Natural Clothing and Allergies
The best clothing choices for allergies
Soft, natural, gentle
Babies’ skin is soft, gorgeous – and sensitive. When they’re young, their skin is much thinner and more permeable than that of an adult, which is why it’s so susceptible to irritation and dryness.
Although all babies have delicate skin, some have more serious skin conditions like eczema, hives, and other irritations. These increasingly common conditions can be caused or exacerbated by food allergies, and environmental triggers like laundry powders, soaps, and clothing.
While the right clothing can’t cure eczema or allergies, it can help reduce the symptoms and make your baby more comfortable. Soft, natural fibres, organic fabrics, chemical-free processing and quality craftsmanship can help.
Here’s what to look for:
Naturally gentle
Eczema-prone skin is irritated by harsh fibres and heat. Synthetic fabrics and thick weaves – like denim or hand-knitted wool – can trap heat, rub against the skin, and make symptoms worse.
Look for clothing made of soft, naturally breathable fabric like cotton, linen, and hemp. Although thick wool can be irritating, finely woven merino clothing is gentle enough for most eczema-prone babies. In fact, because merino helps wick away moisture and regulate temperature, it can actually help reduce skin irritation caused by overheating.
Choose organic
Because babies’ skin is so permeable, it can absorb harsh chemicals from clothing. That’s why it’s important to choose organic fabrics as much as possible.
Conventional cotton crops are treated with a range of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides while they’re growing. No matter how much you wash clothing before wear, traces of these chemicals can remain in the fibres and transfer to your baby’s skin, potentially causing allergic reactions or general irritation.
Avoid the issue by choosing pure, certified organic cotton as much as you can.
Soft colours for soft skin
During processing, cotton and other fabrics may be bleached, dyed, and treated with chemicals like softeners, fire retardants, and wrinkle or stain guards. These chemicals are designed to stay in the fibres of the fabric, which means they end up pressed against your baby’s skin, potentially triggering eczema flare-ups or irritation.
Often, high-quality organic cotton and merino products are made without these chemicals to avoid these issues, and some manufacturers will list clothing as allergy-friendly or chemical-free. If you’re unsure, choosing white or undyed organic cotton or merino is the best option.
Made with care
Good craftsmanship is just as important as quality materials. Cheaply made baby and children’s clothing is often ill-fitting, with rough seams and scratchy labels – all highly irritating to sensitive skin.
Quality clothing, on the other hand, is designed to fit comfortably. Look for clothing without tight sleeves, elastic at the cuffs, or high necklines – these can all chafe and irritate sensitive skin. Seams should be sewn flat and labels should be printed on the fabric or easy to remove.
Go natural for extra care
Whether your baby has allergies or not, you can’t go wrong choosing gentle, natural, soft clothing. You’ll keep them warm and comfortable, avoid harsh chemicals, protect their skin, and reduce the risk of irritation.
At Dimples, all our baby clothes are made of natural fibres, with quality craftsmanship, comfortable, classic designs and minimal chemicals used in processing.