In this day and age when people are looking for new and better ways to optimize their health, there has been a growing movement towards going organic. Organic food is naturally raised and grown and therefore free of additives and preservatives. Research has shown that the eating of organic food is far healthier for the human body – and supports a healthier environment.

It stands to reason, therefore, that organic clothing does its part for the environment as well as a service to those who wear it. And no other organic clothing is as popular as organic baby clothing.

Facts: Cotton crops alone account for $2.6 billion in pesticides used each year and is the definition of a chemically dependent agriculture. Even though cotton only uses 2.4% of all cultivated land, 25% of the world’s pesticides and 10% of the world’s insecticides are used on it yearly.

In other words, for every one pair of jeans and t-shirt produced, 1 pound of pesticides and chemical fertilizers are used. The problems with clothing production do not stop in the field. During the conversion of conventional cotton into clothing, numerous toxic chemicals are added at each stage – harsh petroleum scours, softeners, brighteners, heavy metals, flame and soil retardants, ammonia and formaldehyde – to name just a few.

How does non-organic clothing affect our children?

Did you know that a baby’s skin is more porous and thinner and far more sensitive than adults? That means that their skin absorbs things very easily. A baby’s skin is thinner, more fragile and less oily than an adult’s. A baby’s skin also produces less melanin, the substance that helps protect against sunburn. It’s less resistant to bacteria and harmful substances in the environment, especially if it’s irritated. Babies also sweat less efficiently than the rest of us, so it’s harder for them to maintain their inner body temperature. This means that children are at greater risk for pesticide-related health problems than adults.

Not only do these chemicals pollute the ground, air, and water in our environment but they embed themselves in the fabrics that we wear. Keep in mind that such chemicals can easily be absorbed into the baby’s skin. The fabric or something in the fabric could be adversely affecting the health of the child externally, and even internally.  Some of these materials and chemicals can even irritate the baby’s respiratory system, or sensitize them to other things.

Why organic cotton is good?

Organic cotton farming ensures that no such chemicals are used and nothing could be more important than that when it comes to organic baby clothing.

As parents we are continually looking for ways to protect our baby’s sensitive skin. We do everything from using dye-free laundry detergent to hypoallergenic soaps and creams. But when we slip an ordinary cotton fabric over their heads, we may be exposing them to unseen irritants. Organic baby clothing uses only natural fabrics free of dyes and other chemicals so that parents can rest assured that only the simplest and most natural of fabrics is touching their baby’s skin.

Choosing organic clothing for your children cuts down a lot on the expose they have to toxins. Organic clothing uses cotton that is not farmed in the conventional ways. Pesticides are not used; other safer methods are used to produce the crops. Such as crop rotation, physical removal of weeds instead of use of herbicides, hand hoeing, using beneficial insects to counteract the bad and many more. Therefore workers have better working conditions, water quality is not compromised by run-off, and strong healthy soil is built. The end product is a cotton fabric that is toxin free.

Organic clothing for babies

Creating a pure, natural environment is a vital decision for a growing number of parents. With our children exposed to pollutants in many aspects of life, choosing organic fibers is another step towards natural living, both for our sensitive babies, as well as our environment.

The Benefits of choosing organic clothing:

• It helps protect your children
• It reduces pesticide use
• It protects farm workers
• It protects water quality
• It prevents soil erosion
• It is a sturdier fabric
• It supports a healthier environment.

And YES, you can now find Organic Cotton Baby Socks (SOGGS original) in Mummycare. Click here for more info.