While I try my best to not to stress over chemicals in our immediate environment. It’s hard not to see how we have allowed toxic chemicals to seep into our day to day existence. From shampoos to cleaning agents so many consumer products we use are made of a concoction of chemicals.
This post is sponsored by Berrytree, but all opinions expressed here are my own.
While human engineering and advances in sciences have given us more effective crop yields and products, our lifestyle and environment are becoming more and more chemical laden.
ORGANIC CLOTHING FOR BABIES
I didn’t start off wanting to use organic baby clothes for my son. Infact I bought his newborn clothes from local shops. But when many of the baby clothes I bought started leaking color in the first wash it was evident that these clothes were manufactured with harmful dyes and chemicals.
This got me thinking about the damage such clothing can do to delicate baby skin.
I was unable to switch to a completely organic baby wardrobe since I had already put in so much money buying conventional cotton clothes. But from there on I did make a conscious effort to only buy organic cotton clothing and clothing made from natural fibers whenever I bought clothes for my son.
Especially during those first two years of an infants life, the infant skin barrier functions are susceptible to percutaneous toxicity. [source]. Infants are born with a developing epidermal barrier that is more permeable and more reactive to the environment through the first 2 years of their lives. Therefore, choosing to clothe from good quality brands made with natural fibers and organic cotton became my priority.
WHY IS ORGANIC COTTON THE BETTER CHOICE
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Minimize exposure to chemicals
Conventional cotton is sprayed with insecticides and pesticides. Some commonly used insecticides like deltamethrin and endosulfan and pesticides like aldicarb are the most toxic chemicals in global agriculture. These chemicals have been classified as hazardous by the WHO. [source]
These chemicals enter our food chain and contaminate water resources and affect all of us. Directly or indirectly.
You may say that these pesticides and insecticides are washed out as the cotton is processed and manufactured into clothing. Well, did you know various other toxic chemicals, oils and waxes are used to manufacture, knit and weave conventional cotton fabrics?
And a babies skin is much more vulnerable to exposure to the chemicals in the final product. A babies skin to body volume is high making it easier for the skin to absorb these chemicals.
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Conventional cotton production is destroying the environment
As I already mentioned the pesticides and insecticides used in growing the cotton crop is polluting the waters and destroying the ecosystem. In fact, according to a Soil Association report, switching to organic cotton production could reduce the global warming impact of cotton production overall by 46% compared to non-organic cotton.
Organic cotton is grown using traditional farming techniques which include crop rotation, use of natural manures, and recycling of water. This makes organic cotton farming more environment-friendly reducing the burden on the environment.
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Farmer-friendly
Another report highlighted how organic farms achieved 10–20% higher incomes from agriculture. Thus being a more profitable option for farmers. The key here is to protect farmers during the initial transition period from conventional farming to organic farming.
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More durable
Harmful chemicals in non-organic clothing tend to weaken the cotton fiber which makes the garment wear out easily. Organic cotton clothing, on the other hand, can last up to 5 times longer, and it gets softer each time you wash it. Thus, giving your baby the ultimate comfort.
The result from recent studies also shows that the knitted fabrics produced from organically grown cotton are superior in performance in comparison with fabrics produced from regular cotton.
I know that the price of organic clothing is a challenge for most parents when wanting to switch. But, it doesn’t need to be all or nothing. Just like us, you can start wherever you are and make a conscious effort to invest in high-quality pieces for your child instead of mass-produced cheap baby clothes.
Personally, I have used enough organic cotton clothing to affirm without a doubt that organic cotton clothes last a very long time. Not only are they good for the skin they can also save you money since they last you a long time.
Some of my personal tips to make organic clothes last longer are;
- Use a gentle laundry detergent that cares for the fabric during the wash.
- Buy neutrals or solid colored clothing that can be easily mixed and matched to give multiple looks. We build toddler capsule wardrobes for our son and usually limit the number of clothing in the wardrobe to about 38-40 pieces at the most.
- Multiple uses for the same outfit: For eg: a) Onesies once outgrown in size lengthwise can be cut up and made into t-shirts. b) Clothes that get stains on them and can no longer be used outside can be used at home. This is perfect for toddlers at home because they are always getting messy and you can save on the number of outfits that get stained.
One brand that I trust when it comes to good quality organic kids clothes is Berrytree.
I especially love the nightsuits they make. They make the softest organic nightsuits we have used so far and last a very long time (more than a year easily). Berrytree makes everything from organic onesies, organic rompers, to organic cotton sweatshirts.
You can visit the website Berrytree.in to find check their latest collections.
Did you choose organic cotton clothing for your babies? How was your experience using organic clothing for babies? Leave me a comment below.
