| Raising your child is arguably the most important | | | | much, much more. |
| responsibility a parent has but raising a child that has | | | | None of this is to scare you but rather to inform you |
| skin allergies can be quite frustrating and | | | | that there is a better option for you as a parent. We |
| nerve-wracking. However, some of these health | | | | all want the best for our children and organic clothes, |
| issues can be alleviated with organic clothing. As | | | | though it may seem insignificant, can go a long way |
| superficial and insignificant as this sounds, organic | | | | in their long-term health. Any amount of toxins and |
| clothing is a better option to clothe your child in | | | | pollutants you cut out of your child's life can only be |
| versus clothing made from traditionally grown cotton. | | | | beneficial to them. In addition, these clothes actually |
| This is not to say that once you put your child in | | | | can be cheaper than its conventional counterparts. |
| clothes made from organic fibers, your child's allergies | | | | With the absence of the toxic chemicals and the |
| will all but disappear but these clothes can help make | | | | harsh treatment these fabrics undergo even before |
| your child feel better and can lessen the effects of | | | | they are cut and sewn into a garment, the organic |
| these skin allergies. | | | | fabric is sturdier and will last a lot longer. |
| The National Organic Standards board states "Organic | | | | Rachel V. Birchler of Mooi, an organic children's |
| agriculture is an ecological production management | | | | clothing boutique in Pittsburgh states, "Organic |
| system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, | | | | clothing may be more expensive when first buy it, |
| biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based | | | | but when compared to the cheaper cotton product it |
| on the minimal use of off farm inputs and on | | | | gives you your money's worth. Conventionally |
| management practices that restore maintain and | | | | produced cotton material lasts 10-20 washes before |
| enhance ecological harmony." In order to be "certified | | | | it starts to break down. An organic cotton material |
| organic," strict guidelines must be met at every step | | | | lasts for 100 washes or more before it begins to |
| of the production process. This does not only apply | | | | wear down. This is because the cotton fibers in |
| to the cotton crops, but also the manufacturing | | | | conventionally produced cotton take so much abuse |
| stage of the final garment to be sold. The soil from | | | | in production because it goes through scouring, |
| the cotton fields have their own guidelines as well as | | | | bleaching, dying, softeners, formaldehyde spray, and |
| the production facility where the final piece will be | | | | flame and soil retardants before it is even shipped to |
| produced has guidelines they must follow as well. The | | | | be cut for patterns." If your child is like many other |
| end result is products that are free from toxins and | | | | children that have a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, |
| pesticides that can exacerbate your child's sensitive | | | | shirt, dress, or any can't-part-with piece of clothing |
| skin. | | | | that they always want to wear, this can be such a |
| If you do not think this easy transition to organic | | | | godsend. Imagine the tears and the temper tantrums |
| clothes matters, think about this statistic: cotton | | | | that can be headed off by being able to keep your |
| fields use 2.4 percent of all cultivated land however, | | | | child's favorite blanket or most comfortable shirt. Plus, |
| they use 25 percent of the world's pesticides and 10 | | | | the money saved in the long run is an added bonus |
| percent of the world's insecticides. This chemically | | | | for you. |
| dependent crop does not stop taking abuse in the | | | | With our children exposed to more and more |
| fields but also in conversion process from cotton to | | | | pollutants in their lives, going organic is a simple yet |
| fabric. Material is introduced to numerous toxic | | | | effective way to ensure their health and their |
| chemicals at every stage such as harsh petroleum | | | | environment. |
| scours, formaldehyde, heavy metals, ammonia, and | | | | |