The best baby girl or baby boy gifts aren’t always toys. This is especially true if you are distant relative, friend or coworker who’s doesn’t have a clue which toys parents consider appropriate for their child. So, what gift to give a newborn baby boy or baby girl? I’d say clothing. It isn’t only a gift that parents welcome, but they also appreciate and utilize it until their kid’s next growth spurt!

A good gift idea would be a multipack of cute bodysuits, pants or even outfit sets that mix and match easily. When it comes to the best material for baby clothing, cotton is the obvious winner. It feels soft on your baby’s skin and it is not likely to cause an allergic reaction. Plus, it’s durable enough for products like bibs and bedding and it’s absorbent in burp rags and other similar products. If the parents have chosen the cloth diaper route, cotton is often the best material that supplies the necessary absorbency. However, regular cotton comes with certain disadvantages, which is why you should opt for organic cotton when buying baby girl or baby boy gifts.

What is wrong with regular cotton?

Regular cotton is grown with GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) seeds, pesticides and insecticides that harm people and the environment. Every year, millions of agricultural workers suffer from pesticide poisoning. Plus, growing cotton crops requires high energy and water consumption. But that is not all. During the production process of the clothes, there is a widespread use of harmful toxic chemicals in the washing, dyeing and printing stages, which have been proven to cause allergies, rashes and respiratory problems. Tests have revealed that these chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and babies are the most vulnerable to such chemical exposure.

Why is organic cotton better for babies?

Babys’ skin is very sensitive and absorbent in the development stage. Their skin is also more porous than the one of adults, which means they absorb more of everything it comes in contact with, including the harsh chemicals from the clothes. Organic cotton clothing is produced through organic processes which don’t include any chemicals or synthetic products. Here are some of the benefits of choosing organic cotton for baby clothing.

• No chemicals next to your baby’s skin – Since clothing comes in direct contact with the baby’s skin, it makes sense to minimize or eliminate their use. By choosing organic cotton for baby clothes, you help reduce the number of chemicals that come into contact with your baby’s skin.
• Provide the same benefits as conventional clothing – Baby clothes made from organic cotton provide the same benefits that baby clothes produced with regular cotton do. They are soft, absorbent when necessary, and oh-so-adorable. The only difference between them is that clothes made from organic cotton don’t involve chemicals in their process of production.
• Less irritation – The chemicals and additives used in baby clothing made from regular cotton can cause irritation on the baby’s skin. This is because of the sensitivity of the delicate baby skin. Wearing organic cotton clothes may help clear up any ongoing irritation or rashes if the issues are a result of the chemicals found in the clothing.
• Better for the environment – Organic clothing is eco-friendly. The growing of regular cotton contaminates the ground and immediate area, as well as the surrounding air and groundwater since the chemicals wash away or are blown away in the air.

How do you know that a certain product is actually organic?

The best way to know is to look for clothing labelled as ‘certified organic’. To earn that label, the product must meet rigorous standards from a third party, based on the used materials and manufacturing processes. Generally, you can’t tell the difference between organic and conventional cotton just by looking at them. Here are some ways to help you ensure you are truly getting organic baby clothing.

• Check the colour – Since organic dye options are limited, organic cotton clothing doesn’t have a wide range of colours, and it can be commonly found in darker hues;
• Consider the price – As much as you may want a good deal, you’ll probably have to pay a little more for organic clothing. If the price seems too good to be true, it is possible that the product isn’t actually organic;
• Look for well-known organic brands – Do your research to find companies that produce quality organic clothing and stick with them.