Welcoming a small addition to your family translates into a happy occasion, but when parents discover that their infant has eczema-prone skin, purchases—especially clothing—need to be made with the condition in mind. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, eczema affects up to 20% of infants. So, your little one’s skin requires extra care, which means that adding the wrong fabric to your cart can lead to symptoms such as redness, itching, crying, and discomfort.
Does your infant fall into that category, and you’re unsure how to shop for baby clothes? Consider yourselves lucky, as this blog is the ultimate guide to selecting soothing clothes for your cute package.
Understand Eczema
As new parents, you must understand what eczema is and the symptoms of this condition. At the infancy stage, it is called atopic dermatitis, a chronic condition causing your baby’s skin to become itchy, dry, and swollen. The exact reason is unknown, but they say a combination of environmental and genetic factors gives birth to eczema. As far as the symptoms are concerned, they are as follows:
Irritating Fabrics
Irritating fabrics like nylon, polyester, and wool can feel harsh against your newborn’s sensitive skin.
Dyes and Chemicals
In the production of clothes, harsh dyes and chemical finishes are usually used, which tend to cause itchiness on the skin.
Heat and Sweat
Even overheating can trigger eczema if your baby is feeling hot and sweating.
Dry Air
There are days when humidity is low, but that can be dangerous for your baby’s skin as the dry air absorbs moisture, making it more prone to this skin condition.
Tight Clothing
Clothing that is either too tight or restricts your baby’s movement can cause that redness on their skin.
The sooner you are aware of these triggers, the faster you are able to make informed decisions while planning to set your munchkin’s wardrobe.
Picking the Right Fabrics: The Importance
The fabric of baby clothes directly touching their skin does wonders in controlling eczema. Hence, you must pick material that is natural, breathable, and soft for them:
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is considered the go-to choice for babies’ eczema-prone skin. Why? It is grown without using pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers, and is super soft, breathable, and less likely to carry irritating residues. While shopping for baby clothes, try your best to look for certifications such as the Global Organic Textile Standard to guarantee that the cotton is genuinely organic. Or else, you will see your baby very uncomfortable.
Bamboo
Is it the first time you have read about this material? Bamboo is famous for being amazingly soft and breathable. Besides, it appears with moisture-wicking properties, which assist in keeping your little one’s skin comfortable and dry and not forgetting to mention that bamboo is an eco-friendly option too.
Tencel
In the gentle fabrics list, you will also come across Tencel. The cloth is very soft and smooth, and takes the lead in managing moisture. So, many parents prefer buying this to provide comfort to their baby’s delicate skin.
Silk
Natural silk is seen as a luxurious fabric, and the good part is that it is even more gentle on your baby’s skin. Its fibres are pretty smooth, reducing friction and have temperature-regulating properties that prevent your baby from feeling overheated. Therefore, feel free to purchase baby clothes crafted from silk, but also make sure that your budget allows you to proceed, as the fabric carries an expensive price tag.
What Fabrics Have To Be Avoided?
You need to avoid the following fabrics:
Synthetic Fabrics
Avoid purchasing baby clothes from synthetic fabrics such as nylon, acrylic, and polyester. Why? Because they are usually less breathable and can trap heat, which is annoying to eczema-prone skin. As a result, the material feels rough against your infant’s delicate skin.
Conventional Cotton
Unlike organic cotton, this one might have pesticides for growing.
Wool
A natural fiber, wool can irritate many babies, especially those suffering from eczema, due to its coarser fibers.
Pay Attention To Design
Did you know that even the design and the way baby clothes are made can impact your baby’s comfort? No right? We have shared a few suggestions on what to search for:
Flat Seams
Spend time looking for clothes designed with external or flat seams. The mainstream ones tend to rub against the skin, causing irritation, especially in areas like the neck and wrists, where there is are high chances of this skin condition.
Tagless Designs
Sometimes tags are also sewn into baby clothes, irritating your little one; hence, keep an open eye for tagless designs, where care instructions are clearly mentioned. Even if you brought apparel with a tag, remember to cut it without leaving any sharp edges.
How To Create An Eczema-Friendly Wardrobe?
No need to stress over creating an eczema-friendly wardrobe, as you just need to focus on the necessary baby clothes made from the fabrics we have recommended above:
Bodysuits
Fill your trolley with bodysuits made from organic cotton or bodysuits having flat seams and tagless so they get to wear a comfortable base layer.
Sleepsuits
You will want your baby to sleep peacefully, so invest in footed pajamas with built-in mittens for sleeping suits. Besides, see thoroughly whether zippers or snaps are placed away from your baby’s skin contact or not.
Tops and Bottoms
When buying tops and bottoms, choose loose-fitting tops and pants crafted from gentle materials and waistbands that don’t hinder your infant’s movement.
Socks and Booties
Get as many socks made from organic cotton or bamboo. Just make sure that they are not very tight around their ankles.
Observe Your Baby’s Skin
You must observe your baby’s skin even after giving your best shot. While they are sleeping, check their neck, wrist, and ankles for any sort of redness, irritation, or itching. If you still see them being uneasy, then immediately change their clothes and note down the name of the fabrics and brands causing the disturbance.
Conclusion
We hope the guide relaxed you, and now you are on your way to buy gentle baby clothes. To get the suggested soft materials, we recommend you shop from PatPat as they have a wide variety of such clothes.
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