Organic Cotton Baby Clothing: Deciding Which Brands Are Best For Your Baby
You may already know that organic cotton baby clothing is a healthy fabric choice for your baby. But other than having a personal style preference, how do you decide between the growing number of organic clothing lines coming into the market place?
This video features some shopping tips to help you get started. If you want more detail and some clothing recommendations, keep reading this page.
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Read what the manufacturer's label says about the clothes.
The clothing label should say 100% certified organic cotton. If you are buying online, these words should be on the website in the about us section or in the product description.
Some products will say natural or organic on the packaging, but when you look at the tag it says 100% cotton (not organic). In some cases the cotton is blended with a synthetic fabric such as polyester. Polyester is not organic.
The 100% organic label means the cotton was grown using sustainable farming practices and that the clothing was made without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It should also be free of toxic fabric finishes containing formaldehyde and dioxins.
Examine the fabric of the clothing.
The fabric of organic cotton baby clothing should be thicker, more flexible and softer than traditional cotton. The clothing will also wash better and last longer.
Organic clothing will probably not be stark white, unless it has undergone some type of bleaching process. Cotton can grow naturally in many colors, including white, yellow, green, brown, pink and even mauve. However, organic white cotton has a vanilla, or yellowish tinge to it.
Organic cotton clothing can also be dyed safely. The dyes should be low impact or herbal (plant-based).
Prints and screens on t-shirts and body suits should be made with inks free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The chlorine-based chemicals can react with the other chemicals used in the manufacturing process and create dioxins and other toxic compounds. Water-based inks are pigments are a safer alternative.
Buttons and snaps should be made with pvc-free and nickel free materials.
Look out for cute sayings like "all natural" and "organic baby." This doesn't mean the garment is organic. You have to read the tag.
If you still can't decide, look at how the company demonstrates its commitment to a healthy planet for our children.
Organic cotton is not just healthier for your baby but it's also good for long-term health of the soil and our planet. In addition to maintaining organic certifications, established companies are able to spend the dollars to join and support associations that hold them more accountable to the principles of organic farming. Examples include the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and IFOAM.
Fair Trade Certification ensures that the workers and farmers who produce the cotton, or sew the clothes supplied to them are given fair wages and good working conditions. In other words instead of getting goods from a sweat shop their company is helping to boost the economy in an a developing nation in Africa, Asian or Latin America.
Another way organic baby clothing companies can stand out is by supporting charitable or social causes that promote the health of children and the environment.
So what are some of the best brands of organic cotton baby clothes and where do you get them?
Two of my favorite brands are Kate Quinn Organics and Speesees. Their clothing fits all of the above criteria and on top of that they are oh, so cute.
You can find both of these organic cotton baby clothing brands at the Nubius Organics and Wild Dill organic baby boutiques.
So what are some of the best brands of organic cotton baby clothes and where do you get them? 
