Products for babies? These bibs are designed to soak up the fountain of drool your wee one will produce somewhere around three months old all the way until about a year—also known as teething time. These dribble bibs have a cotton layer on top, next to your baby’s skin, and bottom layer of absorbent fleece, making them thicker than your average bib. They also have two snaps so you can expand their size as your baby grows. Most importantly, these cute bandanas keep your baby’s neck warm and clothes dry.
The weight range doesn’t go up nearly as high (7-33 pounds), and it requires an infant insert that you have to purchase separately (if your baby is under 12 pounds), and it doesn’t have the “bucket” adjustments to accommodate both infants and toddlers thighs. So you end up with the four positions and need to purchase the infant insert to make that 5. We also thought it needed a small storage pouch to carry a paci, keys, phone, etc, and that the Velcro around the waist was great but also quite loud to use. So those are the reasons we chose the LILLEBaby as #1, though honestly, it was a close call. The Ergobaby is just so comfortable for parents and babies, and it is less bulky and can adjust down to suit relatively petite parents, so it was a difficult decision. A truly excellent baby carrier with just some small shortcomings. Usually about $150 and available in a ton of colors and patterns. Note also that the new and pricier Ergobaby Omni 360 is now available and is more similar to the LILLEBaby in versatility, supporting babies and toddlers from 7 to 45 pounds, and offering 6 different carry positions.
All Natural: We’re also seeing a lot of 2019 fashion getting inspiration from nature. More designers are also using organic cotton and making other environmentally friendly changes that show awareness of our dying planet. We’re seeing more and more of a need for sustainability and that is trickling into fashion. This means more and more designers are using organic and natural fabrics such as organic wool and cotton, and even fabric made from bamboo. The styles too are reflective of nature and we’re seeing a lot of patterns in earthy colors, animal and floral print.
New parents will quickly discover that buying clothes for kids is a fraught affair: On one hand, you want them to look nice, but on the other, kids often outgrow their clothes within a single season, which means you’ll have to spend more money to buy new clothes, while the old ones pile up.
The BabyBjorn is perfect for parents who want a quick, secure way to carry their little one during the early months (all it takes is just a couple of buckles compared to more intricate wraps). It’s simple to get babies in and out—even when they’ve fallen asleep on-the-go. Plus, it’s light enough to toss in your diaper bag or store in the stroller basket. This carrier is designed for newborns up to babies around 12 months. So larger babies may outgrow it sooner than you’d like. There’s no waist belt, which some say leads to back and shoulder strain when wearing it for too long. On the other hand, many moms and dads actually like the simplicity of only having shoulder straps. (FYI: the BabyBjorn Miracle has a waist strap, which is more supportive for longer excursions.) It allows babies to face in or out in a front-carry position. So if you want back-carrying options, the BabyBjorn One is your best bet. See more details on Baby and Toddler Toys.
This is likely the most obvious acceptable item, because babies grow fairly quickly out of their clothes and keeping up with their growing bodies can be a challenge on a budget. Meghan Slocum, a California-based blogger writes that upcycling is also a great way to reduce clothing waste: “Buying used clothes is good for the environment because you’re making use of clothes that have already been produced. Those clothes don’t have to go to the landfill or be recycled, AND you save on the use of the resources that would be needed to produce new clothes.”