Our favorite eco-friendly baby gifts, plus tips for sustainable gift wrap and shower decor
This post includes affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of our links, we may earn a commission, essentially a small digital finder’s fee. These commissions help us fund the valuable journalism that you see on Bluedot. Thank you for supporting us! Questions? Learn more here.
Do you have a baby shower on your calendar? If so, you’re one of many — July through October are the most common months for births in the U.S. As a woman in her thirties, I know many young mothers, have been to many baby showers, and have scrolled through — and been disappointed by — many baby shower registries. Humidifiers? Boring. Garish “activity centers” made of virgin plastic? Yikes. Suction bulbs? Ew! These things are not, in my mind, gifts, which should be both fun to give and to receive.
In honor of baby shower season, I’ve curated a list of thoughtfully made presents for new parents. Some — like these ultra-soft bamboo rompers and crib sheets, or these highly-rated natural rubber pacifiers — are perfect for those of you who want to respect your friends’ wishes and give them (a more Earth-friendly version of) what they’ve said they want. Whimsically inclined gifters will enjoy the chicest rompers we’ve ever seen as well as these fun Mommy & Me and Daddy & Me outfits. Or, perhaps you want a present that comes with a legacy of sorts: these Minnesota makers plant one tree for every wood name puzzle sold.
Once you’ve gone to the trouble of choosing an environmentally friendly gift, wrap it conscientiously. We love this cheerful, recyclable, compostable wrapping paper. If you’re feeling flush, you can even use an organic cotton swaddle as wrapping! If you’re hosting a shower, decorate with these Fair-Trade wool garlands and ornaments from Friendsheep. They’ll look good in Baby’s room for years after the party has ended, and remind your parent-friends of your devotion. Much better than paper streamers in the bin, n’est pas?
Wishing you lots of cooing and happy shopping,
–Elizabeth Weinstein, Marketplace Editor
EarthHero Home Goods
EarthHero is one of those companies that seems to do just about everything right, so we love buying from this eclectic marketplace of thoughtfully vetted goods. A climate neutral B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, EarthHero carries everything from cleaning products to kitchen goods to underthings to dog toys to gifts and and baby goods.
Solly Baby Wraps
One of the most important items in any new parent’s arsenal is a baby carrier. After plenty of research — including talking to several parents — we’re recommending the Solly Baby. Made from Tencel Modal (European beechwood tree pulp), the wrap-style carrier is easy to use and comfortable for both adult and child.
Cariloha Bamboo Bedding and Apparel
For some time, we’ve had our eye on Cariloha, a company that makes cooling, super-soft bedding, mattresses, and apparel for adults and babies out of bamboo-derived viscose. In January of 2023, they became a Certified B Corp, signaling a commendable and externally verifiable commitment to ongoing good corporate citizenship.
Smiling Tree Toys
Smiling Tree Toys, a family-owned company in Minnesota, makes charming wooden toys by hand and plants a tree for each one sold. The surprisingly affordable toys make quality, sustainable playthings accessible to everyone, with custom name puzzle toys made from maple, cherry, or walnut starting at $29.
Oeuf Baby and Kid
Oeuf, a Brooklyn-based maker of clothing and furniture for babies and children, takes that “I-wish-this-came-in-my-size!” feeling to the next level. Their stuff is so cute, we wish they made adult clothes, too! The fact that Oeuf uses sustainably sourced materials and fair-trade principles makes their charming wares even more appealing.
Monica + Andy Organic Kids’ Clothing
Monica + Andy makes whimsical organic cotton clothing for children, with sizing available for newborns going up to age 10. The clothes are adorable, but not fancy: it’s stuff for kids to be kids in. The family that really loves matching can also shop Mommy + Me and Daddy + Me outfits.
Baby Booties from Made Trade
Bluedot’s Publisher Victoria Riskin loves the thoughtful, attractive assortment of goods in Made Trade’s ethical online marketplace. The woman-owned, family-run business sells wares for home and closet from brands that use sustainable materials and employ good labor practices. Save 10% off your order with code BLUEDOT10.
The Honest Company
In 2008, when actress Jessica Alba was pregnant with her first child, she pre-washed new onesies with a baby detergent and promptly broke out into hives. She searched for clean consumer products and was astonished by just how few choices there were. So, she founded The Honest Company.
