Sustainability + conscious brands - a 2025 approach to Prepping for baby
Before we get into my Denver baby photographer focused recommendations, I want to share that this post comes from a place of connection and zero judgement. I am excited by the fact that we have options of how to vote with our dollars, what we support/allow and how the folks I’m commissioning and buying from align with my values. I value and make my livelihood as a Denver newborn photographer celebrating life - I choose to invest my money in spaces that honor human life and the planet.
This is part of a bigger practice for me — embodying integrity. In my Denver Newborn and Maternity Photo business and in the way I move through the world personally. My work as a Denver Newborn and maternity photographer is all about celebrating new life, this offering is about deep self care for you and your baby. A natural extension of what I do behind the camera: honoring the beauty, the tenderness, and the responsibility that comes with welcoming a baby.
No one is perfect. No one ever will be. I still shop on Amazon, use Charmin toilet paper, and buy beauty products that aren’t as clean as I’d like. Options are everything in my world, I’m here to spread awareness that you have options of how you spend, where you buy and perhaps even what you value.
Preparing for baby’s arrival bring this wild new perspective of over researching a billion topics and boom - the overwhelm hits and suddenly every product decision feels bigger than it used to for a baby that you haven’t officially met yet. I believe we vote with our dollar every time we add something to a cart, build a registry or choose which companies to trust with our newborn babies. The ethics, sustainability, integrity of the design, even the values of the people leading the brand-these elements matter to me.
The products we put on baby’s skin, their clothes, diapers, wipes, swaddles, skincare — I’m celebrating the information available and see it as a creative invitation to dive into a deeper investigation of what works best for me.
The magic of being able to make an informed decision on what I find most exciting - resources like the Environmental Working Group offer an entire section dedicated to baby safety.
Denver Newborn Lifestyle Photographer, Denver Baby Photographer, maternity photos Denver, preparing for your newborn and maternity session in Denver
Local goodness first — because sometimes the most meaningful finds are just down the street from your brand new nursery.
Urban Baby Co.
Denver-based, woman-owned brand with a strong focus on sustainability. They offer thoughtfully designed baby apparel and accessories that are stylish, practical, and created with both people and planet in mind.
Broomtail Kids
Neighborhood shop on Gaylord in Denver carrying a curated mix of clothing, toys, accessories, and books for babies and children. It has a community-centered feel and is a great spot to find eco-friendly and unique items for little ones.
Wholesome Linen
Specializing in organic flax linen products for babies, this Wash Park bedding and nursery pieces are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and designed to bring comfort and safety into everyday family life.
Wild West Baby Co.
Tennyson Street boutique that blends function with charm. They carry quality goods for babies and children that are practical for daily life while still being irresistibly cute.
Little Bird Denver
Located near Cherry Creek North, Little Bird Denver offers sustainable and stylish baby clothing, toys, and gifts in a welcoming, neighborhood-like atmosphere. It’s a great spot for both everyday essentials and photo-worthy outfits.
baby booty care and skincare for denver moms & babies
Between Denver’s dry air and all the diaper changes, Denver baby skin need some extra love. A clean, gentle balm to prevent irritation without unnecessary chemicals. Cheers to leaning into EWG-verified, plant-based diaper creams like Earth Mama Organics Diaper Balm or Weleda Calendula Diaper Cream — both soothe and protect naturally. Pair with compostable wipes like Eco by Naty or WaterWipes for a low-tox, eco-conscious routine that’s good for baby and the planet.
Diapers: Coterie - soft, absorbent, responsibly sourced or Dyper compostable with their REDYPER program.
Wipes: WaterWipes - 99.9% water, biodegradable or Eco by Naty - plant-based, compostable.
Diapers and wipes might not be glamorous, but their impact adds up fast. Choosing compostable or lower-impact options is one of the biggest ways new parents can reduce waste.
Baby staples: Earth Mama Organics - woman-founded, EWG-verified — their diaper balm and body wash are tried-and-true.
For moms: Erbaviva - organic belly oils and butters and Weleda - Skin Food for dry postpartum skin, plus their gentle calendula baby line.
Baby wash, diaper balms, shampoos, washes, creams. Earth Mama Organics is woman-founded, EWG-verified and offers gentle baby wash, diaper balm, calendula lotion, Babo Botanicals creates plant-based shampoos and washes, many EWG-rated low hazard. California Baby offers woman-founded, family-run – Non-toxic, allergy-tested washes and creams.
Pro tip: I always cross-check with the Environmental Working Group. If it doesn’t score well, I don’t use it.
feeding & nursing denver babies
Let’s be honest, hydration is self care with Denver’s mile high desert status. Babies dehydrate faster vs sea level and nursing mamas need extra hydration love, too! Safe, durable bottles like Lifefactory glass and Pura stainless help keep feeds clean and low-tox. For moms, staying on top of water (and electrolytes) is key — options like Nuun Instant or LMNT can make a big difference in energy and recovery.
Nursing pads: Kindred Bravely - women-founded organic cotton, washable and comfortable.
Bottles: Lifefactory - glass with silicone sleeves or Pura -stainless steel, no plastic. Hevea – Natural glass bottles with 100% natural rubber nipples; eco-friendly.
Glass and stainless feel sturdier, last longer, and give you peace of mind without microplastics sneaking in.
clothing & textiles for denver moms and brand new mile high natives
Denver weather is the best AND loves to keep us guessing. You know the vibes - multiple seasons can hit all in one day!! One second it’s sunny and 70° and in the right time of year, you could wake up to snow flurries the next day. Imagine your cute and perfect Denver newborn native baby in soft layers in organic cotton or wool - gentle on skin, breathable in the heat, and cozy when the temps drop. For mamas, sustainable basics and nursing wear that can handle those sudden shifts (and still look pulled together for newborn photos) make life easier. Brands like Pact, Boob Design and Coyuchi offer clean, comfortable pieces that are kind to both skin and planet — and they photograph beautifully in mile high sunshine.
Baby basics: Monica + Andy - woman-founded, organic cotton and Burt’s Bees Baby.
Swaddles & blankets: Coyuchi - organic, Fair Trade or Aden + Anais.
For moms: Boob Design -sustainable maternity/nursing wear, women-owned, and Pact - organic cotton basics, Fair Trade.
Soft fabrics that are gentle on skin and kind to the planet — plus, organic cotton textures that photograph beautifully in Denver baby photo sessions.
home & wellness for your mile high native denver newborn
Life in the mile high city means dry air, lots of sunshine, and houses that collect dust faster than we’d like. Babies spend so much time snuggled against us and rolling around on the floor that the products we use at home really do matter. A gentle laundry soap and a non-toxic cleaner or two are often enough to create a safe, simple space without overhauling your whole cabinet.
Cleaning: Branch Basics - women-founded, refillable system to reduce plastic use.
Laundry: Molly’s Suds or Attitude.
Cycle care: Saalt -women-owned, period care that gives back globally — handy to have once your cycle returns postpartum.
baby sunscreen
You don’t have to be in Denver long to know how potent the sun is at our altitude. Baby skin is extra delicate - a clean, mineral-based sunscreen with zinc oxide that are fragrance-free and EWG-approved, so you can feel confident about what’s going on their skin. For moms, the same rule applies: Denver sunshine doesn’t quit, and your skin deserves the same protection.
Thinkbaby is an EWG top-rated sunscreen.
Babo Botanicals offers mineral sunscreens that are EWG-rated.
Badger Balm is a long time favorite of mine! Mineral, reef-safe, organic.
pacifiers & teethers
Babies chew, suck, and explore with their mouths — which makes material choice extra important. Natural rubber pacifiers and teethers feel softer against gums, are biodegradable, and hold up well in Denver’s dry climate without cracking like plastics sometimes do. Simple, well-made options also mean fewer replacements over time, which is easier on both your budget and the planet.
Natursutten is a great source for natural rubber pacifiers & teethers.
Hevea for biodegradable natural rubber pacifiers & teethers.
toys & stuffies
Babies explore the world with their mouths and hands-material choice is important. Organic cotton stuffies and sustainably made wooden toys are safer, sturdier, and easier on tiny gums and skin. Plus, they hold up beautifully through our seasonal swings (and all the drool). Choosing well-made, eco-conscious toys also means fewer throwaway items cluttering your home — a win for your family and the planet.
Under the Nile is a beautiful source for organic cotton stuffed animals & loveys, Fair Trade, women-owned.
Apple Park –great spot to find organic cotton plush animals, dolls, and rattles; safe dyes, sustainable farming.
Pebble by Hathay Bunano brings hand-knit rattles & dolls made by women in rural Bangladesh; Fair Trade certified.
PlanToys OMG the cute!!! Wooden toys made from sustainably harvested rubber trees, non-toxic finishes.
Grimm’s These iconic, colorful German-made wooden toys like rainbow stackers and blocks from FSC-certified wood.
books with eco + diverse voices
Barefoot Books is an independent publisher focused on diverse, inclusive, eco-conscious stories.
Little Feminist Book Club offers subscription boxes with diverse + inclusive baby/toddler board books.
Leah Gilbert is a favorite, long-time client of mine is a talented, published children’s book author AND illustrator. She’s the sweetest human - her son is one of the most positive, radiant 7 year olds I’ve met. So wild to see them grow over the years!
Extras to Consider
Play Mats: Toki Mats – Non-toxic, organic foam play mats, woman-founded.
Rattles / Teethers: Oli & Carol – 100% natural rubber teethers and bath toys, biodegradable.
Wooden Montessori-Style Toys: Raduga Grez – Small-batch, hand-painted wooden toys from a family business in Russia.
These swaps are simple but high-impact. Babies spend a lot of time pressed against your clothes and blankets, so non-toxic cleaners and detergents are an easy way to reduce exposure.
This isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. There are only so many hours in the day, new parents already have enough on their plates. Think of these sustainable and ethical swaps as options, not an obligation. One or two small changes make a BIG difference in the grand scheme of things. If you’re in the season of welcoming a baby, becoming new parents, I am so here to join in and celebrate as a Denver newborn photographer and Denver maternity photographer. The tiny details, the quiet in-betweens—these fleeting moments are the firsts, the silly stories that will be shared with your child about their entrance into the world, cheers to documenting them well-no matter what products or choices feel right for your family.
My aim is to provide a resource -no need to overhaul your whole life in one go. Start with one or two swaps that feel doable—maybe it’s diapers, a clean diaper balm, or an organic swaddle. Every purchase is a little vote for your baby’s health, for ethical labor, and for sustainable practices.
