What Is the Best Fabric for Baby Clothes?

Every year, around 3.6 billion babies are born in the US. Were you one of the lucky ones to become parents recently? Then you’ll certainly want the best for your bundle of joy.

One aspect many parents don’t really think about is their baby’s clothes. They pick up and are gifted cute onesies, so they just put their little ones in them without a second thought.

But you need to give your infant’s clothes a closer look, as some might be uncomfortable or even unsafe for them.

So what’s the best fabric for baby clothes? We’ll discuss some good choices so your baby will stay comfortable and happy!

Organic Cotton

Hands down, the best material your baby can wear is cotton. This is because cotton is durable, breathable, and soft as well, which makes it the perfect fabric on soft new skin. Cotton is also hypoallergenic, so you won’t have to worry about your little one breaking out when wearing cotton.

Not to mention, cotton comes in all types of weights, from light to hard. So your baby can wear cotton all year long.

Cotton is great and all, but what’s even better is organic cotton such as the baby clothes from Hanna Andersson. In fact, any organic fabric is an excellent choice because there are fewer harmful chemicals in it and it’s made from natural and high-quality materials.

But don’t worry if you can’t find organic cotton for baby clothes. Just regular cotton does a fantastic job of absorbing moisture and being gentle on the skin, so it’s perfectly acceptable as well.

Jersey Knit

Jersey knit is actually another cotton-based fabric, but it’s not always the case. It can also be made from polyester or polycotton, so keep a sharp eye out.

You’ll want to pick the right material that’ll suit your local temperatures best. For example, if you live somewhere that’s often hot, then you’ll want to avoid polyester jersey knit fabric.

This fabric is typically used for sleepsuits and baby vests, as it’s great for babies who are very active. It’s strong and very stretchy, and when made out of cotton, it’s breathable too. Plus, it’s resistant to pilling!

Linen

This type of fabric is made out of flax and is fantastic for hot climates since it’s lightweight and breathable. It’s also great at repelling the sun’s harsh UV rays.

While all types of linen are good for babies, you might want to go for handkerchief linen, as it’s the softest one of all.

The one caveat to linen is that it wrinkles very easily. So you’ll need to break out the iron often!

If you don’t want to bother with all that ironing but still want to enjoy the benefits of linen, then consider getting a cotton/linen blend. You’ll get the best of both worlds!

Bamboo

Bamboo might sound like a weird choice for clothes, but hear us out. When made into a fabric, it’s actually very similar to cotton! This is because the wood pulp from bamboo plants is made into a viscose solution, which is then turned into a soft fabric.

Like cotton, bamboo is also very durable and soft. It’s also hypoallergenic! In addition, it’s resistant to mold, so you don’t have to worry about your little one’s clothes accumulating harmful growth.

Another great feature of bamboo fabric is its thermal-regulating. This means your infant won’t be excessively sweating in the summer!

Hemp

You might think hemp is a bad choice since it has a reputation for being scratchy. A hemp bag comes to mind probably, right?

However, you’d be surprised to know that today’s hemp clothing can feel as soft as cotton, if not softer! In fact, each time you wash your baby’s hemp clothing, it’ll only get softer.

The outstanding quality of hemp is that it’s all-natural, which means it’s organic. Like cotton, it’s moisture-wicking and breathable, as well as antibacterial. This, combined with its softness, makes hemp absolutely wonderful for your little one’s skin.

However, hemp baby clothing can be tough to find. Not only that, but it can be pricey. However, it can be well worth it to see your baby happy.

Fleece

While linen is good for hotter temperatures, fleece is best for cooler temperatures. This is a polyester-based fabric but it’s soft and is excellent at retaining heat.

Fleece is also stain-resistant. And when it comes time to wash your infant’s clothes, you can just throw it into the laundry machine, then take it out and it’ll dry out in no time.

Just make sure you don’t use fleece clothing for swaddling. This can easily lead to your baby overheating.

Cashmere

Cashmere is one of the warmest fabrics around, so it’s ideal if you’re bringing a baby along on a snow trip. Otherwise, it’s not ideal for everyday wear since it’s very delicate and can fall apart more easily after multiple washes.

This material is not just soft; like the other choices on this list, it’s also hypoallergenic and antibacterial.

If you want to have cashmere in your little one’s everyday life, consider getting them a cashmere blanket or throw instead of clothing.

Choose the Best Fabric for Baby Clothes

The fabric for baby clothes matters a lot when it comes to your little one. If you don’t carefully choose what they wear, they might be stuck in some uncomfortable material that’ll make them grumpy. And in the worst-case scenario, the material might even be harmful to their health.

So take some extra time to find the best fabric for baby clothes and pay a little extra when shopping for your infant. It’ll be worth it when you see their happy little face!

For more advice on parenting, check out our blog!