By Rachael Hunter from Loudon Street
Hey there, fellow parents and conscious consumers! Today, we're diving into a topic close to our hearts - clothing choices for our precious little ones! When it comes to children’s clothing, we all want our babes to feel comfortable, look adorable, and be safe. One factor that often gets overlooked when buying clothes is the fabric – and it’s a super important one! That's why today we're exploring the wonderful world of natural fibre clothing, and the benefits they have for our favourite little people over their synthetic counterparts.
Gentle of Sensitive Skin
Many of us suffer from sensitive skin, as well as skin conditions such as eczema. Children and babies are especially prone to skin irritations due to their young, delicate skin. Synthetic fabrics can exacerbate these problems by irritating or itching the skin. Natural fibre fabrics such as cotton are more comfortable to wear against skin and much less likely to cause irritation, particularly when organic. In addition, many natural fabrics possess hypoallergenic properties, making them ideal for those with triggered reactions from synthetic fabrics.
Synthetic fabrics can irritate sensitive skin, while fabrics made from natural fibres are gentle and less likely to cause a reaction [stock photo].
2. Breathability and Comfort
One of the greatest benefits to natural fibre clothing is its breathability! This allows air to circulate freely, helping to regulate body temperature. This is particularly important for sleeping infants, active kids, and those in hot climates. If you’ve ever dressed your child in a synthetic outfit and seen them get hot and uncomfortable with little red faces - this is why! In natural fabrics, their little bodies remain cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather, which is safer for our precious babes as well as more comfortable. In contrast, synthetic fabrics can trap heat, raising body temperature as well as possibly triggering heat-related issues.
Synthetic fabrics aren't breathable and can lead to overheating. Natural fibre clothing allows for better regulation of temperature [stock photo].
3. Superior Moisture Absorption
Natural materials are champions in absorbing moisture! Any cloth nappy parent will tell you natural materials such as hemp and bamboo inserts are superior to synthetics for absorption. For the rest of us, we can see this when washing clothes how much wetter the natural fibre clothes are, while synthetic clothes come out of the washer feeling almost dry. While they do dry more quickly, synthetic clothing might trap sweat on the skin by repelling it from the fabric, increasing discomfort and the potential for rashes.
Synthetic fibres are great for repelling liquid... but may trap sweat on the skin leading to various irritations or issues [stock photo].
4. Free From Harmful Chemicals
Synthetic fibres are produced from many chemicals and petrochemicals, which can linger on fabric and might trigger allergies or irritations. Not only are the fabrics themselves made from raw materials such as crude oil, but they are often treated with other chemicals to give them attractive features such as stain resistant. Natural fibres minimise this exposure, especially when using organic fabrics which use no pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides at the growing stage. Combined with the hypoallergenic nature of natural fibre fabrics, the gentler, skin-friendly choice is an obvious one!
5. Biodegradable and Eco-Friendly
Natural fibres are biodegradable – some people even choose to put worn out garments in their compost! Synthetic fibres, however, contribute to pollution each time they are washed through our washing machines! Microplastics are released from clothing and swept into our water ways, as well as slowly breaking into microplastics in the soil when discarded. Choosing natural fibre clothing for kids can help instil eco-conscious habits from an early age, fostering a sense of responsibility towards the environment and awareness of sustainability.
Washing synthetics releases microplastics into the environment. [Image https://blog.marasim.co/how-synthetic-fabrics-are-made-and-why-they-are-not-sustainable/]
Natural fibre fabrics are biodegradable and reduce the ongoing impact on the environment. [Image by Sun Lee https://ultranyc.com/5-biodegradable-fashion-materials/]
And there we have it! After diving down the rabbit hole of natural v synthetic materials, choosing clothing for your children may take a bit more consideration than it used to! You may start thinking more deeply about the purpose of the clothing you need, your child’s individual comfort levels, and the environmental implications of your choice. Later you might find yourself checking labels and website FAQs, switching favourite brands, or simply looking at your choices a little differently than before!
When your child is looking delightfully sweet while also feeling comfortable, cool and happy… What more could a parent want?
Free to play in comfort [stock photo].
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