Shopping for outfits for a baby can be so much fun — there are many adorable options out there! But there’s a bit more that goes into how to choose baby clothes than whether or not the item is cute or not, and even after all we’ve learned about safety, not everything we can buy off the rack or online is 100% safe for our kids to wear. From toxic chemicals to choking hazards and other safety concerns, it’s important to be armed with all the information about safe baby clothes before you buy.
It definitely sounds overwhelming, but don’t worry; this shouldn’t take away from the fun of buying all the tiny outfits for your baby’s wardrobe. Once you have the facts (and know which baby clothing brands to shop from), you can rest assured that your baby will be safe and stylish, all at the same time.
Here’s what you need to know:
how to choose baby clothes, toxic chemicals, baby clothing brands, safe baby clothes
Safety concerns: How some baby clothes might be dangerous
Looking towards sustainable baby clothes
It’s also important to consider how the baby clothes you’re buying are made, not just what they’re made with. We’ve long known that fast fashion is bad for the environment, but for many parents, shopping from brands that create sustainable baby clothes and use environmentally friendly practices is a deciding factor, too.
Fortunately, some baby clothes brands have been working towards becoming more eco-friendly, especially if they’ve come under fire for having questionable practices that need to be corrected. According to Earnshaw’s — a media resource for the chldren’s clothing industry — Carter’s began using more sustainable practices earlier this year in producing their baby clothes, as well as cutting back on the chemicals they use in production and manufacturing. Also, as per this same report, they’ve also committed to being more transparent about their operations and to working to protect human rights in different stages of their supply chain.
Buying sustainable baby clothes is also a great first step in teaching our kids how to be environmentally conscious themselves and to lead by example while also helping to ease our own safety concerns about what our babies are wearing.
“No matter what, when you teach your child to connect with the planet, you foster a world that’s just a teeny bit more in tune with itself,” mom Monique Ruffin wrote for Mom.com.
