24 sustainable gift ideas for new parents they’ll actually want

Photo by Gabriel Tovar/Unsplash; featured image by Wesley Tingey/Unsplash

A beautiful new life has just come into the world. How exciting that you get to be a part of this child, and their parents’, life! 

 

As the loving person you are, you’re looking for sustainable gift ideas for baby & the new parents. Something practical yet meaningful; useful yet sustainable! 

 

Life has a lot in store for this little bundle of joy, or la luz as we say in spanish: new sights, sounds, tastes, & textures! Teething and birthday parties; heartache and growth; and one day they will inherit the Earth that we have passed down to them. 

 

The best sustainable gifts seamlessly blend practicality with environmental consciousness — because it’s not very environmentally friendly if it doesn’t get used is it? No. 

 

Whether you’re the environmental warrior or the new parents are, as we’re brainstorming 24 sustainable gift ideas for new parents, think outside the obvious ‘eco’ label: a nipple cream from a local apothecary in a glass jar, a non-toxic baby lotion that can double as adult skincare isn’t just an eco-friendly choice it’s a smart, versatile gift. 

do we need to be thinking about sustainability for new parents? 

If the new parents are eco-conscious you’re going to make their lives a lot easier by gifting things that don’t add to their mental load. If you’re gifting a sustainable gift because it’s important to you, think of it this way. 

 

Practical sustainability isn’t about being preachy or pushing your values on someone. Whether the gift ends up soothing a baby's diaper rash or becoming a mom's emergency moisturizer, the goal is simple: to create meaningful, functional support that happens to be kind to the planet.

 

There is a lot of privilege in the ability to choose what kinds of products you buy for your baby and the babies in your life; when possible, putting your money with sustainable brands when possible is good for people, the planet, and baby’s future. 

 

No matter your stance, Earth is in crisis. The very baby we’re trying to swaddle and protect was likely already exposed to microplastic particles via the placenta before it was born. 

 

And thanks to convenience culture, so many of the products used to help baby grow are incredibly wasteful:

• baby wipes (disposable)
• healing pads for mom (disposable)
• single-use bottles
• formula pouches (single-use)
• food pouches (single-use)
• synthetic baby clothes (plastics/fossil fuels).

Disposable diapers are a whole other story but it’s worth mentioning they are: 

• one of the biggest contributors of global plastic waste.

• have been found in 80% of examined fish in the Javan river.

• have been found to contain toxins like formaldehyde and VOCs.

A lot of new parents might like the idea of choosing reusable cloth diapers but lack the support to do so. A supportive community can help change that! 

Your money is a powerful tool. Every sustainable product you choose is truly a vote with your dollar. 

The weight of bringing a new life into a world facing significant environmental challenges can feel overwhelming. Honoring a parent’s choice for sustainable products or gifting with sustainability in mind can transform eco-anxiety into hope. Because what baby needs the most is love (not parents battling parenting AND eco-anxiety). 

practical, sustainable, & thoughtful gift Ideas for new parents & baby

We think we speak for a lot of people when we say the most helpful gifts are going to be very practical and very unsexy. 

when to approach sustainable gifts with caution

While we’re all about sustainability, health and safety always come first especially when in the world of children and babies. 

It’s important to buy new or proceed with caution: 

• cloth diapers: skip unless you know the new parents want to do it!

• car seats: you don’t know if that seat has been in an accident.

• teething toys: you don’t know what materials they’re made with. 

• certain breast pump models: not all of them can be deconstructed and cleaned. 

• cribs: older models may not meet today’s safety standards for both stability & added chemicals.

• soft fabric items that can’t be sanitized: nursing pillows, teething rings, etc. 

• anything the parents don’t feel comfortable with: if the parents don’t want secondhand clothes, honor their choice. Maybe buy from a brand that specializes in organic, natural fibers instead. 

In the past decade we’ve seen so much progress with safety features and even with added chemicals (looking at you PFAS) that in these instances it can be better to buy new. 

Now to the good stuff! 

eco-friendly clothing storage

( r e ) ˣ gray hanger

New parents are rolling in mountains of new baby clothes, many that will be outgrown in the blink of an eye! Help them out with clothing storage solutions that make their life easier.

• ( r e ) ˣ recycled plastic hangers for kids! 

• Not only are our hangers kid-sized, they’re extra sturdy, come in fun colors, and can support additional items like blankets, sheets & 20+ onesies — snap the bottoms over the pants bar.

• jute laundry(+) baskets

• A cute floor or hanging basket made from a natural fiber like jute or palm leaf can make a great movable hamper and can be repurposed for storage (or cats) later. 

• cotton or canvas under the bed clothing storage

• Space = money. New parents are going to be going through clothes faster than they know what to do with! A few canvas or cotton zippered bags that can go under the bed or on the high closet shelves can come in handy. 

secondhand & sustainable baby clothing

• onesie extenders

• Onesie extenders can help make clothes last just a little longer. They also work on cloth diapers! Look on etsy, in local stores/artists who repurpose old fabrics, and Amazon of course.

• gift cards to secondhand stores

• Once Upon A Child is a pretty national chain in the U.S. but it could be extra special if you find a thrift shop/local store close to the parents and allows them to fill in the gaps. 

• prioritize natural & organic fabrics 

• Baby is about to be swaddled. Helping the parents prioritize natural fibers helps the environment, can save money, are great for babies’ sensitive skin, are extremely durable, can be easily repurposed, and can contain less chemicals. Look for 100% organic cotton, cotton jersey, linen, & hemp. 

diapers, diapers, diapers

• disposable diapers

• Diapers are always appreciated! Just make sure to bring what the new parents actually need (it’s okay to ask). 

• cloth diapers

• New parents might appreciate a cloth diaper starter kit or assistance filling up their stash as the initial investment can be quite high. 

• Set up & pay for a diaper service. In Chicago we have Green Diaper Babies and Loop Diapers serve 48 states. 

• Gift cards are always welcome! 

• eco-friendly diapers 

• The Filtery has a great article about the healthiest disposable baby diapers.

• Healthy Baby is an EWG approved diaper.

• Eco by Naty is a Swedish brand made from plant-based materials.

• Honest diapers are also made from plant-based materials. 

• Compostable diapers might be possible but logistically it’s weird and would need to be a hyper local solution. 

meal & nutrition support

• home-cooked freezer meals 

• Always check for allergies! As someone with dietary restrictions I promise it’s not that hard. Paleo recipes are almost always fine as are Whole 30 (gluten-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free). 

• opt for a meal delivery service gift card

• Think about services like Uber Eats & Grubhub but also check for local services that create home-cooked meals. 

• food storage

• If the new parents are rocking and rolling and cooking home made meals, sustainable food storage containers in glass with lock tight seals can help with freezer meals and prepping. Can you really ever have enough?

• stasher bags

• Stasher bags are amazing! Made from surgical grade silicone they can be frozen, put in the oven, used in the dishwasher, and repurposed if they ever get a hole (which is rare). 

• plastic-free breast milk storage

• There are options if mom wants to reduce plastic! Breastmilk can be pumped directly into mason jars and frozen, stored in silicone storage bags specifically for breastmilk, AND frozen in silicone ice cube trays. Read more on Abby’s Food Court blog.

future & finance gifts for baby

• 529 college fund

1. A 529 college fund grows tax-deferred and can be used for any qualified education expense for the beneficiary. Once set up, just about anyone can contribute to a 529 plan (although you might want to give the parents a heads up with a card or receipt). Make a one-time contribution or something you do on the regular. 

• ethical investments & green bonds

1. If finance is your thing, consider working with an ethical investment manager to begin making investments that don’t fund fossil fuels. Read more about sustainable investing on Investopedia.

self care & support gifts

• babysitting

• Give gift cards to a trusted babysitting service or create coupons you’ll redeem to watch the baby yourself! 

• DIY a coupon book

• THelp the new parents take time off by creating a coupon book with small ideas they can do to take care of themselves. Depending on how close you are to them you can be the self-care accountability buddy! 

• sustainable self-care/survival products

• As if navigating the world of self-care products isn’t complicated enough, throwing a new baby into the mix really shakes things up. Suddenly the ingredients label reads like caution tape. Help the new parents by setting them up with a subscription service or researching a clean line of lotions, nipple creams, soaps & shampoos. 

• Bonus points for glass jars, stainless steel, silicone, & supporting small businesses. A good place to start is a local bulk/refill store. 

• massage

• Pre-natal massages can be a great baby shower gift if you’re looking ahead of time. New mothers might not be ready to leave their newborn but a gift card with no expiration date or a year-long expiration date is also an option.

thoughtful experience gifts for new parents

• future time savers

• Rechargeable batteries and a charging dock can come in handy for a variety of supplies to keep baby healthy. As they get older (2+) there’s a high probability that will come in handy after a toy battery gets left out.

• cleaning service gift cards

• Obviously check with the new parents first but a cleaning service can help make their lives so much easier. 

• grocery delivery gift cards

• Offer your services to help grocery shop/prep or come bearing a gift card.

• emotional support & quality time coupons 

• It can be hard to take time off from your newborn to worry about yourself. But the new parents are going to experience emotions brand new to them too. Whether it’s by checking in with them, creating fun coupon books, or stopping by, let them know you’re part of their support system. 

• secondhand books 

• For baby and the new parents! Books & gift cards to secondhand bookstores are always appreciated.

• baby lessons

• Help the new parents by researching classes and things they can do with their new baby such as swim classes, baby gyms, stroller ride exercise classes, story & rhyme classes at the local library, and even baby music classes. Obviously don’t sign them up without their permission! 

Gifting with sustainable gifts is a meaningful way to support the growing families in your life and our planet. Each thoughtful, environmentally-considerate gift represents an opportunity to reduce waste, minimize unnecessary chemical exposure, and provide genuine support during a transformative life stage.

But always remember the most valuable gift is your support, creativity, and commitment to both the family’s well-being and our environmental future.