8 Vegan Baby Products for Eco-Aware Parents
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Parents are more eco-aware and concerned about their children’s health than ever. They realize the climate and health are inextricably linked, making them prioritize more environmentally conscious purchasing decisions. Vegan baby products are an option for parents to look at.
It is one of the simplest and best-regulated eco-friendly buzzwords on the market — compared to organic, fair-trade, and non-GMO, among others. These vegan baby products will narrow the search for what you need for your kid to be raised with cruelty-free items. Hopefully, your child or children will grow up to spread the knowledge to others in their generation.
What Makes Vegan Baby Products?
Whether a company is making baby toys, food, or clothing, it has several prerequisites to meet before it can claim its product is vegan. Veganism is the choice that influences purchasing decisions for everything from food to consumer goods. Vegan supporters want things they buy to contain no animal products or put animals in cruel conditions. Clarifying what items are vegan-friendly is layered but easy to conceptualize.
First, it must be free of animal-derived products. So, baby clothes must be free of materials like leather, and toys must be free of animal byproducts such as dyes. Environmental allies promote synthetics and plant-based derivatives over animal-based defaults.
Second, a company must not use animals for the sake of testing. This is primarily a concern for toiletries and cosmetics companies, where animal testing is standard to determine if the product will irritate the skin. Research shows how inaccurate animal testing is, yet it is still a gold standard in many places.
Because animal testing is not allowed, parent companies cannot support animal testing either. For example, the well-known cosmetics and wellness brand Burt’s Bees is cruelty-free — but not vegan because it includes beeswax — the parent company, Clorox, still allows animal testing in specific circumstances. Therefore, many consider Burt’s Bees sales to support a company that still promotes animal testing in some capacity.
Additionally, vegan, cruelty-free companies and their parent companies cannot sell to places that require animal testing, such as mainland China.
Finally, customers can see if vegan baby products have the PETA Animal Test-Free and Vegan stamp of approval. Similar agencies, like Leaping Bunny, only certify for animal testing, not if the product is vegan. Many companies fall under both of these camps but do not have the seal — always do your research.
1. Puracy
Puracy is a vegan-friendly bath and body products company based out of Austin, Texas. It has everything from shampoos, lotions, bubble baths, and stain removers. They have a highly accessible price point compared to more luxury vegan brands, even with their PETA certification. Though all of their products are vegan, not all are natural, if that is your concern. However, synthetic products are often safe. Lucky for adults, Puracy provides other products, such as home cleaning and pet care materials.
2. Hip Peas
Not to be confused with Hippeas, which make delicious earth-friendly, vegan snacks, Hip Peas makes vegan, eco-friendly hair care products that extend beyond shampoos and conditioners. They have styling balms, cradle cap care, and a wooden baby brush that does not rely on animal hair.
3. The Natural Crayon Co
Anything your baby handles must be 100% safe. That’s why The Natural Crayon Co. created all-natural, vegan crayons. They extended their vegan philosophy to their packaging, too. Most crayons are made from wax, which comes from either bees or fossil fuels — both are not ideal options. However, they use food-grade pigments and plant-based wax, so parents don’t worry.
4. Dr. Brite
Dr. Brite is an oral hygiene company that makes products suitable for babies and kids of all ages. They have fun flavors like Berrylicious and Chocolate Mint to appeal to all taste buds. Their products are not only vegan, but they are biodegradable and surrounded by environmentally friendly packaging. They are a certified B-Corp, one of the most rigorous and well-regarded third-party certifications to achieve in the sustainability landscape and a women-owned company.
5. EcoPeaCo
This wouldn’t be a comprehensive vegan baby product list without mentioning sustainable diapers. These diapers and wipes are made from bamboo without toxic chemicals. The company even got dermatologists to come in and approve the line for babies with sensitive skin. They have a long list of certifications, from USDA Bio-Preferred, 1% for the Planet, Leaping Bunny, and Vegan Action.
6. Playberry
Clay and Play-Doh-style products are some of the most imaginative distractions for babies, so Playberry wanted to make it vegan. The creator wished for a nature-friendly way to provide her child with sensory play experiences, creating a new dough with food-grade colorings and ingredients without plastic or animal byproducts. Plenty of vegan Play-Doh recipes are out there for you to try your hand at DIY.
7. Milkbarn
You will not see wool, leather, cashmere, or any other animal fibers and hides from them. Their baby clothes, swaddles, and bibs are made from organic bamboo that is Global Organic Textiles Standard-certified without GMOs, toxins, or pesticides for a few extra sustainability brownie points. They promise to use eco-friendly dyes when printing their delightful designs, which usually have environmental inspirations, like honeycombs, trees, and animals.
8. Once Upon a Farm
Of course, there had to be some delicious vegan baby food representation. Once Upon a Farm is the brainchild of superstar Jennifer Garner. They have snacks and meals with numerous vegan options. The innovative blends are organic with advanced nutritional components, where at least a million meals go to kids in need.
Vegan Baby Products for Every Category
There are vegan baby products to cover every area of your baby’s life — even if you need a vegan diaper-carrying case, they exist. Vegan products are becoming more popular. Even if families are not vegan, they are more skeptical about the materials going into consumer goods.
Labeling something as vegan makes it easier for parents and guardians to conceptualize what is inside what they are buying. This way, they have better control over their children’s health and wellness while positively impacting them.
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About the author
Rachel Lark
Rachel serves as the Assistant Editor of Environment.co. A true foodie and activist at heart, she loves covering topics ranging from veganism to off grid living.