Best Toddler Back to School Essentials (Non-Toxic Picks)
Favorite Non-Toxic Back to School Essentials for Toddlers
We put together a list of our favorite non-toxic toddler products of the year for back to school essentials. While you don’t need school supplies, per say, there is a bit of gear to think about. Lunch boxes, backpacks, sunscreen, an extra change of clothes. Some simple prep can make your life a whole lot easier.
We put together a list of this year’s favorite products through the same lens we apply to everything at WBC: what's actually in it, who made it, and whether it's worth the space in the bag. Best part, all of these options are affordable, lasting and available on Amazon.
Best Toddler Backpacks for Daycare (No PVC)
A canvas toddler backpack that you can personalize with their name - which is both adorable and genuinely useful for daycare drop-off. Canvas is one of the better material choices for a toddler bag: no PVC, no plastic coating, breathable and durable. The personalization makes it easy to identify and harder to lose.
Why we like it: Natural canvas material, no PVC lining, personalized
Good to know: Check that zippers are lead-free - a detail worth confirming with the brand for any kids' bag
Atgark Toddler Backpack for Boys and Girls Ages 2-5 - $19.99
A slightly more structured toddler pack with a front pocket and adjustable straps - great if your daycare requires specific items to be easily accessible. Lightweight enough that a 2-year-old can actually carry it without tipping over, which is more than can be said for some toddler bags.
Why we like it: Lightweight, structured, toddler-sized proportions
Tip: Size these for the child, not the stuff - a bag that's too big is harder for toddlers to manage independently
Safest Lunch Boxes and Containers for Toddlers
Lalo Bento Box - $37.99
This is our everyday lunch box and it's genuinely earned its place. The interior is food-grade stainless steel - so food never touches plastic - and the exterior lid is BPA-free silicone. Three compartments keep foods separate (important for the toddlers who cannot, under any circumstances, let the crackers touch the grapes). Easy for little hands to open independently.
Safety: BPA-free, food-grade stainless steel interior, free from harmful heavy metals. Meets and exceeds ASTM safety standards and is Prop 65 compliant.
Practical: Dishwasher safe (top rack), leak-resistant, available in 6 colors
Note: Not microwave safe - pack foods at the right temp before it goes in the bag
WBC Note: Stainless steel interior is the gold standard for lunch boxes. It means food never sits against plastic, which matters especially for warm or acidic foods.
Six small stainless steel containers in different sizes - perfect for snacks, dips, and sides that don't fit neatly into the bento compartments. Silicone lids in different colors make it easy for toddlers to match tops to bottoms (and make packing faster for you). Stackable, dishwasher safe, and the variety of sizes is genuinely useful.
Why we like it: All stainless, no plastic contact with food, colorful lids for easy matching
Best for: Hummus, fruit, cut veggies, dry snacks
Haakaa Silicone Yummy Pouch 4.5oz - $24.99
Reusable food pouches made from food-grade silicone - a much cleaner alternative to the plastic squeeze pouches most toddler snacks come in. Fill them at home with homemade smoothies, yogurt, purees, or applesauce and the silicone keeps things tasting clean without any plastic leaching. Wide-mouth opening makes them actually easy to clean too.
Safety: Food-grade silicone, BPA-free, no plastic contact with food
Practical: Wide mouth for easy filling and cleaning, dishwasher safe
Stasher Premium Reusable Silicone Food Storage Bags - varies
The gold standard of reusable food storage. Stasher bags are 100% platinum silicone - the same material used in medical devices - with no BPA, BPS, or plastic fillers. They replace single-use plastic bags entirely and can go in the dishwasher, freezer, microwave, and even boiling water. The price is higher upfront but these last for years. Plus, you also save in the long run not having to buy individual sized snacks.
Safety: Platinum food-grade silicone, completely plastic-free, no harmful leaching even with heat
Sustainability: Replaces single-use plastic bags, lasts for years, dishwasher safe
Tip: The sandwich size is perfect for daycare; the snack size is great for crackers and cut fruit
Non-Toxic Art Supplies for Toddlers
Honeysticks 100% Pure Beeswax Crayons 12-Pack - $22.95
The least concerning crayons for toddlers who think everything is food. Most standard crayons are made with petroleum-based paraffin wax and synthetic pigments. Honeysticks are made from 100% pure New Zealand beeswax with food-grade pigments for color - which matters because toddlers put everything in their mouths and crayons are no exception.
Safety: 100% pure beeswax, food-grade pigments, no paraffin wax, no petroleum-based fillers. Compliant with CE, ASTM, and Graphic Materials Group safety standards.
Practical: Chubby shape is easy for toddler hands to hold, harder to break than standard crayons
Sustainability: Plastic-free packaging, sustainably made in New Zealand
Why This Matters: Standard crayons contain paraffin wax (a petroleum byproduct) and synthetic industrial pigments. For toddlers who chew on their crayons - which is most of them - the ingredients actually matter.
Best Mineral Sunscreen for the Whole Family
Sunscreen is one of those categories where the marketing and the safety reality can really diverge. For toddlers, we always look for mineral-only formulas (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient) rather than chemical sunscreens, which work by absorbing UV rays through the skin.
A mineral stick formula with zinc oxide as the only active ingredient - no oxybenzone, no octinoxate, none of the chemical filters that show up in EWG's concern list. The stick format is genuinely easier to apply to a squirmy toddler's face than a lotion. Fragrance-free, reef-safe, water-resistant.
Active ingredient: Zinc oxide 20% - mineral only
Free from: Oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens, synthetic fragrance
Note: EWG rates Hello Bello's SPF line as moderate hazard due to limited data availability, not due to specific ingredient concerns. The zinc oxide formula itself is well-studied and widely recommended for children.
A step up in terms of skin feel and blendability if the white cast from a higher zinc formula bothers your toddler (or you). SPF 40 with a mineral-only formula, designed specifically for kids. Water resistant, fragrance-free, and easier to apply than many mineral formulas at this SPF level.
Active ingredient: Mineral only (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide)
Why consider this one: Better cosmetic feel than many mineral sticks; slightly lower zinc percentage means less white cast
Best for: Outdoor play, field trips, extended sun exposure
Organic Cotton Clothing
For toddler clothing we look for two things: organic cotton or natural fibers where possible, and minimal dyes and treatments. Toddlers wear the same clothes for hours, sleep in them sometimes, and put everything near their mouths. The fabric matters.
Also, though we sometimes wish uniforms were still a thing, creating your own dress code at home definitely makes the morning rush a little easier.
Colored Organics Organic Cotton Short Sleeve Baby Shirt - $30.00
GOTS-certified organic cotton - which means not just the fiber but the entire production process is certified, including the dyes and finishing treatments. Colored Organics is one of the more rigorous organic clothing brands for babies and toddlers. Soft, holds up to repeated washing, and comes in clean, simple styles that work for daycare.
Certification: GOTS-certified organic cotton
Why GOTS matters: The certification covers the full supply chain including dyes and treatments - not just the raw fiber
Kutterild 3-Pack Toddler Boys Short Sleeve Polo - $19.95
A practical everyday option at a more accessible price point. Three-pack means you have backup for the inevitable spills, and the polo style works for daycare dress codes. Not certified organic but a solid everyday rotation option.
Why we like it: Great value, practical for daycare, easy to layer
Eight organic cotton tees in one pack - the ultimate daycare solution. HonestBaby uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and this 8-pack gives you a full week of backup outfits in the bag plus a few extras. The soft, stretchy fabric holds up well through repeated washing and the range of colors means they go with everything.
Certification: GOTS-certified organic cotton
Best for: Keeping 2-3 spare sets in the daycare cubby all year
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