Best Fabrics For Babies: A Comprehensive Guide

What Are Sleeping Pods and Why Are They Necessary For Your Baby Reading Best Fabrics For Babies: A Comprehensive Guide 11 minutes Next Top 40+ Cute and Creative Captions for Baby Photos

By Neha AgarwalSep 26, 20240 comments

From the moment you become a parent, you get bombarded with advice and suggestions from everyone- be it your parents, relatives, friends, or random people on social media! Many people suggest that you should dress your baby in old clothes for the first few days, while others suggest not using disposable diapers! But with so many materials available, how do you ensure which fabric is best for a newborn baby? In this blog, let us explore the best fabrics for baby clothes that nurture your baby’s sensitive skin while offering breathability, softness, and protection.

Why Baby Clothes Fabrics Matter?

Babies have thinner and more sensitive skin than adults. As a new parent, you might wonder which cloth material is good for a newborn baby's skin. Here is why you should choose the right baby clothes fabric material:

Baby’s Skin Is Sensitive

A baby’s skin is very sensitive. The wrong baby clothes fabric can cause rashes and allergies to the skin. According to the American Academy of Paediatrics,[1] dressing babies in breathable, natural, non-irritating fabric options such as cotton and bamboo helps prevent overheating and skin irritation. Look for skin-friendly fabrics for babies with sensitive skin.

Comfort & Safety

Soft, breathable fabrics for baby clothes reduce friction and keep your little one comfortable.

Eco-Friendly

Organic fabrics like bamboo muslin are grown without toxic chemicals and dyed using skin-friendly dyes. Bamboo is highly sustainable and makes the best organic baby clothes. Using eco-friendly fabrics for baby clothes keeps your baby and our planet healthy.

Temperature Regulation

Breathable materials prevent overheating in warm climates. Use warm fabric for baby clothes in winter.

Still having questions about which fabric is best for a newborn baby? Have an in-depth read about baby clothes fabric material on our blog about selecting a fabric for baby clothing.

What to Consider When Choosing Fabrics for Babies?

We know your baby’s safety and comfort are your priority, so stop paying attention to random suggestions. We have made a list of all the factors that you need to consider when choosing the best fabric for babies:

1. Softness

The fabric that you choose should be gentle on a baby's skin. This should be the topmost priority for you. Baby’s skin is very soft, and rashes can develop if the fabric of the kid’s clothes is even a little bit rough. So, the softness of the fabric should be the first priority.

2. Breathability

Fabrics that allow air to circulate help keep babies comfortable and prevent overheating, especially when it comes to bedding, blankets, or swaddles. As you know, newborns need to be swaddled while they sleep. You must consider lightweight and breathable fabrics.

3. Hypoallergenic properties

Babies have extremely sensitive skin, and synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, and rayon can cause allergic reactions. AAP recommends hypoallergenic fabrics for infants with eczema or sensitive skin to reduce allergic reactions and promote comfort [2].

It is also important to note that many non-organic natural fabrics are bleached or dyed with chemicals that can be harmful to the baby. Along with being mindful of the fabric, you need to be mindful of the brand from which you are buying the baby clothes.

4. Durability

Babies can be messy; they can spoil their clothes or their bedding frequently. So, choose a fabric that can withstand frequent washing and wear. The fabric should not get rough after multiple washes.

5. Ease of care

Parenting is challenging, and you would not want to add another unnecessary challenge. The fabric that you choose should be easy to clean and care for. It should not retain stains and should not get rough after many washes.

Which is the Softest Fabric for Baby Clothes, Swaddles and Blankets?

Organic fabrics are the best fabric for baby clothes. These natural fabrics used in baby clothing check all the boxes, like softness, breathability, and durability. Here are some of the organic fabrics that can be the best clothing material for a baby:

Cotton Muslin

The fabric made of cotton muslin is light and airy, which makes it suitable for use in swaddles, blankets, and other light outfits. Its loose weave helps in the circulation of air, which allows heat to escape and prevents overheating but still remains supple. This soft cotton fabric for baby clothes becomes even more softer after every wash, making it a perfect long-term investment for your child’s soft skin.

Jersey Knit

The jersey knit fabric is popular for its elasticity, flexibility, and softness.

The best way to use this elastic fabric is in Baby Sleeping bag, swaddle cloths and infant clothes.

Furthermore, jersey knit is also light and airy, thus ensuring your baby does not overheat. Due to its elastic design, it fits active infants even when they twist or turn in sleep, as they are not confined by a sheath of tight material.

Bamboo-Infused

You might be surprised by the benefits of bamboo fabric. It is really the best organic fabric that you can get for your baby. Bamboo fabric is thin, lightweight, breathable and soft, but that’s not it! This soft baby fabric material is also hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. It can absorb moisture, keeping your baby cool even in hot and humid conditions. Bamboo is 3x softer than cotton and 3 degrees cooler. Which is why it is perfect for babies who are rash-prone or have sensitive skin.

Soft as silk, this fabric, with its magical properties of thermal regulation, saves babies in winter from getting too cold and in summer from overheating. Bamboo muslin tops the summer baby clothes fabric recommendations.

Also, it is friendly to nature because it takes less environmental resources to cultivate this fibre than most textiles. So, this is good, not just for your baby, but also for the environment.

You can check out organic Bamboo baby clothes from Cocoon Care.

Organic Cotton

The healthy alternative to synthetics and cotton material for baby clothes is organic cotton. Actually, many textile manufacturers use bleach and other harmful chemicals to treat the cotton fabric, which makes it harmful for your baby. But organic cotton contains none of the harmful chemicals or pesticides.

Along with this, organic soft cotton fabric for baby clothes is very lightweight and absorbent to sweat, which makes it ideal for use in daily wear for babies. Clothes, beddings and even cloth nappy diapers are made using organic cotton.

Baby Clothes Fabric Material: Which Ones To Avoid?.

It is best to avoid synthetic and chemically processed fabrics while choosing baby fabric material. Here is a list of fabrics and the reasons to avoid them.

Fabric	Reasons to Avoid
Polyester	Non-breathable, traps heat
Nylon	Synthetic, non-breathable, can cause skin irritation
Acrylic	Itchy and irritating on tender skin
Rayon	Shrinks when washed; delicate care required
Spandex	Reduces breathability in blended fabrics
Bamboo Rayon	May involve chemical processing
Fabric Blends	Varying properties. Unpredictable on the baby’s skin

How to Choose the Right Baby Fabric Material Based on Season

Each season demands a specific type of fabric to support your baby’s sensitive skin and comfort. Here is a quick comparison table to help you select the right and gentle fabrics for newborn baby clothing based on the seasons.

Season	Recommended baby fabric material	Why it works
Summer	Bamboo muslin Organic cotton	Light and breathable Prevents heat traps Keeps baby cool
Winter	Bamboo muslin layers Organic cotton layers Fleece-lined bamboo muslin	Thermal insulation without bulk Protects delicate skin Breathable and light
Spring	Bamboo Muslin Bamboo- cotton blend Light organic cotton	Adapts to a shift in temperature Stays soft and skin-friendly during changing weather
Autumn	Bamboo terry Bamboo muslin layers Organic cotton layers	Midweight Warm without overheating
Rainy Season	Bamboo muslin	Quick drying Breathable Moisture absorbent Keeps baby's skin rash-free in humid climates

Beyond Soft Baby Fabrics – What Else to Consider in Baby Clothes

Seam & Stitching Quality

Rough seams and tags can irritate necklines, waists and underarms in babies. Choose baby clothes with no tags

Fit & Movement

Choose stretchable, relaxed-fit clothes. Avoid tight waistbands and necks.

Closures & Fastenings

Look for snap buttons, velcro or sippers with guards. Avoid loose threads and buttons that can cause choking hazards.
Conclusion: Which Fabric Is Best For A Newborn Baby
Go organic for your baby’s clothing, bedding, and blankets. Organic fabrics like bamboo and organic cotton are the best for your child’s sensitive skin.
At Cocoon Care, we use organically grown bamboo that is grown without using chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Bamboo is 3 times softer than cotton and is suitable for the sensitive skin of your little one. Not only this, bamboo fabric actually gets softer after every wash.
Check out our wide range of organic products like newborn baby bedding, sleeping bags, newborn swaddles, and kids blankets that are made of 100% organic bamboo fabric. We also have a huge collection of gender-neutral clothes for your little angels.
FAQs on the Best Clothing Material for Baby
1. What is the safest fabric for babies?
Bamboo fabric is the safest and most comfortable fabric for babies. It gets softer after every wash, it is lightweight and breathable, and it's 100% natural.
2. What is the best material for a baby to sleep in?
The best fabric for babies is bamboo fabric. You can get swaddles, baby bedding, and blankets in bamboo fabric from Cocoon Care.
3. What is the best fabric for baby clothes?
Bamboo fabric is the best fabric for baby clothes. It is untreated, completely natural, and super soft against the baby’s skin.
4. What to consider when choosing fabrics for babies?
Choose soft, breathable and chemical-free fabric. Newborn skin is 30% thinner than adult skin. So it reacts faster to heat, chemicals and friction. Use bamboo muslin or organic cotton fabric for baby clothes. Avoid synthetic blends as a baby fabric material. Always check for hypoallergenic labels and avoid rough seams and tight elastics.
5. Should baby clothes be 100% cotton?
100% cotton is safer than mixed fabric. But bamboo muslin is the best fabric for newborn baby clothes. Regular cotton may contain bleach and chemical residues. Organic bamboo muslin and organic cotton fabric for baby clothes are grown without toxins.
6. What is the most comfortable fabric for babies?
Bamboo is the most comfortable fabric for babies. It is three times softer than cotton and 3 degrees cooler than cotton in hot weather. Bamboo fabric is light, breathable, hypoallergenic and maintains body temperature.
7. What is the softest material for baby clothes?
Bamboo muslin is the softest material for baby clothes. It gets softer after every wash and is breathable, preventing overheating and prickly heat. It is the best material for baby clothes, especially in tropical climates like India.

With Love, from Cocoon Care
Dear Parent,
No matter where you are, your baby deserves gentle beginnings and comforting care. At Cocooncare, we pour love into every stitch. From soft muslin swaddles to cozy sleep pods and thoughtfully made newborn clothing, our essentials hold your baby with the same tenderness as you do. You can find baby essentials on our website and also on Amazon, Firstcry, Myntra, Nykaafashion and DuckDuck baby.
Because every baby deserves to be cocooned in care.