Best Natural Diaper Comparison

A few of the natural diapers we have used

The diaper market is immense, and the marketing just as much so. For busy mamas, trying to determine which diapers are truly natural and not just green washed, fit in a budget, and also absorb decently, can feel overwhelming.

It can be difficult to cut through the noise of diaper marketing, but that’s where this post will hopefully help you find some natural diapers that will work for you and your family.

Almost every diaper on the market will use keywords like “breathable”, “hypoallergenic”,“dermatologist recommended”, “fragrance free”, “paraben free” etc. While this may feel reassuring, there’s so much more they could be saying that’s more important. If they don’t, then it probably means they aren’t actually creating as “clean” or “natural” diapers as they might want you to believe.

If you’re new to what makes a natural diaper truly better, below you’ll find some key terms to look for on packages when shopping for diapers.

If you’ve been using natural diapers for awhile but wonder if they are really what they say they are, keep reading.

Maybe you’re quite familiar with natural diapers, and just want to find some different ones that work better, or are easier on your budget.

Wherever you’re coming from, we’ve got you covered. More than 60 diapers and pull-ups have been tried, and only the most natural, totally chlorine free diapers have made it on this list.

Happy reading, and may your diapers never leak.

---

Things to Know When Shopping for Natural Diapers

Truly organic diapers do not exist. Any person, blog, or diaper package claiming “organic” diapers should immediately raise a red flag. There are many different layers and materials that go into building a diaper, and many of those are not made from materials that can be certifiably organic. Some diapers use organic cotton, like Healthy Baby diapers use 15% organic cotton, but the total amount of organic materials is usually minimal.

Bamboo diapers may or may not be as “eco-friendly” as they claim to be. Bamboo is grown easily enough with minimal herbicides and pesticides, however, it cannot be certifiably organic by the time it is made into a textile due to its processing. By the time it can be used as a textile in diapers, sheets, etc., it is basically a different product. Bamboo is processed into either bamboo viscose (rayon), or bamboo lyocell. Bamboo that is made into viscose uses carbon disulfide, caustic soda, and sulfuric acid in an open-loop system, which can leave traces of these chemicals on the finished product as well as release some into the environment, harming workers and surrounding communities. Bamboo that is made into lyocell uses non-toxic solvents in a closed-loop system, and produces a better, safer end product. I’ve noticed many diaper brands don’t openly talk about closed-loop or open-loop (Terra does, though!), but you can look for the type of bamboo material that is used to determine if the brand is as eco-friendly as they claim to be. If the brand doesn’t openly disclose their ingredients that is often a first warning sign, anyway.

100% biodegradable diapers do not exist (yet), to the best of my knowledge. Many eco-conscious diapers are partially biodegradable or compostable, but not completely. Ecoriginals are a committed diaper brand with a goal of reaching a 100% biodegradable diaper by 2027. I’m excited to see if they achieve this! Terra also claims to have a diaper made of biodegradable materials that composts in 6 months, but due to hygiene regulations it is not completely compostable.

Key Terms and Certifications to Look For on Diaper Packages

Lack of these terms does not necessarily mean that you should run away, but the more certifications a company has, the more easily trustworthy it is.

TCF (Totally Chlorine Free Diapers) - do not use chlorine at all, but instead use oxygen or ozone to whiten diapers. ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) ECF diapers use a chlorine derivative called chlorine dioxide, which is not as clean as TCF diapers but less problematic than using elemental chlorine. Diapers are frequently bleached to create a clean, white look as well as increase absorption and comfort for baby. The process of bleaching using chlorine creates some hazards, however, including leaving behind traces of dioxins in diapers, increasing the risk for allergic reactions, and entering the environment where it can pose further risks. You can read here what the WHO says about dioxins. According to Consumer Reports, TCF diapers are most important for their lesser environmental impact. CR also does an excellent job of dissecting diapers and understanding what goes into them, you can read about that here.

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - this is a certification for textiles that have been tested for harmful chemicals. According to Oeko-Tex, a tested and certified article is harmless to human health, every thread, button and accessory have been tested against a list of over 1,000 harmful substances, the more intensive the skin contact, the stricter the human ecology requirements and laboratory tests, they use globally standardized test criteria, they use certification that complies with international requirements and regulations, and they review their limit values for harmful substances at least once a year.

FSC or ISF certified - both point to generally the same goal: Forest Stewardship Council supports responsible forestry, similar to Institute for Sustainable Forestry who promote sustainable forest management. Having one of these marks on a diaper box indicate that the wood pulp materials in the diapers are responsibly sourced.

Third Party Lab Tested - products tested by independent, third party labs give a clear, unbiased picture as to their purity and if their products are what the brand is saying they are. This is a phrase that can be easily thrown around, so it’s helpful when brands say who tested their products, bonus points if they publish the findings.

Lists Ingredients - Another good sign, albeit not a certification, is when a brand lists ALL ingredients in their diapers. Bonus points if they explain why they use each ingredient and what role it plays.

Bonus Certifications

The following certifications might not pertain solely to diapers or how safe they are, but can point to a trustworthy, ethical, and responsible brand.

BCorp Certified - verified to meet social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

Made in the USA - products made in the USA support local economies and help create jobs while often supporting stricter quality and safety controls as well as ethical labor practices. Items that are made outside of the USA can also certainly be high quality while supporting ethical practices and safe work conditions, you just have to be more mindful. For example, some good diapers on this list are made in Germany, Denmark, and elsewhere.

If diapers are made outside of the USA, you might see some of these certifications:

Asthma Allergy Nordic

Nordic Swan Ecolabel

EDANA Stewardship Programme Standard

EWG Certified

Environmental Working Group is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the goal of providing research on everything from individual ingredients to brands and products and how they impact our health and environment, so that people can make more informed choices of what they’re putting on and in their bodies. They’ve been accused of fear-mongering, but for the most part, are doing a great thing.

They have come up with a prestigious “EWG Verified” mark that only the highest quality and safest products can use. If you don’t want to do the research yourself, this is a great way to know you’re getting one of the safest products on the market.

Currently, there are THREE diaper brands that carry the “EWG Verified” mark:

• Healthy Baby diapers (the first to achieve this mark!)

• Attitude diapers

• Freestyle diapers

Enough with the chit-chat, let’s see which diapers made the cut.

Diaper are listed in alphabetical order.

---

Attitude

Absorbency: 2/5

Softness: 3/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.95 per diaper (size 5)

Diaper Design: plain white (has a slight sheen) with “Attitude” written in blue on waistband

• EWG certified - yes

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - Canada

• Other certifications -

To Note: I had high hopes for these diapers, as one of three verified by the EWG and really enjoying other products from this brand. Unfortunately they ended being some of the worst performing. They start disintegrating sometimes within just a few hours of wear, and always if worn overnight. Especially for the price, there are better natural diaper options out there.

---

Bambo Nature

Absorbency: 4.5/5 These diapers are very absorbent, a good choice for daytime and even nighttime as long as baby isn’t too heavy of a wetter.

Softness: 4/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.50 per diaper (Target, size 5)

Diaper Design: white with “A love like no other” written across front of waistband

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• Lists all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - Denmark

• Other Certifications - Allergy Asthma Nordic, Nordic Swan Ecolabel

---

Coterie

Absorbency: 5/5 These things are amazing, for day and night.

Softness: 5/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.67 per diaper with subscription from Coterie (size 5)

Diaper Design: textured white with “Coterie” written across front of waistband

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - no

• Where are these made - Canada, using globally sourced materials

• Other certifications - EDANA Stewardship Programme Standard, vegan

To Note: These are my overall favorite diapers on this list, and even more, probably of all 65+ diapers I’ve tried. This list attests to the good options in the natural diaper industry, yet many just aren’t quite as good as say, beloved Pampers or Huggies. These are.

Coterie has slightly smaller size ranges in their smaller diapers, therefore their smallest sizes (N-4) fit smaller. For example, their size 1 fits 8-12lbs where a standard size 1 fits 8-14lbs

---

Dyper

Absorbency: 4/5

Softness: 5/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.87 per diaper (Target, size 5)

Diaper Design: white with “Dyper” in yellow written across front of waistband

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - no

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - yes

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - China, Mexico, US using globally sourced materials

• Other Certifications - 5star Dermatest, USDA certified 55% biobased product

To Note: These bamboo diapers are made using the closed-loop system which make them a good bamboo choice

Dyper diapers are compostable when you sign up for their Redyper program, for $12.25 they pickup your dirty diapers and wipes; not available in all areas

---

EcoPeaCo. Bamboo diapers

Absorbency: 4/5

Softness: 3/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.73 per diaper (Target, size 5)

Diaper Design: white with “EcoPeaCo” written in gray across front of waistband

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - no

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - unknown, company is Canadian

• Other certifications - Ecocert certified bamboo pulp, Leaping Bunny, 1% for the planet

To Note: 100% compostable packaging

---

Freestyle SkinShield

Absorbency: 4.5/5

Softness: 4/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.48 (Target, size 5)

Diaper Design: white with “Freestyle” written in purple across front of waistband

• EWG certified - yes

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - unkown

• Other certifications - Independent, third-party tested by Vartest and SGS Laboratories with published results

To Note: Freestyle makes two distinct types of diapers: their “SkinShield” made with TCF and FSC certified wood pulp and EWG certified; and their “BambooTek” which are environmentally friendly (closed loop), tree-free diapers. The SkinShield diapers are the ones tested here. The BambooTek diapers are not EWG certified, and also more expensive.

---

HealthyBaby

Absorbency: 4/5

Softness: 4/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.68 per diaper (Target, size 5)

Diaper Design: white with “Healthy Baby” written across back of waistband

• EWG certified - yes

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - yes

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - yes, read here

• Where are these made - made responsibly in Europe

• Other certifications - EDANA Stewardship Programme Standard, HRIPT (Human Repeat Insult Patch Testing), Certified Plastic Neutral Product

To Note: Paper packaging

To Note: One weird quirk these have is tending to slide down, especially when pants are pulled down. Happens almost every time, no matter how tight the tabs are. Not a big deal (unless there’s a messy poo!) but worth mentioning all the same.

---

Joonya

Absorbency: 5/5 these are one of those wonderful kinds of diapers that holds their shape even when super full, no soggy crotch!

Softness: 4/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.57 per diaper with Joonya subscription (size 5)

Diaper Design: white with red sunshines all over

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - Denmark

• Other Certifications - Nordic Swan Ecolabel, Allergy Certified, EU Ecolabel, German Dermatest Seal, PETA-certified Vegan, and more Australian awards

To Note: Joonya sizing is different, so note carefully the weight on the sizes. Their sizes run almost a whole size smaller than standard US diaper sizes. Their sizes gradually get closer to US sizes the bigger you get, so that by the time you get to size 5, it’s almost the same as US sizing. Joonya 5 is 26-40lbs where typical US size 5 is 27+ lbs. We tried Joonya in size 5 and it felt pretty comparable to most size 5’s we’ve tried. They do not currently offer a size 6.

---

Kudos

Absorbency: 4/5 - more natural diapers often are not the most absorbent, but these are really quite decent

Softness: 4/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.68 per diaper (at Target)

Diaper Design: white with “Kudos” written across front of waistband

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - Mexico

• Other Certifications - True Cotton (cotton sourced from US)

---

LillyDoo

Absorbency: 3/5 These have decent absorbency, although they do tend to sag in the crotch when getting full and overall, one of the lower performers on this list

Softness: 4/5 Pleasantly soft

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.48 per diaper (Amazon, size 5)

Diaper Design: white with dandelion seeds all over

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex MADE IN GREEN - yes

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - no

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - Europe

• Other Certifications - PETA-certified vegan

To Note: Sizing runs a tad smaller than standard US diapers.

---

Nest

Absorbency: 4/5

Softness: 3/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.73 per diaper (Target, size 5)

Diaper Design: white with a rainbow across front of waistband

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - no

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - no

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - unknown

To Note: These diapers look and act like many of the other diapers on this page, yet it is surprisingly hard to find information on them. The Nest website has lots of pretty words but they don’t show certifications to back up what they’re saying. I believe they’re relatively new (but again not much info there), and I’m hoping they will add more concrete information soon. Their diapers come in paper compostable packaging.

---

Parasol

Absorbency: 4/5

Softness: 3/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.67 per diaper (size 5, Target)

Diaper Design: white and black designs, such as black ferns or black sea turtles, pure white are also available

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - China (This is one of the few diaper brands I had to reach out to in order to know where they are manufactured. It took a couple of tries, as initally I could only get through to the AI assistant who kept throwing a lot of buzzwords at me without ever answering my question. I wish they would be more transparent in this area and list it on their webisite. As is it felt like they were trying to conceal this fact.)

• Other Certifications - Dermatest “Excellent”

To Note: Woman-owned

---

Pura

Absorbency: 2/5 - these quickly sag and leak if too full

Softness: 4/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $.46 per diaper (on Amazon)

Diaper Design: white with orange designs all over

• EWG certified - no (but their baby wipes are)

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - yes

• BCorp Certified - yes

• FSC or ISF certified - no

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made - Made in the EU

• Other Certifications - Nordic Swan Eco Label, carbon neutral business, Allergy Certified, recyclable paper packaging

To Note: British brand

---

Terra

Absorbency: 3.5/5 - good absorbency but watch out for very soft poos

Softness: 4/5

Cheapest price at time of writing: $1.04 per diaper (on Amazon)

Diaper Design: white with green waistband with “Terra” written in white (food grade ink)

• EWG certified - no

• TCF - yes

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - no

• BCorp Certified - no

• FSC or ISF certified - yes

• List all diaper ingredients - yes

• Where are these made -

• Other Certifications - USDA certified biobased product, dermatologically rated “excellent”

To Note: Bamboo diapers made with a closed-loop systems for optimal sustainability. Their manufacturing runs on 100% renewable energy. They also claim their diapers are made from biodegradable materials and can compost in approximately 6 months. While not fully biodegradable due to hygiene regulations, they are a more eco-friendly choice. Packaging is paper and home-compostable

---

These next diapers I have not personally tried, but they appear to meet the criteria for this list:

BabyGanics

EcoBoom

Ecoriginals

Happy Little Camper

Manukind

Do you use diapers you thought were “natural” but didn’t see them on this list? It’s possible we’re not aware of them, but most often diaper brands are savvier in their marketing than they are their transparency in how natural their diapers truly are…Here’s a list of diapers that are often seen as natural or eco-friendly but don’t actually make the cut:

• BumBum Luxury Diapers

• Cuties

• Earth & Eden

• Hello Bello

• Honest

• Huggies Skin Essentials

• Pampers Amore

• Pampers Pure

• and most likely any other diaper that you would expect to see on this list but is not

Interestingly, some of these diapers previously would have made the list, but no longer do. For example, Honest diapers started out as TCF, but along the way they switched to ECF. I have only included TCF diapers on this list, therefore they no longer make the cut.

What are your favorite natural diapers? Any we should know about? Let us know in the comments!

---

Best Baby Gifts - Tried and True

Giving gifts is one of the more rewarding things we get to do in this life, especially for those whose love language is gift giving. Finding the perfect gift for the littles in your life can be a challenge, but rewarding knowing you’ve given something useful appreciated by both child and parent.

I’ve found myself turning more frequently to the online lists of gift ideas for certain age groups compiled by New York Times, Parents, Forbes, etc. I definitely vet the list thoroughly and only actually pursue a few ideas, but they’ve given great ideas that I otherwise never would have thought of.

As I had my first child and family and friends were having babies, I started to keep a running list of great baby gifts, a cheat sheet of sorts for gift giving, things I loved receiving and things people loved receiving. I’m writing them down since I know I can so quickly forget what I appreciated in certain stages of parenting. Now I’m sharing this list with you, for those looking for new tried and true ideas.

A Note About What You Won’t Find On This List

This list won’t include too many basic or essential items, since those are fairly obvious. Of course those make great gifts, but chances are if you’re turning to an online compiled list of gift ideas, it means you need some new ideas, right?

---

Best Baby Gifts

Every Day Items:

• Diapers/wipes - yes, this is a basic necessity, but it will definitely be used! You could also consider pampering them with some quality diapers and instead of the usual Pampers or Huggies.

• Egg night light - this is an egg shaped night light, wire-free and touch activated. It’s portable, and brightness can be adjusted from very dim to very bright, perfect for breastfeeding and nighttime diaper changes. Double tap to turn on and off, long tap to dim or brighten, and press the logo to change colors (cold or warm light). There is a charging pad, but I find I only need to charge it every 3-4 days. I was gifted this for my third child and wish I had had it with all three of my babies! It’s not quite as techy as, say, the Hatch night light, but I prefer the egg night light. No app or internet required.

• Natural/Organic hygiene products - more every day products, but the beauty of these kinds of gifts is that they can always be used, even if the new mom starts with a small stash. It’s especially nice if you can find a trusted, natural/organic brand that new mom will feel good about using on her newborn. It can feel overwhelming as a new mom, trying to find the best, affordable products for your kids while wading through all of the marketing and greenwashing. Some brands I love include: Earth Mama’s Organics, Weleda, Mustela, as well as brands that I’m hearing good things about: Nature Sustained, California Baby, Shoosha Baby, and Attitude Baby. Think shampoo, body wash, lotion, diaper rash cream, sunscreen for when baby gets older.

• Baby Carrier - good to have with a first baby, essential for subsequent children. I highly recommend the Ergo Baby carrier. It can be used with babies from 7-45lbs with no separate inserts needed. It can be used for 4 different carry positions. Having a wrap carrier, such as a Moby wrap or a Solly wrap, is also really nice, mostly for the first 3ish months to hold baby close and cozy. Wraps take a bit more time to get on, and aren’t usually used for as long as the more supportive carriers can be. Each mama has their preference. I had both kinds, and used both with all 3 of my babies. If I could only have one kind, I would definitely choose the easier buckle-on carriers like the Ergo Baby Carrier over wrap carriers.

• Boppy Nursing Pillow - I know not everyone loves nursing pillows, but I absolutely loved mine. Many baby products are advertised as being able to be used through different stages, and nursing pillows are one of the few that I felt were actually useful through different stages. I used mine extensively through the first 3 months for breastfeeding, and noticed the amount of time I’d use it gradually decrease after. From just about the time babies are born you can use them for supervised tummy time, support for laying on their backs for short periods (they can see what’s going on around them easier rather than staring up at the ceiling and getting bored), and later at 4-6 months for support while sitting up.

  I’ve tried 3 different kinds of nursing pillows, and while all 3 were definitely better than nothing, not all are made equally. The Haakaa nursing pillow is similar in shape to the Boppy pillow, but it was a bit lumpier, and a little flatter and wider, not offering quite as much support. The “My Breast Friend” Pillow was a unique shape and actually buckled behind mom to keep it in position better, but I felt it was a bit flat and not as comfortable for baby or mom. Boppy wins all around, with quick on and off, thick pillow for good support, and even a plastic case to keep it clean in if you want to store it or transport it.

  You might also consider buying an extra cover for the pillow. I didn’t have an extra cover until my second baby, but I can tell you, it was extra nice to have a change-out for all the different liquids that leak! There many different knock off brands available with different patterns to choose from. I’ve only used the Boppy brand covers, so I can’t vouch for the off-brand. Boppy offers some organic, 100% cotton covers.

Books:

• High Contrast Baby Books - this is a great first book for infants, starting from birth up through around 6 months. Young babies can’t see far nor much color, but they see and are often mesmerized by high contrast images. I was given a hand-me-down from a friend in Italy and all three of my children enjoyed this book, especially my first. It’s great for tummy time and play time in those younger months.

• Car Car Truck Jeep - this book was gifted my first son for his first Christmas and it became a favorite for both of us. It’s a board book with plenty of vehicles going about their day sung to the tune of “Baa Baa Black Sheep”. By the time my son was 4 months old I’d just pick up the book and he’d start smiling, giggling on his favorite pages. My second son also adores this book. He had it memorized by the time he was around 18 months old, haha. Kids love, and retain, singing so well.

• Pout Pout Fish - of the hundreds of new books that I’ve read to my children over the last few years, this is a stand out. It has good rhythm, a cute story with a twist, and keeps the toddlers through preschoolers alike engaged with a repeating rhyme that the littles love and bigger words that keep bigger kids engaged. I thoroughly enjoy reading it, even over and over again.

• Peek a Who? - this a book that involves peek a boo, and despite being extremely simple, is a favorite for babies and toddlers.

• I Love You Like No Otter - I tend to lean towards humorous/entertaining books over sentimental/cheesy books, but I have to say this is a cute one. Yes, it is a little cheesy, but the images and the sayings are all very sweet and enjoyable for kids and adults alike.

• Happy Baby Books - these books are like magic for babies and kids. It’s the kind of book that, before I had kids myself, I never would have gifted to someone or understood why babies like them. But babies love pictures of other babies, pictures of animals, pictures of objects, and these books include all of those things and more. Kids love looking at them on their own, and of course, having you read them over and over, even more. There are several different versions of these, and all are great. I bought several of these used to keep in the car, in the diaper bag, so that wherever we were, we always had one on hand, and no worries about them getting dropped or beat up.

Toys:

• Stacking Cups - some baby toys withstand the test of time. Beloved by babies, beloved by parents. They don’t take up much room, affordable, don’t make noise, and good for baby’s development.

• Stacking Rings

• Teething toys - giving a baby something they love to chew on is so satisfying. Some favorite teething toys I’ve seen my own kids, nieces and nephews, and other children all go ga-ga over (sorry, too much?) include these Nuby 3-stage teethers (the stages are bit of nonsense, all 3 are great at any point), these fruit teethers, these Itzy Ritzy water-filled dinosaurs perfect for the freezer, and these tools

• Stuffed animals - while common gifts, there are certain ones that are just really good ones. Choose ones that you like, or use the ones you like best that you receive as gifts, because they will likely grow with your baby and always remind you of their babyhood. Stuffies can in and of themselves become a priceless gift in this way. Some favorites of ours that are still available include this fox (also in part a teething toy although my kids didn’t do much chewing on him), any of the Palm Pals, any of the Squishmallows (a bit cumbersome for babies but they grow into them quickly!), and this super soft pink bunny (actually gifted to my son but both my son and daughter love it). A word to the wise: once your child starts to become attached to a certain lovey, buy a duplicate. That way, if anything ever happens to it, you’ll have an extra on hand in case you can’t get the original back.

Clothes:

• H&M - still my favorite place to buy baby clothes, hands down. They’re cute, they hold up well, and they tend to run big which is huge (no pun intended) if you have big babies. The prices have gone way up since I first started shopping their baby clothes (hello pre2020 prices), but if you shop their sales, it turns out quite affordable. Plus they have big sales that go up to 70% off a few times a year, as well as very regular sales. Every few weeks they have flash sales where the entire site goes 25% off, and at Thanksgiving you can get the whole site 30% off.

• H&M baby socks - I know I just mentioned H&M, but their socks get a special mention because they’re some of the better socks I’ve tried for babies. Especially the terry socks with grippies. When I first started buying their socks I thought they were basically perfect (nice colors, comfy, and STAY ON), but I’ve since found not all their socks are made equal. I recommend the terry socks!

• Lou Lou and Company - new moms can get inundated with baby clothes, so I’ve always thought it is nice to gift (or get!) just a few quality pieces rather than an overload of cheaper pieces/brands. Lou Lou is one of the companies that makes quality, practical baby clothing. The baby gowns are wonderful, especially for quick diaper changes, sleeping, and look nice enough for photoshoots. They’re not cheap, running $30+ per nightgown or set, but even just having 1-2 is great.

• Caden Lane - another brand that makes really nice baby gowns and clothing. Pricier, just like Lou Lou, but makes a wonderful gift.

• Kyte Baby - bamboo baby clothing that is light, stretchy, and super comfortable. They have clothing, sleep sacks, and more. I know some people whose kids live in these!

• Zutano slippers - the nicest baby slippers out there, in my opinion. They’re soft, comfortable, grippy for new walkers, wash well, and last a long time. I was gifted a pair with my first, and we used them so much I wanted a second pair. When I saw the price I decided to go with the more affordable Hudson slippers. That was a mistake. Zutano slippers have snap closures. Hudson Baby has velcro, and it makes all the difference. Babies can quickly figure out how to undo the velcro, and poof, baby won’t keep slippers on anymore. Especially sitting in a carseat where their feet are conveniently in reach. A snap is secure enough that baby can’t get them undone as easily. What’s the use of slippers if baby won’t keep them on? I’m all for saving money, but this is one spot where I definitely recommend the nicer item. If the new mama is on a budget, do her a favor and get her the Zutano slippers. :)

---