When you're preparing for a new baby, suddenly, you're looking at everything differently.

What is this made from?

What is touching my baby's skin?

Do I really need this?

And what on earth do all these labels and certifications actually mean?

If you've found yourself thinking more about what's in products you bring into your home, you're definitely not alone.

More parents are looking for simple ways to create a lower-tox environment for their babies - but it doesn't mean throwing everything out, spending a fortune, or trying to create a perfectly "toxin-free" home.

Sometimes, it's simply about making more considered choices about the products your baby will use every day.

Start with what touches baby's skin

Newborns spend a LOT of time wrapped, snuggled, wiped, changed, and cuddled.

So, rather than worrying about replacing absolutely everything, a simple place to start is with the things that are in regular contact with your baby's delicate skin.

Think:

• Swaddles
• Blankets
• Washcloths
• Towels
• Clothing
• Cot & Bassinet sheets

When you're shopping, take a moment to look beyond cute colour or print and check what the product is actually made from.

Look for certifications - not just buzzwords.

You'll see plenty of words such as natural, eco, organic, and non-toxic when shopping for baby products.

One of the things we believe is worth looking for is independent certification.

At Love & Lee, our organic cotton muslin swaddles are made from 100% GOTS- certified organic cotton. GOTS certification covers organic fibres as well as environmental and social criteria throughout textile processing and manufacturing.

Our bamboo blankets and bamboo washcloths use bamboo yarn certified to STANDARD 100 by OEK-TEX, which means the textile has been tested for harmful substances.

It takes some of the guesswork out of shopping - which, when you're already making approximately 4,762 decisions before baby arrives, is a very good thing.

Organic cotton is a beautiful newborn staple

There is a reason we chose organic cotton for our Love & Lee swaddles.

It's simple, practical, and beautifully soft - exactly what we wanted for something that may spend hours wrapped around a newborn.

Our swaddles are generously sized at 120cm x 120cm and made from GOTS - certified organic cotton muslin.

And while gorgeous patterned swaddles certainly have their place, we've always loved beautiful, bold colours.

Why?

Simple doesn't mean boring. A timeless block colour works with practically everything. It doesn't compete with baby's outfit. It mixes beautifully with the rest of the nursery, and it doesn't date when the latest trend disappears.

Sometimes less really is more.

Don't overlook the humble washcloth

This is one of those products you don't realise you'll use constantly until you have a baby.

Bath time. Milk dribbles. Sticky fingers. Little faces. Unexpected messes that nobody warned you about...

Washcloths earn their place in the baby drawer very quickly.

Our Love & Lee washcloths are made from 100% bamboo, and the bamboo yarn is OEKO-TEX certified. They're designed to be soft and gentle enough for delicate newborn skin while being strong enough to use again and again.

Having plenty on hand is one of those tiny things that makes life with a newborn just that little bit easier.

Choose products that can grow with your baby

One of our favourite ways to buy more thoughtfully is to choose fewer things that you'll use for longer. A good baby blanket shouldn't necessarily become redundant once the newborn stage is over.

Our bamboo blankets are a generous 110cm x 130cm, so they're designed to continue being useful as your little one grows - for snuggling, the pram, quiet time and those everyday family moments.

The same applies to swaddles. Once you're no longer using one for swaddling, a generously sized muslin can have a whole second life as a burp cloth, feeding cover, change-table cover and more.

Less stuff. More use.

We like that philosophy.

You don't need a "perfect" low-tox nursery

This might be the most important part.

Creating a lower-tox home doesn't have to become another thing for Mum's to worry about. You don't need to replace every possession you own or panic because something in your nursery isn't organic.

Instead, start small.

Read labels. Look at materials. Look for credible certifications. Choose products that will get plenty of use. And when you're replacing or buying something new, make the best choice that works for your family and your budget.

Motherhood already comes with enough pressure.

This shouldn't be another source of it.

Why low-tox choices have always mattered to Love & Lee

For us, this isn't something we've suddenly started talking about because "low tox" is having a moment. It is actually part of the reason Love & Lee exists. Long before Love & Lee, owner Jodi became interested in the chemicals and substances we are exposed to in everyday life after experiencing some health challenges. When becoming a Mum that interest became more personal and has stayed at the heart of Love & Lee.

Beautiful products.

Thoughtfully chosen products.

Everyday essentials designed for real Mums and babies.

Because baby life is complicated enough.

What you wrap them in doesn't need to be.

Looking for beautiful baby essentials made with thoughtfully selected materials?

Discover our Love & Lee range of GOTS-certified organic cotton swaddles, OEKO-TEX certified bamboo blankets and bamboo washcloths.

SHOP LOVE & LEE BABY ESSENTIALS