| There is a growing number of environmentally | | | | the conventionally grown cotton fabric. |
| conscious parents choosing clothes made from | | | | Next up are the pesticides used to cultivate |
| organic and/or sustainable fabrics and notions for | | | | conventionally grown cotton. Land for the use of |
| their children. Some believe this is a fad that will soon | | | | growing cotton takes up roughly 2.5 percent of |
| go away and parents will go back to the cheaper | | | | farmland yet it uses 25 percents of the world's |
| option of clothing their children with conventionally | | | | pesticides and insecticides every year. To illustrate |
| grown cotton. However, aside from the sarcastic | | | | this stark difference, the amount of cotton used to |
| "trendy" label you may get, there are real benefits | | | | produce one pair of jeans and t-shirt needs one |
| from purchasing clothes made from sustainable | | | | pound of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. |
| materials. | | | | The effect that these toxins can have on our |
| But why is organic cotton so much better than | | | | children can be detrimental to their health. Johnson |
| conventionally grown cotton? Let's start with practical | | | | & Johnson states, "A baby's skin is thinner, more |
| matters that everyone can understand and | | | | fragile and less oily than an adult's. A baby's skin also |
| appreciate. It costs less to buy clothes made from | | | | produces less melanin, the substance that helps |
| organic cotton when compared to clothes made | | | | protect against sunburn. It's less resistant to bacteria |
| from conventionally grown cotton. Yes, you have | | | | and harmful substances in the environment, especially |
| read that right. The initial cost of buying clothes made | | | | if it's irritated. Babies also sweat less efficiently than |
| from organic cotton may be higher, however, these | | | | the rest of us, so it's harder for them to maintain |
| clothes last longer. It has been shown that | | | | their inner body temperature." This translates into a |
| conventionally grown cotton takes much more abuse | | | | greater health risk for children than adults as a child's |
| in the production sage due to having the fabric | | | | body may not be able to effectively fight off the |
| bleached, dyed, sprayed, and having flame and soil | | | | toxins that are used to create the clothes he or she |
| retardants applied even before it is shipped to be cut | | | | is wearing. |
| into patterns for a piece of clothing. This leads to | | | | Just think of utilizing organic cotton clothing as |
| clothes made from this fabric lasting about 15 washes | | | | another way you are protecting the health of your |
| before it begins to break down. This mean the fabric | | | | children. It is a small step but it could have huge |
| is much more sturdier and will last a lot longer than | | | | benefits down the road. |