How Safe Is The Apparel My Baby Wears?

Shopping for children's clothes can be very fun, and every mother can attest to that. But when shopping, one should keep in mind how important it is to ensure that these clothes and ornaments are safe and won't cause any harm to the child. Clothes, accessories, and jewelry can suffocate or strangle your child; they can either get caught around their equipment or other toys they are using when playing. 

Even though dressing up your child may seem easy, choosing the wrong type of clothing may result in an accident, especially if the kid is young and oblivious of their environment. When finding clothes for your little one, the first rule is your child's comfortability. You should also avoid dressing your tot in clothes that aren't functional. 

Essential Checklist 

When looking for baby clothes, there are essentials that you should include in your shopping list. These include;

• Onesies
• Footies
• Sleepers /stretch suits
• Socks/booties
• Light Mittens
• Hats/Caps/Bonnets
• Sweaters 
• Bunting

Shopping for children's clothes shouldn't cost you a foot and an arm. You can always shop for these essentials in second-hand stores or high-quality consignment baby shops. When you shop in these places, you should always disinfect and wash the clothes before dressing the kid. 

Hazards To Look Out For And Avoid

When choosing clothes for your tot, there are several points you need to consider to avoid accidental choking, suffocating, or any other accidents. For example:

1. Avoid buttons, bows, and ties:

 Buttons, small bows, and other decorative items on the baby's clothes could cause choking. These small items put on baby clothes can come off, and since babies love putting everything in their mouths, it could result in a catastrophe. Most companies tend to avoid such decorations because of the risks they pose, but if you have clothes you wish to stay with such decorations, then ensure you double stitch them again to ensure they won't come off quickly. But the best way to go about this is to get clothes with frills and ruffles if you love decorations. Remember, it is natural for babies up to 2years to mouth everything they come across with.

2. Fire-safe clothing: 

Children's sleepwear is intended to be light, snugly, soft, and comfy. Most of the time, this means that once it comes in contact with flame, it can completely burn down in less than 150 seconds. When choosing baby sleepwear, ensure it's fire-retardant. Flame-resistant clothing also has specific instructions when washing them. When choosing sleeping clothes for your little one, confirm the pajamas are tight-fitting in the ankles, waists, and wrists. When your kid wears tight-fitting pajamas, it gets harder to catch fire than loose-fitting clothes. The fire-resistant factor makes second-hand clothes not a good option as the previous owner might not have washed them correctly, reducing their efficiency.

3. Be mindful with bibs and functional/decorative cords :

 Bibs are meant to be worn when feeding and removed after the baby is through. They pose a strangulation risk to your child should they be caught up in furniture or toys or should your tot pull at the straps. Always ensure to remove the bib from your tot once they are done with feeding and before putting them down to sleep.

Most baby clothes have functional or decorative cords. Decorative cords are always found at the hem of long-legged trousers. These cords can pose a risk to your child's safety. If your tot's clothes have any cords, ensure they are stitched and secured inside the garment. Don't let your kids dress in any clothing that has cords trailing at the hem or sleeves. But if you do make your children's clothes at home, avoid inserting cords.

4. Toxins To Avoid: 

Most kids wear sparkly embellishments and colors that contain chemicals. Others are produced with synthetic dyes treated with chemicals for wrinkle, fade, stain, and static resistance. Do you know that "new smell" always comes with new clothes? This indicates that toxic chemicals have been used on the garment. This toxic substance can damage organs with prolonged exposure.

• Benzidine-based 'azo dyes': This chemical is a synthetic colorant that may release carcinogenic properties. It is considered a dangerous chemical as there has been a relationship between its aromatic amines and cancers. They can specifically cause bladder and liver cancer. They contact human bodies through ingestion, dermal absorption, and inhalation.
• Formaldehyde: This is a known carcinogen used in clothing to prevent wrinkling. Most baby clothes contain it BUT in high concentration, which is not safe for babies. Formaldehyde will cause a nasty rash to your tot.
• Perfluorochemicals(PFCS): This group of fabric chemicals repels water, stains, and grease. It breaks down into a toxic blood contaminant called Perfluorooctanoic acid. It is usually hidden in clothes to make them water, stain, and wrinkle resistant.
• Nonylphenol Ethoxylates: This chemical is sometimes used in the textile industry as a surfactant. It is a hormone disruptor that is left in laundry water. These hormone disruptions can cause developmental disorders, congenital disabilities, and cancerous tumors.
• Phthalates: Phthalates are primarily found in clothing dyes and used for softening. This chemical might cause asthma, breast cancer, obesity, behavioral issues, and autism spectrum disorders. Phthalates can also damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive systems.

5. Be wary with Halloween/Fancy Dress Costumes:

Fancy dresses and Halloween costumes are seen as toys in the eyes of safety authorities. You should always buy clothes with the approved certification mark, which may appear as 'CE' on the label. These dresses and costumes should also meet flammability standards. Also, ensure that the loose attachments that often come with these costumes are tightly fixed to reduce the risk of your tot swallowing any decorations or causing accidents.

6. Shoes And Footwear:

Baby shoes and footwear will indicate that your young one is ready to hit the streets! Fantastic, but you should purchase snug shoes with good grip and velcro, snap, or elastic fasteners. These are attached to the shoe; therefore, your tot can not be able to pull them out. The fasteners are also hard to be caught in equipment or play toys while on the playground. Buy shoes with laces only when your toddler is old enough for them to tie the laces independently.

Ideal Clothing Qualities To Look Out For

You need to look out for qualities in your quest to create that first baby capsule wardrobe for your little one. These qualities are:

1. Simple Designs

Choosing a simple design for your tot will be bliss for you and comfort for the little one. Toddlers do not like anything that gets stuck on their heads when dressed. Go for wide-neck clothes, snap at the back or front, or have zippers. You should also consider clothes that will make changing diapers easy; one with snaps at the crotch will work well. Baby clothes should have labels correctly, and the tag should be intact to avoid any accidents. You should also ensure to check that prints are reliably applied.

2. Cotton and Specifically Organic Cotton

You need to opt for natural and soft materials, and cotton is the best choice. Cotton keeps your baby cooler in hot weather compared to synthetic fibers. Cotton material is excellent for a baby's sensitive skin as it is gentle and washes well, removing all stains.

To define organic cotton, it is cotton grown without toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fibers. It is produced using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment, thus replenishing and maintaining soil fertility.

Benefits of Organic Cotton: 

Organic cotton will help you avoid allergies and various skin concerns with your tot. It will also:

• Significantly reduces exposure to your tot endocrine-disrupting chemicals and carcinogens.
• Organic clothing is safer as manufacturers adhere to rigid and stricter manufacturing standards.
• Save you money for medical bills.
• Increase quality and comfort for the baby.
• Its high quality leads to longer-lasting wear.

In the United States, solid organic certifications include:

• The Organic Trade Association (OTA).
• The Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) 
• The USDA National Organic Programme

3. Textile Qualities

When selecting luxury baby clothes, remember to check the textile quality. You should ensure the apparel is comfortable and easy to wear. It is ideal to buy stretchy materials as they will not hinder your baby's movement as they get active and learn new things. The material should also be soft and light, allowing skin ventilation keeping the skin at an even body temperature while absorbing body moisture.

Washing Baby Clothes

It is best to pre-wash baby clothes as most of them are often sprayed with Formaldehyde as a way of preserving. And we do not want chemicals coming into contact with a baby's sensitive skin as it might cause a nasty rash. You also never know where these clothes have been! Fabrics go through a lot before they touch your baby's skin. Pre-washing baby clothes will also soften them up, making them feel more comfortable on the baby's delicate skin.

Process of How Best to Wash Baby's Clothes

A baby's skin isn't tough, so they are far more likely to experience irritation from itchy fabrics or other minuscule irritants. It is always best to wash before your tot wears them. Here is how to best clean the new apparel:

• Prepare your baby's clothes.

The first rule of thumb is to sort your baby's clothes by color. This will ensure that they do not spill colors on each other. Then you need to secure the zippers and other closure methods before finally turning the garments inside out. Remember to wash the tiny clothes like socks, mittens, and bibs in a mesh bag, as it will be easy for you to join them together once they are done.

You should choose a detergent that protects your baby's soft and sensitive skin. The suitable baby detergent will help reduce the risk of irritating your baby's skin.

You should ensure to follow the instructions on the fabric care label and launder your tot's clothes as you would any laundry. Hot water will work perfectly on diapers and cold water for other garments. For the first wash, use gentle-to-normal settings on your washer. Ensure to use baby laundry detergents, perfect for newborns' sensitive skin.

Pre-soaking stained baby clothes before putting them in the machine or hand washing is a great tip.

Misleading Brands

What we all want for our bundles of joy is the best. But we must be careful as there are all types of "organics" out there that have not been certified. Ones for "organic bamboo" claiming to promote greenwashing do not exist.

Why Choose Finn And Emma

If you want to make your tot very comfy with 100% organic clothes, then Finn and Emma got you. We boost of:

• Non-toxic 
• Design conscious ( wide range of designs)
• 100% soft organic cotton
• Ethically made
• Heirloom quality

Summary

Purchasing clothes for your baby can be a fascinating experience. Sometimes most parents or guardians tend to go overboard and not consider the cloth type and how it may affect the kid's comfort and safety. When thrifting baby clothes, besides finding clothes that your baby will grow into, find safe dresses for your kid. The above hazards will help you find the proper attire for your baby that will not only be cute but will also prevent any cloth-related accidents from happening in your home or playground.