Product Review:
Creating an Organic Baby Registry at Babies"R"Us

When I registered for baby gear in 2007 it never occurred to me to create an organic baby registry - and certainly not at Babies "R" Us. However, I visited them this past weekend in search of a new stroller and was pleased to see they had organic offerings throughout the store.

I knew they had them online, but the fact that the products are on the shelves means more moms and babies will end up with healthier alternatives in their homes!

As I walked through the store I was delighted to see organic baby products. However, I got most excited when I discovered an organic baby section near the front of the store.

Some of the products were impressive and others had labels that were misleading. Here's an overview of some of the brands and products I found.

Gerber Organic Line

Gerber makes certified organic wash cloths, crib sheets, blankets and burp cloths and onesies. They are soft and come in traditional baby patterns with pink and blue as well as a gender neutral and natural butter-yellow color.

I also liked the prices. For example two onesies for $11.99 and reversible organic blankets for $13.99. If I were registering again I'd definitely include pieces from the Gerber line in my organic baby registry.

Natures Purest™ Hug Me Collection by Summer

This company is a step ahead of the competition. They offer a natural line of baby gear: a bassinet, portable play yard/sleeper, high chair, bouncy seat, swing, nursery bedding and other accessories.

Notice I used the word "natural" because some components of pieces are made with organic cotton while others include synthetic fabrics and materials. The company is actually careful to use the words "organically grown cotton", which probably means they don't have certification on their products.

You just have to read the labels to make sure what you're expecting is what you're getting.

The company does appear to take a stance against the use of pesticides, bleaches and dyes in their products. Did you knew cotton naturally came in cream, brown and green?

It is worth noting that some of the user-reviews on the Babies R Us site mention that the assembly instructions are tough to follow. As a result they are less portable then desired.

All in all, if I were registering today, I would add some of these pieces to my baby registry - particularly the play yard since my daughter spent so much time sleeping in hers. This is the first natural baby gear line I've seen. I'm sure other companies will follow.

Koala Organic Baby Clothes

This was the only line of organic clothes I saw in the store. I have to say I wasn't impressed with the quality of the fabric. It was a little thin and rough for organic fabric. Would I choose it over conventional fabric? Perhaps. But there are so many other choices of organic lines these days - I'd probably just skip it.

Halo Organic Sleep Sack

Once I figured out swaddling wasn't my daughter's thing, I couldn't live without the sleep sack. It was the only thing that would keep her from kicking her legs up in her sleep and plopping them down all night. I'm glad to know they have one made out of organic cotton. And if you like to compare, it appears that Gerber is now making a similar product in organic fabric.

Natural Organic Cotton Bedding

They also had plenty of brands of bedding accessories such as mattresses, blankets and mattress pad covers labeled as natural and organic.

However, after closer inspection I noticed the items said "100% natural cotton", "polyester" or "polyeurethane" on the packaging. This is just another reminder to read the labels when choosing items for your organic baby registry. While these are alternatives to the norm, you want to be sure the products are meeting your expectations.

Kid's Line

Kid's Line offers several options in conventional bedding but they also have a cute organic offering. It is chocolate and green with bunnies. The bedding is organic, but I do wish it was softer to the touch. However, the wall art, lamp and other accessories are good inspiration for a nursery theme.

Other Eco-friendly Items

The store also has Seventh Generation diapers, wipes and cleaners, canisters of Similac and Earth's Best organic baby formula and organic parenting books to choose from.

My Recommendation:

If you are creating an organic baby registry in preparation for your baby shower and want to choose gifts from a widely recognized baby store, Babies R Us offers some viable options at reasonable prices.

I'm certain I didn't catch all of the organic offerings in the store. In fact I looked at their organic baby registry items online and see they have even more organic offerings: organic slings, changing table covers, nursing pillows and more.

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