The world of baby products can be so overwhelming, especially as a new parent or one that is trying to make changes in their home to make it cleaner and safer for their family. Making a greener and cleaner home doesn’t have to happen overnight. It can be done in stages to make it less overwhelming and also more affordable.
Here are a few of my favorite baby and household products that I’ve found over the past few years that make me not only feel better about what I’m using for my family but also are better for Mother Earth! There are no paid endorsements here from companies, just my honest opinions on what has worked for us.
- Healthybaby diapers and wipes- When we were using diapers and wipes with our older daughter, Penny, the ‘cleaner’ diaper options were really not great. They were not only expensive, but none of them really worked well at all. I’m always for a cleaner product, but not if they don’t actually work. While pregnant with Mabel, I discovered the Healthybaby brand so I decided to give their diapers and wipes a try! They are the softest diapers I’ve used, not bulky but still super absorbent. I am also a huge fan of their wipes. I love when I can use only one wipe to clean up a full diaper (it feels kind of like a super power of mine- IYKYK) and their wipes are the perfect blend of soft yet strong. Plus, both their wipes and diapers are EWG verified which makes me happy knowing they are safe to use on my little ones. (find them here)
- Miss Mouth’s Messy Eaters Stain Treater- A friend of mine introduced me to this spray and it has been a life-saver. We all know babies and kids are messy eaters (heck, I can be sometimes too!). This spray has been extremely helpful to keep around for quick stain treatments. I keep one in our laundry room and also in the girls’ bathroom which is helpful for when we’re changing into pjs at night and I need to quickly spray a stain from their clothes from the day. It’s also super satisfying to spray the stain and literally watch it work before your eyes! (find it here)
- Tubby Todd all-over-ointment- This all-over-ointment has been a staple in my toddler’s routine since she was a baby. Mabel suffered from mild eczema from a few months old and this was the only clean product that I found to actually eliminate the eczema. I keep it right by our changing table to have easy access to it after diaper changes or night time routines. (find it here)
- Ahimsa plate/bowls- I’ve tried to clear out plastic from as much of our family’s kitchen as possible over time. I used those Re-play plates and bowls for a long time for the girls, but the more I learn about microplastics, the more I cringe thinking about how much we unknowingly consume on a daily basis. Rather than completely throw those plates and bowls out, I added some stainless steel Ahimsa plates and bowls to our collection. I now try to only use the Replay pieces when they’re having basic snacks and such and use the Ahimsa dishes for meals where there is more chance with friction (i.e. cutting and scooping with utensils) and microplastics transferring from the plate to their mouths. This way I didn’t have to trash the old plates but also know my daughter’s meals are a little safer. (find them here)
- Stasher bags & other reusable bags for snacks and leftovers- If you have kids, you know that snacks are probably the most important trick you can have in your back pocket (or bag) to avoid those toddler meltdowns and save post-school pick ups. I keep a bunch of Stasher bags and other reusable snack bags on hand in our kitchen for packing daily snacks for my daughter’s school day or other snacks on the go. Make sure you opt for silicone bags or stainless steel containers, avoiding plastic when you can! The bags even work great for certain leftovers in our fridge or freezer (did you know Stashers can also go in the oven?!) (find them here or any many local stores to you)
- Evereden Kid’s Multi-vitamin Lotion- This has become a nice addition to my 6 year old’s routine! She loves applying it herself (I think she feels like a big kid doing it) and it smells so bright and juicy. I love knowing that it’s made from clean, natural ingredients (including the scents) and is packed with vitamins for her skin. My hands are always dry with all the cleaning up after the kids, and I also enjoy grabbing a quick pump of it for my hands and a quick pick-me-up from the scent. (find it here)
- Healthybaby cleaning and laundry concentrates- I am all about concentrates these days to make our lives a little easier and less wasteful. We’ve been using Healthybaby’s cleaning concentrates for a little over two years now and I find them very versatile. They’re basic cleaning solution is great to use for a kitchen/cleaning spray as well as a foamy hand soap! And their laundry concentrate is one of those tiny, but mighty types of products. You only need 2-3 pumps of the concentrate for each load of laundry. It actually feels so wrong putting that small amount in with your messy laundry (it took a while for me to convince my husband) but it works so well! (find them here)
- Branch Basics Oxygen Booster- I found this product years ago and honestly it has saved me so many times! It is the only thing I have found to work to get out those tough stains that other stain removers can’t handle. I usually soak the item of clothing (it even works on certain shoes as well!) in water overnight with a little of the booster. After I soak it then I throw it in with my regular wash, including the soaking water if you can, and do a wash of laundry. It’s great for cleaning dirty sneakers to give them a second life and so much more! (find it here)
With so much ‘greenwashing’ in the market today, it can be hard to tell what skincare and household products are actually safe and clean to use now. One helpful website I use to check out brands and products I’m considering or even already use is the EWG website. They rate tons of products based on their standards. You can simply look up a brand or product and see how it rates. They don’t have every product or brand on their site, but there is a lot to search through! I even found out that the reef-safe sunscreen my family has been using for years is not actually as ‘clean’ as I’d thought so I will be making a change to one of the better rated brands on the EWG database.
As with anything, your own personal research and discretion is the most important. So make sure you decide to use the products that work best for you and your family!
*Healthybaby has been kind enough to provide a discount code to share with you to receive 20% off your first order! Use the code HEALTHYNY20 at checkout to apply the discount.
xo Megan