March 20 is the first day of spring. The days are longer and brighter. Flowers are beginning to bloom. A new season of discovery and family fun awaits.

But first, spring cleaning! At HealthyBaby, it’s not a big change. We’re always clean with EWG VERIFIED® diapers, wipes, and other essentials made with fewer, better ingredients and materials. 

So we’re welcoming the new season with simple refreshes—to our homes and habits—that make little ones happier and healthier while supporting development.

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1. Rotate toys and books

Research has proven that having fewer toys leads to richer and more sustained play experiences. Take inventory of your child’s playthings, prioritizing toys that are:

• Regularly enjoyed
• Versatile and open-ended to invite more creative play (e.g. blocks, instead of a puzzle)
• Seasonally appropriate

Toys taken out of rotation don’t necessarily need to be donated or given away. You can simply stow them and reintroduce them later in the year. Familiar toys feel novel when they haven’t been seen for awhile.

Take inventory of little one’s books, too. Keep favorite reads accessible and scan bookshelves for good books that have been sidelined. Introduce new words and timely concepts to little one with books about springtime topics, like gardens, baby animals, and warm weather adventures.

2. Sort outgrown clothes and shoes

As you pack away winter clothes, notice what items your child has outgrown and set them aside for any mending or washing they need. Thrift stores and donation centers often want in-season items, so you may need to store these items until next fall or winter. Culling little one’s wardrobe now will make it easier to switch out clothing when the seasons change.

Make this task a game by playing “dress-up” with your toddler to decide which items to keep or donate. Give little one the “job” of putting items in a laundry basket or donation bag. Or challenge little one by asking them to sort outgrown items by size or color.

3. Make routines healthier with safe essentials

The products we use in our daily routines can have a profound impact on our health. In the spirit of the season, consider the ingredients and materials your child's coming into contact with every day.

Many diapers, wipes, and personal care products contain chemicals linked to potential health harm, like parabens, phthalates, and PFAS (forever chemicals). Babies and toddlers are especially sensitive to these toxins, because they're in a critical window of development. HealthyBaby's EWG VERIFIED® diapers, wipes, and other essentials put health and safely first.

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4. Spend more time outside

There are myriad benefits to spending time outside, from sensory exploration to motor skill development to cognitive growth. On nice days, you can make a simple change of scenery and move playtime and meals outdoors. Or you can take a more focused approach and guide your child to really engage with the outdoors.

After months of being cooped up inside, now’s the time to point out how trees and plants are changing, stop to observe insects and birds, and notice how weather patterns like wind and rain affect the outside world. Little ones are naturally curious, and the more they’re encouraged to look, the more they notice and learn.

5. Wash stuffies and other well-loved objects

Soft, cuddly items can harbor millions of dust mites and other allergens. Give stuffed animals, blankies, and other transitional objects a fresh start with a hot water cycle in the washer and dryer. Our Laundry Detergent is a fragrance-free, plant-derived concentrate that’s gentle on skin and tough on the yucky stuff.

Soak or wipe down harder items, like bath toys and blocks, changing pads, and teethers with Our Cleaning Concentrate. It’s 100% water, plant, and mineral-derived and safely cleans hands, dishes, and surfaces, so little one is welcome to help with washing.

6. Eat seasonal snacks

It’s easy to eat the rainbow with spring’s bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables. As you introduce your child to sensory-rich seasonal foods, think about the other developmental skills you can support:

• Build vocabulary by naming foods
• Describe food colors, textures, and flavors
• Foster comparison skills by identifying which foods are bigger or smaller, smoother or bumpier, etc.

This “sportscasting” during daily activities, known as speaking “parentese,” is incredibly beneficial to learning and connection. It’s never too early to start.

As far as eating goes, remember: sometimes little ones must try new foods several times before they know if they like them. Consider visiting or planting a garden to help toddlers understand where the produce they eat comes from.

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7. Introduce new “chores”

Toddlers are excited to flex new skills and take on new challenges at home. Giving them age-appropriate tasks helps them hone listening skills and learn to follow instructions. When they complete "chores" successfully, they get a boost of confidence that supports further independence.

A few spring chores to consider introducing:

• Watering plants
• Opening/closing curtains
• Turning fans on/off
• Putting fruit in a bowl
• Washing produce
• Putting cushions on lawn furniture
• Tidying outdoor play areas
• Helping with gardening and yard work