Read this guide to learn about 5 alternative types of natural and friendly fabrics that will be perfect for you and your baby.
Having a baby is a magical process, but it presents you with your fair share of challenges.
Taking care of the baby after pregnancy is also an equal part of the challenge because she achieves it.
Since you care about the health and comfort of the child, do not forget to take care of your health and work to improve it Feeling comfortable in your skin.
Clothes play a big role in making you and the baby feel comfortable. The most important aspect of a piece of clothing is the fabric.
What do you need from your cloth?
You need the fabric to be friendly. But what is a nice texture?
This fabric is breathable, soft, natural, non-toxic to your skin, and does not release microplastics into the environment.
You absolutely want to avoid fabrics like nylon, polyester, spandex, rayon, and acrylic. These are not breathable or gentle on the skin. They allow sweat and bacteria to build up which not only gives you unpleasant body odor but can also cause rashes and allergies.
Then why don’t you wear cotton?
Cotton is breathable, soft and natural. Yes, it shrinks easily, wrinkles, takes a long time to dry, and is completely flammable, but don’t the advantages outweigh the minuses?
The answer is no.
There are a lot of problems with cotton. Cotton fabric production drains the environment in multiple ways.
The pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides used during cotton cultivation destroy soil quality, harm the health of farmers, seep into water bodies and ultimately affect our health directly.
As pest resistance develops and soil erodes more nutrients, farmers have to use more of these chemicals each time. The cycle continues.
Cotton cultivation is also responsible for the drying up of the Aral Sea, which was once the fourth largest lake in the world. Can you imagine how much water cotton needs to grow?
Even the process of turning cotton into wearable fabrics is harmful to the environment. Weaving and spinning consume a lot of energy and also generate a large amount of solid waste.
Now, the most important question you can ask is, “What are the alternatives?” Because a world with contaminated food and a water crisis is not what your children deserve.
Here is a list of 5 friendly fabrics for you and your baby that can replace cotton:
- chopsticks
This is what a hemp crop looks like:
No, industrial hemp is not marijuana.
It contains 0.3% or less of a concentration of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) which means it can’t get you high.
Hemp fabric is made from the stock fibers of the hemp sativa plant.
It feels like cotton but doesn’t shrink, getting softer with every wash. It is also more durable, and a hemp t-shirt can last three times as long as a cotton one.
there is more:
- It is breathable and lightweight and does not allow perspiration or bacteria to build up on your skin or your baby’s skin.
- The fabric is not treated with any chemicals that can cause allergic reactions or rashes.
- Hemp is much easier to produce than cotton. While 50% of the world’s pesticides are sprayed on cotton, hemp does not attract pests.
- It needs half as much water as cotton to grow and replenish the soil instead of depriving it of nutrients.
- Hemp fabric is eco-friendly, biodegradable and does not contribute to the solid waste problem.
Hemp is the right choice For you, your child, and even farmers and the environment.
- bamboo
Yes, bamboo is much more than just a symbol of good luck.
Reasons for choosing bamboo:
- This fabric is softer than both cotton and silk. It is also cheaper and more breathable than cotton and silk.
- It is especially useful for you if you have sensitive skin, irritation or inflammation. It can protect your skin from UV rays, keep you warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
- This fabric requires less washing and maintenance than cotton. It contains a natural compound called, Universe Which protects the skin from harmful microbes.
- Just like hemp, it is biodegradable. Bamboo is a self-renewing crop that requires less fertilizer and water to grow than cotton.
- linen
This beautiful plant produces an equally beautiful texture.
Gives you fiber from the stem and roots of the flax plant The fabric you know is like linen. It’s an expensive fabric but the durability makes up for it.
Choose linen for the following reasons:
- Linen is stain-resistant, making it a great choice for your child’s clothing.
- It’s perfect for summer (but if you have sensitive skin, it can feel itchy in the fabric).
- Although linen clothing requires regular maintenance, the crop can grow without fertilizer or irrigation, which makes it more sustainable than cotton.
The only problems you can have with linen are the infamous wrinkles and lack of elasticity.
- Archer
This is what a ramie crop looks like:
Why replace cotton with Archer?
- This fabric has a beautiful luster and although it is more expensive than most types of cotton, it is not as expensive as linen or silk.
- It can get coarser over time but unlike linen it doesn’t feel itchy.
- It is durable, keeps shape and does not shrink.
- Ramie is another eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to cotton. It can grow without chemical aid and is resistant to bacteria, UV rays, mold and insects.
- Lyocell
Eucalyptus trees have a lot to offer.
Lyocell fabric known as tencel.
Lyocell is a great choice for the following reasons:
- It is a breathable fabric that is soft, flexible and still wrinkle free. It is lightweight and comfortable to wear.
- Just like bamboo, lyocell is friendly to sensitive skin due to its softness and antibacterial nature.
- The suede-like fabric texture covers beautifully.
The only problem is that it is difficult to catch fires during lyocell production.
Although lyocell is more expensive than cotton, its production consumes less energy and water. It is generally obtained from the wood of eucalyptus trees, making it naturally biodegradable and sustainable.
These five fabrics have their own unique advantages but hemp is Perfect choice.
Here is the reason:
- The color of the hemp fabric is naturally attractive which it is not Need to be dyed. This means that you can protect your skin and your baby’s skin from exposure to unnecessary chemicals.
- Hemp does not absorb water, in fact, it resists it. Your baby’s skin will stay dry in hemp clothing and can be protected from rashes.
- The fabric can absorb UV rays from the sun and act as a shield for your skin.
- Hemp fabric resists mildew making it easy to store.
- You can wear hemp in all seasons. It is soft and drapes freely, making it comfortable to wear in summer but the fabric is not too fluffy and can be layered during winter.
- Another advantage is that hemp clothing can be recycled. Not only is it perfect for your skin, but it also frees you from the guilt of adding solid waste and landfills.
Resources: https://bodyecology.com/articles/top_6_fabrics_you_should_avoid_wearing-php/
https://www.eco-stylist.com/a-guide-to-the-most-and-least-sustainable-fabrics/
https://www.babygaga.com/10-best-eco-fri friendly-baby-products-2/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aral_Sea
https://www.greenmatters.com/p/hemp-fabric-advantages-disadvantages
https://www.saundersrealestate.com/what-is-the-difference-between-industrial-hemp-and-marijuana/
https://blog.thestatedhome.com/linen-upholstery-fabric-pros-cons/
