The Gentle Nursery

Or maybe you’ve been overwhelmed by the great toy options out there, only to find that every single thing your baby likes to play with is made with PVC or other toxic materials. In addition to their popular play gym, Lovevery also offers Play Kits, a quarterly toy subscription box for your baby or toddler. Another great classic from Green Toys, this tug boat makes a great gift for babies 6+ months. ’s first birthday or for holiday gifts, I hope you found a few great toys on this list of gift ideas for babies.

Most kids around this age love flashy toys but only play with them for a minute before they’re at the bottom of the toy bin never to see daylight again — until it’s time to do a donation. It’s fun, and bouncy and is sure to give your little energizer bunny a fun activity to do either outdoors or indoors. Whether your child likes to swing in it or make a racetrack for toy cars, it’s extremely open-ended, and that’s why I love it so much. Most four-year-olds love to “help”, and a little cleaning set that’s just the right size for them is the perfect way for them to do it.

So, my first self-care tip for new moms is to make it a point to get dressed every day, even if it’s just leggings and a clean t-shirt. We spend so much time focusing on maternity clothes, but many moms don’t realize that it can take a while before you’re feeling up to wearing real jeans with a zipper. I know you probably don’t feel like yourself right now, but I want you to be thankful for your strong, beautiful, amazing body. And as a side note — if you find that your old circle of (presumably kid-free) friends doesn’t seem to hold space for you anymore, or doesn’t really fit quite right, you could find that you have a lot more in common with your new friends.

The best non-toxic crayon doesn’t use paraffin wax. You’ll find these crayons to be very affordable compared to some of the other non-toxic crayons on the market, but do note that they are made in China and contain both beeswax and paraffin as ingredients, so you’ll have to decide if you’re comfortable with that. Using USDA and eco-certified organic soy wax, organic palm oils, organic soya butter, and food-grade coloring pigments, you can feel good about these non-toxic crayons. The crayon formula is non-sticky, non-greasy, and they won’t stain your child’s hands.