When I found myself expecting our fourth baby, six years after we gave all of our baby gear away, I knew I’d have to get creative to restock the nursery. After my first three kids, I also knew which traditional baby-registry must-haves our family likely would not need. In addition to preparing for baby in the most inexpensive way possible (no baby shower here!), it was most important to me that this time around would be as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible.
Much to my delight, things have changed a lot since our last child was born in 2017. While many traditional baby stores have closed up shop, there are several new sources for “green” baby gear. Not only that, but there are actually baby brands that use sustainable resources, ethical manufacturing, and give back. Three things I am always looking for in every purchase I make.
Our Sustainable Baby Registry Must-haves
On more than one occasion since my last go-around, I’ve come across some cool new baby gadget and thought, “I wish that had been around when my kids were babies!”. Well, the universe gave me my chance š¤£ I did a lot of research, asked around in mom’s groups, and ultimately decided on a few must-have items for my sustainable baby registry.
Nuna Pipa Car Seat
I was first drawn to this highly-recommended baby car seat because it is one of the lighter car seats I found. It is also super minimal, which I love. Upon further investigating, I learned that Nuna is a European company, and apparently Europe is a bit ahead of the US in terms of car seat safety. Who knew! Not only that, but Nuna uses sustainable and vegan resources in the products. Yay!
Nuna Mixx Next Stroller
Deciding on a stroller was perhaps the most difficult decision. There are a lot of great options, but ultimately it came down to either a Nuna Mixx Next or the UPPAbaby VISTA V2. Side note: we did not consider the Nuna Demi Grow or Uppabbay Vista V2 because we do not have a current or potential future need for a double stroller; if that does not apply to you, definitely check those models out! This was by far the biggest investment, but the final decision came down to what we were able to find on Facebook Marketplace or on one of the sources listed below. We got super lucky and found the Nuna Mixx Next at a nice discount!
Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair
I love this high chair. Not only does it grow with your child from birth to adulthood, it is timeless and classic without taking up a ton of space in our dining room. I opted for the complete baby set which includes the chair itself, a baby seat, cushion, and tray. I later added on the newborn set too. I figured this will be a great addition to keep baby close while we’re having dinner or I’m helping one of the older ones with homework.
It is more expensive than other options, but the resale value is pretty impressive. However, due to that, used Tripp Trapps are often snatched up rather quickly on marketplace. If you find one, grab it quickly! We got ours open box from Good Buy Gear and the newborn set (overstock) from Rebelstork, both linked below.
Baby Carriers
I never really got into babywearing with my older kids. The carriers I tried felt uncomfortable, impractical, or both, and I never found one that made me want to keep trying. But now, hope&plum exists! They are a Minnesota-based company making beautiful baby carriers with sustainability, ethical manufacturing, and local artists at the forefront. Their carriers are sewn in Minnesota, and I love that many of their prints come from collaborations with independent artists.
I have also learned so much just by following hope&plum. They are huge advocates for safe babywearing and share a ton of free education that makes the whole thing feel much less intimidating. They also offer free virtual fit checks to help caregivers get a comfortable, safe fit for both themselves and baby.
I have both a ring sling and a Lark ready to go for baby #4, and I am actually excited to give babywearing another chance this time around. Especially since this little babe will be tagging along to her big siblings events quite frequently!
Organic Baby Clothes
Babies grow FAST. While it can be so fun to shop for little ones, it’s easy to go overboard and buy more clothes than a baby can realistically wear in just a few short months. I saw this as an opportunity to jump on Facebook “purges” from other moms and hit secondhand shops. As an added bonus, many places separate out the organic and/or high-end baby brands and even offer crazy discounts (BOGOs, etc) for smaller sizes. I’ve got enough clothes for baby’s first few months of life just by buying used (some NWT!) from other parents, Once Upon a Child, and Kid to Kid (my new fave!).
The stars aligned, and Oolie also dropped their very first collection of GOTS-certified organic cotton newborn onesies, baby hats, and blankets just in time. I can’t wait to wrap baby girl up in these beautiful pieces!
Sustainable Baby Toys
Now, this is one area that is NOT new to me. Since I began working with Smiling Tree Toys in 2013, when my oldest was just a year and a half old, I’ve been hyper aware of the toxic baby toy industry. In addition to the obvious health concerns, I also know that babies and kids become easily overstimulated with all the lights, sounds, and colors of these popular toys. I have also seen with my own eyes how little these toys get played with. While many toys have gone through our playroom, they usually end up collecting dust and get donated within a few months.
That is not the case with our Smiling Tree Toys block sets, though! These still get played with by my 6- and 8-year-olds regularly, and it’s so fun watching their imaginations run wild discovering new ways to build, stack, and learn.
Hands-free Breast Pump
Hands-free breast pumps were just coming up when my youngest was born. I haven’t yet decided which one I’m going for, but it’s likely between the Elvie or the Willow. I still need to determine what my insurance will cover. Until then, I have both my old Spectra and Medela from previous babies.
Sustainable Baby Gear
Much to my delight, things have changed a lot since our last child was born in 2017. While many traditional baby stores have closed up shop, there are several new sources for “green” baby gear. These online baby shops offer open box, gently used, and overstock baby items at seriously significant discounts! This was extra appealing to me, because I knew I wanted some pricier options this time around. Inventory changes regularly, so keep checking if you’re looking for something specific.
Rebelstork
Rebelstork’s mission is to “make parenting lighter”, and that couldn’t appeal to me more (both literally and figuratively). My husband and I are past the “typical” age of new parents, and we weren’t going to mess around with cheap strollers or heavy baby car seats! Rebelstork had many brands on our baby wish list at great prices.
GoodBuyGear
GoodBuyGear is another favorite! This site had so many options and was very easy to navigate.
CapitalKidz
This was actually the first site I came across when I started this journey. While CapitalKidz comes highly recommended, and carries many of the most sought-after items, I wasn’t able to find the inventory I was looking for, when I was looking for it. I will definitely keep it on my list though for future needs, and recommend you do the same!
Other Sources for Sustainable Baby Gear
Facebook Marketplace
I mentioned Facebook Marketplace previously, but unfortunately for me there was not a lot in my area for sustainable baby items. I still recommend searching there first, because there are for sure gems! It really depends on where you live and/or how far you’re willing to drive for pick up if shipping is not available. And, as we all know. Facebook Marketplace can be a sketchy, stressful place at times. IYKYK.
Facebook Groups
Buy-Sell-Trade (BST)
If you are a die-hard follower of a certain brand, find a BST group. Seriously.
And if you’re like me and love many brands, you can always find a local(ish) “high-end resale” group. The one I’m in here in Minnesota is my favorite! It’s where I got so many new and barely-used clothes, all shipped to me so I didn’t have to try to arrange pickup.
Other Sales Groups
I also belong to a handful of groups that receive overstock items and resell them in Facebook groups. These are a little more hit-or-miss, but I’ve gotten several NWT Goumi (another favorite for baby clothes) pieces for just a few dollars each! Iāve also seen Stokke high chairs, Nuna car seats, 4moms mamaRoo seats, and more, all new in box and deeply discounted. Send me a note if you’d like an invite!
Consignment and Thrift Stores (Brick-and-Mortar)
Thrifting has become a favorite pastime of mine, and I’m so lucky that my oldest shares this passion. We have so much fun digging through the racks to see what we can find. So many of our favorite items have come from secondhand stores! Once Upon a Child and Goodwill are obviously the most well-known, but don’t write off your local thrift shops. And Kid-to-Kid is seriously amazing, for both buyers and sellers! Don’t forget to join their rewards programs for even more savings.
Online Secondhand and Resale Sites
ThredUp
If you’re looking for an online option, ThredUp is a regular of mine and probably where 50% of my wardrobe is from. This site carries women’s and children’s clothing from popular brands, and they offer special promos pretty regularly.
Resale Apps
Poshmark is probably the most well-known app for buyers and sellers, but I personally prefer Mercari and Kidizen. Kidizen is amazing for kids clothing, and if you find a seller with a style that matches yours, you can likely take advantage of bundle discounts. I still find things on eBay every once in a while, too!
2026 Update: Kidizen is no longer available š¢ But Vinted has been pretty great so far!
Final Thoughts
I know baby registries can feel overwhelming, especially when there are so many new products, opinions, and āmust-havesā to sort through. For us, starting over with baby #4 was a chance to be more selective, buy less, find great things secondhand, and choose a few pieces we knew would make life easier.
Not every item on this list will make sense for every family, but I hope it gives you a few ideas and a few places to look if you are trying to prepare for a baby without buying everything brand new. Some of my favorite finds were the ones that took a little patience, a little searching, and a little luck.
And honestly, I am just really grateful to get to do this one more time. š„¹
