Eco-friendly presents for new parents and the new addition to their home! Don’t shower parents to be with unwanted wasteful gifts. Use these baby shower gift ideas and give them something that is sustainable, plastic free, and appreciated by them and the planet.

Need to get a gift for new parents that is eco-friendly or zero waste? Our sustainable baby shower gift ideas will help you get the perfect present for environmentally conscious parents.

If you’re hosting a baby shower and want to let your friends and family who are attending know that you are trying to reduce your waste and keep the event’s environmental impact low, let them know on the baby shower invite.

Add something that explains that you are aiming for an event and family lifestyle that is sustainable and as zero waste as possible and ask invitees to please not purchase disposable and plastic items and toys as gifts. You can ask for no gifts (more on this here), for specific gifts, or for strictly pre-loved presents or plastic-free gifts.

An idea we love is each guest gifting a book (this can be second-hand for extra eco points!) with a written message inside instead of a card. We also love the idea of helping make life easier for new parents by providing frozen zero waste meals yourself or giving a voucher for low waste home-delivered meals. You can also offer acts of service like doing the dishes, doing the laundry, or free babysitting when needed instead of a physical present.

Another way parents can ensure you only get gifts you actually need and will use and is by setting up a baby gift registry. You can create a gift registry on a site with sustainable products like Well.ca’s Baby Registry (US/CAN), for example.

18 Baby Necessities Shower Gift Ideas

Invest in a reusable product for them to replace single-use and save them from having to repeatably buy the disposable version, or pass on plastic-free baby products made from natural materials and packaged in reusable, recyclable glass or stainless steel tins.

Reusable Baby Products

1. Cloth nappies/diapers

   AU: EcoNaps has modern reusable cloth nappies that are machine washable, adjustable and one size fits all and are used with bamboo inserts. According to Modibodi, its nappy is the most absorbent reusable out there, repels stains and solids, fits like a disposable nappy and is easy to wash.
   RSA: Fancypants’ nappies are all-in-one - the easiest way to use one for your baby. They were created by two South African first-time moms who struggled to find the perfect cloth nappy so ended up making it themselves.
   UK: Tots Bots UK-made Easyfit reusable nappies are also all-in-one and made to be functional and effective, as well as fun.
   CAN: Mother ease one size cloth diapers are made from natural cotton and have a comfortable leak-free fit.
   US: The two-part cloth diaper from Esembly has an outer of 100% recycled polyester with a waterproof laminate that releases vapour and heat and a soft inner, keeping babies comfortable and preventing leaks and blow-outs.
   

2. Bamboo or cotton reusable breast/nursing pads

   AU: Nature's Child washable nursing breast pads are made from organic cotton, comfortable, and keep their shape.
   US/CAN: The reusable nursing pads from Cheeks Ahoy are handmade in Canada from two absorbent layers of organic bamboo fleece, while Baby Works’ are also made from bamboo but contoured for comfort and discreetness. Another option is organic cotton nursing pads from Juniperseed Mercantile.

   
   

3. Reusable baby cloth wipes

   AU: Nature’s Child reusable face wipes made from 100% biodegradable organic cotton.
   US/CAN: Lulujo baby wash cloths made from natural organic cotton, Marleys Monsters’ reusable durable colourful cotton cloth wipes, or Esembly’s absorbent cotton baby wipes.

   UK: Mama Designs’ bamboo washable cloth wipes, Tabitha Eve’s handmade bamboo terry wipes, UK-made Tots Bots rainbow-coloured reusable wipes made from a bamboo and polyester blend, or A Slice of Green multipurpose organic cotton wipes.

   
   

4. Reusable swim nappy

   AU: EcoNaps also has reusable swim nappies that catch solids but let go of liquids
   RSA: Mother Nature light and adjustable swim cozzies are absorbent on the inside and waterproof on the outside
   US/CAN: ZOOCCHINI reusable swim diapers contain solid waste when swimming
   UK: ImseVimse swim pants leakproof swimming nappy fits from newborn upwards

Plastic-Free Baby Products

1. Plastic-free baby bottles

   AU: Selection of safe glass, stainless steel and BPA-free baby bottles here
   RSA: Non-plastic baby feeding bottle options here

   US/CAN: Klean Kanteen baby bottles made from stainless steel or Philips AVENT glass baby bottles

   UK: One Green Bottle's stainless steel baby bottles were created to be adaptable to be usable all the way from newborn baby to toddler age

   
   

2. Natural material bibs/muslin wraps/swaddling blankets

   Bibs made from 100% cotton or bamboo (US here, CAN here, AU: Purebaby organic cotton bib)

   Cotton muslin wraps/swaddling blanket (US here, CAN here, UK here, AU here or here)

   
   

3. Natural plastic-free nappy/diaper balm/salve

   RSA: Both Proudly South African, Back 2 Nature Bush Baby Tinklish Turtle bum cream made from natural botanicals in a metal tin and Earthway Infusions 100% natural baby bottom balm to heal nappy rash
   AU: ecostore baby nappy balm nourishes and takes care of numerous irritating skin conditions.
   UK: Earth Conscious unscented natural baby balm moisturiser for dry skin in a tin.
   CAN: Earth Mama Organics Organic Diaper Balm
   US: Fat and the Moon diaper powder in a cardboard tube absorbs moisture and protects babies’ bums, Urban Oreganics’ baby butter is a natural moisturising diaper rash cream in a glass jar, or natural baby bum balm in a metal tin from Tierra & Lava.

   
   

4. One of these baby-focused gift packs (AU), which contain a selection of sustainable baby products

5. Unwrapped Life Baby & Kids Well.ca (CAN) zero waste bundle with soap bar, shampoo bar, and reusable wash cloths

6. UK-made Clothes Doctor Baby Wash (UK) gentle on the skin but not on stains laundry detergent in a recyclable aluminium bottle

7. Shampoo bars and soap bars: Urban Oreganics (US) baby shampoo and wash bar in one, Funky Soaps’ buttermilk baby soap (UK)

8. Plastic-free Natural Safari Teething Comforter (US) made from natural rubber and attached to an organic cotton muslin blanket

   
   

Other

1. Handmade clothes or good quality second-hand clothing

2. Baby carrier like the Moby Wrap (US/CAN) or all these baby wrap options

3. All-natural low waste postpartum recovery gift set (US) for mum’s after-baby body care or New Mom & Babe Gift Set of natural skincare products with body butters, washes, and salves. Or individual plastic-free post-partum care products like Kooch Quench Salve and Nourishing Nipple Salve

4. EcoNaps bamboo travel change mat and wet bags (AU)

5. Other diapering accessories (US/CAN) like a diaper caddy or pail and liner

6. Wool Nursing Pillow (US) from Holy Lamb Organics handmade in the US from sustainable wool and cotton

6 Ideas for Baby Toys, Entertainment & Experiences to Give New Parents

Gift a plastic-free toy or an experience for the whole family or for new mums and dads needing a break, or a pre-loved item like a book or toy.

Don’t be scared to give second-hand items as gifts! Just make sure they’re in good condition, in working order, and clean. We gifted good friends a rocking chair we found in hard rubbish on the side of the road for their baby shower. It was in perfect condition other than some dirt from being outside. I scrubbed it from top to toe before passing it on and they loved it knowingly full well where it came from.

1. Second-hand books and toys

2. Cotton or wooden mobile for above the cot like this handwoven cotton mobile (UK)

3. Safe, eco-friendly, BPA-free natural rubber teethers like this great selection (US) and this stylish range (AU) of baby teething remedies and baltic amber teething necklaces (AU)

4. Toys made from wood or other natural materials like these beautifully carved wooden counting blocks (US), this range of sustainably made toys (US), this selection of seriously cute caring for the Earth wooden toys (AU), and Lanka Kade’s (UK) handmade wooden educational toys

5. Membership for the local toy library

6. Experiences like baby’s first swimming lesson or something for mum and/or dad like a massage, baby first-aid workshop voucher or cloth nappy workshop

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