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BEST FABRICS FOR BABIES: CLOTHES, BLANKETS, BEDDING

ORIGINALLY POSTED: 26 October 2021

Child on Muslin Swaddle

Parenthood is full of choices: what kind of bottle to use (or not to use one at all), choosing a nappy brand that fits your budget and works well with your baby’s skin, deciding when to introduce solids. These are all personal decisions for parents.

One choice that many parents don’t realise will be important is the choice of fabric for baby clothes and bedding. Not all fabrics are made the same, and not all fabrics on the market are safe. There is a wide variety of options out there, and parents need to consider a few things before choosing what is the best material for baby clothes and bedding for their children.

When choosing a material for infants, it’s important to look at what fabric is the safest for babies. Little ones tend to have more sensitive skin than adults, so fabric choice is key in keeping their skin rash free (a goal of every parent!). In addition to quality, parents need to consider the durability of fabric and how easy it is to clean. The fact is: babies are messy, and their clothing should be made with that in mind.

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When it comes to choosing the best fabric for babies, here are some of the most common questions we get:

WHAT FABRIC IS SAFE FOR BABIES?

Our suggestion is to stick with organic and natural fabric that have limited interaction with chemicals during the production process. Material that is free of any synthetic dyes and chemicals will be your best bet. This includes fabrics such as organic cotton and muslin. They are made from natural fibers and usually trusted to be high quality and safe.

What is the best material for baby clothes?

This depends on what you are looking for! When it comes to choosing fabric for your child’s clothes, you will want to consider the unique needs of your infant.

If your little one has extremely sensitive skin, it is best to go with soft, natural materials such as cotton, organic cotton, or muslin for baby clothes and blankets.

If your home always runs hot, you will want to avoid heavier fabrics such as fleece or polyester. But on the other hand, if you live in a colder climate or your house tends to be on the cooler side, fleece or minky polyester are both a soft fabric for baby blankets.

If your baby is starting to be more active and mobile, you will want to consider something durable and stretchable to move and grow with them. Cotton or jersey knit would both be excellent fabric choices for this.

What is the softest fabric for baby clothes?

This is all a personal preference, but we’ve found the softest baby clothes and bedding are typically made of cotton and muslin.

With that in mind, here is a breakdown of the most common fabric options for parents to choose from.

Organic Cotton Swaddles - Mother Earth

Cotton & Organic Cotton

Choosing cotton fabric for baby clothes is common. Part of the reason it’s so common is because it’s a great choice! Cotton is breathable, soft, and highly absorbent. Cotton knit for baby clothes is suitable for all seasons and easy to wash.

Plus, there is an organic option. Organic cotton for babies helps little ones who have extra sensitive skin! With cotton in high demand, sometimes cotton farmers use additional chemicals throughout the process that can cause skin irritation. Choosing organic fabric for your baby clothes guarantees a higher quality protection. It is by far the best fabric for baby clothes!

Popular items to buy made from cotton and organic cotton:

Essentials Baby Swaddle Blanket - Piece of My Heart

Muslin

Muslin is an extremely fine, loosely-woven cotton fabric dating back to ancient India. It’s popular to choose cotton muslin fabric for babies, as it is one of the softest on the market. With the open weave, muslin fabrics are one of the safest for babies. It allows for air flow while keeping little ones snug and warm. Specifically, using a muslin fabric for baby blankets and swaddles is a great option as it is a perfect balance of safety and comfort!

Popular items to buy made from muslin:

Comfort Knit Footie - Jungle Jammin

Jersey Knit

Choosing a knit fabric for baby clothes is another common choice! You find cotton knit fabric everywhere which makes it convenient. The word “knit” refers to how the fabric is made--from interlocking yarn together (or knitting). This makes it stretchy and durable which is useful as little ones get older and become more active.

Popular items to buy made from jersey knit:

Snuggle Knit Newborn Footie - Rosettes

Polyester

As a man-manufactured fiber, many parents question, “Is polyester safe for babies?” In its final form, polyester is considered safe for use for little ones! However, we suggest taking a closer look at how you use this fabric.

Since polyester is not as breathable as other fabric choices such as cotton. Plus, while it is considered safe to use, the amount of the chemicals used in the production process can cause irritation even if your child doesn’t have super sensitive skin. For these reasons, we suggest using polyester fabrics sparingly and for non-clothes use. For example, minky fabric is a soft polyester that works great for blankets and soft plush toys.

Popular items to buy made from polyester:

  • Swaddles
  • Blankets
  • Coats and jackets
  • Booties

Nylon

Another question we get from parents is, “is nylon safe for babies?” The short answer is, no. We do not recommend using nylon in any for baby clothing or bedding. This man-made fabric will not absorb moisture and as a result traps in heat. This can leave your baby feeling sticky and sweaty, not to mention at an increased risk for overheating. Nylon fabric is manufactured with chemicals such as synthetic dyes and bleaching agents. This can irritate your little one’s skin.

At the end of the day, parents want what is best for their little ones and that includes what they wear and sleep in. Every child is unique, and the best fabric for baby clothes will depend on them. There’s a fabric out there that will safely work for them!