What type of fabric is best for baby clothes?

Sure, we love everything about babies. But their lovely, soft skin has to be one of our favourite things. So, choosing baby clothes made with fabrics that are gentle, comfortable, and easy to care for is a must.

Today, there’s a bigger range than ever to choose from, and it can be enough to make your head spin. Wondering which fabrics are best for your little explorer? Let’s look at some of the most baby-friendly materials on the market and what they offer.

Cotton: a baby clothes staple

Cotton is undoubtedly king (or queen) when it comes to the best baby clothes material. Its fibres offer the perfect combination of softness and strength for our little ones, ticking all the boxes.

Do baby clothes need to be 100% cotton?

Not always. Today, garments are also made from cotton blends, so it’s common to find baby clothes made of polyester, linen, wool, and other natural and synthetic fabrics. It depends on the features you’re after when shopping around. Would you prefer baby clothes made with 100% pure cotton? You’re guaranteed softness, ease of care, and quality.

What is organic cotton?

Organic cotton (like the cotton we use in our adorable bodysuits) is grown without synthetics or pesticides. And it’s good for the planet, too. When it comes to dressing babies, many parents love the thought of gentle clothes made through organic cotton production on their baby’s skin.

What is the difference compared to conventional cotton production?

Compared to conventionally grown cotton, organic cotton is made without genetically modified cotton seeds and then grown and harvested without synthetics or pesticides.

The organic content of cotton doesn’t always determine its quality, but it can help. People mostly prefer organic cotton clothes because of how they’re grown. They offer a gentle, safe, and eco-friendly alternative, especially when it comes to baby clothes.

Is it worth buying organic cotton baby clothes?

Absolutely. Parents who get peace of mind from using organic materials for their little ones will indeed find it worthwhile. However, it’s a personal decision and one that you must consider for your family. There are still many other quality, gentle fabrics that are great for babies, too. So, have fun mixing and matching with your baby’s wardrobe.

What other materials and fabrics are good for baby clothing?

Baby clothes have come a long way in the past decade or two. Once limited to a few terry towel or conventional cotton jumpsuits, today’s babies have bigger and better wardrobes than most parents.

But what materials and fabrics do we love most for baby clothes? These are some of our favourites:

• Linen:

  No longer just for trendy adults, linen is an adorable choice for baby clothing. This natural fibre is low-maintenance, breathable, and absorbent, so it gets our tick of approval.

• Wool:

  Soft, warm, and cosy – what’s not to love? Wool has loads of benefits (we’ll get more into that below) and has long been a favourite for baby clothing.

• Bamboo:

  This eco-friendly option is great for parents who are shopping with sustainability in mind. Bamboo is soft, hypoallergenic, and lightweight – all the things babies deserve in their clothing.

• Hemp:

  Hemp is another natural fibre, often blended with cotton and an excellent choice for baby clothes. It’s naturally thermoregulating, odour-resistant, and durable.

What's the best material to keep a baby warm in winter?

Once the seasons change, we need a new approach to dressing our babies. But luckily, cotton is still a favourite when it gets cold. Our winter clothing selection includes adorable 100% organic cotton brushed fleece track pants, plus thicker, cosier wool and cotton blend jumpers and beanies.

Layering with cotton is a great place to start. And when it gets super cold, we love rugging our babies up in wool. Is there anything cuter?

Layering with cotton is a great place to start. And when it gets super cold, we love rugging our babies up in wool. Is there anything cuter?

Wool: why we love it

What makes wool so special? We’re glad you asked. As a natural fibre, wool offers several benefits for dressing babies and children, including:

• Odour-resistance:

  As adorable as they are, children's clothes can get dirty and smelly. Wool has a natural ability to lock away and absorb odours, so it smells better for longer. This also means less frequent washing compared to your other baby clothes.

• Warmth:

  The obvious choice for winter dressing, wool is great at keeping you warm. Its thick fibres can reduce wind chill and add some much-needed insulation when it gets cold.

• Touch and feel:

  There’s nothing better than the feel of a cosy wool jumper. And it’s the perfect material for the soft and sensitive skin of our little ones.

• Moisture absorbing:

  Wet weather and spills are no match for wool’s natural fibres. They can keep your baby dry and comfortable better than most materials.

Simple tips to care for your baby's clothing

Taking the best care of your baby’s clothing is all about understanding materials. Wool, cotton, linen, and other fabrics each have unique ways to care for and clean them, so we want to treat them as individuals.

Our number one tip? Follow the instructions on your baby clothing’s garment label. They’ll show you exactly what’s needed to keep them clean and lasting as long as possible.

Secondly, it is essential to choose washing detergents that are also gentle and suitable for babies. Feeling uncertain in the shopping aisle? Anything labelled as 'sensitive' is usually your safest option.

When your little explorer has grown out of their clothes, keeping them in a fabric-friendly storage bag is best. These keep them free from sun damage, moths, dust, and anything else lurking in the cupboard, so they stay in the best shape.

What to look for when choosing fabric for baby's clothes

Still unsure about the best fabric for dressing your little one? Consider these tips to help you find the perfect match.

• Feel:

  Babies are blessed with delicate skin, so we want to make sure their clothes are soft and gentle on them. Choosing softer fabrics like cotton and wool ensures your baby always feels comfortable.

• Comfort:

  In addition to how fabrics feel, they offer other benefits that can help your baby feel comfortable. Cooling, heat-wicking, flexibility, and moisture-absorbing features are just a few things that might be important to you when choosing baby clothes.

• Care:

  Think about which materials would suit your little explorer's needs and lifestyle. Do you expect lots of messy play? Are you happy to spend time hand-washing some clothes once a week? Would you prefer to throw everything in the wash at once? All of these answers can lead you towards the right match.

• Quality:

  Sure, babies grow out of clothes at the speed of light. But there’s a good chance you’ll hand these baby clothes down. Whether it’s a future sibling, a family member or a friend, or you choose to donate them, choosing quality over quantity is always a good idea if you want to pass them on.

Shopping for baby clothes is a whole lot of fun, and it’s even better when you understand what they’re made of. Discover our beautiful range of pure organic cotton baby clothes, fit for all seasons.