In the present scenario of excessive pollution and growing dependency on synthetic products, the need for Organic Baby Clothing is stronger than ever. Some might say that when there is so much pollution out there and almost everything we breathe, eat, drink, and wear are more or less synthetic, what difference could Organic Baby Clothing actually make?
This might be true, but the basic idea is not trying to change the world, but to do the best we can do for our babies, or at least give it an honest try. As they put it, “drops make an ocean”, so who knows what such humble efforts of ours will really make a huge difference some day. Anyways, enough about philosophy! Coming more to the point, the organic baby clothing is the ideal clothing you can provide for your baby. Let’s take a deeper look at organic baby clothing.
Definition: Organic Baby Clothing is clothing for babies that is made by using organic natural material through organic processes. There should be absolutely nil (in ideal conditions) or negligible use of chemical or synthetic substances in this type of clothing.
Thumbs Up: Organic Baby Clothing is the ideal clothing for any baby, because it is the most soothing one for the baby’s skin. You know that the skin of a baby is very delicate and very sensitive. It can be damaged by the slightest hints of harsh chemicals or synthetic colors present in clothes. A few years back, we had no choice but to provide our babies with the conventional clothing which had excessive amounts of these hard chemicals & colors (sometimes even banned ones). But now, the scenario is changing and organic clothes are available on the market. They are made up of a material (natural fiber) which is grown without using any artificial or chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Furthermore, they are treated with organic bleach and colored with organic colors. For that reason, they are not harsh on the skin and do not give rise to skin irritations, rashes, or allergic reactions. Isn’t that something you have always wanted for your baby?
Thumbs Down: There is only one problem with Organic Baby Clothing and that is that they are very costly and most often beyond the reach of parents falling in the middle income or lower middle income group. Moreover, if you are not buying any branded clothing or those which are not aptly certified by a recognized certifying agency, then there is a very good chance that you have been fooled. You may end up buying normal baby clothing at the same price as organic baby clothing. This is particularly possible in those countries where there are no governing or certifying agencies whose certification can ensure the authenticity of these clothes.
Market Response: With the exception of some developing and underdeveloped countries, Organic Baby Clothing has received tremendous market response and its market is catching up pretty fast. Since there has been a significant growth in awareness among people in the last decade around the world regarding organic products, the situation has changed and is still changing. Now, more and more people are thinking about buying organic clothing for their babies and the market is rising.
Your Check List: You should check the following qualities in your Organic Baby Clothing.
The Fiber: The fiber must be natural and preferably cotton. Cotton is best for any type of skin and is the most soothing option for your baby. Other natural fibers like wool can sometimes be allergenic.
Feel: It must be very soft to the touch, since a slight roughness can cause bruises on your baby’s skin.
Quality: The cloth should be of good quality. That is, it should not leave tiny strands (commonly called “dust”) like many cotton clothes do, because they can get into your babies’ respiratory tracts through the nose and can cause coughs and even asthma attacks. Furthermore, the cloth should be water or moisture-absorbent. Babies keep wetting their clothes and will feel very uncomfortable if the moisture is not absorbed. No matter how long it takes to dry, it should be a good absorbent material. They should be durable as well, because frequent wetting and washing will take the quality out of these clothes if they are not durable.
Price: Its influence in deciding the right Organic Baby Clothing cannot be ignored or denied. Like I said earlier, you need not go for the costlier brands. Any reasonably good brand with a justified certification at a much lesser price will do very well.
Authenticity: No one can tell the differences between a pair of normal baby clothing and that of organic baby clothing just by looking, feeling, or smelling it. Therefore, you need to depend on someone who can guarantee that their clothes are genuinely organic. This responsibility is born by various certifying agencies functioning across the globe. They watch the source of raw material, the entire manufacturing process, packaging, and they grade the products as organic or non-organic. A few names of these agencies are Skal (of Netherlands), KRAV (of Sweden), Demeter International, IFOAM (Internal Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement) and Oeko-Tex Standard 100. There are also some government agencies in many countries that carry out this task.
Color: This can also be a decisive factor. If you want truly organic baby clothing, then do not be tempted by bright or beautiful colors or prints. Remember, the organic colors are not sufficiently produced to color all the organic baby clothing that are produced every day. Moreover, natural organic colors are seldom bright and, barring a few colors, they are not available to color the clothes with. So, the brighter, darker, and faster the colors on the clothes; more the chances of these colors being chemical or synthetic. Therefore, go for the white or light-colored ones.
Availability: Organic baby clothes are most easily available in developing nations because the demand is higher. On the Indian Subcontinent, the availability of Organic Baby Clothing is as good, if not better, than that of Organic Baby Blankets or Organic Baby Beddings because these concepts are still not that popular. However, you may have to contend with fewer choices and some not so well-known brands.
Organic Cotton Baby Clothes
Organic Cotton Baby Clothes are the baby clothes that are made from Organic Cotton, which means that it is cotton grown without using any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Only organic manure and natural pesticides are used on them. Furthermore, after harvesting, this cotton does not undergo chemical bleaching, dying, printing, and detergent washes. No insecticidal solutions are used on them either.
High Price: Organic Cotton Baby Clothes are much costlier than the normal cotton baby clothes. The reason is that production of organic cotton is much less than non-organic cotton. Cotton, being very prone to pest attacks, calls for rigorous monitoring and care if it grown in an organic way. Still, the crop is often ruined by pests (as pests are often resistant to organic pesticides), which attributes to its low production. Furthermore, the processing of cotton in an organic way is a costly affair (chemicals are far cheaper). These things and various other factors, such as maintenance and the shorter shelf life of these clothes, contribute to the high price or Organic Cotton Baby Clothes.
Low Availability: Due to the reasons discussed in the paragraph above, and also due to a lack of awareness towards Organic Cotton Baby Clothes, these clothes are not available easily and everywhere. If they are not available in your city, then you can bring them from other cities or can order for them over the Internet and the phone.
Impact on Health: Organic Cotton Baby Clothes are excellent for health. They are the purest and most natural clothes you can get. They have all the goodness of cotton, such as high absorbing capacity, low weight, softness, smoothness, and ventilation without the harmful aspects of toxic chemicals. Use them and your baby will remain safe from a number of skin problems and toxicity.
Impact on Environment: These clothes come as good news for the environment as well. Since no chemicals are used in its cultivation (no chemical fertilizers or pesticides) and in its processing (no chemical bleaches, dyes, colors, disinfectants, or insecticides). Therefore, no water, land, or air pollution takes place throughout its complete processing. Being made of natural fiber, these clothes ultimately decompose and become compost. Encouraging these Organic Cotton Baby Clothes will be a noble step towards saving the environment for future generations.
Future: Future of Organic Cotton Baby Clothes is certainly bright as more and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of these clothes. More and more scientific techniques are being invented for higher production of organic cotton.
Organic Baby Wipes
Organic Baby Wipes are predominantly cloth wipes made from organic natural fiber, and this time, anything other than cotton does not fit. Cotton has the best moisture absorption capacity among all the natural fibers and it is soft, non-irritant, and non-allergenic. The cotton used in Organic Baby Wipes is grown organically, that is, without using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or weedicides. This cotton is not bleached using chemicals and neither any other type of chemical is used in its processing. Finally, no chemical scents or disinfectants are added. Basically, what you get is a soft piece of cloth made of pure, natural, organic cotton. Organic baby wipes are far better than the other non-organic options such as cloth wipes and paper wipes available on the market.
The Benefits: The benefits of using Organic Baby Wipes cannot be seen in a day. Just as the chemicals in non-organic baby wipes take some time to show their adverse reactions, the benefits of Organic Baby Wipes also take some time to show. Your baby will be safe from toxic chemicals and therefore from skin irritations, slow poisoning, organic disorders, and rashes, as long as you use them. Since these wipes do not have chemicals, there is no chance of them reacting with other substances and neither of their disintegration into the air and getting inside the body through inhalation, food, and water. That is indeed a big benefit but it is invisible. Personally, I think your baby deserves these benefits.
The Cost You Pay: Nothing comes free and the better ones are even costlier. Satisfaction comes when you get the value for your money. Like all other good things, Organic Baby Wipes are costlier than the non-organic ones, but they are worth the price. You don’t need to worry!
Availability: They are readily available in big cities, particularly in Europe and America and some developed Asian nations, where people are aware about the organic way of life, have less time, and are ready to pay. Things are a bit different in India and neighboring countries (similar in similar economies) where people prefer to make them out of used or new cotton clothes and do not care if they are organic or not. However, things are changing and Organic Baby Wipes are finding market in these places too. Then, you always have your phone and Internet, where you can order them (costlier affair).
Organic Baby Clothing – Certifications
Since organic cotton cannot be distinguished from normal cotton unless tested in a lab; you must look for the certificates of authenticity of these organic clothes attached to them. These certificates can be of three different types. First one certifying that these clothes are 100% organic, which means that every bit of these clothes is organic. The second one tells you that these clothes are organic, which means that at least 95% of the raw materials used in these clothes are organic. The third type of certificate says that these clothes contain organic material, which means that at least 75% of the raw materials used in these clothes are organic. However, when the whole issue is about something being organic, then you should buy only the “100% Organic” clothes, because anything less than that will mean that it is ultimately non-organic. The standards of certification discussed above may differ in different continents and nations, but more or less, they remain close. Look for the list of certifying agencies in other articles on organic products on this site.
Organic Baby Clothing – Care
Since these clothes do not contain any toxic chemicals, they are very prone to attacks from insects and fungi. Therefore, they call for proper care. Using mothballs, insecticidal solutions, or disinfectant liquid on them is not a good idea because these activities will not leave them “Organic” any more. You may try using natural insecticidal liquids or fumes, plain water wash, proper drying, and proper sun-drying. Putting these clothes out in some strong sun is highly recommended because it the best natural way to protect these clothes from germs, insects, and fungal growth.
Finally, there is one thing that you should not have any doubts about. That is, if the clothing you bought is really genuine Organic Baby Clothing, then be sure that you are providing the best clothing for your baby. Moreover, you are also helping to preserve the environment and trying to save it from pollution by supporting these clothes. Therefore, keep the pace yourself and tell your friends about the benefits of these organic clothes. Have a wonderful time being a parent!
