Babies Only

Except for maybe a few people that live in the parts of our country that wear shorts year round, it is FALL.  This means that it is cooler and maybe cold and will get more so in the next few months.

So as you pull out those warmer baby clothes, or are out shopping for them, it’s time to think about babies’s little legs.  Diapers only are no longer OK.  They need something on their little legs to not only keep them warm, but to protect.  Especially if your little one is of the age that they are crawling all around the place.  Their little knees get the worst of it.  Alone with long pants or leggings or tights, you might consider using “leg warmers”.  They come in all kinds of colors.  There are even organic ones out there.  In fact, my favorite is the organic green stars ones that we have at the store.  www.babiesonlyonline.com Of course, the pink and blue ones are pretty too.  And remember, let warmers work great when your little girl is wearing a dress.  The old saying “keep their little feet and head covered” is still good to remember.

This is an item that I think is so cute for babies.  Especially ones that are just beginning to crawl.  So many times you see their little knees all red and it hurts me for them.

We can find all kinds of baby clothes and other products for babies, but do they do what the advertising people say that they will do.  It’s kind of like anything else, we have to try it for ourselves to find the answer.   Baby Legs is a baby product that really works.  It saves on baby legs and another  reason for them is that in the cooler or cold months they help to keep baby warm.  They come in so many different colors and designs, you are sure to find one that will work for many of baby’s clothes.  Then there are the organic ones and they too are pretty.  Gone are the days that you had to choose between organic or pretty or should I say colors.  Take at look and see what you think.  www.babiesonlyonline.com

Ever look at a label and still not know what it is telling you? Or have a description of a item of clothing and it not mean a thing to you?  Well, I hope the following will enlighten you a little.  It is a list of some of the names or descriptive terms used in baby clothes.

Acetate – A manufactured fiber formed by compound of cellulose, refined from cotton linters and/or wood pulp.

Applique – a cutout surface decoration that is sewn or embroidered to a larger piece of material.

Bamboo – A natural, renewable resource that can be made into fabrics.

Batiste – A medium-weight, plain weave fabric.  Generally made from cotton.

Blend – A term applied to a yarn or a fabric that is made up of more than one fiber.

Chenille – soft, fuzzy yarns stand out around a velvety cord on this fabric.  Generally made from cotton.

Corduroy – Typically made of cotton that has a filling pile with a plain or twill back and is made with an extra filling yarn.

Cotton – A unicellular, natural fiber that grows in the seed pod of the cotton plant.

Cotton (Organic) – Cotton grown without any harmful pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers using biologically based and sustainable growing methods.

Denim – True denim is a twill-weave, cotton-like fabric.

Embroidered – An embellishment of a fabric or garment in which colored threads are sewn into the fabric to create a design.

Faux Fur – Artificial fur made from synthetic material.

Flannel – A warm, soft fabric of wood, cotton or rayon made in tightly woven or plain weave.

Fleece – a soft, bulky, deep-piled knitted or woven fabric of wook or cotton.

Picot – A narrow row of dainty, woven loops along the selvage of fabric or lace produced to create an edge or a finished flange.

Polyester – A manufactured fiber introduced in the early 1950s and is second only to cotton in worldwide use.

Velour – A medium-weight, closely-woven cotton, wool, or spun rayon fabric with a thick, plush pile.

I hope these will help you when you are shopping for your baby clothing.

Bamboo is considered  an organic clothing because it is an eco friendly grown plant.  Bamboo baby  clothing is favored as an eco alternative because the bamboo plant regenerates in a short time.  It is generally believed that it is an anti-bacterial fiber with moisture wicking and hypo-allergenic suitable for sensitive skin.

It is in the manufacturing process where the plant is transformed into the fabric that has many people questioning the “organic” label of bamboo.  There is the chemical way or the mechanical way by crushing the woody parts of the bamboo plant and then there is the use of natural enzymes to break the bamboo into mushy mass.  The fibers are then combed and spun into yarn.  But because this way is more expensive, it is not the most popular way of processing.  The only way to know what you are purchasing is to ask about the manufacturing process.  Some companies will tell on their labels what process they use.  It is up to you to decide if bamboo is right for you when shopping for your baby clothes.

The first question that people ask about organic baby clothes is why should I buy organic?  There can be many different reasons, but the first is maybe I want to protect by baby in every way possible.

The main fiber in most baby clothes is cotton.  How cotton is grown is important because chemicals that are used on cotton plants stay in the cotton all the way to the finished garment.  Chemicals that are used in growing and manufacturing cotton clothing are petroleum based and do not wash out.

Five pesticides that are commonly used on cotton plants and in fabricating are cancer causing.  They are:  cyanazine, dicofol, naled, progargite, and trifuralin.  Also in manufacturing baby clothes the manufacturer will use dyes.  Dyes can cause serious allergic reactions and side effects.  For organic baby clothes, the manufacturer will have used dyes that a natural product.  True organic baby clothes will be certified by an independent firm.  Thus insuring that the clothing is organic from the farms, where the cotton is grown, to the manufacturer and the completed product.

Are you like me, in that sometime you read something and after you finish reading this item, you ask yourself what have I just read.  We all want to protect our babies when purchasing baby clothes or other needed baby product.  I hope the following list of glossary of toxins will help you.

Biopolymer – a family of polymers created by organic matter.

Bishenol A (BPA) -a chemical used in polycarbonate plastic resins, epoxy resins, and other products.

1 4-Diozane – a chemical that is a bi-product of chemical process and could be removed from products, but currently the US government does not require that process.

Formaldehyde – the cancer causing chemical formaldehyde is a bi-product of many common preservative that are often used in baby care products.

Nickel  – a metal suspected to be carcinogenic and many people have an innate allergy to this metal.

Phthalate – a group of chemicals that up until recently were extremely common in children’s toys.  The CPSC 2008 Law has banned the use of the chemicals in this family.

Polybrominate Diphenylether (PBDE) – a group of chemicals that have a history of being widely used as fame retardant.

PVC – Makes up the “3″ groups of plastics that have been sited for several different health concerns.  Related to baby products in the use of phthalates as softeners in plastic.

Polyethersulfone (PES) – a BPA-free plastic that is sometimes used in making baby products.  It is free of phtalates.

Polypropylene plastic (PP) is currently considered to be qamong the safest choices for baby bottle and food container materials.

Nitrosamines – a chemical produced from nitrates and secondary amines.  The chemical is found in many rubber nipples.  This is being addressed at this time.

It seems that now more than ever people (and babies) have allergic reactions to foods or things in our environment.  But there can be peace of mind in knowing what to look for.  Since babies cannot tell us how they feel or where it hurts, we as parents or care givers must be more aware of our children.

Some of the most common things that children react to are: Peanuts, Tree Nuts (almonds, walnuts, coconuts, cashews, pine nuts or pecans), Fish, Shellfish, Insect Stings or Bites, Milk, Wheat, Sesame, Medications, Latex (such as balloons, gloves or bandages).

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be:

Skin–Itching, Hives, Redness, or Swelling of Face or Eyes.

Mouth–Itching, Swelling of Lips or Tongue.

Lungs–Shortness of Breath, Coughing, Wheezing.

Throat–Itching, Closed Feeling, Tightness, Hoarse Voice

Belly–Nausea or Vomiting, Diarrhea, Cramps.

Heart–Weak Pulse, Dizziness, Fainting/Passing Out.

For any of these reactions you should consider talking to a health care professional.  An allergic reaction that is rapid in onset may or can cause death.  Your doctor will advise you what medications to keep on hand or when it would be time to see a doctor or visit the emergency room.

Babies have soft, delicate skin. Before letting a baby come in contact with any fabric, make sure that the fabric has been washed and rinsed free of detergent. Detergent powders contain harsh chemicals. It is best to find a mild detergent for baby’s clothes to avoid any allergies or skin irritation.

Take care when choosing clothes for your baby; baby clothing should be soft and delicate and, whenever possible, choose organic fabrics. Organic cotton and other fabrics are made from natural fibers that are free of any chemicals. They are perfect for a baby’s supple skin.

Now that you are in the process of purchasing your baby clothes, you may want to take a minute or two to think about the kind of fabrics that are used in infant clothing.  The fabric that you place against your new baby can play a big part in keeping him/she comfortable.  We are going to talk about the five fabrics that are most widely used in the manufacturing of baby clothing.

Cotton is the most common fabric used.  Because cotton is soft and absorbent and is gentle on baby’s tender skin.  Cotton can also be found in organic versions of clothing.  Cotton fabrics can shrink up to 10% when washed the first time, especially if you are using warm or hot water.  Now days much of clothing comes “pre-washed” and this helps much in choosing sizes.  Check the label as it will tell you if the garment is pre-washed.  Cotton is the fabric that I think is best for the newborn baby.

Cotton/Polyester Blends is great as it resists wrinkles and dries fast.   It also will not shrink.

Cotton/Spandex is a blend of fabrics that lets the garment stretch.  You will find that spandex is usually a small percentage amount in the fabrics.  Like maybe only 5%.  It is used in tights, leg warmers, and socks to name a few.

Fleece is the newest of fabrics.  We use it in blankets and sleep sacks.  It is light weight, yet warm and cozy.  It’s easy to care for as it dries quickly and does not hold stains.  It is the fabric that is replacing wool in baby clothes.

Bamboo is an all-natural fabric.  You will see bamboo when you are searching for organic clothing.  Bamboo is hypo-allergenic and anti-bacterial.  It is a favorite for infant clothing as it will adjust to baby’s temperature and is great for layering.

Of course, there are other fabrics out there.  You may find baby clothing in linens, cashmere, hand-knis and some others that are high end and high-maintenance.  But, unless you have all the time in the world or hired help, don’t even think about these fabrics.  Remember that babies outgrow their clothes very fast.  This is not the time to invest in an article of clothing that you (baby) will wear for years.

It’s true that infants don’t arrive on this earth with much stuff, but before they do arrive we have already started to get “STUFF”.  They have to have beds, chest, closets, shelves, transportation in the form of a stroller, special seats, the list goes on and on and we haven’t gotten to things like clothes, blankets, bottles, feeding utensils, food.  And diapers , the one thing that you will be buying for many and many months.

But today we want to talk a little about storage, mainly for clothing and items that will go in baby’s room.  Maybe you’ re one of those that has a house that comes with closets the size of most people’s houses.  Great!!  Closets can never to be to big.  If not, let’s take a look at what may be needed and used.  There are a million and one things on the market that can be used for storage, but we need them to fit baby clothing and blankets.  The closet is the perfect answer if you have room.  It can hold much of baby’s clothing and other items that you do not have to have at arms reach.  If you can hang baby’s clothes, it will make it easy to see what you have and not forget a real cute outfit that you may not find until baby has outgrown it if it is put away in the bottom of a drawer.  Also there are many different types of storage boxes on the market that makes for easy stacking and protects baby ‘s clothing from dust. These can be labeled for an easy find.

Armoires may be the answer for you as they come in many different styles and finishes.  They may have drawers, adjustable shelves, hanging rods, open or with doors.  You might want to think about one that will meet you’re baby’s needs as they grow.  You can also find changing tables that you can take off the changing table part and use as regular furniture later on.  Then there is always open shelving that be placed on the wall.  Here again you will have choices in the style and number used.  Never pass up a hand-me-down, as they can be refinished and make a beautiful piece of furniture.