One of the things that is very hard to find is a good pair of pants. Most people waste away hours trying to find a pair of pants with the perfect length, material, color and fit. Adults can voice out their concern or complaints and change the pair with a snap of a finger. Babies cannot do that.
So, it is best to provide babies with pants they cannot complain or cry about. Providing organic baby pants is the best way to go! Parents do not have to worry about harmful chemicals on their precious baby’s skin or whether the pants fit right. Organic baby pants may come in different sizes, colors, and styles but all are of great quality and natural material.
You may already know that organic cotton baby clothing is a healthy fabric choice for your baby. But other than having a personal style preference, how do you decide between the growing number of organic clothing lines coming into the market place?
Read what the manufacturer’s label says about the clothes.
The clothing label should say 100% certified organic cotton. If you are buying online, these words should be on the website in the “about us” section or in the product description.
Some products will say natural or organic on the packaging, but when you look at the tag it says 100% cotton (not organic). In some cases the cotton is blended with a synthetic fabric such as polyester. Polyester is not organic.
The 100% organic label means the cotton was grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers and using sustainable farming practices. The clothing item itself will also be free of toxic fabric finishes containing formaldehyde and dioxins.
Examine the fabric of the clothing.
The fabric of organic cotton baby clothing should be thicker, more flexible and softer than traditional cotton. The clothing will also wash better and last longer.
Organic clothing will probably not be stark white, unless it has undergone some type of bleaching process. Cotton can grow naturally in many colors, including white, yellow, green, brown, pink and even mauve. However, organic white cotton has a vanilla, or yellowish tinge to it.
Organic cotton clothing can also be dyed safely. The dyes should be low impact or herbal (plant-based).
Prints and screens on t-shirts and body suits should be made with inks free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The chlorine-based chemicals can react with the other chemicals used in the manufacturing process and create dioxins and other toxic compounds. Water-based inks and pigments are a safer alternative.
Buttons and snaps should be made with pvc-free and nickel free materials.
Look out for cute sayings like “all natural” and “organic baby.” This doesn’t mean the garment is organic. You have to read the tag.
If you still can’t decide, look at how the company demonstrates its commitment to a healthy planet for our children.
Organic cotton is not just healthier for your baby but it’s also good for long-term health of the soil and our planet. In addition to maintaining organic certifications, established companies are able to spend the dollars to join and support associations that hold them more accountable to the principles of organic farming. Examples include the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and IFOAM.
Fair Trade Certification ensures that the workers and farmers who produce the cotton, or sew the clothes supplied to them are given fair wages and good working conditions. In other words instead of getting goods from a sweat shop their company is helping to boost the economy in a developing nation in Africa, Asian or Latin America.
Another way organic baby clothing companies can stand out is by supporting charitable or social causes that promote the health of children and the environment.
Increasing in popularity at a rapid pace, organic baby clothes are quickly becoming the choice of eco-minded parents. Why?
One of the foremost crops grown for use in clothing production is cotton, but because cotton is not a food crop, pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals used on it are not regulated. In fact, 7 of the 15 pesticides that are regularly used have been labeled as potential or known carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency. Then during the process of converting raw cotton into clothing, chemicals are added to the product. For example, when cotton is spun into yard it receives a polyvinyl alcohol coating which makes it easier to weave the fabric together. Then to create finished goods, fabrics are whitened with chlorine bleach, colored with toxic dyes and finished with formaldehyde.
Organic cotton, on the other hand, is grown without pesticides and spun without chemicals, resulting in pure, natural and more breathable products for sensitive skin. Organic baby clothes are soft, thick and luxurious due to their natural fiber composition and are even sturdier and longer lasting than thinner conventional cotton clothes, which become worn out more quickly from wear and washing. If you’re a new parent, start your baby off right from the very beginning with high-quality organic baby clothes.
As our most important investment, children deserve the best we can provide. Young children cannot control their surroundings â the people they meet, the foods they eat, the images they see on TV â so itâs important for caring parents to make the most informed decisions possible. These decisions extend into the realm of clothing, as well. Believe it or not, certain materials could prove harmful to your baby.
From the time they are planted, some cotton crops are practically drenched with pesticides. These crops are manufactured into linens that could cause health problems. Chlorine bleach is a popular whitening agent, and remnants of the stuff could cling to cotton products even after they reach the marketplace. Organic baby clothes are fashioned from 100 percent organic cotton, which is never treated with bleach or touched by pesticides. The difference could mean your babyâs health and happiness.