Best child-safe fabrics all parents should learn by heart

We often celebrate new life with presents, cards and, of course, a lot of baby clothes! But what about creating your own baby clothes and accessories? Whether you’re sewing clothes for your own bundle of joy or making them as a gift, handmade items are especially perfect for babies. Before you get started on your next baby project, however, we suggest paying special attention to a baby’s needs, especially when it comes to choosing fabrics. Babies have sensitive skin and are unable to regulate their temperatures, so this should be taken into consideration when looking for fabric for your next baby project.

Much like every child is unique, fabrics for babies come in a multitude of options! There are fabrics that can be used for baby clothing, bedding and accessories.

Cotton

Cotton fabric is the most popular choice for children’s and baby apparel. Cotton is soft and highly absorbent, and it is gentle against a baby’s skin. Organic fabric, and organic cotton fabric in particular, is the perfect choice for babies, as it is grown without the use of chemicals and fertilizers. Babies and toddlers often have allergies or specific skin conditions which can be aggravated by rough and/or synthetic fabrics. Using organic cotton is a safe way to ensure that children will be comfortable, even if they have skin issues which are triggered by heavy dyes and chemicals.

Jersey Knit

Cotton jersey knit fabric is another strong choice for children’s and baby items, given its wearability. Jersey knit is breathable and easy to work with, making it an excellent choice even for sewing novices. It resists pilling and is very stretchable. Remember that the edges of jersey knit fabric can curl after washing; therefore, you can choose to leave the ends unhemmed, giving the fabric a fun curled edge that looks great on sleeves and bottom hems for tops. Jersey knit is also incredibly soft, making it a fantastic fabric for simple, fun apparel. 

Bamboo Rayon

Bamboo rayon fabric is the perfect fabric for swaddles, blankets, hats, and garments. It is an ultra soft yet durable rayon fiber derived from bamboo plants. It’s great for sensitive skin and is thermal-regulating, meaning that it will adjust with a child’s temperature and is therefore less likely to become too hot. This attribute makes bamboo a wonderful choice for layering.

Minky

Minky is a soft polyester knit fabric with a brushed pile that gives it an amazing plush hand. This fabric is great for cozy blankets and soft plush animals and toys. It’s not as breathable as natural fabrics, so keep that in mind for the climate and purpose of your creation. Fabric.com carries thousands of minky fabrics with short and long piles, embossed designs, trendy prints and a variety of solid colors to create the perfect blanket or plush toy.

Fleece

Fleece is known for its warmth, making it a go-to fabric for outerwear and blankets. Fleece dries quickly and is extremely soft, making fleece materials the perfect fabric for babies. Best of all, fleece is simple to wash and resists stains. When in doubt, choosing a fleece fabric is an effortless way to give the newest baby in your life some comfortable homemade clothing and accessories.

Gauze

Gauze fabric is the perfect baby fabric. Whether you pick single or double gauze, this cotton fabric is light, breathable, and airy. You might find it referred to as muslin in ready-made products for receiving blankets. Single gauze is just one layer of gauze, but Double Gauze is the real star of the show, featuring two layers of gauze that are tacked together at regular intervals. Japanese double gauze is highly prized for its ultra soft hand and opacity. Quality can vary due to dyeing, printing, and maker, so be sure to read carefully when purchasing.

By: fabric.com