A new baby is one of the most delightful reasons to buy a gift — but it’s not always easy to choose an item that will please a picky parent. Here is a roundup of five thoughtful gifts we’ve found that are all-natural, non-toxic, high-quality and gentle enough to meet the standards of any new mom or dad.
All-Natural Organic Baby Care Set by Butt Naked Baby — We’d call it a “spa set” for baby, because the ingredients are so luxurious … but some of the items here are really necessary! All the products in this fabulous six-piece gift set are responsibly handcrafted in small batches in the USA, using only the best organic ingredients. There are no skin-irritating fragrances, parabens, mineral oils or dyes; rather, this lush and sustainable gift set looks and smells clean and natural. The set comes with Moisture Milk lotion, Healing Baby Powder, moisturizing Baby Balm Stick, soothing and protecting Diaper Balm and relaxing/hydrating Baby Oil. It’s all wrapped up in an organic-cotton “Butt Rug” that can be used as a diaper, burp cloth or changing pad. These trustworthy products are among the finest we’ve found for baby.
Downy-Soft Bamboo Baby Blankets by Dreamsacks — Once you feel these buttery-soft blankets and learn about their fabulous qualities, you won’t want to swaddle baby in anything else. These lovely loom-woven blankets are naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, breathable and moisture-wicking. Luxuriously soft, light, warm and comfortable, Bamboo Baby Blankets are loom-woven from 100 percent pesticide-free bamboo — harvested responsibly from renewable forests and crafted under fair-trade conditions. Choose from several colors.
Organic Cotton Baby Ensemble by Dimples — We just love this gorgeous 3-piece newborn set made from 100 percent organic cotton. And it’s not just us — Babble.com calls it “absolutely beautiful — so soft and snuggly … exactly how I want to bring [new baby] home.” Ecofabulous.com agrees: “Magnificent newborn gift.” The all-natural ensemble has a swaddling blanket, a playsack with drawstring tie, and a cap with flaps for those sweet little ears. The soft cotton contains no pesticides or chemical treatments whatsoever: gentle, handcrafted and using only non-toxic dyes, it’s nothing but softness against baby’s sensitive skin. Choose from the gorgeous hand-embroidered striped “Bee” or “Rose” designs in size 0-3 months.
Fair-Trade Luxury Baby Hoodie/ Booties by Shokay — These beautiful, soft-as-cashmere hoodie, booties and rattle set is woven from the sustainable “new luxury fiber” — yak down! Tibetan yak herders have been humanely harvesting the rugged animals’ luxurious, downy undercoat for generations, but only recently has this sumptuous fabric been available in the Western market. This set is gorgeous, handcrafted and will be the softest, warmest items in baby’s layette; they’re hand-washable and feel like cashmere. Treated only with nontoxic, low-impact dyes, this heirloom-quality baby set contains a sweet hoodie with an “eternity knot” clasp, snuggly booties with plush pom-poms, and a soft rattle in “Bee” or “Bug” design. This is not only a gorgeous and memorable gift, but it supports Tibetan herders and weavers in fair-labor conditions.
Fair-Trade Wool Car Set or Plush Pony by En Gry and Sif— We just love En Gry and Sif, a business started by two wonderful Danish sisters whose charming baby-and-kid products employ excellent design, strict eco-friendly standards and top-notch craftsmanship by women artisans in Nepal. Non-toxic toys are a wonderful gift, and En Gry and Sif’s fun Wool Car Set and Plush Pony toys are soft, safe, easy to grasp, cute and colorful enough to delight both babies and toddlers. They’re made with 100 percent wool-felt and colored with gentle low-impact dyes. The two-piece car set comes with a Police Car and Ambulance; the Plush Pony is tan with pink spots and a yarn mane.
