It's cuteness galore when you end up shopping at a store selling baby apparels. With so many colors, patterns, designs, and styles to choose from, we have no idea where to put our money on. However, keeping all choices apart, fabric selection should be of prime consideration while buying clothes for your precious little gems. It’s your baby’s second skin, and hence you need to make it worth their touch and feel.
So, let's ponder as to why choosing the right fabric makes a whole lot of difference to your child’s wardrobe:
Fabric Type – It may be tempting to buy good-looking synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, rayon, etc., but let’s face it – they are neither child-friendly nor eco-friendly. Apart from staining easily, they are deceptively soft to touch at first but lose their appeal sooner than later, right after their first wash. Alternatively, organic and sustainable fabrics like cotton, bamboo, or a blend of both tick all the boxes – like absorbency, breathability, and comfort level.
Weave of the Fabric – Selecting the right weave is crucial because it determines the thickness and tear-strength of the fabric. The three most basic types of weaves – plain, twill, and satin, mix and match to form more variations and patterns in your fabric. Plain weave, being the simplest yet strongest, produces very good quality fabrics. Hence, owing to its open plain weave, muslin is extraordinarily light and breathable, making it the perfect choice for your baby.
Fabric Durability – Kids can get grubby, and hence their clothes need to withstand many rounds of washing and also wear and tear from play and tumble. Organically sourced bamboo when blended with cotton increases its versatility and durability to an extent that it makes eco-conscious parents choose this fabric-blend over any other.
Fabric Weight – Heavy fabrics hamper your infant’s motor development and movement all throughout the day. So, apart from feeling plush and comfortable, another advantage of choosing lightweight fabric is that it dries fast. And the rate at which babies’ clothes need to be changed, this property comes in handy.
Fabric Color – Color psychology is real. Studies have found that exposure to certain colors improves sleep patterns and enhances memory power, serving excellent benefits for your baby’s growing mind and body. In general, warm colors elicit happiness and comfort, whereas bright colors evoke feelings of aggression and frustration, resulting in fussy and over-stimulated babies.
Fabric Sustainability – Mysterious health symptoms such as skin rashes, burning, itching, breathing problems, etc., are associated with the toxic chemicals used in the manufacturing process of artificial/synthetic fabrics. They are not only hard to recycle but also taint water bodies with chemical waste that is hard to break down. Sadly, babies outgrow clothes in a matter of a few months or even worse, weeks. This means more wastage and environmental damage, in less span of time. Hence, parents should try and opt for more organic and eco-friendly apparels for their babies.
Remember, your child doesn’t care a tad bit about those dazzling outfits you make them wear only to please and attract others. They just want to feel as free as a bird, and choosing the right fabric will go a long way in making them feel that way. So, shop smart and feel good
