When it comes to eco-friendly gifts for babies and toddlers, the holidays are a great chance to gift items your little one needs since they don’t have too many wants at this age.
After 10 years of putting together our annual green gift guides, we’ve uncovered the brands that make high quality, sustainable, and safe toys. If you need help selecting gifts, read this article on how to choose age-appropriate toys.
This post includes affiliate links. See our full disclosure.
ECO-FRIENDLY GIFTS FOR BABIES & TODDLERS
Every time we recommend a baby gift or gear item, we try to make sure it meets as many of these criteria as possible:
- non-toxic so it’s a safe choice for your little one
- eco-friendly so there’s minimal impact on the planet
- ethically made so the people who produced it are treated well and paid fairly
- long lasting or high quality so it doesn’t break an end up in a landfill anytime soon AND so you get the most out of your money
- low tech so your child’s attention span can stay in tact for as long as possible
- and fun – because that’s what toys are all about
With that in mind, here are our top picks for safe toys and eco friendly gifts for babies and toddlers.
5-Zone Play Gym
Lovevery’s Parent’s Choice award-winning play gym includes everything your baby needs in an activity gym and play mat—from batting to teething to learning to focus—for playtime and tummy time with purpose.
With 24 baby-tested, Montessori activities and 7 accessories, this baby-safe play gym is made from non-toxic materials including organic cotton and sustainable wood.
Cute animal designs in black and white crinkle when touched. These soft toys for babies can attach to activity arches, car seats, and more.
They’re also fully tested for the presence of harmful phthalates and heavy metals and meets or exceeds children’s product general safety regulations.
Solid Wooden Building Block Set from LOVEVERY
LOVEVERY makes the best baby play gyms (that don’t look like a circus popped up in your living room).
If you’re choosing eco friendly toys for a 1 year old or toddler, this block set is fun and helps build spatial, language, and problem-solving skills. 70 heirloom quality pieces that work with each other in more than 20 stage-based activities.
Made with FSC-certified sustainably harvested wood and water based paints, they’re completely safe and recommended for little ones 18 months and up.
Wooden Climbing Arch + Rocker
With solidly-crafted wooden climbing toys from Wiwiurka, you can create a safe environment for your little one to navigate and learn new skills.
Made with FSC Birch plywood coated with non-toxic stains and sealants and available in 14 colors, your toddler can climb, rock, “read”, build a fort, put on a puppet show and so much more. Seriously, see the photos here for tons of creative uses!
In climbing mode, it can help little ones build self-confidence, motor skill development, balance control, and muscle growth.
Sensory Play Kits
A curated toy kit subscription ships every three months and each set is specifically designed for your child’s developmental stage.
This Play Kit helps your baby investigate their world around them through their senses. All the toys included are made from sustainable and nontoxic materials, recycled materials, soy based inks, and safe silicones.
Black Friday special – Save $30 on a new Play Kits subscription with code: PLAYKITS30
This 13-inch adorable lamb plush is 100% handcrafted by artisans in Peru with sustainable, fair trade wages. These soft toys for babies and toddlers are safety-certified for newborns and up. They’re made from premium soft cotton.
Plus, it’s another gift that gives back. The sale of each doll provides 10 meals to children in need.
Hamilton Inspired Onesie
If Mom or Dad are fans, this Hamilton inspired baby gift is super fun to give! Organic cotton Young, Scrappy, and Hungry onesie is handmade. Shopping small always makes a great gift that gives back.
Wooden Stacking Rocket
Get ready for lift off! Sustainably made, totally safe, and high quality. When it comes to green gifts for babies and toddlers… you can’t go wrong with any of the creative toys from Plan Toys.
Classic Oball
The Oball is a classic toy for babies and toddlers. It is lightweight and super easy for little hands to grip. It also encourages development of motor skills. BPA free, it’s safe for teething babies.
A great ball for learning how to toss and catch, it’s also light and soft enough not to hurt if it hits baby (or you) in the head or face.
Table + Chairs Play Set
This adorable and easy to clean table and chair set is made from sustainable beech wood. If you’re looking for eco friendly gifts for 2 year olds and beyond, this set will last for years and provide endless entertainment for tea parties, puzzle working, coloring, and more.
The Chair from Lalo
Another practical for parents gift, this easy-to-clean high chair is sleek, eco-friendly, and super useful. With 5 different settings, The Chair keeps your little one comfortable and close for family meals. Then, easily convert it into a Play Chair when your little one outgrows the high chair phase.
The Chair is made from sustainable beech wood. Plus it looks great in any kitchen.
Learning Tower + Kitchen Stool
You’ll find so many uses for this kid-friendly tower! Toddlers can climb in and out by themselves, getting them to kitchen counter height to safely work, learn, cook, or be creative along side you.
Designed by a Montessori school educator, this tower lifts your child to kitchen counter height to encourage interaction and togetherness between children and parents.
In addition to meeting all government safety standards, this handy, safe step stool is Greenguard Gold Certified, contributing to cleaner indoor air and a healthier environment
DockATot + Morris Collection
Here’s one of those practical gifts for babies we mentioned. This fantastic floral print in the DockATot makes this useful of baby gear a delight to have in any room.
Babies love sensory toys. This sweet organic cotton cat rattle decorated with embroidery stitching and soft fabric ears. It has a soft noise (non-jarring) rattle and a wooden grip ring.
Knitted organic cotton. Stitched details. Wooden grip ring.
Tag Amazing Tracker
Giant tumble down ball maze with 6 soft colored balls. Watch them zigzag their way down to line up at the bottom for retrieval and continued play.
Little ones learn grasp and release, visual tracking, and logical thought as balls tumble down this colorful maze.
EMF Shielding Baby Hat
Keep your baby’s growing brain safe from EMF radiation with Belly Armor’s shielding baby hat. Find it at Belly Armor or on Amazon.
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