Here’s a great item for the budding artist in your family.  We all know that crayons are nontoxic these days, but these crayons from Stockmar are the ultimate in all-natural art supplies.  Made in Germany from beeswax, and certified nontoxic by the Art and Craft Materials Institute, they are exactly the kind of thing you want to give your child–creativity inspiring and safe.

Best of all, the beeswax creates a smooth and even color, so unlike some of the cheaper crayons on the market, these will produce even and vibrant colors as your child writes.  The oversized shape is ideal for young hands.  This set includes eight crayons and a scraper, beautifully packed and perfect for gift-giving.  I just ordered the set for my younger daughter and I know she will have a blast with them.

You can buy the set for $11.49 at oompa.com.

Here is a nice, simple, and safe teether for parents who are looking for alternatives to plastic. Made from maple wood with a finishing layer of beeswax, it is designed to soothe gums naturally. It is easy for even a young baby to grasp, and will likely make a fun toy as well as a teether.

At $15, this teether is slightly more than others on the market, but it is certainly not unreasonably priced. After we move next month, I plan to focus seriously on ridding our home of plastic and otherwise annoying toys. I’ll likely be revisiting this product then.

I also think this would be a great shower gift for an eco-conscious mom-to-be. You can purchase the teether at estella-nyc.com.

Going back to our roots with very eco-friendly, toxin-free products seems to be the latest in mama trends. Made with cherry wood and polished with beeswax, the wooden spoon is designed with learning to grip a spoon in the correct fashion in mind.

Each spoon is handmade, simple, durable, and completely individual, as the wood determines the shape the spoon will take. While I do appreciate the idea of organic products, I wonder how excited a mama-to-be would be to get a gift of wood at her baby shower.

I suggest tying a striped bow around the spoon, adding the matching $19.99 bowl filled with baby food jars or cereals, and putting it all in a handy tote or basket and I’m sure she’ll appreciate its simple beauty. From crocodilebaby.com, it is $9.99 and up to speed with our changing world.

They’re all-natural but are they all-dull as well? Sure, they’re free of plastic and lead paint, but I have to wonder how much delight can be found in sticks. It’s a kind of simplicity that is really beyond me, especially for $16.95. The appropriately named Natural Stick Rattle is filled with zinc and copper beads for rattling and sanded smooth enough for chewing on. Hand crafted and finished off with a coat of beeswax, these little wonders are made from wood in Oregon. Should you be interested in handing your child a stick and calling it a toy, you can buy one at peapods.com. If anything, it’s the most original gift you’ll see at any given baby shower!