Things To Consider When Choosing Fabric for Children

Things To Consider When Choosing Fabric for Children’s Clothes

Most parents will agree that maintain children’s clothes is a herculean task. You dress them into a nice outfit and it stays clean for an hour tops. Marks from sweets and other food, grass stains, puddles of mud – it all leaves the tool on their attire. Of course, forbidding a child not to be a child and teaching it to restrain from fun activities just so it doesn’t get dirty is completely off the table. But choosing the right fabric for children’s clothes can make washing days much easier and less stressful.

Also, not every material is suitable for the wardrobe of little ones. Their skin is more sensitive, so it’s your job to dress them comfortably. On special occasions, inuring a tutu dress or a pantsuit isn’t something that your kid can’t handle, no matter how much it complains. But for everyday wear, comfortable clothes is a must.

Hence, a list of a few things you should have on your mind when selecting fabric for children’s clothes:

Type of material

Resistance to fading

Comfort

Fabric durability

Weight

Color

We will go through all these aspects and explain why each of them is important. In the end, you will know how to choose the perfect clothing material for your little ones.

Type Of Fabric Is Crucial For Children’s Clothes

Follow the general rule – avoid synthetic fabric for children’s clothes. It’s containing a high level of chemical content which might cause allergic reactions (like textile contact dermatitis)to the child’s delicate skin. Also, fabrics like polyester don’t let the skin breathe which causes your kid to sweat more. They aren’t as comfortable as natural fabrics as well.

When selecting the clothes for your little ones always choose the one made from natural fabric like cotton or wool. The organically grown natural fabric would be the best bet for toddlers.

Resistance To Fading

Keep in mind that children’s clothes will be washed more frequently than yours. It takes a second for a kid to get dirty, so your washing machine will be working much harder. With this in the back of your head, select the fabric able to withstand fading as a result of repeated wash.

Here’s a pro tip – opt for fabric where the base color and print color are the same. If the base color is white and the fabric is dyed in a different color, it is more likely for the color to fade when washed frequently. Know that bright colors tend to fade faster.

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Kiddies Comfort As The Major Guideline

We all sometimes wear uncomfortable clothes because it makes us feel beautiful. Children are much different than adults in this – they won’t stand when they aren’t comfortable in their clothes. They might for a while, but it will probably end up in tears.

Keep this in mind if you tend to sew a special outfit or a party-wear for your kid. The lining you’d usually use won’t be as comfortable for little ones to wear. To solve this and make it super soft, you will have to wash it 2-3 times and then use it for sewing.

Image credit: @Pixabay

With everyday clothing, the comfort of your child is an absolute must. The same applies like in the previous section – select natural fabrics for children’s clothes as they are light, breathable, and very comfortable at the same time.

Durability Of The Fabric for Children’s Clothes Is Also Important

Of course, not many of the kiddie’s clothes can last for long. Children just don’t care about their clothes as much as we want them to. As they shouldn’t since their job is to enjoy in play and those childhood years that will pass in no time.

On the other hand, some fabrics can survive the growth of your little ones. Those are stretchable like knitted sweaters or elastic as sports pants. Such garments can easily be warned for at least a year or two and even passed down to the next generations.

Still, nothing beats denim when pure durability of the fabric is in question. If you choose the quality pants for your child it can last a very long time. When they outgrew them, you can modify them and give them a new life in the form of a child’s denim shorts.

Extra tip: It is always a good thing to have at least two pairs of jeans for your child. One for play and one for school, birthday parties and other casual events.

Image credit: @Pixabay

Weight Of The Fabric

At first sight, some fabrics may look good and comfy but are actually much heavier than it seems. Heavy fabric puts a weight on your kid and limits their movement. They won’t feel as comfortable as in the lighter options which can make it more irritable and provoke tantrums.

The lightest fabrics are cotton voile, silk, and satin. But at the same time, these materials are the most sensitive ones. Dressing up your kid in silk attire for a play date in the park is a waste of money. Sure, it will feel comfortable in it, but the chances are the clothing will be ruined. Save such nice clothes for celebrations and special events you are tending with your child.

For everyday wear in a playground, cotton clothes are a way to go. It is light, enables smooth movement flow and it is extremely comfortable. While it can be damaged and stained easily, at the same time is very affordable so you can replace it without big stress on your home budget.

Speaking about budget, here’s an interesting video how to modify clothes for your kids:

Think About The Color

Shades of pink for girls and shades of blue for boys – this is a traditional practice when colors for children’s clothes are selected. Back in the day, those were the only available colors. But the times have changed and luckily the manufacturers are making clothes for kids in all shades of the rainbow.

When your kid is a baby or a toddler, you can dress it in any color you want. However, when it gets older it is important to follow its wishes. Respect its choices and let it wear the clothes in its favorite color. Even if it’s just a T-shirt or sneakers, your child will feel heard and respected.

If your child doesn’t have an opinion about the color of its pants, the good idea will be to choose darker tones. Brown, black or dark blue aren’t the shades we are used to seeing on the children, but if everything else is in brighter colors, this method can get handy. Grass and other stains are almost invisible on darker children’s clothing, meaning it might last longer and save you a few bucks along the way.

When selecting fabric for your children’s clothes, think about all these things. They are all equally important and enable you to make the right choice. Regardless if you’re planning to sew clothes for your kids or to buy it premade – these are the guidelines you should follow.