Sustainable And Environmentally Friendly Gifts For Parents Raising Babies And Toddlers
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There’s a saying that children don’t always listen, but they never fail to imitate.
That’s why living a sustainable lifestyle is key to instilling an eco-conscious mindset in your children—it’s the best gift you can give them.
The holidays are approaching, and many parents are opting to shop for plastic-free Christmas gifts this year.
Whether I shop for my own two children, or someone else’s, my goal is to always purchase something that’s both sustainable as well as environmentally friendly—it doesn’t matter if it’s clothing, toys or even dinnerware.
Mostly everything these days is available in eco-friendly alternatives and the purchases are worth every penny.
Why Are Eco-Friendly Gifts For Kids A Better Buy?
Whether it’s an eco-friendly toy or sustainable clothing, eco-friendly gifts for kids are simply a healthier option for both children and the environment.
Many children’s products these days are mass produced and infused with chemicals like BPA and toxic adhesives that shouldn’t make contact with anyone’s skin—let alone babies and young children.
But when you opt for products made from natural and sustainable resources, you’re ensuring that your child’s health won’t be compromised.
What Are Some Examples Of Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas For Babies And Toddlers?
Eco-friendly gift options for babies and toddlers can consist of anything that’s made of natural or organic material with non-toxic components and can be easily recycled or composted. They are ethically and sustainably sourced, and do not leave a negative impact on our environment.
Wooden toys, reusable diapers, plant-based dinnerware and sustainable clothing are all great examples of eco-friendly gift options for young children.
Below are our top picks for non-toxic and environmentally friendly gift ideas for babies and toddlers that will spark joy for both the one little ones and their parents!
Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift Picks For Babies And Toddlers
WOODEN MONTESSORI Style Activity Cube
This 20 in 1 Montessori style wooden activity cube by Boobo Toys is extremely well built and provides sustainable learning fun for your curious little toddler. Each component is ethically and sustainably sourced, and each purchase plants a tree! There are a ton of wooden activity cubes on the market, but not all are ethically or sustainably manufactured—that’s why the Beebo Toys activity cube is our top pick for an eco-friendly gift for toddlers.
RYLEE + CRU SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING
The Rylee + Cru is a sustainable clothing brand that makes their clothing with natural cotton—perfect eco-friendly gifts for babies, toddlers and young children. We love the soft earthy-clay colors and tiny patterns that add a little charm! See more of this clothing line at The Natural Baby Co!
WOODEN MONTESSORI CLIMBING GYM
An indoor climbing gym is a fun and healthy way to get your little one moving and strengthening those core muscles—especially during winter. The Woodenlikes wooden climbing set comes with 3 components that can be rearranged in various ways. With rounded corners and non-toxic adhesives, this fun indoor gym is a fantastic Christmas gift for active toddlers!
MONTESSORI SCOOPING SET
This wooden Montessori scooping set by Warckon is an awesome gift for toddlers who love playing with sensory bins. It’s an eco-friendly and sustainable gift option that will assist toddlers with hands-on play as they dig and scoop!
VEER CRUISER
Wagon-stroller hybrids are trending, and they’re incredibly convenient for many occasions: travel, hiking, leisurely strolls. I always see moms picking up their older children from school with the younger tots in these wagons and the little ones look like they’re having a blast! With that said, if you’re considering a tactical wagon, Veer is the best of the best when it comes to aesthetics, quality construction and storage (it folds super flat).
WOODEN SENSORY BUSY BOARD
This adorable and eco-friendly busy board by BusssyJoy safely entertains your toddler while strengthening their gross motor skills! This Montessori style board is also completely sustainable and made from eco plywood—which is actually high quality natural wheat straw. It’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and comes in two color palettes—perfect for both genders!
PORTABLE COTTON TENT
The Tiny Land cotton canvas tent is a very fun and charming gift idea for toddlers and preschoolers. It’s a place where the little ones can have some quiet time and enjoy a picture book. We love that it’s a gender neutral color and comes equipped with twinkle lights and and floor mat.
FLIP TODDLER ROCKER
Made from sustainably harvested birch wood, this toddler ride-on by Wishbone Design Studio can be converted from a gentle rocker to a ride-on toy with a simple flip! It’s perfect for babies as young as 1 all the way up to age 5–making this non-toxic toy incredibly sustainable!
Non-Toxic Plush Dolls
Organic and non-toxic dolls make fantastic eco-friendly gifts for children—especially if it’s their first doll. Babies and toddlers are always snuggling or mouthing their favorite toy, so it’s important that their dolls are as organic as possible. The Tikiri Toys dolls are one of our favorite non-toxic doll brands, and they have many cute styles to choose from. To learn more about eco-friendly dolls, see our article here.
LITTLE PITTERPAT Walking Shoes
These cute hand-made crib shoes by Little Pitterpat make the perfect gift for first time walkers. They have durable outer soles that equip your little one with traction and stability, and come in various fun boho and earthy designs! See all of the adorable options at The Natural Baby Company!
ECO STACKING CUPS
Babies and young toddlers love playing with stacking cups—and the Toy Safari “eco” stacking cups are the perfect plastic alternative! These eco-friendly stacking cups are non-toxic and made from biodegradable wheat straw—making these an awesome sustainable gift for kids!
WOODEN WOODPECKER BABY WALKER
This baby walker by PlanToys makes a fantastic eco-friendly gift for babies and toddlers—it features a ‘click-clack’ sound when it’s pushed, and features two adorable woodpeckers whose heads move up and down with every step. This walker is also made from sustainably harvested rubberwood trees paired with surplus sawdust chips that are thermally reprocessed to form a durable wood, and finished with E-Zero non-formaldehyde glue, and non-toxic water-based dyes.
BAMBOO DINNERWARE SET
Whether they’re babies or older toddlers, this bamboo dinnerware set by Bamboo Bamboo is an awesome eco-friendly gift idea! Each component is made from sustainable bamboo and eco-friendly silicone—perfect for a baby’s sensitive gums and teeth!
NATURAL BEECHWOOD TEETHERS
These adorable wooden teethers by Walnut Tree Infant Love are made from natural and organic beechwood that’s non-toxic and fun for baby to chew on! It’s the perfect gift for parents of a teething baby that needs natural gum relief. For more information on natural baby teethers, see our article here.
GROVIA ALL-IN-ONE CLOTH DIAPERS
Reusable cloth diapers are an awesome zero-waste alternative to single use disposable diapers. And the Grovia cloth diapers are some of the best around! It’s a great way to save money, reduce plastic waste and keep your baby’s skin healthy! You can choose from organic cotton, hemp/cotton blend and more! See all the options at The Natural Baby Co!
MONTESSORI WOODEN TOY SET
This 5-piece Montessori style wooden toy set by Promise Babe is made from sustainable beech wood. Every toy in this eco-friendly gift set is non-toxic and completely safe for your little one to chew on. We love all of the diverse pieces from the rattles to teethers and everything in between!
WOODEN BABY PLAY GYM
Baby play gyms are a wonderful opportunity to entertain baby while building their motor skills and strengthening their eyes muscles. But many baby gyms are made from plastic and contain hanging toys that aren’t made from eco-friendly material. Wooden playgyms like the one by Mallify are made with non-toxic wood, and contain fun wooden hanging toys suitable for chewing! It’s a sustainable gift for babies!
TODDLER’S FIRST COLORING BOOK
The Toddler’s First Coloring Book from Honeysticks is hand-made in New Zealand from 100% recycled paper and features 40 large pages with simple images to spark creativity and play. It’s a fun eco-friendly gift that your little one will love!
WOODEN SWING SET
For little ones who love to swing, this eco-friendly wooden swing by EcoTribe makes the perfect sustainable gift! It’s made from natural birch wood and equipped with cotton rope. It can be hung in a doorway, porch, or on a tree branch when the weather is ideal! It’s super unique and a great plastic alternative when it comes to swings, and there are several animals to choose from.
PATAGONIA OUTERWEAR
Patagonia makes amazing outerwear made from recycled material that looks incredibly cute. From recycled down jackets to fleece vests, these make awesome sustainable fashion gifts for kids. See all the available styles at The Natural Baby Co.
ACACIA HARDWOOD TODDLER STOOL
Sea Island Imports make the coolest little stools from sustainable acacia hardwood. They have a ton of fun designs and these little chairs make awesome little “rustic” additions to your child’s playroom. These are really great to give as a sustainable gift for a young toddler as well as a preschooler.
HAND-MADE WICKER PRAM
This hand-made wicker doll pram by Cackoo is made from willow and water-based paint. It’s a charming gift for little ones who enjoy playing with dolls and have been wanting a doll stroller. We love the boho style of this doll carriage and little girls will love this as a gift!
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