You are engaged! You are getting married! Super exciting, because you found the person you would like to hang out with forever. One thing that most (still not all) weddings have in common is that somebody will buy you a present. In fact, weddings are one of the few moments in life where people will buy you what you ask for. Exactly what you ask for.

It's often uncomfortable to talk about, but the wedding registry actually gives you the opportunity to ask for exactly what you want, shame-free.

This (actually pretty weird) tradition all comes from the good old days when people got married immediately after leaving their parents' home. So they needed a lot of stuff to get them started. Now, this isn't often the case (though for some people it still is), but people still get to make very specific choices about what they want and need for their new life.

I am here to beg you to use this newfound registry power for good.

Yes, you have a lot to worry about already, but like your wedding, your registry can have a huge positive or negative impact on the environment. You can choose all items that you actually need, that will actually last, that don't add to our ever-growing pile of waste, and that were made by humans who were treated like humans. This may seem like a low bar for an item, but actually much of what we buy no longer fulfills this criteria.

Your registry is all about the future, so use it as an opportunity to build a world you can feel proud of (and where you can still breathe and drink water and so forth).

Does this mean you have to become completely granola? Only buy things made of hemp? No. Any couple in any lifestyle can implement simple, easy changes to help the planet and protect the future. We know that consumerism is directly linked to so many of the problems plaguing our Earth, from climate change to plastic pollution in the ocean, and weddings are often a huge affair that encourages a lot of shopping and spending.

People will buy you what you ask for (mostly, someone is still getting you a platter with your faces on it). Ask for things that make the world a teensy bit better.


Most people approach the wedding registry with two basic questions- "What am I supposed to have?" and "What do I want?"

Making a wedding registry more eco-friendly requires you to add (and maybe prioritize) some radical questions to help you and your partner flip the plot:

1. Do we already have this? Do we even need it? 

The first step is making a list. Instead of accepting the lists spread around, start by crossing off as many of their "suggestions" as possible. Cross off what you have that works. Cross off what you don't need. Cross off anything that you wouldn't bother to buy yourself.

Yes, your toaster is ugly, but does it still make toast? Yes, a registry can be a great time to replace things that are ready for retirement, but the best way to have a registry that really works is to focus on what you actually need. Not to mention, being happy with life in general is all about being happy with what you already have. If you can keep making something work, do that!

 Feel empowered to keep what still works, even if the Matrimonial Gods seem to be saying otherwise.

Overconsumption can look like an American value, but our obsession with stuff burdens our lives, wastes our time (we buy a bigger house, we buy stuff to fill it, we have to clean all those surfaces and work harder to pay for them), and just generally chips away at our happiness. Studies prove that clutter is bad for our homes, our heads, and our marriages. Not exactly the foot you want to start on.

Too much is also terrible for the environment. Our love of having ALL THE STUFF also means that we use more fossil fuels by shipping our stuff all over the world, we create excessive garbage (because that shitty plastic clock doesn't have a use once it breaks), and we fuel an economy of cheap and easy (meaning companies push for cheap labor instead of quality and ethically-made values).

So this is me, empowering you to only bother with the things you actually care about. Skip the rest.

2. Can we get this used? 

So you have a registry list; take a trip to your local Consignment store and see if you can cross anything off it at a pretty low cost.

We all want brand new cooling racks and hand towels, right? But, why? There are some things on every pinterest "you need this on your registry" list that you can easily get through community gifting like a Buy Nothing group or in any good-sized consignment store. Checking out what used options are out there can cut your list down even more, so you can focus on quality and not quantity.

If you can get the same wastebasket for 2 dollars, wouldn't you rather receive something else as a gift?

Buying things used is one of the most eco-friendly changes you can make to your life, and it will save you tons of money. Buying secondhand means you are keeping someone else's trash out of the landfill. These items usually move shorter distances from household to household, wasting significantly less fossil fuels and creating far fewer emissions by skipping shipping, packaging, and manufacturing. Plus, so often you can find things that are actually better quality than anything you will get in the store, because it was built many years ago to last.

3. Can I find a recycled option for this item? How about Made in America? Plastic-free? 

Instead of picking items based on what aesthetic appeals most to you, look to see if you can find things made as locally as possible. For us, that means Made in America. It is totally possible to have a wedding registry with only made in America items!

You may not think of Made in America as being eco-friendly, but every Made in a Far Away Land item has to travel all that way from it's manufacturing to your gift table. That wastes a lot of fossil fuels! This is just the tip of the iceberg; Made in America products often are held to higher environmental and labor standards (ok, less so lately), so you can feel confident that you are both supporting American workers and refusing to support the gross mistreatment of other human beings.

Because nothing says joyous day and lifelong commitment like someone in a sweatshop making your towels. We can do better. 

Caring about materials can make a big difference too. Recycled products keep things out of landfills. We also know now that plastic is a growing epidemic for our world and our water. Every time you have the option to avoid it, please do so. We all desperately need to break up with plastic.

By choosing Made in America and recycled products, you are also sending the message to companies over and over again that the ethics of what you buy are important to you and that you will support ethical and environmentally conscious products. It creates a positive feedback loop and ends the message they receive over and over that people don't care, they just want what they want when they want it.

So the last question worth asking- Do you Even Need a Registry? 

The answer to that is totally up to you. It is a social expectation, but like so many of those, it isn't particularly relevant for many of us. People will want to buy gifts, but you can decide what a worthwhile, not wasteful gift looks like for you. Yep, guests will have opinions, but you will be just as married.


First, you could just set up a honeymoon (or house, or college debt, etc.) fund, and ask everyone to donate to that. I love this wording, which is fun and playful. I also love when people say where their honeymoon will be or exactly where the money will go.

Second, you could have a potluck wedding, and ask each guest to bring a dish. It will save you thousands on food, and I think it would have a warm, family feel. I love this idea, especially if you want to be married but feel like you need to win the lottery to actually pull it off.

Lastly, you could just have a no gift wedding. Say "your presence is the only present we'll need," smile politely when a guest or two doesn't listen, and remove that element from your nupitals. If you are grown, you probably don't need much anyway.

If nothing else, go small. People like to know what to do, but you don't have to give them an epic list of options.

Having gone through it, I would point out that even if you have a tiny registry, you are less likely to get 20 things you don't want (maybe only 5-10). If these all feel too out there or against your community or family culture, I still have so many green ideas for you.

So, let's do this. 

You may be thinking "But Barbara, I have 40+ items on my wedding registry. I don't have time to research Made in America options for every one of them." Truth, friend, you are planning a wedding! You are busy enough!

On the other hand, I am not planning a wedding, so I have compiled a huge list here, so feel free to poke around. I used Amazon for as many links as I could, to simplify, but I highly encourage you to register somewhere small, not just on a big chain or website. I am an affiliate for Amazon, but seriously, you can and should spend money elsewhere.

Registries are long unwieldy things on a normal day, this is no different. I split it into parts so you can wade your way through a little bit at a time.

The Wedding Registry 

Kitchen Part 1

Kitchen Part 2

Dining Room 

Bedroom and Bathroom

Living Room, Outdoor Space, Cleaning, and Everything Else

If you want to transition into a more environmentally conscious or ethical lifestyle, you can also check out this post on Eco-Friendly items for every Wedding Registry for ideas.


So much more wedding wisdom coming up on the blog! Check out this Green Weddings Page for more ideas of how to have an event with a truly positive impact.

You are engaged! You are getting married! Super exciting, because you found the person you would like to hang out with forever and who will hopefully not mind the adulting you particularly hate. Weddings look different from couple to couple, so you can really feel empowered to celebrate who you are.

One thing that most (still not all) weddings have in common is that somebody will buy you a present. In fact, weddings are one of the few moments in life where people will buy you what you ask for. Exactly what you ask for. Yes, yes, you are engaged, but the power you have!

This (actually pretty weird) tradition all comes from the good old days when people got married immediately after leaving their parents' home. So they needed a lot of stuff to get them started. Now, this isn't often the case (though for some people it still is), but people still get to make very specific choices about what they want and need for their new life.

I am here to beg you to use this newfound registry power for good.

Yes, you have a lot to worry about already, but your registry can have a huge positive or negative impact on the environment. You can choose all items that will last, that don't add to our ever-growing pile of waste, that were made by humans who were treated like humans. Your registry is all about the future, so use it as an opportunity to build a world you can feel proud of (and where you can still breathe and drink water and so forth).

Does this mean you have to become completely granola? Only buy things made of hemp? No. Any couple in any lifestyle can implement simple, easy changes to make this happen. We know that consumerism is directly linked to so many of the problems plaguing our Earth, from climate change to plastic pollution in the ocean, and weddings are often a huge affair that encourages a lot of shopping and spending. So it is a place where you can do a lot of harm, but it is also an opportunity to make positive changes.

People will buy you what you ask for (mostly, someone is still getting you a platter with your faces on it). Ask for things that make the world a teensy bit better.


Most people approach the wedding registry with two basic questions- "What am I supposed to have?" and "What do I want?" Making a wedding registry more eco-friendly requires you to add (and maybe prioritize) some radical questions to help you and your partner flip the plot.

1. Do we already have this? Do we even need it? 

The first step is making a list. Instead of accepting the lists spread around, start by crossing off as many of their "suggestions" as possible. Cross off what you have that works. Cross off what you don't need. Cross off anything that you wouldn't bother to buy yourself.

Yes, your toaster is ugly, but does it still make toast? Yes, a registry can be a great time to replace things that are ready for retirement, but the best way to have a registry that really works is to focus on what you actually need. Not to mention, being happy with life in general is all about being happy with what you already have. If you can keep making something work, do that!

 Feel empowered to keep what still works, even if the Matrimonial Gods seem to be saying otherwise.

Overconsumption can look like an American value, but our obsession with stuff burdens our lives, wastes our time (we buy a bigger house, we buy stuff to fill it, we have to clean all those surfaces and work harder to pay for them), and just generally chips away at our happiness. Studies prove that clutter is bad for our homes, our heads, and our marriages. Not exactly the foot you want to start on.

Too much is also terrible for the environment. Our love of having ALL THE STUFF also means that we use more fossil fuels by shipping our stuff all over the world, we create excessive garbage (because that shitty plastic clock doesn't have a use once it breaks), and we fuel an economy of cheap and easy (meaning companies push for cheap labor instead of quality and ethically-made values).

2. Can we get this used? 

So you have a registry list; take a trip to your local Consignment store and see if you can cross anything off it at a pretty low cost.

We all want brand new cooling racks, right? But, why? There are some things on every pinterest "you need this on your registry" list that you can easily get through community gifting like a Buy Nothing group or in any good-sized consignment store. Checking out what used options are out there can cut your list down even more, so you can focus on quality and not quantity.

If you can get the same wastebasket for 2 dollars, wouldn't you rather receive something else as a gift?

Buying things used is one of the most eco-friendly changes you can make to your life, and it will save you tons of money. Buying things used means you are keeping someone else's trash out of the landfill. These items usually move shorter distances from household to household, wasting significantly less fossil fuels and creating far fewer emissions by skipping shipping, packaging, and manufacturing. Plus, so often you can find things that are actually better quality than anything you will get in the store, because it was built many years ago to last.

3. Can I find a recycled option for this item? How about Made in America? How about plastic-free? 

Instead of picking items based on what aesthetic appeals most to you, look to see if you can find things made as locally as possible. For us, that means Made in America. It is totally possible to have a wedding registry with only made in America items!

You may not think of Made in America as being eco-friendly, but every Made in a Far Away Land item has to travel all that way from it's manufacturing to your gift table. That wastes a lot of fossil fuels! This is just the tip of the iceberg; Made in America products often are held to higher environmental and labor standards (ok, less so lately), so you can feel confident that you are both supporting American workers and refusing to support the gross mistreatment of other human beings.

Because nothing says joyous day and lifelong commitment like someone in a sweatshop making your towels. We can do better. 

Caring about materials can make a big difference too. Recycled products keep things out of landfills. We also know now that plastic is a growing epidemic for our world and our water. Every time you have the option to avoid it, please do so. We all desperately need to break up with plastic.

By choosing Made in America and recycled products, you are also sending the message to companies over and over again that the ethics of what you buy are important to you and that you will support ethical and environmentally conscious products. It creates a positive feedback loop and ends the message they receive over and over that people don't care, they just want what they want when they want it.

So the last question worth asking- Do you Even Need a Registry? 

The answer to that is totally up to you. It is a social expectation, but like so many of those, it isn't particularly relevant for many of us. People will want to buy gifts, but you can decide what a worthwhile, not wasteful gift looks like for you. Yep, guests will have opinions, but you will be just as married.


First, you could just set up a honeymoon (or house, or college debt, etc.) fund, and ask everyone to donate to that. I love this wording, which is fun and playful. I also love when people say where their honeymoon will be or exactly where the money will go.

Second, you could have a potluck wedding, and ask each guest to bring a dish. It will save you thousands on food, and I think it would have a warm, family feel. I love this idea.

Lastly, you could just have a no gift wedding. Say "your presence is the only present we'll need," smile politely when a guest or two doesn't listen, and remove that element from your nupitals.

Having gone through it, I would point out that even if you have a tiny registry, you are less likely to get 20 things you don't want (maybe only 5-10). If these all feel too out there or against your community or family culture, I still have so many green ideas for you.

So, let's do this. 

You may be thinking "But Barbara, I have 40+ items on my wedding registry. I don't have time to research Made in America options for every one of them." Truth, friend, you are planning a wedding! You are busy enough!

On the other hand, I am not planning a wedding, so I have compiled a huge list here, so feel free to poke around. I used Amazon for as many links as I could, to simplify, but I highly encourage you to register somewhere small, not just on a big chain or website. I am an affiliate for Amazon, but I would encourage you to spend money elsewhere.

Registries are long unwieldy things on a normal day, this is no different. I split it into parts so you can wade your way through a little bit at a time.

The Wedding Registry 

Kitchen Part 1

Kitchen Part 2

Dining Room 

Bedroom and Bathroom

Living Room, Outdoor Space, Cleaning, and Everything Else

So much more wedding wisdom coming up on the blog! Check out this Green Weddings Page for more ideas of how to have an event with a truly positive impact.

This month is all about weddings, and you can find lots of great advice on planning weddings, but the wedding registry doesn't get too much attention- it is one check on the neverending to do list. And who really wants to focus on it anyway? It feels really selfish to spend too much time fixated on what is basically a giant wish list. You find a list and get it done. Easy, right? Not too much to think about, and you can focus on things that are more fun and creative.

 I know I look back on our registry and have some regrets on how we went about it. Starting tomorrow, I will re-post my Eco-friendly and Made in America Wedding Registry this month, but here are a few of the lessons I wish I had learned before our wedding:

1. You aren't as Clueless as you think you are

 I remember clinging to those lists you can get at Bed, Bath, and Beyond or on Pinterest because I felt like we didn't know what we needed. It feels intimidating and rather grown-up, like something you can mess up. You can't really.

Those lists, mostly provided by people who want to sell as much as possible, define lots of things as "needs" when they aren't really even wants.

 It's ok to take all of those lists with a grain of salt and temper them with family advice and your own sense. There are stores in marriage, so if you decide you need a turkey roaster later, you can still buy one.

2. Sets make no Sense

 Knife sets, pan sets, most sets; they all give you stuff you don't need or won't use. You are better off to register for individual items. Get the knives you want/ need, and a knife holder like this gorgeous one or this shabby chic one. It creates smaller but better quality items that people can afford instead of big honking sets that either no one is going to splurge on or is cheap and won't last long. Think of place settings- a bunch of gifters can collaborate to gift you a full set.

3. Pick a Wide Variety of Price Points

 Don't register for anything crazy and do more smaller items than big ones. I have attended so many more weddings since we got married, and the trick is always finding the right combo of things to get close to the budget we set. Most people won't go big, so think about how you can break the big stuff into smaller parts (perfect option? Split up your silverware)

4. Get Things to Keep Forever

It can be easy to register for things that make sense for the moment, but won't last all that long. Other than non-stick pans, your wedding gifts should last for as long as your marriage! Heard of the Buy it Once movement? It's like that, except you register for it once and never have to buy it. You can spend your money other ways. Register for things made in America by trustworthy companies. Better to get one well-made spatula that lasts ten years than a set of junky ones that last two.

Easy rule of thumb? Stay away from plastic. The material lasts for many years, but its usefulness doesn't. Stick to glass and metal. This will save you money and be better for the Earth.

5. Don't think you need it? Then, You Don't

Every year another study comes out that shows American have way too much stuff (300,000 objects in the average American home) and it is making us stressed and miserable. Do your life and marriage a favor and remember stuff= stress. It does not make you happy, it gives you more to move and clean.

One of the most conscientious things we can do for our future and our Earth is to buy what we need, and nothing more. You need not prepare for the contingency that you become completely different people in the future. If you do, there will be stores there too. If you never bake, you probably don't need a Kitchenaid mixer. If you never host the Dowager Countess, maybe china isn't for you (most of us have heirloom china in our future anyway). You know your life.

6. Don't Replace What Still Works

 We registered for a lot of things we already had and which worked just fine- that is crazypants. You are only going to get so many gifts, why waste them on stuff you already have?

 When they first did this whole wedding registry thing, a wedding was the literal beginning of adulthood, and people moved out of their parents' homes, so they needed everything. Things don't look much like that now; most of us have long lived out of our parents' houses (often with each other) before we marry. So the first real step is taking stock of what you already have and making a list of what you need or you need to replace. So, you can reconsider the whole list based on what is on it's last leg, not just register for a toaster because that's what you do. Your toaster is fine, friend.

from Shannybeebo

7. Step Out of the Regular Registry Box

 Yes, Crate and Barrel, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, we see you. Consider registering somewhere like Etsy, where you can get cool (and vintage) stuff that you would treasure forever. You will not treasure that plastic clock from Target, but register for a cool clock from Etsy, and it might grace your kitchen walls when you make your 40th Thanksgiving dinner together. They have great measuring cups, blankets, and all sorts of things on there. And they have their own registry now, so you can do this easily.

Other companies aren't featured in the big stores, but they are the best out there.1888 Mills makes towels here in the US, but you have to direct people because they won't just pop up. The possibilities are wider than stores want you to know. You want to register at two or three places, so as long as one is pretty mainstream, you have some room to get creative.

8. Every Bed Needs Two Sets of Sheets

 That's it. One to have on while the other is being laundered. Maybe a third if you are somewhere where seasonal switches make sense. More make no sense and clutter your life. Also, flat sheets are an abomination, but you do you.

9. Do it Early

 Yes, you will hate it, and it feels so weird to hop right on the gift train, but doing your registry should be an early step in the wedding preparation.

One easy first step hardly anyone takes is to just go to your local consignment store. If you can find a water pitcher you like there for 2 bucks, wouldn't you rather not register for the 40 dollar one? Your guest can get you something you couldn't find instead.

And please, for the love of all things sensible, no one register for mugs. The world has enough, and if you really need them, Goodwill has you covered. This step might take you a minute, but it can do a world of good by keeping things out of landfills, saving you money, and redirecting your guests to the gifts you really need and can't find elsewhere.

So start thinking about the registry early.  One of the nice things about this is you can keep an eye on how it is doing, so if you need to add more things, you can. Don't over-register. Register only for the A Team, and if a price point is looking sparse, you can always come back through with the B Team.

10. See this as an Opportunity to Take a Positive Step

 Most of us don't see a wedding registry as an ethical set of decisions, but every purchase we make is. I feel a lot of sadness that I really didn't care about the ethics and environmental impact of things when we were registering for our wedding. There are so few times in life where you get to buy (or at least choose) so many products at once. Think how many trips from China a regular pile of wedding gifts make. That means tons of fossil fuels in use, tons of environmental waste, and a high likelihood that someone was treated really badly so you could get what you want. This is one time you can take your regular impact and multiply it by your guests, so every change you make really counts.

It's easy not to think about it, (and really who would want to- it's a lot of extra work on an already huge task) but you can make a profound positive difference in the world That's why I made these registry lists, so you know that options exist for almost every object you would want on your registry. Made in China is not inevitable.



  If you make the commitment to think about your registry in a different way, adding a few recycled items, or even just change over to American-made when it makes sense, you can save fuel, save yourself money, and start your married life off on the right foot. It's worth doing, and I truly wish we had thought about this more when we could have. Learn from my mistakes. And check out the Eco Friendly and Made in America Wedding Registry!

This is the fourth installment of my baby registry for parents trying to minimize their tiny babies early footprint- a new baby comes with oodles of new stuff, but if you can find use for what you already own, buy things used, and buy (or register for) green or locally made products (which have to travel much shorter distances), you can approach all this stuff in a totally new way!

You can make every part of your registry have a more positive impact three ways-

1. Just Buy Less

Every list you will see suggests you need hundreds of things. You so, so don't. It can be scary, because you don't know what you are doing until you do it, but have faith that as long as they have somewhere to sleep, something to eat, and clothes to wear, everything else is bonus. You child will accrue SO MUCH STUFF so quickly, but you don't have to buy into a huge consumerist pile.

2. Buy Used

Everything you need for your bub is being used right now by another baby somewhere. And by the time your child gets here, that baby will already be done with it. Consignment stores, handmedowns, and Buy Nothing can save you thousands of dollars in these early years, but even better, it keeps a whole set of babygoods out of landfills. If I could do it all over again, I would get everything secondhand. Because babies don't care. At the very least, check if you can find it open box, because it will save a ton of money.

3. Buy it Local, Recycled, and Reusable

If you are going to buy something brand new, you have a few things to consider.

First, how far did this thing travel? The shorter the distance, the fewer gallons of fossil fuels it is guzzling. Plus, you will be helping workers near you and stimulating your own economy. Because I am based in the US, I focus on American-made stuff, but the real key is to buy the thing that has traveled the shortest distance.

Second, can it be reused? You know what is better than an "organic" nursing pad you use once? An organic nursing pad you reuse 100 times. This rule always applies. Wet bags, napkins, bibs, everything- single use is the enemy.

Third, can you find it recycled? If you want to get your bub a plastic dump truck, why not pick one that is made of recycled food containers? It is safer for your baby AND it doesn't add to the massive mountains of plastic waste our children will have to contend with someday. No fresh plastic. Find it recycled.


It may seem like a lot to consider, so I have done as much of the work as I can for you. You can find an awesome version of everything on your registry, I swear. So here are the switches for you:

This blog uses etsy and Amazon affiliate links. That said, shopping local to you is a huge win for the environment, so I would always recommend starting there. 

bottles and feeding

Much like diapering, how you approach these purchases depends on how you plan on tackling the job.

There is lots of talk of "Breast is best" but I think feeding your baby is best. Breastfeeding does create way less waste, but not everyone has that as a real choice. Do what you need to do, but don't bother with a breast pump if you have no real intention to breastfeed, and don't spend a lot on bottles if you are starting on the breast (wait and test bottles for the baby you have- some are nipple picky). Likewise, if you decide to do Baby-led weaning, you probably don't need much to store baby food in, but you might want more of the safe feeders.

Your choices will work just fine (I promise), but shop for what you want to do, and not for what other people tell you to do.

Baby Mush Storage (new)

Our Pick-  POPFEX 
Other Options- Used GLASS babyfood jars, metal ice tray

Popfex makes freezer trays that help you portion out and save your baby food after you make it (which is seriously so cheap and easy to do). You can pop this in the freezer, then pop out your little food nubbins. Out of the babyfood stage, we use it for applesauce, herbs, and a damn good toy.

Even if you make your own food (which is easier, cheaper, and less granola than it seems), you will probably end up buying a couple baby foods here and there- as long as you don't get the pouches (one use, non-recyclable, and honestly, not much more convenient), you will have a collection of bottles to fill too. This tray can be purely for what you want to freeze.

Baby Safe Feeders (new)

 You can put food in these little nubbies to help the baby in his or her start with food. You can put any kind of food inside and just let them have at it (still messy, but no worries about choking). These have also been our favorite teether- fill it up with ice or frozen fruit and it soothes gums.

from Kinder Sprouts

Bibs (used/ new)

Our Picks- Used and Taraluna Bibs and Kishu Baby
Other Options-  Petit Chalet and Fabulous Saturday TrendyBabyMoccShop, The Pleated Petal, Organic Mama Design, The Ivy Lantern, Jenny Penny Designs, and Kinder Sprouts.

 You will get so many of these! Oodles even! I might set a preference, but you really need like 5-7 tops, depending on how many times you do laundry. Used ones mostly would be just fine, but I can't remember seeing many when I have shopped used. Taraluna are organic and Made in the US, but honestly, I wouldn't invest much in these- buy them used or graciously accept the cutesy nonsense you are given in this case.  Check these Etsy sellers for cute bibs and bandana bibs.

Lifefactory on Amazon

Bottles (new and used)

Our Pick- Lifefactory and evenflo
Other Options- Dr Brown's

I highly recommend doing glass over plastic- every time a new study comes out, the plastic bottles look worse for our babies (yes, even the BPA-free ones). Plus, if you plan on more than one child, glass bottles will still be in perfect shape when Spawn #2 arrives. We used the same set for 3 straight years now with no incidents (one broken bottle in the airport).

We have two sets of glass bottles, and we love them both. Lifefactory makes these bottles with silicon sleeves (they also have a 4 oz version and both can be easily transformed into sippy cups with these caps)- they are beautiful and made completely ethically. They are also lighter than you might expect and we loved them for the bottle to sippy transition. These are splurges for sure, but I think they are worth it. The other glass bottles we have are made by evenflo, and they are more affordable (and great for travel).

We fell in love with glass, so when we found some 4 oz glass bottles in the consignment store, we grabbed them up. If you see them, GET THEM! Crazy good investment.

I might get one set and then buy the rest used or borrow, because you never know what the baby will like. Stainless steel bottles are also out there now. Medela bottles attach to the pumps, and seem to be made in a mix of places. We used them most while breastfeeding/pumping, and they still work now, though we prefer other bottles. I would avoid bottles with wider or non-standard sized nipples (Avent are made in the UK, but their nipples are a whole different set). Try to stick with all bottles that work on one team.

Breast Pump (new)

You can try getting this used, but like a car seat, people won't support it (for some good reasons- you have to get that thing CLEAN before you use it). Most (but not all) Medela pumps are made in the US, and you can either get an electric version or a manual one. I ended up only using the manual version, which hurt less and felt like less fuss in general. You still feel like a cow, but you get to feel like the farmer too.

from Necessary Cuteness

Breastfeeding Pillows (used)

Our Pick- Used with a new cover

 The Boppy or My Breast Friend can be absolute angel pillows. I know lots of breastfeeding moms swear by them. They did not help me, and the last thing I ended up wanting was yet another step introduced into late night feedings. That being said, if you want one, these are pretty consistent presences at consignment stores and just the kind of things other moms are willing to lend out.  My Breast Friend is made in China, and the Boppy claims to be US-made but is at least partially imported from China. So not great.

So get it used. You can even get a janky-looking one and throw a new cover on it, so it will look just as fresh. Etsy has tons of the for Boppy- Sprinkled with Kisses, Lublini Custom Bedding, Arbor Hill Supply, Mod Fox, Lullabies and Lollipops, Max and Grace, Petal and Branch. and Necessary Cuteness. It will look amazing, and no one will know the difference.

Burp Rags 

 Our Pick- Nu-Angel or make them yourself!
Other Options-  Satsuma, Bamboosa, Babykicks

We bought the same white flat fold Gerber diapers as everyone else (boo, skip Gerber stuff), and I think that does the trick- Nu-Angel is similar, just softer and more ethical. Don't bother with the cutesy patterned ones- this is for vomit, people (Kemaily does cute sets, but honestly, you probably don't need to spend your money here). I would register for one set, but I wouldn't bother with much else. People will buy them anyway.

This is just a piece of fabric, so you could make it yourself out of something else. Washclothes would work the same way, or you can cut up unwanted baby blankets to make burp rags when the time comes. Seriously, just for puke.

Want other options?  Satsuma and Bamboosa have cloths made of bamboo. Looking for something with a little more texture? Cherub's Blanket claims to have the best burp cloth ever. So maybe worth it?

Dishwasher Basket 

Our Pick- Prince Lionheart 

 These baskets keep all your nipples and rings together in the dishwasher, and it is a key part of our baby bottle game. Prince Lionheart baskets are made in the USA out of recycled plastic, so it doesn't get any better than that. If you can't find one used, just buy this brand.

Drying Rack (used)

 You can start by just using your regular dish rack, but it may not be ideal. Boon makes these super cute grass racks- ours is skinny and rests on the windowsill, to keep all your bottling stuff clean and together. The downside is they all look to be made in Elsewhere. Over the three years I have written this, I see more and more of these in consignment stores, so you can definitely find one used.

High Chair (used)

Our Pick- Used or open box
Other Options-  Baby Eco Trends, Stokke Tripp Trapp, or Keekaroo

 Gah, another big one that can be tough to find Made in the US, and from what I can see, no particularly green manufacture. On the bright side, for whatever reason, high chairs are found at consignment stores or open box on Amazon. Can't find one used you love? DON'T REGISTER NOW- you won't need it until the bub is at least 6 months old, so you have extra time to track something down.  You will have a better sense of your priorities (do you want it to roll around? to change heights? To look pretty? To take up minimal room? Etc).

We bought our high chair open box- the Oxo Tot high chair, which is on wheels and can lift up and down. We love it (4 years in, it has held up so well), and there are at least eleven open box on Amazon right now (and you will save money!).

If you can't find something good used, Baby Eco Trends sells USA-made wooden high chairs that may be your winner.If you are going for looks, there are tons of wood chairs on etsy and in consignment you could refinish as well. If you want something minimalist, these hook on chairs are super cool and make a lot of sense (plus they use way less plastic). Stokke Tripp Trapp (made of wood) and Keekaroo are made elsewhere (Finland and China) but their trays are both made in the US.

from Love your Reusables

Nursing Pads

Our Pick- Marley Monster and Love your Reusables
Other Options- Nuangel, Willow Sprouts, Baby Kicks, and Lilypadz

 Disposable nipper covers make no sense. NONE. Why do they exist? You buy 100+ of them, and then throw them away because they have milk on them is so inconsistent. One time use bottles? One time use milk glasses? No! That's crazy. Even worse, those disposable ones are all Made in Elsewhere, so think of all the fossil fuels that go to waste. So wasteful.

I would mostly recommend cloth reusable- they are comfortable and easily washable. My picks would be these super fun  covers from Marley Monsters (why not? your nipples won't be having any other kind of fun) or these pretty bamboo ones from Love your Reusables. Even Amazon has simple options from Nuangel and Willow Sprouts. And check etsy- so many options!

Lilypadz makes a silicon version, which can probably keep you from using so many disposable ones. They work better if you are spilling a lot or you have to go a long time.

A Nursing Cover

Our Pick- Nursing Time and Covered Goods
Other Options- Hold me Close Nursing, Lula Baby Co (check this one out!), Milkmaid Goods, and Evalee Boutique.

 You may be able to find these used (or make it yourself), but I recommend a nursing scarf, which you can wear on you over the covers where it looks like your boobs are a puppet theater. I found this (lovingly known as boob mountain) to be easier, less attention-getting, and more comfortable for me. By second baby, I will flash my nips at anybody, but you have to feel safe and happy while breastfeeding, so you have to do what works for you.

I switch between these scarves/covers from Nursing Time and Covered Goods- they are both made in America and have style. These (and other covers) only become more popular, so check out Etsy for TONS of options. Something will fit your style.

Pacifiers (3- 4 new)

Our Pick- Nuk silcon pacifiers and Philips Avent Soothies
Other Options- Natursutten

Not so fast! Buy a few, not a lot. 3-4 tops.

It's another one of those things where the baby's taste for it just can't be predicted. Neither of our kids used them, but I know moms who swear by them. If you want to get ethical ones, try Nuk silicon pacifiers or the Philips Avent Soothies; both are made here and have glowing reviews. These pacifiers are made in Europe, but they offer a slightly different design than the American version, and you avoid buying more plastic.

You can also go for a pacifier clip. I know people love them, but I wouldn't get more than one (go simple if you care about matching) until you know more about your baby. Etsy has plenty of options- Henley's Headbands, The Chipped Cup, Fawn and Finn, and Clover and Birch.

Replay from Amazon

Silverware for an Early Eater (new)

Our Pick- Replay and Baby Liberty
Other Options- Green Eats and Love Mae Store

 This could be a good opportunity to register ahead. For the starting of solid foods on to toddler chaos, you can't do better than Replay and Green Eats for durable plastic stuff. Both are made in the USA out of recycled, food-safe milk jugs. These two companies are some of my favorite baby things on the planet.

If you want plastic completely out of your house (and who can blame you??), you can find other options as well. First, if you have the small spoons in your silverware set, that might already be fine (we could have saved the money, honestly). For metal spoons, Baby Liberty has coated and uncoated options. I have also seen wood sets that look great. Love Mae Store makes their plates out of bamboo). You can find some metal options as well.

Special Babyfood Maker (just wait)

This seems like a scam- you can steam vegetables without it. Beaba has one, and it isn't worth it. The idea is that it steams and purees the food in one motion, but let me tell you, making baby food is already like a six minute process. Boil and blend. It didn't need these improvements, because I promise, you can handle it. If you decide it is too much, you can often find them used in consignment stores, because other people decided it wasn't worth it. Just say to yourself "one more thing to clean."

Wubba Nubs (just wait)

Another one of those things that are a perfect comfort item for some babies and never see the light of day for others. You will probably get one without asking for it, based purely on its cuteness. If not, other parents might be happy to pass one along. That's plenty. If it resonates, by all means get more (my nephew still loves them at three), but they are made in China, so if you can avoid it, I think that's good.



Want more ideas for how to have a green registry? Check out the other parts here! 

So you are having a baby or planning a baby shower- congratulations! Life is about to get that much cuter. Also, that much more covered in bodily fluids. So many fluids. Let's all take a second and appreciate how dry we are in this moment, because it won't last.

When people have babies, suddenly it becomes okay to talk about things like pee and poop. And some parents take full advantage. So much poop discussion. Perhaps partially because of this, diapers have become a big debate. In fact, it is enough of an issue already that you have tons of other resources.

Because cloth diapers are having a comeback.

But why? And why is it right for you?

Now, before you roll your eyes and dodge my granola, I am going to be straight up and say we mostly didn't cloth diaper. We tried, but I was the only one really on board, and you can't survive any part of parenting as a village of one. So I will definitely go over cloth diapers (because it is by far a better option), but I will also try to mention some of the other things that might be a smaller good step (because let's be real, sometimes you have to choose your battles and even a baby step is better than no step at all). The real point here is to stick with me whether you or cloth diapering or not (or somewhere in between)

Our grandparents cloth diapered their babies, and I know they are boggled that we would want to go back.

 Disposables saved tons of time- you could spend less time trying to grossly wash feces off things and have an actual hobby instead. In other words, disposable diapers, much like so many modern conveniences offered parents, especially mothers, freedom.

So why would people be going back?

It turns out that freedom comes at an epic environmental cost. Diapers create amounts of waste that is hard to even imagine, and most diaper brands include a LOT of plastic that will never break down. Did your parents use disposable diapers for you? Get ready for an ugly truth.

They all still exist in the world. Those little packets of your poop will outlive you. By hundreds of years.

Your diapers are your great great grandchildren's burden. When you think about it, that's pretty screwed up. It becomes easier to see why people might be warming to going back to reusable. Who wants to leave that as a legacy?

One of the other things that makes reusable more appealing now is that most cities have diaper pick up services. Want to buy a crunchy mom near you an EPICALLY awesome gift? Diaper cleaning.

For most parts of this registry, we are looking to cut down (just have fewer things), find things used (buy nothing, secondhand stores, even registering for secondhand items on your shower invitation. Encore Baby Registry allows you to register for brand new and secondhand items in the same place) and to buy local. Some of that still matters here, but the big question in diapering is whether you are using disposable or reusable cloth diapers.

That being said, no judgement. This is a huge Baby Registry that covers everything you will (or won't) need, and if you can't make this change work, I guarantee there are still lots of things you can do. This isn't about us all moving to the woods barefoot and eating roots, it's about making a once radical lifestyle part of our everyday lives. The idea here isn't that you get everything perfectly right. Maybe this one isn't for you, but if so, maybe you need to push hard for secondhand clothes and no plastic toys. Make an impact, friend.

I am constantly collecting more information on this, but I am going to start you with what I know now (and I love hearing from Mamas about what worked for them).

from Pom Pom Fringe

A Basket or Caddy to hold this stuff in (you may have it/ new)

Our Pick- Colonial Mills baskets
Other Options- Yoon 1206 Greene, secondhand baskets, etsy

Diapering stuff needs a place, or it will take over. Lots of the stuff they will try to sell you are hanging supply caddies; what will you do with them after it's done? Equally crazypants are caddies made specifically to hold diapers- try to choose something could be used as anything else afterwards! That being said, if you have something like that in mind, let me suggest this one.

So what would I recommend? A Basket. Just normal baskets in any place you keep diapers. We have mostly cleaned out catch all storage baskets already in our house and used them for diapers. And when diapers are over, they will find another life as something else. Skip the cutesy nonsense and just get something that already makes sense in your house (and maybe already exists there).

Need a basket? I love these woven baskets from Colonial Mills, but they are definitely expensive enough that you want to pick one in colors that you can use forever. You can also find lots of simple fabric baskets on Etsy that would do the job perfectly. I like the options from Jennifer Helene, Sampson and James, the Basket Garden, WeCareVida, and StitchedwithJoyCo.

 You can get through with minor incidents, but there will still be incidents. Bourdeaux's Butt Paste is organic and does the trick in a day or two.One of those things parents will bring up at parties and everyone agrees it is awesome (weirdly, this has happened). Also smells pretty good, which is a feat in itself. For more basic everyday use, try Burt's Baby Bee All Purpose Ointment.

from Woolf with Me

Changing Mats and Covers (used)

Our Pick for Mats- Oeuf  or Used
Other Options-  Colgate

 I have never not seen these at our consignment store and they can be tough to find made in the USA- Oeuf has the only one I have seen, and it does look awesome (environmentally friendly and Made in the US both), but expensive. In the last year, LA Baby and Colgate have started making in the US as well for much more competitive prices, but their materials aren't as eco-friendly.

 If you want everything looking good (which I get, I am like that too), you can still get the mat used and use the money you save to get a cool cover on Etsy. Just think, these mats are in use for a relatively short time, and they almost always have a cover on them, so much like a pillow or mattress, what they look like inside doesn't matter much. Buy a ten dollar used pad and then a really nice couple of covers (you only need 2) on Etsy and you will be set.

Our Pick for Covers- Carousel Designs or Secondhand
Other Options- Etsy Amazingness

My favorite changing mat covers are from Carousel Designs . They are made in America from organic fabrics, and in the last year they have moved onto Amazon (though I still suggest you check their website).  Etsy has way more options than I can cover here, so search what you are looking for and turn that United States filter on. If you do want to browse, here are my favorites:  Love Lila Ann, Noni and V, Madly Wish, Finley Baby, Fern Leslie Baby, Mod Fox, Karolina Designs, and Caden Lane Baby Bedding.

Changing Pad Liners (new)

Our Pick- Healthy Baby Ideas

 Ok, this may sound like overkill, but we bought  four of these liners and switched them out every time there was a blow out. It kept laundry moving and we are using the same changing pad cover stain-free. We only bought one cover. Two kids in, that was maybe one more than we needed.

from Polish Prince Diapers

Diapers (disposable vs. reusable)

 Again, how you approach this depends entirely on what route you want to take. We are going to start with disposable and move to reusable. Disposable also turns out to be way more expensive, especially if you have more than one child.

Diaper brands are trying to be more recyclable/ biodegradable, but honestly they aren't there yet. That's why the reusable route is the only real green option for diapers. I recommend trying Seventh Generation, Earth's Best, and The Honest Company.

If you are going reusable, you have a couple options, but I suggest starting used. Endless brands are for sale at our consignment store and many of them have come up on Buy Nothing. Moral of the story- keep an eye out! Even if you are in a less eco-friendly culture, you might be surprised. Get on those mommy forums and ask around.

If you want reusable light, I recommend G Diapers which are less bulky under clothes and can use either disposable or reusable inserts. It's a larger investment upfront, but you will save so much money in the end.

For truly reusable, you have so many totally amazing, American-made options. They are expensive at first, but most fit from 8 to 35 lbs, so basically for two years. Think of all the boxes of diapers you won't be buying. Also, if the price is slowing you down, look into finding them used. You can find tons online and at kids' consignment stores. On Amazon, you can get Smart Bottoms (these look great, but pricey- so maybe a gift?) Jack and Jill diapers (with super sustainable bamboo and charcoal), Tiny Tush, Best Bottom, and Angelic Ware diapers. That being said, Etsy is the home of cloth diaperers everywhere, so you can find nearly infinite options there. Here is a tiny bite of your choices- LL Precious Creations, Melissa Makes, Polish Prince Diapers, Counting the Blessings, Elly Diapers (she has swim diapers too), EG Cloth, Little Boppers, Cat and Wolf Designs, Ba Ba Bottoms, Owl Be Green, and Greatest Joy Designs.  I am also really curious about Didy's, which seems like almost a start up to me, so if you get any of her stuff, please tell me about it!

Inserts come in as many varieties, so be sure to size your insert appropriately. You can look at the ones from Sprout and Best Bottoms (these have glowing reviews). Creekside Kids sells liners too, and they come with an almost excessive amount of Etsy love. Other options- Jane's Needfuls, Shop Imperfectionista, and Vinyl Madness Mama.

As a side note, I also found this diaper washing contraption that is at least partially made in the US and might be a big help. I honestly have no idea.

A Diaper Pail- It's a diaper pail- it's success really just depends on its smell control. We do have a secondhand pail, but it's a hard to recommend. Unless you get the Ubbi steel diaper pail, these things start to stink.

Travel Changing Mats (used)

 Our Picks- Used or Kathy's Kreations
Other Options-  Precious Little Tot, Black Arrow Studio, yoon 1 greene,  izy and doly, Life Made Chic, Simple Grace Design, Daffodils n Dinosaurs, and Whimsy for Wee

We bought ours at a consignment store, which is perfect for a piece of cloth specifically for getting poop on. Seriously, even if you wouldn't regularly buy things used, a poop pad is not a bad place to start, because this is not a cute object.

Planet Wise from Amazon

Wet Bag (new)

Our Pick- Planet Wise or Petunia
Other Options-Snuggy Baby, Whimsy for Wee, Rykie B's, Mod Mom ME, and Julian's Boutique.

 Plastic diaper disposal bags only add insult to injury (not to mention they are a waste of money). Either find bags that biodegrade or use reusable/ washable wet bags. Whether you are doing reusable diapers or not, a wet bag can be a great investment (way better than wasting lots of ziploc bags). Plus, wet bags get a lot of praise for really working and keeping the mess off everything else in your diaper bag dry. I have a Planet Wise one that we use for taking our kids to the beach as well.

from Creekside Kid

Wipes (new)

Our Pick: Reusable, Creekside Kid

Wipes are a parent's first defense against all sorts of nonsense, but this is a place where we need to change. The only 100% biodegradable are Jackson Reece's, which are made in the UK (they also come in a lot of packaging). Don't want these? Then we are back to reusables. Reusable wipes can cut tons of waste from your family's impact on the Earth. It may not be for you, but think about it. You might surprise yourself.

You can find about a million options for wipes (120 search pages) on Etsy, and they can last you so much longer than the one time use disposable ones. Creekside Kid comes out the big winner- they have over a thousand 5 star reviews and are very affordable, so I would start here. You can also try Lover of Life Designs (also almost a thousand positive reviews), Green Little Nest (even more beloved! Isn't it encouraging so many people are using reusable cloths for various purposes already?), Playtime and Parties, and Curly Monkey. Two reusable options on Amazon (in case the Etsy thing is harder to connect to your registry) are Oso Cozy and Baby Kicks.

Aleva Naturals are made of Bamboo and biodegrade in 21 days (but they are made in China)- we are going to try these, and I will let you know what I think.

Bordering on greenwashing, there are more "greenish" options- Seventh Generation's wipes claim to be green because you need fewer to do the job (you can also still buy them in bulk). Babyganics are also made in the USA out of mostly plant-based fibers. Waterwipes claims to be almost all water, but that is nonsense- what is the actual wipe made of? Kirkland wipes are made from 100% renewable materials. Burt's Bees are also made in the USA.

A Wipe Warmer (just wait)

People swore by their wipe warmer, but ours mostly just sat there (and slightly melted the furniture). It may be something to try if late night diapering isn't going well, but I would wait until there are complaints before you address them. They also aren't made in America at all, so if you want one, think about keeping an eye out for something used in consignment or Buy Nothing.

That being said. Wipe warmers can be a huge help with reusable wipes for keeping them wet, so if you are a mom who has advice on which is best, please feel free to share!



Changing diapers and diapering might be a very green thing to do, but it isn't the ONLY green choice you can make while getting ready to have a little one. Check out the rest of the eco-friendly baby registry for tons of ideas for everything on your registry! You can find solutions that work for you and help save the world!