as a girl mom, you know I had to add a few bows!

Beyond preparing for the number of clothing items we would need, we wanted to ensure we really focused on quality. Most of the baby clothes we purchased were natural, GOTS-certified fabrics such as organic cotton, and not made with any synthetic or toxic fabrics that would off-gas or irritate the baby’s skin (polyester, acrylic, etc.). The only time I really felt comfortable compromising on this is if the fabric wouldn’t directly touch her.

We ended up finding a lot of high-quality brands that we are really happy with, including:

Another important note to add is that organic fabrics would be of no good if we came home and washed them in toxic laundry detergents. Luckily, we switched to non-toxic alternatives like Greenshield Organic Laundry Detergent way before we decided to start a family.

Clothes (Maternity and Nursing)

Because I thought it was awfully wasteful to replace my closet with clothing that only fit a very specific period of my life, I opted mostly for clothing items that were not necessarily marketed as “maternity clothes”, but were versatile and adaptable as my body changed:

  • Lululemon Align Leggings: Perhaps the holy grail of the pregnancy community, these leggings will last me throughout pre-pregnancy, mid-pregnancy, and postpartum. I already had 4 pairs prior to getting pregnant, so I didn’t have to add these to our registry, but if comfort and style is as important to you as they are to me, they are so worth the investment for pregnancy and beyond.
  • Belly Support Band: Although this doesn’t necessarily qualify as “clothes”, it is a wearable that got a lot of use. With this support band, I was able to alleviate some of my back and pelvic pain from SPD, and allowed me to keep walking 1-3 miles a day throughout the majority of my pregnancy. I mean, the 18,000+ reviews speak for themselves!
  • High-Waisted Cotton Underwear: Glamorous, I know. But, these cotton briefs are SO comfortable, and comfort is something you can never have enough of in pregnancy. They never felt too tight as I grew throughout my pregnancy and will be a great addition for postpartum too.
  • Nursing Sweatshirt: I am awfully grateful that the oversized look is “in” because this sweatshirt (which I got in a size large, even though I’m usually an XS/S) has been an absolutely perfect addition to my work-from-home pregnancy wardrobe that will transition beautifully for postpartum. While I’m not usually a fan of the “nursing-style” tops, this one has discrete zippers that are tucked away by your armpits and just look like the seam of the top.

When I really needed something pregnancy-specific, I would check out Mercari. There are so many women out there who realized their maternity clothes also sat in their closets untouched for 99% of their life. Using services like Poshmark and Mercari is what I would call a “win-win-win”: someone gets rid of their extra clothes and makes money, you get something gently used that fits at a great price, and in turn, fewer resources are being used to mass-produce minimally-worn clothes.

Diapering

As if it weren’t scary enough changing dirty baby diapers, most diapers have dozens (even hundreds) of chemicals that baby could be exposed to. Choosing non-toxic diapering products has been something we’ve been taking very seriously. We don’t want any chemicals or toxic materials coming in contact with any delicate area on her body, so we made sure to spend extra time doing our due diligence on the healthiest diaper-related products:

  • HealthyNest Organic Diapers: The only Environmental Working Group (EWG) approved diaper that is MadeSafe Certified. It uses organic cotton and FSC certified wood pulp on areas that touch baby’s skin, and has been made without over 2,000 other toxic materials. We are especially excited about these because they will be shipped directly to our house with their subscription service, so we never have to worry about running out in the dead of winter to get more diapers. We also considered (and would use) other non-toxic diaper brands including Bambo Nature and Parasol.
  • Gathre Micro+ Changing Mat: A leather mat that is free of toxins like PVC, phthalates, and lead. Their website says they are also CPSIA compliant, which means its tested for safety and hazardous materials. We love this mat because it will not only serve us for diaper changing time, but can be reused for other future purposes like a place mat for food. And since it’s made with leather, it’s going to be a breeze to take care of.
  • Earthley Herbal Baby Powder: Instead of using a toxic talc-based product like J&J Baby Powder (which, by the way, was a part of a cancer lawsuit), Earthley is made of nothing but powdered herbs. It can be used during changing or to help dry the baby’s cord.
  • Earthley Baby Balm: Like the baby powder, this salve is made with nothing but herbs to help with diaper rash. When it’s not being used for diaper rashes, it is also great for other areas of redness and irritation like scratches or dry skin (I’m actually really looking forward to using this on my dermatitis). Plus, with essential oils like lavendar, calendula, and chamomile, it smells amazing too!
  • Dr. Butler’s Organic Baby Wipes: Most baby wipes contain a heap of fragranced products and other toxic compounds not meant to be on a baby’s sensitive parts, but Dr. Butler’s is another brand that is EWG-certified because of its pure ingredients. Even better is that we can get these on Amazon and get them here within a day or two.
  • Diaper Caddy: Again, there are tons of products like this on the market and this was another minimalism-focused product. Since we live in a 2-story home with a basement (and fully utilize all three levels), having something I could easily pick up and take around the house or on-the-go was really important.

We will not be using auxiliary items like a wipe warmer, a diaper pail, or a changing table because they are one-use or minimally-used specialty items that just did not appeal to us when building our registry. This sounds silly, but a colleague of mine also recommended zip lock bags to “lock in” the smell of dirty baby diapers, so we will likely be using biodegradable zip locks or doggy bags to enclose the stink before we throw diapers in the trash.

Postpartum

Throughout my pregnancy, I have been extra careful to stay aware of my post-pregnancy and birth needs too. As someone who struggles with anxiety, being prepared for the potential challenges of the 4th trimester is definitely not something I am taking lightly. Here are some of the products I am stocking up on to ensure I am well taken care of once baby gets here:

  • Earthley Postpartum Balance Tincture: After baby comes, I plan to use this tincture daily to help control the postpartum bleeding, balance hormones, and support my mental health as my body gets back to normal.
  • Frida Mom Peri Bottle: Since post-birth can make you sore “down there”, this squeezable bottle will help keep things clean without having to wipe such a sensitive area.
  • Postpartum Pads: Like baby diapers, I don’t want anything toxic touching my delicate areas either. For the postpartum bleeding that occurs after birth, I wanted a few different chlorine-free, organic cotton options including Rael Disposible Underwear, Rael Overnight Pads, Natracare Pads with Wings, and some dedicated postpartum underwear. I’ll also be using some of these pads to prepare frozen “padcicles” for the few days following birth.
  • Earthley Herbal Soothing Bath: This will be perfect for a sitz bath or in my peri bottle to aid in postpartum healing. It’s made with nothing but organic herbs that encourage and promote the postpartum healing process like comfrey leaf, lavendar, yarrow, witch hazel, and calendula, without any artificial fragrances or ingredients.
  • Arnica Montana Homeopathy Medicine: Arnica is a homeopathic pain relief option that many mamas have sworn by in their postpartum healing journey. I want to have this on hand as an added option for pain relief and for the potential benefits it has on reducing postpartum bleeding. I also have this herbal pain potion tincture on hand for another pain relief option.

Safety and Babyproofing

I know without a doubt that I will be adding to this section in the future. In our house, we knew two things to be true: (1) we have stairs that will need blocked off eventually, and (2) we have hundreds of outlets. We still haven’t figured out the why behind number 2, but we knew we needed to block off the accessible ones. That being said, here are our picks for baby safety registry items:

  • Bink Outlet Covers: While I’m sure there are plenty of outlet plugs that could do the job, I do like that there are 24 that come in each of these packs, they’re made without toxic products like BPA, PVC, phthalates, and lead, and they actually look pretty good too.
  • Retractable Baby Gate: Whether we want to keep baby from the stairs or keep the dogs away from the baby, these gates are going to be such a practical safety addition for us. They can be hidden away with the retractable feature when not in use, or operated with one hand if we want to keep them closed.

Since we don’t have applicable experience with any baby safety products at this point in our journey, we are still open to other practical recommendations!

Toys and Playtime

We did not put a whole lot of focus into toys. We hear time and time again what babies are really drawn to are not toys, but real-life human objects like keys and cookware. However, fun and eye-catching objects can be fun for newborns and aid in development as they learn how to grab, roll, and use those growing muscles! Here’s what we added to our list:

  • Lovevery Play Gym: If we can help it, we’re going to have this girl doing tummy time from day 1. So to pique her interest and keep her comfortable, we added this play gym that is made with organic, non-toxic materials and comes with high-contrast images. No loud noises, no batteries, just a simple design made to aid in her development and growth.
  • Hugo Play Mat: It sounds silly, but this thing reminds me of a dog bed, but for kids! I love that you can use it for nearly all ages. It’s easy enough that you can simply pick it up and place it around the house and fold it in half if you need to tuck it away. It’s made with 100% cotton (or organic cotton if you get the eco color) and 100% natural latex foam. This would be a great alternative to the Dock-A-Tot, especially if you have several kids, or would rather have something a little larger.
  • Sophie La Giraffe Teether: We didn’t even know this existed until we received it as a gift from my husbands Aunt and Uncle, and we are so excited about this! Not only is it made with 100% natural rubber without phthalates or BPA, but the coloring is actually made from food paint! This is another one of those products where it’s clearly a solid product with the 11,000+ Amazon reviews. What makes this so amazing is that it was created to “awaken baby’s 5 senses” with bright spots, a squeaker, and a flexible design that baby can easily grab onto.

What else are you adding to your non-toxic baby registry? Share your favorite natural and safe products in the comments below!