A dozen years ago, the term "organic clothing" brought to mind hippies and hemp, tunics and Birkenstocks. However, all of that is changing, rapidly and for a good reason. Organic clothing - especially organic baby clothing - is better for the environment, for personal health, and for the future of the planet.

Choosing 100% organic baby products when you're shopping for your little one is one of the best things you can do for him or her, for their health today and for their health through their entire lives.

What's Wrong With Non-organic Clothing?

I know, I know … we grew up wearing synthetic non-organic clothing and we're doing just fine, right? Wrong. The number of respiratory problems, skin irritations, and allergies are at an all-time high around the world, but specifically in the United States. Not to mention, through the production of non-organic materials, we've harmed our environment to the point of true crisis. We've learned, through time and science, that the way our food and clothing are produced is harmful for the world and for our personal health.

Most of the clothes we buy require tons of pesticides to produce - pesticides that can be harmful when they come in contact with our skin, and definitely detrimental to Mother Nature as a whole. Polyester, a compound used in so much of the clothing and bedding we buy, is especially harmful. It contains chemicals called phthalates, which have been linked to different types of cancers in recent years.

Clearly, cotton and other organic material is the way to go when making organic baby clothing and other material purchases. But you can't always trust the cotton you're purchasing.

Staying Away from the Pure Cotton Label

Cotton is a great material for clothing. It washes well, pulls away moisture from our bodies, and is hypoallergenic. You'd do very well to put your new baby in organic baby clothing that contains cotton.

However, you also have to be very, very careful about the cotton you purchase. Because cotton is such a huge crop in the United States, manufacturers over the years have tried to find easier ways to grow and harvest it, but have been lax on giving thought to how safe their procedures are.

About 23% of the world's pesticides are used solely on the production of cotton. As the cotton grows, it retains some of these pesticides, which are then transferred to your baby's skin as they wear cotton clothing.

The problem is that many manufacturers now carry the 100% pure cotton label. The word "pure" can be misleading. Pure cotton is just that - purely cotton. But it has nothing to do with the way the cotton is produced. Pure cotton is still sprayed with pesticides, and these pesticides are still welcomed into your house and onto your skin when you wear the clothing.

Why Organic is Better

As the world has come to realize just how harmful pesticides and many synthetic materials are, manufacturers are turning towards using materials to produce their organic baby clothes. Public outcry for organic clothing is at an all time high, and major textile companies are rushing to fill in the gaps.

But why? Why have mothers all over the globe began insisting that they'll only let organic baby items touch the skin of their little ones?

First of all, nonorganic cotton and synthetic materials are a potential factor in the cause of infant respiratory problems and skin irritations. Not to mention, with research showing that some of these compounds could be a cause of cancer down the road, mothers want to insure the health of their child forever.

Organic materials are grown without the use of pesticides, at all. It's against federal regulations to label a product as 100% organic if any pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or synthetic materials are used in the making. When you choose to dress your little one in organic baby clothing, you're making sure their precious, delicate skin is covered in pure, nonirritating material.

As if that's not enough, growers of 100% organic textiles - like cotton - are required to abstain from using insecticides, pesticides, or fertilizers that contain synthetic materials. They incorporate growing practices that are good for the earth and insure sustainability of crop growth for hundreds of years, unlike traditional crop growing, which sterilizes the ground and introduces harmful material into water and food sources.

The Safest Organic Baby Clothing You Can Buy

So far, we've established that when you're purchasing clothing or bedding for your baby, you should look for labels marked 100% Organic. But there's another issue at hand you should be aware of - clothing dyes.

Traditional, bright clothing dyes are full of harmful material, as well. However, organic manufacturers are coming up with ways to get around the issue. Cotton is now grown organically in different earth-tone colors - reddish brown, brown, yellow, and green - using absolutely no dye whatsoever.

But great strides have been made in the production of organic clothing dyes, and many are safe now and produced without any harmful chemicals. It's best to stick with lighter, pastel colors when purchasing your organic baby clothing, as these are the dyes that are more natural and less harmful to your little one.