What’s in Their Wellies?

Why We Chose Natural Rubber Over PVC

When we first started designing Babylosophy’s rain boots, we didn’t begin with colours or logos.

We started with a question: What exactly should we make them from?

Because let’s face it — not all children’s wellies are made equal. And as parents, we know that what goes on your child’s feet matters just as much as what goes in their lunchbox.

PVC: Cheap, Common, and… Not Quite Right

Walk through any supermarket or scroll through most online shops, and you’ll find loads of kids’ wellies made from PVC — polyvinyl chloride. It’s cheap, waterproof, and easy to mould. So far, so good, right?

Well, not quite.

• PVC is a petrochemical-derived plastic, and some types contain plasticisers (like phthalates), which have raised health concerns in children’s products.
• It tends to be stiffer and heavier, which isn’t ideal when you’re chasing a toddler through a muddy field.
• It’s also non-biodegradable — so when they’re outgrown or worn out, they stay around for a very long time.

We didn’t love the idea of wrapping tiny growing feet in rigid plastic — and sending more of it into landfill a year later.

So Why Natural Rubber?

Instead, we chose to make our Morden Rain Boots from natural rubber, tapped from rubber trees — a renewable, plant-based material that’s been used for centuries.

Why?

• Flexible and soft — it moves with your child’s foot, not against it.
• Durable without being bulky — tough enough for woodland walks, light enough for little legs.
• No hidden nasties — we don’t add plasticisers, lead-based dyes, or anything we wouldn’t want near our own children.
• Kinder to the planet — natural rubber eventually breaks down, unlike synthetic plastics.

It’s not the cheapest route — but it’s the one we believe in.

Boots Made for Real Life (and Real Children)

Our decision wasn’t about trends or marketing. It was about making something we’d actually want our own kids to wear.

We’ve put these boots through their paces — from drizzly nursery drop-offs, to damp morning walks through the common, and even a school trip where it rained sideways the entire afternoon. They held up brilliantly — not just against the weather, but in day-long comfort.

Because what good is a waterproof boot if it’s too uncomfortable to wear?

In Summary

PVC is everywhere — and we get why. It’s cheap and cheerful. But at Babylosophy, we’re not here to be the cheapest. We’re here to be thoughtful.

Thoughtful about design. Thoughtful about materials. And thoughtful about the little feet who wear our boots.

So if you’ve ever wondered what’s actually in those wellies — now you know.