Published on November 21, 2024

Our Recommended Non-Toxic Baby and Nursery Products

by Ronit Menashe & Vida Delrahim

Young child playing with toys on a soft rug in a cozy nursery, showcasing WeNatal's commitment to safe and sustainable baby products.

WeNatal’s Guide to a Non-Toxic Nursery

Preparing a nursery is one of the most exciting parts of welcoming a new baby, but it can also feel overwhelming—especially when trying to choose non-toxic options. With baby registries, though, we’ve learned that less is more. It's easy to think your baby will need countless products, but ultimately, all they need is *you*.

And remember, each baby is unique! My first, Eden, wasn’t a fan of the stroller, crib, or car seat, while my second, Emma, loved them all. So rather than focusing on everything you could add, we’ve created a list of our favorite non-toxic essentials to help you provide a clean, safe environment for your little one without the extras.

To get started, here are some essential tips and considerations for achieving a non-toxic nursery environment:

1. Select Non-Toxic Furniture and Decor:

Choose cribs, changing tables, and other nursery furniture made from solid wood or non-toxic materials. Avoid furniture with particleboard or MDF, which can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Opt for non-toxic paint and finishes for the nursery walls and furniture. Look for low-VOC or VOC-free paints.
Decorate with non-toxic fabrics for curtains, bedding, and upholstery. Organic cotton and wool are good choices.

2. Flooring Options:

Consider natural flooring options like hardwood, cork, or bamboo. These are more eco-friendly and emit fewer chemicals than wall-to-wall carpeting.

3. Greenguard Gold Certified Products:

Look for Greenguard Gold certified products for cribs, mattresses, and other nursery items. This certification ensures that the products have low chemical emissions, reducing your baby's exposure to harmful substances.

4. Avoid Flame Retardants and PFAS:

Check labels for car seats, strollers, and other baby gear to ensure they are free from flame-retardant chemicals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals can be harmful and are best avoided.

5. Organic Bedding and Mattress:

Invest in an organic crib mattress and bedding to minimize exposure to chemicals often found in conventional mattresses and bedding materials.

6. Air Purification:

Consider using an air purifier with a HEPA filter in the nursery to remove airborne contaminants and allergens.

7. Declutter and Simplify:

Remember, you don't need as much as you might think. Simplify the nursery by keeping only the essentials to reduce the potential for clutter and unnecessary exposure to items with chemicals.

Remember that while it may seem overwhelming at first, taking these steps will give you peace of mind and contribute to your baby's well-being.

Here are some of our favorites that we have used throughout the years. Note that our babies are now over 2 so there are probably an infinite number of additional amazing options out there!

List of Essential Non-Toxic Nursery and Baby Products

Air purifier:

Air purifiers can help reduce VOCs, as well as allergens, bacteria, mold and other pollutants. There are all kinds of options for these. We like the air doctor.

Baby lotions & washes

Diaper Creams / Skin Balm

Diapers

We have used honest, coterie but recently discovered Kudos, the cleanest diaper on the market

Kudos Diapers

Baby Wipes

Mattresses and loungers

Greenguard certified nursery furniture

Bedding

Nipple Butter

Earth Mama Nipple Butter

Strollers and Carriers:

Car seats:

Bib & Feeding Items

Tip: you don't have to buy the two-pump Elvie set; you can buy one and alternate them from side to side - I found this useful when I had baby #2 and was running around with my older daughter

Organic Clothes, Onesies - 100% GOTS certified organic apparel:

Tabeeze

xoxo ,

Ronit + Vida