Everything changes when a baby comes along, especially parents' perspectives on safety. Every decision is made with protective goggles on as parents want the best bottles, the healthiest food, and household products without toxic chemicals. This is especially important when it comes to washing tots' tiny clothes and cloth diapers. What's good for baby is generally what's good for earth, and detergents made with irritating petrochemicals are harmful to both. Check out these products that are both eco and baby conscious.
Clockwise from top left:
- Vaska Spotoff Advanced Botanicals Spot Remover ($10), and Vaska Herbatergent Light Lavender, 48 oz. ($12): Vaska products earned recognition by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment Program as they break down quickly to non-polluting compounds. The natural lavender scent actually smells like lavender because it is — unlike most brands which use manufactured scents.
- Rockin' Green Classic Rock Laundry Detergent ($15): One of the most popular brands used to clean cloth diapers, this detergent was developed by a parent whose kids had very sensitive skin that broke out with every cleanser they tried.
- Seventh Generation Liquid Laundry 2x Ultra Concentrate, Baby, 150 oz. ($22): Seventh Generation products have been a go-to for eco-conscious mamas for a while. The liquid is super concentrated so a little really does go a long way.
- Biokleen Laundry Powder, 5 pounds ($22): This nontoxic, biodegradable powder is gentle while strong enough to launder cloth diapers — and everything else. The price is also right so customers don't have feel like they have to choose between green (eco) and green (money).
- Method Baby Laundry Detergent, Sweet Pea ($15): When Method launched a line of laundry detergents in 2010, it was an instant hit with fans of green, clean laundry. The cleverly designed pump bottle means multitasking mamas can do laundry and hold the baby at the same time.
Hamburg-based photographer 
Motherhood and all the dirty wash that comes with it have made me long for a house with a laundry room! But, back in my pre-baby days, tossing stuff in the washer and dryer was more of a twice-weekly occurrence. Though lots of mamas-to-be clean all of their impending baby's belongings before their first wear, I must confess I never did. And, my kids never had any skin issues or irritations to show for it. Once they wore or used an item, I did launder it with a 
