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The Non-Toxic Nursery Guide: Everything You Need for The First Few Months

Written by: the Editors of goop

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Updated on: June 4, 2015

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Becoming a first-time parent is equal parts terrifying and thrilling. You want to do everything you can to protect and keep your baby safe, which, compounded with new mom hormones, can get a little crazy-making. It doesn’t help that there seem to be a million decisions to make (some with health consequences)–after all, there is no way around a steep learning curve to prepare you for a newborn (though it’s a fast one).

We’ve tried to take some of the guesswork out of it–and have called on renowned pediatrician, Dr. Harvey Karp, the creator of the bow-at-its-feet brilliant Happiest Baby on the Block empire to help us navigate some of these waters–as a huge and early days supporter of the Environmental Working Group, he’s well aware of what little ones face in terms of the toxins around, but he’s also highly reasonable, too. We asked him a bunch of questions about breastfeeding while we had him on the line. And then we turned to Christopher Gavigan, co-founder of The Honest Company, to take us through the intricacies of diapering and other non-toxic choices for little ones.

There aren’t health consequences to every decision, so we’ve marked those that require special care with a critical decal–the rest of the picks are predicated on what we’ve found to be the most effective (and stylish) way to take care of a baby (and in many cases, the most minimal). Herewith, goop’s ultimate nursery guide.

Christopher Gavigan Christopher Gavigan

Long-time goop friend Christopher Gavigan has never made a secret of his concern for the health and welfare of all of our kids–or the earth that they will inherit–which is why he’s spent the last few decades fighting for safer products and more regulations. The co-founder of The Honest Company answers some of our questions about diapering and a non-toxic home. Read more

DR. HARVEY KARP DR. HARVEY KARP

Quite honestly, new parents need little more than Dr. Karp’s brilliant book (and corresponding DVD), Happiest Baby on the Block, which is the ultimate tool-kit for baby calming. We turned to Dr. Karp for answers on key questions, like why breastfeeding is important, and what bottles and formula is best–while he’s well aware of the importance of keeping babies safe, he’s a voice of reason, too. Read more

Diapering

Critical

Diapering is a bummer all around–they’re not particularly fun to change, and they’re generally terrible for the earth (no disposable receives enough sunlight to biodegrade, while cloth diapers require a ton of water). These companies are making the whole process as palatable as possible.

Wipes

Critical

Wipes can be loaded with chemicals (alternately, those that claim to be preservative-free are bunk, too, as preservatives are legally required when a product lists water as an ingredient). These are effective and clean.

Diaper Cream

Critical

A clean formulation is key, here, though preference is in the eye of the applier (and whatever makes butts less hurty).

Bedtime

Keep it simple: Besides a fitted crib sheet, your baby should be put down with nothing else, including blankets, baby pillows, and stuffed animals. (Here’s a good trick, though: You can prop a mattress up ever so slightly by putting folded towels or swaddles underneath, which works particularly well with a bassinet.)

Organic Mattress

Critical

An organic mattress isn’t cheap, but if you’re going to splurge on one thing for your baby, make it this: Free of flame retardants and other harmful VOCs, you can rest easy knowing your baby is sleeping on something that’s super safe.

Crib

You can spend a lot on a crib–that said, you really don’t have to. There are a variety on the market that transform into toddler beds, although you can skip this step and go straight to a twin when your toddler is ready to break out.

Swaddles & Sleepsacks

If you learn one thing before you have a baby, learn how to swaddle (see Happiest Baby on the Block).

Travel Crib

At less than 12 pounds, this stylish travel crib can double as an old-fashioned pack ‘n play (i.e., set it up for an impromptu play pen anywhere), but it’s far easier to drag across the country.

Mattress Pad

It’s easy to go totally nuts on crib sheeting–but in all honesty, you really need only two, max three, sets. (It’s good to have a spare in case of a late-night full crib change.)

Sheets

Organic cotton is great when it’s available, though don’t stress: While it’s a wonderful precedent and kinder to the earth, there’s no issue with putting traditional cotton on your child.

Pacifiers

Critical

According to Dr. Karp, it’s best to avoid giving a newborn a pacifier until nursing is going well–and then they might become clutch. (See the Five S’s, under Happiest Baby on the Block.) “The shape doesn’t really matter,” he explains. For more on pacifiers from Dr. Karp, click here.

Lullaby Music

This series is totally awesome. Biased, but the Coldplay ones are the best.

Happiest Baby On the Block

Dr. Karp’s Happiest Baby on the Block DVD is must-watch TV. His brilliant theory is that, thanks to their large brain size, babies are born prematurely, and should experience what is essentially a fourth trimester. Whatever you can do to recreate the womb in real life (tight, loud, always in motion), will help your baby adjust, which revolves around the Five S’s: Swaddling, Sucking, Shushing, Side, and Swinging.

Men, in particular, seem to excel at this art. As Dr. Karp explains, “Men are terrible at breastfeeding, but they’re far better than women at baby soothing.” In terms of that loud noise, he also has a low, white noise CD to run all night while your baby is sleeping (and a sleep book). (For more from Dr. Karp, click here.)

Mini Layette

When it comes to newborns, you really don’t need much–resist the urge to shop too much in advance, as it’s hard to predict how big your baby might be (and how fast they might grow).

Mini Health Kit

You don’t have to go nuts, but you do want a few essentials.

FOR WHEN THEY’RE OUT OF SIGHT

You don’t have to go nuts, but you do want a few essentials.

BATH TIME

There’s nothing more terrifying than giving a newborn a bath–but the good news is that you really don’t have to do it frequently (and you can just use water for a long time).

Shampoo & Body Wash

Critical

These are all super clean, meaning they don’t have any toxic chemicals. (For more on our thoughts about clean beauty, click here.)

Baby Lotion & Oil

Critical

A little baby massage is a pretty awesome tradition to establish before bed.

Hooded Towels

You can always used adult-sized towels, but the hood does come in handy.

Getting Around

Gear can pretty much act like Gremlins in your entryway–carrying the baby on your body is pretty awesome and streamlined, though a low-profile stroller is helpful, too.

Carriers

Our advice: Go to a shop with your newborn and try some carriers on to see what they prefer–they’ll have a decided and vocal preference, and you won’t end up torturing them with a carrier they hate.

Stroller

Go for as little bulk and heft as you think you can get away with…particularly if you’re putting it in and out of the trunk of a car.

Infant Car Seat

You can hypothetically get one car seat that adjusts throughout childhood, but infant car seats are actually kind of essential, particularly if you drive–more often than not, your baby will knock off in the car, and then you can simply carry them into the house without disrupting their nap.

Diaper Bags

For unknown reasons, diaper bags have long occupied the space of functional fugliness–but some designers and new companies are jumping into the fray and making them far less of a burden to carry.

Feeding

Dr. Karp has a lot of advice on this matter.

Cleaner

Other Essentials Nobody
Tells you about

You can thank us later. Lay in stores of the following (and steal some supplies from the hospital). Buy nipple balm in bulk and bring it to the hospital. (The first week or so is the toughest, at which point breastfeeding generally gets infinitely easier and less painful.)

Bottles

Critical

Interestingly enough, if you have a preemie who is primarily bottle fed, you want to use (BPA-free) plastic bottles: “The white blood cells in the colostrum cling to glass,” explains Dr. Karp. “If your baby is not premature and you’re breastfeeding, wait to introduce a bottle until two to three weeks so breastfeeding is established–don’t wait any longer, as a baby might reject a bottle after a certain point, and it’s great for other caregivers to be able to nurture the baby, too.” (For more on breastfeeding from Dr. Karp, click here.) “Choose glass, silicone (which is very stable), or if plastic, make sure they’re BPA-free.”

Formula

While we’d be inclined to go straight for the newer all-organic brands, Dr. Karp actually advocates going with Enfamil or Similac. “They have a track record of safety that goes back 30 or 40 years–I just wouldn’t take the risk with a lesser known brand.” (For more thoughts from him on this, click here.)

PSSST, TWO GREAT GIFTS

 

Activities

Babies don’t need (or do) much at the beginning, but tummy time is key.

BLANKETS + BAR

Within a week or two, you’ll be putting your little one down for tummy time–and they like lying on their backs and looking up at things (that they can’t really actually see). There are pre-assembled sets that make this easy (SkipHop), or you can make your own version.

Baby Blankets

You’ll receive a lot of baby blankets as gifts, which all seem to serve a different purpose. Here, one that’s extra-washable, and another that’s incredibly comforting.

Swings & Bouncers

Swinging is one of Dr. Karp’s five S’s–in our experience, what the Fisherprice Snugabunny lacks in looks, it makes up for in effectiveness. (See Happiest Baby on the Block for more info.)