Guest Blog Post: Why choose organic cottons & fabrics?

By Nick Williams of Snugg Nightwear.

Snugg specializes in organic kids pajamas, sleepwear & bedroom toys from some of the world’s premier nightwear designers.

As a parent we inevitably want the very best for our child and will try and make the best possible choices. However, when so many companies seem to prey on this element of parenting it is becoming harder and harder to realize what is essential and what is cleverly marketed as a can’t live without item.

We’re all pretty clued up on the benefits of organic food, but is choosing organic fabric the best choice for a child? Do the advantages outweigh the price tag? Why should we choose organic fabrics for our children?

It is inevitable that we want the absolute best for our children, not simply because of the intense emotional bond but there are other factors too. We also realize that the happier each of our children are, the happier we’ll be as a family as a whole. I also feel that after 9 months of pregnancy; pouring the strength, energy and nutrients from your own body into your child that you want to keep that beautiful delicate skin as soft and healthy as possible.

Skin benefits

Organic fabrics are much softer on your skin than those that have been treated with harsh chemicals and pesticides. Babies and children have especially delicate skin that can really benefit from softer fabrics. Non-organic fabrics are often packed with allergens and irritants and many people (especially children) develop dermatitis from these fabrics. You can eliminate any potential threat of dermatitis by going organic. Babies and children dressed in organic fabrics not only have fewer skin conditions but they will also be more comfortable, less likely to be niggly and more; tend to sleep through the night better. Adults and older children will immediately notice how much softer an organic fabric is and how it feels against their skin. Organic fabrics also seem to flow better, drape beautifully and hang really well, without all the chemicals stiffening their fibres.

The bigger picture

It is not just the benefits that organic fabrics have on your own children that make them a wise choice. Organic materials have a positive effect on the entire world. Many parents start taking environmental issues more serious once they have children. They realize that their own offspring and many more generations will be left on the planet long after they have left, and it really gives them food for thought. Having your own children also gives you a real empathy towards other parents whose children may be worse off than our own. You start to think about other parents and the choices they make in order to raise their own children. Growing cotton in the conventional way uses an obscene amount of chemicals and pesticides that not only harms the natural environment but it also has a severely detrimental effect on those farming the cotton and working with it. The pesticides used are considered among some of the most toxic chemicals in the world and exposure to them has been linked to birth defects, weakened immunity and problems with reproduction. These chemicals can soak into the water supply and affect the whole community, and those who farm it often pick the cotton by hand meaning they have direct skin-to-skin contact with the dangerous chemicals. The majority of pesticides were developed as toxic nerve agents in World War II. It’s a wonder that they are still being used, not only in products for our children, homes and everyday lives but also in our food. Several studies have also shown pesticides to be carcinogenic.

A long-term decision

The Global Organic Textile Standard is different; insisting on fair pay, a safe work environment, no underage work and regular working hours. By choosing organic fabrics for your own child, you are helping improve the life of children all over the world. You are helping to benefit communities, families and children. You are also giving your own children beautifully soft, breathable fabric that will feel wonderful and comforting as well as keeping their skin healthy and soft. Organic fabrics may cost a little more, but your money will reach the people who worked hard to produce that fabric. Also, if we all start buying organic then the cost will eventually be more affordable. Buying organic is one of the things we can do that is the best choice for our own family and the best choice for the world as a whole.