Talking About Green

If you’ve been on the path to embracing a green lifestyle, then it’s no surprise that you would want to find eco-friendly options when it comes to your baby.  For most parents, this means choosing chemical-free soaps and shampoos, using cloth diapers, and even making your own healthy baby food at home (no manufacturing, no chemical additives or preservative).  So why haven’t you started buying organic clothing for your baby?  It seems to be the logical next step, especially for children that have allergies, and yet, very few eco-friendly parents seem to have opted for organics when it comes to the textiles that go on the backs of their babes.  If you haven’t yet taken the leap, here are just a couple of reasons why you might want to consider organic textiles.

Most everything you do centers on the health and wellbeing of your baby.  So if there are no outward signs of distress, you might not know there’s a problem.  And yet, even babies that don’t get rashes from their clothing may be subject to the ill effects of the chemicals therein.  The majority of clothing manufactured for kids is not organic.  The plants used to create fabric (cotton, for example) are grown with chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers that linger within the very fibers.  Then more toxins are used in manufacturing, from dyes that color the clothing to chemicals meant to keep the dye from bleeding (as well as stop shrinkage and fading).  That’s a lot of different chemicals coming into contact with your baby’s sensitive skin (not to mention the chemical detergents you probably use to wash their clothing).

But even beyond the effects that these chemicals may have on your child over time, you need to consider what is being done to the environment in the manufacturing process.  The same chemicals that are used to help plants grow are slowly seeping into the earth, air, and water.  This means that they are getting into our bodies every time we eat, drink, and breathe.  So we’re all getting a double dose (your baby included).  And then, of course, there are the animals used to make fabric.  Sheep that no longer produce enough wool to be of use are slaughtered while the harvesting of silk kills the very worms that produce it in the process.  In short, the pollution and waste perpetrated by the textile industry at large are massive.

However, you can do your part to make them clean up their act.  By purchasing organic clothing for your baby (and yourself, for that matter), you can make a difference.  You might be surprised by the sway of consumer dollars.  Not only will you ensure the health of your baby’s skin by opting for clothing that is chemical-free, but you can also make a statement that clothing manufacturers and retailers will hear loud and clear.  As more and more consumers demand organic options, the marketplace will open up to this alternative form of clothing, creating a greener tomorrow for the kids growing up today.

Sarah Danielson writes for tshirtprinting.net where you can design your own custom clothing at affordable prices.