Sleep sustainably with beaver bedding, baby fleece & co.
A guide to sustainable baby quilts, sleeping bags, and sheepskins
Sleep is one of your baby's favorite activities during the first months of life. And even later, when your little explorer is older, rest time in their own bed still holds a special place. Parents who pursue a sustainable lifestyle often want to incorporate their values into everyday life—and that includes their child's sleep environment. Fortunately, there is now a wide variety of sustainable materials that allow you to create an eco-conscious and cozy sleeping space for your child. Find inspiration in our six tips for sustainable sleeping.
1. Choose a wooden baby crib
The start of a sustainable Baby Room ideally begins with a suitable bed. Environmentally conscious parents often opt for a sustainable baby bed made of solid wood. To keep the ecological footprint as small as possible, you should primarily consider Beds made from local woods . These can include, among others, spruce, pine, Swiss pine, beech, oak, or alder. It is best to choose a bed made from untreated wood that carries the FSC® Seal . Certification by the Forest Stewardship Council® confirms that the wood used comes from responsibly managed forests.
The crib becomes even more sustainable when you buy second-hand it , or if you choose a bed that can grow with your little explorer. This way, you will enjoy your purchase for a long time.
When purchasing a mattress for your baby, we recommend an in-depth consultation. During this process, you can share all your wishes regarding the sustainability of the materials used. It is important that the mattress for your little explorer is sufficiently firm . Additionally, it should be able to regulate humidity and warmth . Synthetic fibers can cause increased sweating. For example, a mattress with a is recommended. Core made of coconut fibers and a cover made of natural latex . It is obtained from the sap of the rubber tree, without harming the tree.
3. Pay attention to natural materials in sleeping bags, baby blankets, and pillows
Many duvets and pillows are made from synthetic materials that can contain harmful substances and chemicals, which may harm your baby's health. If you choose natural materials for your baby's sleeping area instead—preferably from controlled organic cultivation—it offers several advantages: Sustainable filling materials protect the environment and your child's skin.
Sustainable duvets and pillows for babies and toddlers made from natural materials support healthy Baby sleep , because they can absorb and regulate moisture well, thereby controlling your baby's body temperature . Common filling materials are down, natural wool, and organic cotton. If you want to ensure that the materials in your baby's bedroom are also vegan, duvets and pillows made from cotton or hemp are a good choice.
Looking for a sustainable sleeping bag for your baby? You should especially look for options made from organic cotton. Your little explorer will sleep best in a cozy muslin sleeping bag with fleece lining, a cotton jersey sleeping bag, or a wool fleece sleeping bag . Pay attention to sustainability by ensuring that the fibers originate from certified organic farming (kbA) or controlled organic animal husbandry (kbT) . This helps prevent environmental damage and supports animal welfare. Additionally, synthetic pesticides are avoided.
Only when your little explorer is between 12 and 18 months old should you switch from a sleeping bag to a baby blanket. This reduces the risk of sudden infant death due to restricted breathing or heat retention. From an orthopedic perspective, you should also only place a pillow in the crib from this age onward. Initially, a flat pillow is recommended, which you can replace with a thicker pillow when your child is about 3 years old.
4. Buy Biber bed linen or Renforcé bed linen
If you have chosen a sustainable duvet and a baby pillow, all that’s missing is the right baby bedding. Sustainable options are now plentiful. Many can even be called organic bedding, because they are made of Organic Cotton (controlled organic cultivation) . For the cold months, many parents rely on cozy, warm beaver bed linen for your baby , woven from cotton and then brushed. This makes the sustainable bedding especially fluffy for your little explorer. During the summer months, you can use Reinforced bed linen , because it is also woven from cotton. Since it has a smooth surface, unlike beaver bed linen, it feels mildly cooling and can effectively regulate your child's body temperature on warm days. It is also recommended to use muslin and jersey bedding made from 100% organic cotton.
5. Get baby lambskin and cuddly blankets for on the go
Especially in the first months of life, babies spend most of the day sleeping. The likelihood that your little explorer will also want to rest on the go is quite high. It's best to prepare early for these situations and learn about sustainable accessories that provide your baby with cozy sleep—no matter the environment. For example, how about a cuddle blanket made of muslin, organic merino wool, or organic cotton ?
Maybe you've also observed other parents letting their baby sleep on fur. In particular, organic sheepskin supports natural temperature regulation , which contributes to restful sleep. However, your baby should only sleep on a sheepskin from the age of 12 months; before that, there is a high risk of suffocation. Our tip: When purchasing a baby sheepskin for health and sustainability reasons, ensure that it has only been tanned with plant-based agents and has not come into contact with harmful chemicals during production. As a vegan alternative to sheepskin, for example, a Bio Cotton Wool Blanket in the form of a lambskin. It is also cuddly soft, sustainable, and qualifies as an ideal sleeping surface for your little explorer.
A wide selection of sustainable textiles for your child's sleeping environment can also be found in the Online shop of hessnatur . The company focuses on fair fashion and the use of natural fibers from controlled organic cultivation. For your little explorer's sustainable sleeping place, you will find, for example, lambskins, muslin and wool fleece sleeping bags, and flannel bed linen at hessnatur.
6. Dress your baby in eco-friendly diapers and sustainable pajamas
When you think of a sustainable sleep environment for your baby, the first things that probably come to mind are the big purchases like the bed and mattress. However, often it’s the small steps toward a more environmentally conscious life that make a difference—for example, choosing the right diaper for your baby. Our LILLYDOO green diapers with an extra-strong absorbent core made of 100% unbleached, natural pulp are an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional pads—even at night. They avoid plastic whenever possible and arrive at your home in an attractive FSC®-certified paper bag (FSC-C135956). Of course, the diapers from our LILLYDOO green line also contain no artificial ingredients, perfumes, or lotions , to protect your baby's delicate skin.
You can also continue this sustainability mindset with your little explorer's sleepwear. Depending on the season, newborns should wear a short- or long-sleeved body made of natural materials . For example, organic cotton, merino wool, or silk are perfect for this. For your little one, you can opt for sustainable pyjamas made of organic cotton, terry cloth, or jersey .
We think it's wonderful that you are taking such responsible care when setting up the baby room, and we hope our inspiration and tips have helped you take one step closer to a sustainable baby sleep space. If you want to learn more about how to set up the children's room sustainably and free of pollutants, check out our article "".
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Frequently asked questions
What is beaver bedding?
Beaver duvet cover is a popular duvet cover for the cold season. The sustainable bedding is woven from cotton. It is then brushed. This creates a fluffy and warming surface.
What is Renforcé bed linen?
Reinforced bedding describes a specific weave of cotton, where the organic bedding becomes firm and the surface smooth. It has a cooling effect and is therefore also suitable for the summer months.
From what age can my child sleep with a duvet?
Children should not sleep with a blanket before the age of 12 to 18 months. This is because there is a high risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) beforehand, which can be caused by a buildup of breath or heat retention.
