Best fabric for our baby in 2021 (Updated)

We know your little ones need a fabric that will be able to handle their active lifestyle. Curious babies need a fabric that can easily adapt to a variety of conditions. With a whole new world to explore, who knows what they'll get up to!

Cotton fabric is the most popular choice for children's and baby apparel. Cotton is soft and highly absorbent, and it is gentle against a baby's skin. But now is 2021, we have many types of fabric on the market and with so many different types to choose from, where do we start?

Contents:

| Points to think about before buying fabric for our baby

| Best fabric for our baby

| Brand recommendation for sensitive baby’s apparel

What is the best fabric for my baby?

It is not the case that if you don’t use a 100% natural fabric, that it will irritate your baby – not at all – but especially if your little cherub has sensitive skin we should consider below points before buying clothes or fabric for our baby.

The primary consideration - Sensitivity & Comfort

Younger skin is more sensitive most of the time. This means that one of first thing you should take into consideration when fabric shopping is that it’s both soft and comfortable. The last thing you want is baby clothes that rub or irritate it.

Comfort should also be a major factor, although this does link it with the sensitivity, ideally, you’d be looking for a soft material, probably smooth. You’ll also need a fabric that will stay soft, and not get rough over time and irritate the child’s skin.

Movement

These early stages of life are important – learning to roll over, lift your head, crawl, walk and so much more. Baby clothes need to allow this movement and not be restrictive, otherwise, it may stunt this all-important development.

Breathability

This one is a little complicated. You will want your baby clothes to be breathable, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that it needs to be a thin or lightweight fabric. A breathable fabric needs to have the ability to allow moisture vapor to be passed through it.

From Loulou LOLLIPOP’s website.

Best fabric for our baby - Tencel

TENCEL™ Lyocell fibre have the ability to combine with a wide range of textile fibre such as cotton, polyester, acrylic, wool, and silk to enhance the aesthetics and functionality of fabrics.

Tencel VS Rayon

Tencel is somewhat similar to rayon because they’re what the industry refers to as “regenerated cellulose” fibers. Manufacturers take wood pulp, dissolve it in a chemical solvent, then push it through an extruder to form the fibers.

The big difference is rayon requires more energy and chemicals to produce, which is both wasteful and toxic for the workers who make it. Tencel, on the other hand, uses chemicals that are less-toxic and get recycled in the process so there’s minimal waste. It also uses wood from trees in sustainably-harvested forests.

From Tencel’s website.

Why Tencel?

Temperature-regulating and soft on sensitive skin.

An allergic reaction to clothing is known as textile dermatitis. Thankfully, there’s a natural fabric called TENCEL™ that not only prevents eczema flare-ups, but also helps boost the healing process. Wearing eczema-friendly clothing can help prevent irritation and reduce inflammation. If you have eczema prone skin - just like me, soft, breathable fabrics with moisture wicking properties are best.

And, a plus point for using Tencel is it made by using three major ingredients; water, organic solvent and wood pulp, meanwhile lowering the use of water, energy and chemicals.

From Tencel’s website.

Should I buy products with Tencel for my baby?

Yes, absolutely! Tencel fibers feel amazing, use sustainable practices, and have high-quality performance features that make it popular for both brands and consumers alike.

One of the greatest attributes of Tencel is 'moisture management'. Tencel absorbs 50% more moisture than cotton which makes it a perfect fabric for children's clothing. In Tencel, sub-microscopic channels between the individual fibre fibrils guarantee exceptionally good moisture absorption and rapid moisture release.

Brand recommendation for baby’s apparel

Loulou LOLLIPOP

LOULOU LOLLIPOP is redefining baby goods in pursuit of better, cuter, and safer products for every newborn adventure.

Loulou Lollipop always aims to minimize harmful impacts to the planet by making sure they choose the right materials and utilize energy efficient processes. By choosing TENCEL™ Lyocell Fabric, they are supporting certified, biodegradable material that allows us to drastically shrink our carbon footprint.

The products in the new Loulou LOLLIPOP collection include: Bodysuits, sleepers, headbands, knot hats, turbans, and knit swaddles in an array of adorable seasonal prints and colours. Inspired by the natural colors found in dirt, moss, trees, and rocks, the new Fall collection features earth-tone palettes like sage, umber, slate, oatmeal, and ginger honey. All products were made using the new TENCEL Lyocell fabric.

PS. If you are interested in being Loulou LOLLIPOP wholesaler in Asia. Drop us a message!

Mini Rodini

Mini Rodini is a Swedish children’s wear brand that was founded in 2006 by illustrator Cassandra Rhodin as a tribute to all children, their imagination and sense that everything is possible. Mini Rodini takes children seriously with playfulness, meaning it is important that children too have clothes that match their own personality, mood and creativity.

From Mini Rodini’s website.

A Parent's Guide to Self-Feeding: Why It's Worth the Mess

As a new parent, your instinct is to be protective. You worry about choking, so you might prefer to feed your child yourself. While every parent has a different perspective, let's discuss the incredible importance of allowing children to be in charge of their own feeding and learn how to listen to their bodies.

This approach, often called Baby-Led Weaning (BLW), can be messy. But this article will show you why you should empower your little one to self-feed—and why it is absolutely worth the mess.

Why is Self-Feeding Worth the Mess?

Learning to eat alone is a critical skill that should be encouraged early. When a child is able to grasp something, letting them explore food with their hands stimulates their development in profound ways.

• Develops Fine Motor Skills: The act of learning to grab food and put it in their mouths strengthens the small muscles in their hands and fingers. This is the same dexterity they will later use for other positive activities like coloring, drawing, and writing. The more they practice, the stronger those muscles become.

• Improves Hand-Eye Coordination: Self-feeding requires your baby to see their food, use their hands to pick it up, and guide it successfully to their mouth. This is a complex task that builds crucial coordination.

• Encourages a Healthy Relationship with Food: Allowing a baby to control their own intake helps them learn to listen to their body's hunger and fullness cues. It gives them a sense of autonomy and can lead to them being more adventurous eaters in the long run.

When is a Good Age to Start Self-Feeding?

Once you introduce solid foods (around 6 months), your child will likely start showing signs of wanting to feed themselves. When your child is able to sit up unassisted and can successfully pick up food and get it into their mouth, it's the right time to begin the transition.

Self-feeding involves lots of feeling, squeezing, and dropping food. It might seem chaotic, but it’s one of the primary ways your child develops essential skills.

How to Start Your Baby's Self-Feeding Journey

Step 1: Start with Hands and Finger Foods

Baby-Led Weaning encourages letting your child explore food with all their senses. Start by offering soft, bite-sized pieces of food that are easy for your baby to pick up and mash between their gums. Think small pieces of soft fruit like banana or avocado, or soft-cooked vegetables like potatoes or pumpkin.

At this stage (around 6 months), finger foods are for exploration, not their main source of nutrition, so you should continue breastfeeding or formula feeding as usual. You'll find that once they become interested in the textures and tastes of food, the journey to self-feeding becomes much easier.

Step 2: Introducing the Right Kind of Utensils

There's no right or wrong time to introduce utensils, but it's the next logical step in their development. The key is to use utensils that are actually made for a baby's hands and abilities.

Traditional children's cutlery often looks like adult cutlery, just scaled down. The problem? A "child-size" spoon is often the same length as a 12-month-old's entire forearm! This forces them to hold it in an awkward fist grip, which doesn't help develop the fine motor skills they need.

What to Look for in a Starter Spoon and Fork:

Instead of focusing on a brand, focus on these revolutionary design features endorsed by Occupational Therapists:

• A Short, Ergonomic Handle: This is the most important feature. A short, wide handle encourages a child's natural vertical grasp, allowing them to hold the utensil properly and bring it to their mouth much more easily.

• A Choke-Protection Shield: Many of the best starter utensils have a built-in safety shield below the spoon or fork tines. This prevents your baby from accidentally gagging themselves, giving you invaluable peace of mind.

• Proportional Sizing: The utensil should be sized for a baby's body, not just a smaller version of an adult's.

A Final Word on the Mess

Messy eating and playing with food are normal, healthy parts of your baby’s development. It's also normal for them to drop or throw food. If you react strongly, they might think it's an exciting new game. The best strategy is to ignore it. Calmly pick up the food without a fuss, or simply leave it on the floor until the meal is over so you only have one big clean-up.

“Needless to say, teaching children self-feeding is often a long and messy journey. Just let the food fly!!”

— The Real Nutritionist