Plastic-Free Baby Gear
I can remember it clearly. It was very early on in my first pregnancy. I was hardly showing and still felt like a bit of an imposter in the baby store. Still, I ventured in to try to get a glimpse of this new world I was ventruing in to. And I was instantly shocked by the plastic.
As a single gal and a park ranger, I had never really thought much before about plastic. I’m sure I used the occassional plastic cup and I know I carried a plastic water bottle in my hiking gear. But plastic wasn’t really on my radar one way or another as an issue.
But then came the baby gear. It seemed that absolutely everything I would need to care for my new baby had to be made from plastic. Bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, diapers, car seats, changing table, diaper pail, baby bath tub, toys, strollers, high chair…all plastic. And that’s not to mention the various and sundry products that this baby would require: baby bath, baby lotion, diaper cream…all came in plastic bottles.
It suddenly seemed like my world was about to get very plastic, and I did not like it one bit. But over the years, I have found lots of alternatives to these plastic “necessities.” When it comes to car seats and bathtubs…you’re pretty much stuck with plastic. But for everything else, you now have a choice. The explosion in the green marketplace means that you can find tons of baby toys and clothing made from organic cotton and other eco-savvy materials. High chairs, bassinets, and cribs can be found in sustainably harvested woods. And the best part is that many of these greener alternatives are now even available in traditional big-box baby stores.
For other items, like baby bottles, pacifiers, and diapers, you may have to do a bit more digging, but the plastic-free alternatives are there. Here is the list that I have compiled thus far of plastic-free baby gear. Please feel free to add and comment to this list as you see fit.
Baby Bottles
Evenflo: Glass baby bottles. Evenflo bottles come with either latex (natural rubber) or silicone (plastic) nipples
Born Free: Glass bottles (can also be purchased with silicone sleeve to prevent heat transfer and breakage.) Only silicone nipples.
Sippy Cups
The Safe Sippy: Stainless steel drinking cup (with plastic handle and spout)
Klean Kantene: Stainless steel drink bottle
Sigg: Cute aluminum drink bottles with fun designs for kids
Changing Pads
Organic Wool Changing Pad: from Green Mountain Diapers
Pacifiers
Natursutten: Natural rubber pacifier
Teethers
Bumble Bee Ring: Organic cottong cloth teething ring
Teething Veggies: Organic cotton “veggies” come in their own crate.
Camden Rose Maple Teether: Crafted from maple wood and finished with beeswax
Tableware
Bambu Mini Me Bowls: Made from 100% organically grown bamboo
Stainless Steel Tableware: Mug, plate, and cereal bowl lined with stainless steel (outer layer is plastic)
Diapers
Disposable diapers all contain plastic in their outer shell and in thier linings. And many reusable cloth diapers also contain plastic in their fleece linings or covers. If you want to go truly plastic-free, look for organic cotton diapers like those from Under the Nile or KushTush Organics.
You may have also heard of the line of bidegradable eco-diapers called gDiapers that are supposedly “plastic-free.” This may or may not be the case. For now, I can just say that smarter minds than mine are getting to the bottom of this and I promise to report back on their results.
This post is part of the Green Moms Carnival. This month’s carnival is all about plastic and will be hosted by the one and only plastic-free guru, Beth Terry, of Fake Plastic Fish. Check out her site on Tues, April 14th for a slew of plastic related posts!
You forgot a very big alternative to plastic baby bottles. The breast is greener than any of the others, and far more cost-effective as well.
Oh my gosh, come of these things are so cute they make me wish I had kids just so I could buy them cute eco-friendly toys. I might just have to have a felted baby sea turtle: http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=482 and the teething veggies are just awesome.
Thanks for this post. I’m sure all the plastic would come as a shock to me, too, if I had a baby. The kitty plastic is bad enough!
Jenn,
Great post! I just wrote a post about plastic baby stuff the other day too. I totally felt the same way when I saw all the plastic, yet, being a first time mom, I fell for some of the supposed safety of plastic. I have found a lot more alternatives in most areas and have brought a lot of my plastic items to a 2nd hand store to be re-used.
I have another to add to your tableware list. They’re utensils. Oneida makes baby and toddler silverware. We use stainless steel, so why shouldn’t my baby? He uses it very well too. Plastic doesn’t retain heat for fear of serving a baby foods too hot – but c’mon – we test it before it hits the baby’s lips, don’t we?
http://www.amazon.com/Oneida-Paul-Revere-3-Piece-Child/dp/B000FMTOQO/ref=pd_bxgy_k_img_c
And Baby Bear Shop http://www.babybearshop.com has a bum balm and oils that are organic and bottled in glass. They also have awesome lip balms that come in recycled tin! I just re-ordered some for myself.
Keep up the great posts!
This is so great. With baby #4 on the way I will definitely be checking out these alternatives!
Fabulous post! It’s great to have a site to recommended to all my friends who are new moms!
Great post. My babies are now 6 and 4 years of age, and there weren’t a lot of options when they were babies. It is great to see more options available now. But, I’ve also found that the baby product industry is very good at marketing – you really don’t need most of the stuff. Why buy a polyurethane foam changing pad with a PVC cover when you can use a folded towel? Of course, you need a car seat, but there are lots of items you really don’t need . . . and isn’t not buying the greenest of all?
I am always looking for plastic alternatives when it comes to baby products and childrens products. The plastic packaging is enough to make you insane. I have gone completely plastic free in my kitchen, even with a 2 and 4 year old. I find that dishes aren’t as breakable as you think and my 2 year old loves her wooden spoon I found online and her pottery mug I bought from a local potter. Think back to what your grandmother may have used with her children, and it probably wasn’t plastic. There are lots of alternatives! Just take the time to think about it.
Whattadya know, another site to add to my reader! Google blog search has you pretty well indexed! Kim
I looking for a Kid’s Furniture for the play room.
Heya, Thanks for the great blog. I think it is really a great topic to write about on my Blog. Also here is some awesome information: kids ceiling fans