As a parent, you want your baby to stay healthy - which means you want to limit their exposure to germs and keep your house clean. It's only natural (and right!) for you as a mom to worry about germs! But the cleaning products you've been using might be more harmful for your baby than the germs they kill.

It's time to get educated about how to safely clean and disinfect your home.

Why are "Baby-Safe" Cleaning Products Important? 

Your baby touches a lot of surfaces, so whatever surface they have their hands on, it's important they aren't being exposed to harsh chemicals. They also put a lot of things in their mouth! Whatever they touch or put their mouths on will influence their health. Even what they breathe in can damage their developing lungs.

Studies suggest cleaning supplies with fragrance can cause asthma in children. Other evidence suggests when the chemicals in some cleaning supplies mix, they form carcinogenic fumes. Some cleaning supplies also contain chemicals that are significant hormone disruptors.

You don't want your baby exposed to harmful stuff like that! And quite frankly, you shouldn't be exposed to it either.

What Makes Cleaning Products "Baby-Safe"?

At the end of the day, cleaning products are "baby-safe" if they don't contain harsh chemicals (chlorine, alcohol, bleach, or phthalates) or damaging fragrances. This means they don't need to have the "baby-safe" label to be safe for your baby!

Fragrances are damaging to your baby's developing lungs and sensitive skin (heck, even my skin is sensitive to fragrances!). And like we said above, certain chemicals used in cleaning products can be carcinogenic or hormone-disrupting.

This doesn't mean you must live in a germ pool! There are safer and gentler ways of disinfecting and cleaning your home - just keep an open mind to the alternatives.

Mainstream cleaning companies have convinced us our homes are only clean when they have that artificial "clean" smell, but that simply isn't true! Let's talk about safe (and effective) cleaning alternatives:

What Ingredients to Look For...

It can be intimidating to think about all the harmful chemicals you should avoid when picking a cleaning product. (Are there any out there that check every box??) Don't lose hope; it isn't as impossible as it seems!

In general, avoid the chemicals on this list. If you're not sure, search up various products in the Environmental Working Group's Guide to Healthy Cleaning.

I also love using an app called Yuka - it's search feature is only available to members, but you can scan barcodes at the grocery store for free and get a breakdown of everything that's harmful or healthy inside! Super helpful if you're overwhelmed with where to begin.

Top 6 Baby-Safe Cleaning Brands

We've compiled a list of our favorite cleaning brands we trust - each of these brands offer different products, so we hope this list provides a good arsenal to attack all the germs in your home safely!

1. Babyganics

Babyganics cleaning supplies are made without parabens, phthalates, or artificial fragrances. Many of their products, like their high chair cleaner, is dermatologist-approved and plant-based.

Their all-purpose wipes are also great for wiping down baby toys without worrying what chemicals are getting into your little one's mouth. We love how their products are made with babies in mind - they have almost everything you'd need as a new mom navigating this crazy journey! 

2. Mrs. Meyer's

Mrs. Meyer's makes their cleaning products with essential oils and thoughtful ingredients, and all of their packaging is recyclable. They don't specialize in baby-specific products, but they offer great go-to's for under the sink. Grab your hand soap, dish soap, and laundry detergent here! (Plus they sell at all the big grocery stores near you, so they are easy to find).

One tip: their all-purpose cleaner isn't antibacterial, so don't count on it to disinfect the toughest messes! It's still great for wiping crumbs off kitchen counters and freshening up home surfaces though.

3. Method

Method has quickly turned into a cleaning product powerhouse, and we love their mission to create paraben-free cleaning products for your home. Their best place for use (we think) would be your bathroom. While the kitchen can get away without being disinfected every day, your bathroom will collect serious germs over time. This antibac spray is a great (safer) way to kill those harsher germs.

4. Dr. Bronner's

Dr. Bronner's makes natural soap without using synthetic materials, which can be unsafe for your baby. Their mission is simple and admirable, and we love supporting a company that is so dedicated to creating sustainable, eco-friendly, safe products.

Dr. Bronner's also advocates for customer education, writing articles about what ingredients to avoid, deciphering soap labels, and advocating for legislation change regarding consumer safety.

5. Aunt Fannie's

Have pets? Aunt Fannie's cleaning supplies aren't just people-friendly, they are pet-friendly, and they have several options for pet cleaning solutions as well!

Their products are held to high standards with transparent ingredients and goals for their products, which we love. They're ready to answer all your questions about mainstream cleaning supplies (like, does every spill require surgical style sanitizing?), which makes educating yourself about baby-safe cleaning supplies that much more doable.

6. Grove Co.

Grove Co. doesn't just sell their own brand of safe cleaning supplies for your home, but they also sell other brands you love (like Mrs. Meyer's) and ship them directly to your house with free sustainable shipping. Their motto is sustainability, so if you want to purchase products that aren't just healthy for your home, but are also healthy for the earth, this is a great place to start.

We also love this article they wrote about the best baby-safe cleaning supplies - read it here!

Follow Your Mama Instinct

At the end of the day, you know what's best for your baby, and you're going to make the best decision for their health. We hope this list doesn't leave you feeling discouraged; we want you to feel empowered to make sure your family is safe and healthy! You are more than capable mama, and your gut instinct is more powerful than you think.

Before you go, make sure to check out our top-selling baby products - and join the countless moms nationwide who love them too!

^^ After you stock up on all your baby-safe cleaning supplies, you'll need a place to organize them. Our felt diaper caddies double as cleaning caddies, and they are super easy to transport between rooms! Order one here.

^^ Pair all your new baby-safe bath products with our safe, buttery-soft washcloths. Made with muslin cotton that's safe for sensitive baby skin, our washcloths are perfect for your newborn. Order our 6-pack here.

^^ After bath time, you need a baby towel that keeps your baby warm and dry. Our Hooded Bath Towels aren't like the scratchy, thin ones you're used to. They are thick, soft, and warm - a new mom must! Order our Infant or Toddler size here.