Every parent would agree that picking the best fabric for babies is an uphill task. There are many challenges to consider when dressing babies including stains, the babies’ tender skin among other things. Stains for example have a way of messing up those cute pants and pretty dresses and the worst thing is that these could come from the things they interact with each and every minute.
Whether you talk of chocolates or puddles of mad, dirty cakes or smoothies, all these have a potential of messing up the clothes thus making it very important to choose their fabrics with a bit of care. Different fabrics could also be sensitive to the babies’ skin, causing some unpleasant reactions. As such, always consider the following tips to help you in the selection process: –
Consider the type of fabric
Before delving into the selection process deeper, it is good to note that there’re different types of fabrics and some of them should be avoided especially when it comes to babies. Synthetic fabrics should be avoided since they have high chemical content levels and this could result in allergic reactions to the skin. Instead, natural fabrics are always the best with babies and these include silk, cotton, silk or wool.
Fade resistance
Babies’ clothes will be washed frequently when you consider the way they are used, roughly and regularly. This could result in fading and the best way to circumvent this scenario is to pick fabrics that are not likely to fade fast. The best advice is to pick fabrics that have similar print and base colors as these do not fade quickly despite repeated washing. For example, you can avoid brighter colors especially if the dresses or pair of panties will be worn regularly. On the other hand, if the fabric has white as the base color, there is a high likelihood that the prints will fade if dyed using a different color.
Weave of the fabric
The best fabric for babies especially when it comes to rough usage should be tightly woven. Loosely woven fabrics are likely to tear apart when cleaned regularly or when used roughly. In addition, the sewing process will vary and in some cases, you will need to understand the right stitching method for different fabrics and see whether your sewing machine is designed to offer that.
You can learn more about this by reading through an exhaustive guide about the best beginner sewing machines and what to expect from them. That said, loose woven fabrics aren’t bad if the baby’s pants or dress is for occasional wear.
Baby’s comfort
Your baby’s comfort is very important and this should be your focus when sewing that special outfit for him or her. There are different elements that’ll come into play including lining especially if you’re making a dress for that little angel but this too should be very comfortable and free.
Make sure the lining and the material is designed to soften after a few washes before using it to sew your baby’s outfit. The baby’s skin will need that tender touch which can only be guaranteed if you choose the right type of fabric.
The weight of the fabric
Different fabrics have varying weights but the lightweight ones are always the best when it comes to your baby. You don’t want your baby to always feel like they are carrying a lot of weight whenever they wear the outfit and thus it’ll good to consider something lightweight such as silk, cotton voile or satin among others. It’s possible to get something cute and lightweight at the same time.
Breathable
Babies sweat a lot and wearing an outfit made from a breathable and absorbent fabric will really help. Cotton is specifically a great material when it comes to breathability and is also absorbs body moisture in a great way thus allowing for evaporation. You don’t want something that will keep your baby soaked in sweat at any given time.
It will also be good to consider other factors such as colors, durability and also pick a fabric that’s wrinkle-free. Knowing how to sew the different fabrics is also important in order to maintain the best results while sewing and after.
