By Alma Newton
Organic cotton baby clothes are a hot item with retailers of all kinds these days. They're so hot, in fact, that mega-giant Wal-Mart now carries a line of organic baby clothing and layette items in its stores.
Though the organic cotton baby clothes trend is extremely popular with apparel makers and retailers, many parents are confused because they simply don't understand how the term organic relates to cotton and baby clothes. Too, parents often believe that the term is simply made up to con them into believing there's something special about the baby clothes when there probably isn't. Many of them will pass on buying organic baby clothes, blankets, and such-and thus miss the many benefits that their children could get from wearing them.
So when looking at organic cotton baby clothes it's good to have some background. For example, organic cotton is grown chiefly in India under strict regulations and in fields that are chemical-free. Organic means that something is grown in a chemical-free environment. Organic cotton growers take that further by ensuring that the fields have not chemicals or pesticides of any type used for a minimum of three years. This is heavily regulated and is highly watched to ensure that organic cotton is exactly what it claims to be.
By comparison, ordinary cotton is grown in places that aren't as particular about where the cotton is grown. It is also grown using high levels of pesticides and chemicals that is imbibed by the cotton as it grows. As there are far fewer restrictions in place for conventionally grown cotton, there's no way of knowing just how much chemical pesticides are really being used.
These pesticides are generally petroleum-based and have many serious side effects, and these chemicals do stay in the cotton. The chemicals left in the cotton are thought by experts to have the potential cause everything from allergic reactions to asthma to even cancer. Add to that the fact that manufacturers also often add dyes to the cotton which offer additional chemical reactions, and you have a serious problem.
Baby clothes made from organic cotton eliminate all health issues that can come from traditionally grown cotton. To make organic cotton baby clothes an even healthier choice, many have nickel-free snaps or buttons made from nuts, which are hypoallergenic, further ensure that the baby clothes are the safest possible clothing for children to wear.
Organic cotton also protects our environment. It also protects water quality and the health of people who work growing it and manufacturing it. So purchasing organic cotton baby clothes, blankets, bedding, etc., means that you not only protect your child, you also have a hand in making the whole world a little safer place to live.
Alma Newton is mother of four and grandmother of three, and takes great pleasure in offering you the very best of the organic cotton bedding, clothing and cloth diapering that she can find. Please visit her website at http://www.comfortcotton.com and find what you need for your special little person.