Conscious Gift Guide 2020
Are you like most of us looking for the perfect holiday gift ideas until the very end? We have put together a Conscious gift guide to help you come up with thoughtful gift ideas this unusual year. We care a lot about gender-equality and steer away from any gender-stereotypes, so instead of giving you ideas for gifts for him, gifts for her and so on we have categorized everything in a gender-neutral way.
While our holiday gift guide for babies and adults only contains a few of our favorite brands and products, we recommend you to also visit your local Farmer's Market & independent boutiques in your area to shop local and shop small to support local small businesses around you when looking for gifts for your loved ones. And as always, we hope that you keep sustainability in mind and shop eco-friendly whenever possible.
Finding the perfect baby gift is not always easy - there are so many different items, brands and designs to choose from. If you want to be thoughtful, we recommend going for essential baby products, which the baby's parents need to get or already have, but need more of. That way you simply can't go wrong. When choosing a style, anything neutral is always a safe bet and when it comes to picking a brand, go with one that speaks to you and your values, so your loved ones receiving your gift will be able to tell right away that it came from the bottom of YOUR heart.
So, in addition to recommending you to buy the softest, most comfortable and functional TØY baby clothes and accessories for babies 0 to 24 months, our gift sets or one of our gift cards if you want to give parents more flexibility, here are a few more options we adore:
This sweet small business based in Utah sells adorable minimalist baby teethers, amongst many other things, and we just can't get enough of them! Not only are they extremely cute and made with baby-safe materials, but did you know that because of their minimalist look they also pair really well with TØY? Babies as young as 2 months might need these.
Teethers from $14.99
If you are looking for thoughtful gifts for any adult, take a moment to think back on your previous conversations with this person and what they have been complaining the most about over the past few months. Now, can you think of something that could solve their problem or make their life just a little bit easier? Then you might have found your perfect gift! If that's easier said than done, we have a few back-up options for you.
Photography
The perfect gift for a growing family. Whether it's a new baby, a new fur baby or another exciting change in their life, an expanding family might really appreciate the gift of professionally photographed memories, which they might not be able to prioritize as an expense right now.
We would especially like to recommend two San Francisco / Bay Area photographers, who are experts at capturing magic moments and turning them into photography art: Ashley Kaplan Photography and Xilo Photography. Although, if the family you're holiday shopping for lives somewhere else there are plenty of local experts you can find with just a few quick searches online! Tip: Make sure to ask about their COVID-19 safety guidelines in advance to keep everyone safe.
If you live nearby and have a good camera eye, you can also gift your time and skills for a DIY session! It might not be as cool and fancy, but it sure will capture those memories and be appreciated!
Knowledge Platforms
Give a gift of knowledge to someone who always loves to learn new things or who unfortunately has been forced out of their job this year and needs some inspiration! There are plenty of great online (no printed books necessary!) options to choose from.
Masterclass offers yearly subscription to their platform, where you can learn from the best instructors in the world: from Alicia Keys teaching songwriting and producing to Massimo Bottura teaching Italian cooking, Marc Jacobs teaching Fashion Design to Serena Williams teaching tennis. All the experts in one place + it's not a material thing, so you won't have to worry about creating extra environmental waste!
All access subscription: $180 per year
Day-to-day Essentials
Gifting someone a good, eco-friendly and safe alternative to something they already use frequently, like washing & cleaning detergents or even shavers, is a fun and thoughtful idea for those who appreciate quality products!
Celsious: Anyone who has a washing machine in their apartment will love this non-toxic laundry care set: The Trio from a Brooklyn based small business Celsious. Not only are their products made with only a few and simple ingredients, but they're fragrance-free and biodegradable as well, so they're gentle on your skin and the environment!
The Trio: $50
Branch Basics: One of the easiest things you can do to improve your health is remove toxic cleaning products from your home. With Branch Basics cleaning products you will literally be giving someone the gift of better health - is that thoughtful enough?
Starter Kits: from $59
Eco Roots: Knowing that billions of single-use plastic razors are thrown away each year, why not introduce a friend to this zero-waste razor company that aims to minimize this unnecessary pollutant?
Shaving Kit: $48.50
Donation
Making a donation in someone else's name is a wonderful gift for those who for various reasons don't wish for anything this year. It is a gift that shows thoughtfulness as well as compassion, and will be appreciated by any kind soul.
Pick any organization that might be close to your loved one's heart and if you need inspiration, go to Charity Navigator to get started.
Children's Home Society of Florida: Support this non-profit organization with a bold mission: to end the need for foster care as we know it by keeping more families safe, strong and together.
Project Night Night: This beautiful non-profit donates over 30,000 Night Night Packages each year to homeless children 12 and under who need childhood essentials to have a concrete and predictable source of security and an increased exposure to high-quality literacy materials during their time of upheaval.
David Shepherd Wildlife Fund: Virtually adopt one of the animals near extinction, like Snow leopards, African elephants, Black rhinos and more. Your adoption will directly fund the work of their ground-based conservation partners who fight to protect wildlife on your behalf.
Last but not least, don't forget to check current shipping deadlines for Hanukkah (Dec. 10–18), Christmas (Dec. 25), Kwanzaa (Dec. 26–Jan. 1). Many small and medium businesses, like ours, need to receive your order at least 48hrs before the shipping carrier's deadline in order to make a timely delivery.
Happy Holidays!