When buying clothes for baby, parents can be happy on two counts. Not only can they help the environment by buying organic baby clothes, but they can help their precious little one remain free of irritations such as eczema and other rashes. Organic baby clothes are certain to be free of toxic pesticides that are used in growing non-organic cotton.
Cotton is not the only choice in organic clothing for baby, of course. It might surprise parents to know that hemp is often mixed in with the organic cotton. Hemp is an even better choice than organic cotton because it can be grown without pesticides or herbicides and does not require the same enormous amount of water to grow as cotton does. The addition of hemp to organic cotton gives a stronger, yet softer material that is well suited to the washing machine and resists pilling. It makes a fabric that is similar to linen in looks but softer and very breathable. This makes it cool and comfortable to wear
Bamboo is another option when it comes to organic baby clothes. Bamboo again is grown without pesticides and herbicides and has the drape of silk, but the feel of Egyptian cotton. Shrinkage and pilling are a thing of the past with bamboo organic baby clothes. Bamboo is anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic, providing soft, irritation-free clothing for the most sensitive baby skin. It also has good thermal properties; meaning your newborn will remain cool in the summer, yet warm in the winter. Like hemp, it also has super absorbency – double that of cotton.
If you want to get down to the nitty gritty and find out more about the processes involved in manufacturing clothes from organic cotton, hemp and bamboo, look at the lifecycle assessment of particular garments in our Kids and Babies section, or check out our Fabric Facts page.
Hemp and bamboo baby clothing is not as readily available as organic cotton as yet, though hopefully, if demand increases in the near future it will be. There are a number of companies that specialise in bamboo baby clothing, organic baby clothes, which also ensure that the items are ethically made so you can be content that your child’s clothes are not made by someone else’s children.
Once you’ve dressed your baby in organic baby clothes, you won’t want to use anything else. They are so soft that baby will feel more comfortable and happier. Add to this the wearability of the clothing and the knowledge that baby is not endangered by exposure to any toxic chemicals and you will realise that organic baby clothing is a good choice all round.
Better still, organic cotton, bamboo and hemp based fabrics are not limited to clothing, but can be found in other items such as sheets, pillowslips and wraps for a great start in life.
For more information check out our How to Choose Sustainable Clothing article.
