How to know if you are buying the best clothes for your baby? There are several factors to help determine if you are purchasing the best possible clothes for your little one.
These factors have nothing to do with brand name retailers or with colors or patterns. The best baby clothes only consider your two most valuable possessions, your perfect, brand new baby and this gorgeous planet we live on. Luckily, you can address both of these factors without ever having to compromise on comfort for your baby.
It’s incredible how environmentally friendly it is to make the right choices regarding our baby’s clothes and accessories. As parents, we put our kiddos first.
It just so happens that the healthiest choices for our children are also the healthiest for our environment. We’ve put together the questions you should be asking every time you purchase something for your child.
Answer yes to all the questions below, and you’ll be well on your way to purchasing the best baby clothing for your wee one while helping the environment at the same time.
5 Questions To Answer Yes To When Buying Clothes For Your Baby
These are the factors that you should pay attention to the next time you're buying clothes for your baby, regardless of what baby clothing brand you choose.
Is It Organic?
High-quality chemical-free fibers like organic cotton are some of the best things you can give your baby's skin. These natural fibers last longer when cared for properly and are healthier for the baby’s sweet, sensitive skin.
Organic clothing is free of pesticides. But can’t I just wash them out? Unfortunately, no. When commercial cotton is grown and pesticides are used, the pesticides get into the plant’s water source and grow up in the plant’s individual fibers, which can’t be washed off.
For this reason, it defeats the purpose of purchasing organic clothing if you are going to buy inorganic clothing and wash in the same wash as your organic baby clothes. This practice can cross-contaminate the organic materials that were painstakingly produced following global organic textile standards.
We know it’s not easy to purchase everything organically, so we simply suggest sorting your clothes by organic or not and washing your organic items separately, whether they're bibs or dresses.
You can still wash your inorganic baby clothes responsibly and in a chemical-free way. However, even with sustainable washing, you will not be able to remove pesticides that made it into the fiber’s water source.
Is It A Big So Baby Can Grow Into It?
Babies grow incredibly fast. It’s pretty crazy how quickly they begin to grow as soon as they arrive. They are tiny eating, pooping, cuddling, and growing machines.
Because babies grow so quickly, it’s essential to not over purchase before the baby gets here, and purchase everything just a little bit big, so your precious baby girl or boy has room to grow.
It’s perfectly acceptable for your baby’s long sleeve rompers and footie PJs to be too long in the arms. It is not a tailored suit and is made for keeping the baby cozy and warm. The same goes for all of your baby’s regular wear clothing like bodysuits, t-shirts, and even outerwear and swimwear.
Of course, you would like to have the occasional special outfit, but it is best to let the baby grow into that as well since a baby’s size has almost nothing to do with how many months old they are and everything to do with what they weigh.
Is It Functional?
Baby’s clothes need to be functional. You will be doing a lot of diaper changes, so the easier to get on and off, the better.
It is incredibly tempting to purchase all the cutest baby clothes with little bits and bobs and themes at the store. But these clothes are not only challenging to get off and put back on, but they aren’t necessarily comfy for baby.
Functionality should also mean comfort. Look for soft fabrics, baby clothes with snaps, or even zippers that make it easier to get in and out for a quick change.
Functionality also means durability. Look for baby clothes without all the extra design additions that pay attention to the quality and ease of use of their clothing. You can always accessorize after the fact!
The standard for functionality in baby clothes are the onesies. These one-pieces can be worn in so many ways. Wear them on their own or pair them with a pair of stretchy leggings and some booties or baby shoes to keep baby’s sweet little toes warm.
Is It Gender Neutral?
Purchasing gender-neutral clothing is going to give you more versatility and life out of your purchase. Not only will it be versatile for your baby and planning their daily outfits, but it will be versatile for your future children.
When you are already buying the best quality organic clothing for your baby, you want that clothing to last a long time. To ensure multiple wears and uses, always buy your baby’s clothes bigger and more unisex. Chances are, your child will have multiple opportunities to wear that piece of clothing if it is more versatile and in gender-neutral colors.
Buying organic and sustainable also means you’ll be able to use that garment a second or third time as you grow your family. You’ll even be able to pass it along to your friend as a hand-me-down or donate it to a local charity thrift store.
Is It Sustainable?
The final question to ask yourself when out purchasing the best clothing for your baby is, is it sustainable?
When purchasing for sustainability, keep two things in mind. Your purchase needs to be sustainable for you, as well as the environment.
Sustainable practices keep the environment at the forefront of all production methods and not just in the end product itself. Look for recycled materials and friendly dyes, as well as companies who recycle and support environmental non-profits and follow fair trade practices.
Mon Coeur is a great choice for sustainable clothing. Our recycled baby clothing makes use of upcycled organic cotton, recycled plastic, and recycled polyester in everything from our fabrics to our zippers. This means you can feel comfortable knowing that the soft, comfortable baby clothes that you’re purchasing are also safe for the environment.
Over-purchasing is easy to do when our babies are brand new. We want to dress them up in everything from ruffle dresses to swimsuits!
However, chances are, your baby is going to grow a lot faster than you think, and there will be lots of clothes and baby products that your child will never have the opportunity to wear or are just too difficult and not worth the effort.
Our best advice is less is more. Sustainability also means your sustainability as a parent. Sticking to a budget and making sure your baby has just exactly what they need can be easy when keeping the less is more mentality at the front of your purchasing motivations.
You can always grab an extra jumpsuit or more sleepwear while you are out if you find your child has grown out of theirs. We quickly learn as parents what works and what doesn’t.
Sustainability means clothes that work for you and your baby’s new routine. When you begin to think sustainably for yourself, you are inherently taking steps to save your environment and impact your community on a local level.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, buying the best clothes for your baby does not mean the most expensive. It does not mean the trendiest and the happiest.
It means, quite literally, the best for your baby and the best for you. Organic, sustainable, recycled, functional, and gender-neutral — keeping all of these factors in mind will help you and baby have the best experience together.
If you can answer yes to most of the questions above, then you have bought the best clothing there is for your child.
Sources
https://www.babycenter.com/baby-products/clothes-and-shoes/how-to-buy-baby-clothes_10370611
https://oecotextiles.blog/2010/11/10/how-to-get-rid-of-chemicals-in-fabrics-hint-trick-question/
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