Babies and infants have very sensitive skin, and in order to protect them, they should be dressed in the proper fabrics. Knowing which materials are safe for your little ones will also help you shop for other necessities, including bedding and blankets and such.

When searching for baby clothes and essentials, not only is it important that you find warm, yet breathable fabrics, but you also need understand which ones don’t pose any threats like allergies, choking hazards and toxins. Because babies love to chew on their clothes, textiles like silk are best avoided as the processes used to finish them tend to leave toxic residues in the fabric.

So what specifically should you be on the lookout for when checking out baby labels? Get to know the fabrics below to make shopping for you children a hassle-free experience:

Terry Knit
Knit fabrics are a popular choice for infant clothing, and the towel-soft feel against a baby’s skin is perfect for providing maximum comfort. It has also been recommended as that fabric choice for the summer or warmer climate in general since terry knits are breathable. The breath-ability of textiles is especially important to infants in warm weather, as experts say that they should be dressed in one layer of light clothing to keep your baby cool.

Faux Sheepskin
Although sheepskin is perfect for keeping your baby or infant warm on those cold winter days and cool in the summer, some have had allergic reactions to it. Faux fur is safer to work with, as many companies manufacture blankets and outerwear lined with the faux fur suited for kids of any age. If you’re looking for faux sheepskin mats to lay your newborn on, they’re only recommended up until your baby learns how to roll over, as the mat becomes their chew toy

Cotton and Cotton/Polyester Blends
For clothes in general, you can never go wrong with cotton since it is gentle on your baby’s skin and is the most common material found in everyday baby apparel. But the issue with organic varieties is that it can shrink up to 10% if the first wash is using heat. Busy parents tend to go for cotton and polyester blends as the mix of natural and synthetic fibers prevents the clothes from shrinking and wrinkling. It is also fast drying and tends to be cheaper than clothes made out of 100% cotton.

Bamboo
Another all natural fabric you may be interested in is bamboo, which is thermal regulating, hypoallergenic, as well as antibacterial.

Remember that comfort and safety takes precedence over the visual appeal of baby clothes.

Written by Hazel Lorelei
Exclusive for countryandvictoriantimes.com