I remember the first time I went to a baby clothing store and got a little newborn-size pajama. It was right after my obstetrician appointment. I was far along enough in my pregnancy, the baby was growing healthy, and it felt “safe” enough to make that first step. Walking around the baby store and choosing tiny clothes was just such a sweet, wholesome, and beautiful experience. I’ve always loved fashion, but since that moment, my interest has shifted almost entirely to baby clothes. I’ve tried many different styles and brands, and this is a list of the best baby & toddler clothing brands.
Over the next few months, I gathered a nice-sized layette, and my favorite pastime was sitting in my son’s future nursery, folding freshly washed tiny pajamas and bodysuits. Maybe that doesn’t sound as exciting as traveling or attending music festivals for some, but nothing could make me happier. Holding those clothes made it feel real that I would soon have a tiny baby in my arms.
I kept almost all of the newborn clothes. I can’t seem to part with them, as each piece holds memories. But when it comes to clothing design for babies, I learned it’s not as simple as choosing adorable styles, as there are few important things to consider.
Type of fabric
With polyester taking over most of the fashion industry, I am happy that natural fibers like cotton and wool still dominate the children’s clothing market. Unlike polyester, cotton is much gentler on babies’ sensitive skin and breathable, aiding in natural body temperature regulation. Preventing overheating is one of the most critical factors in safeguarding kids from SIDS.
Cotton and silk are soft, breathable, non-irritable, and absorb moisture well, making them the best choices for eczema sufferers.
I stopped wearing polyester a long time ago once I noticed how incredibly uncomfortable and sweaty it made me feel, especially at work when I was nervous before a big presentation.
I always look for labels like 100% cotton or organic cotton and certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and OEKO-TEX standard 100 certification. OEKO-TEX means that the fabric has been tested for harmful substances, but polyester can also receive this certification, so it’s best to double-check the textile content if we want to avoid polyester. GOTS certification is truly a golden standard, ensuring the product is organic, eco-friendly, and ethically produced.
Sustainability
Today’s fashion market is flooded by fabrics made out of polyester or polyester blends. There’s a lot of greenwashing going on regarding this subject. However, polyester fibers lack true circularity due to challenges in material quality degradation and limited recycling cycles. Polyester sheds microplastic into our ecosystem. The only reason for its widespread use is its low cost and ease of availability. A more sustainable choice for our planet (and our bodies) is either using second-hand clothes or buying clothes made with eco-friendly, natural fibers.1
Organic cotton differs from regular cotton because it is grown without synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides. It requires less water and energy to produce and releases fewer greenhouse gases. It also helps build healthy soils that store carbon and combat climate change. Organic cotton is safer for the skin because it doesn’t contain harmful chemicals that can cause allergic reactions. It protects the health of farmers who don’t have to use hazardous pesticides. It is just better for everyone.
The use of bamboo-made fiber in baby clothes has become extremely popular in recent years due to its softness, hypoallergenic, and temperature-regulating properties. However, as a semi-synthetic fiber that uses harsh chemicals in its processing, it is not as sustainable as it’s advertised to be.
The design
Besides looking incredibly adorable, baby clothes serve multiple functions, and some features might work better for us than others. Parents’ favorites include two-way zippers for easy changes and diaper changes, magnetic closures, and built-in fold-over mittens or footies that keep hands and feet warm and can prevent scratches on the face. I personally liked clothes with snap buttons, but others might avoid them like the plague.
Many baby pajamas feature a label saying, “Wear snug-fitting. Not flame resistant.” What does this mean?
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission urges parents not to put loose-fitting clothes on babies for sleep to prevent serious burn injuries. In case of a fire, the air trapped between the clothes and the baby’s skin can result in the rapid spread of fire. Of course, we don’t want our children to be anywhere near the fire in the first place, but it’s an extra precaution formalized in a warning label. 2
By US law, there are two solutions to that. Loose-style pajamas can be made out of flame-retardant fabrics. These fabrics are treated with fire-resistant chemicals, which are very dangerous to our bodies. We want to avoid them.
The loophole in the Flammable Fabrics Act says that pajamas for children do not need to be made using flame-retardant fabrics if they are snug fitting. Snug, stretchy pajamas do not allow for a significant amount of air to be trapped between the baby’s skin and the garment, lowering the risk of rapid burn. Plus, tight pajamas on a baby or a toddler are incredibly adorable. That long yellow tag on the pajama we’re buying is a desirable feature.
The aesthetics
Soft, solid colors and cute patterns have always been popular for children’s apparel. However, in recent years, there’s been a shift from blue or trucks for boys and pink and flowers for girls to more universal designs. Clothing for children has become a little more gender-neutral and creative. As a mom of a boy, I still think there’s a lot of room for improvement. I am tired of dinosaurs or cars on everything. The pop culture’s famous licensed characters don’t appeal to me as well.
I prefer gender-neutral clothes because I’d rather buy a higher-quality product that I can use for our next children, regardless of whether we have another boy or girl. And as a designer, I have a complex relationship with patterns and colors. The pattern design must be just right, it’s object placement, repeat, scale, etc. I love choosing fun but classic patterns like vegetables, fruits, abstract shapes, space, stripes, checks, gingham, or color block.
Pricing
The biggest drawback of choosing clean, healthier products is that they can get costly, especially if we focus on high quality. Clothing for children is no exception, and babies outgrow them so quickly. The most sustainable and cost-friendly option is to use second-hand clothes. But we might not always be sure of the fabric content and its origins.
When buying brand-new clothes, I like to support small brands with sustainable practices whenever I can. If I buy from fast-fashion brands, I try to stick to certified organic products. The choices we make as consumers send a clear message to corporations, and I believe that can contribute to change. By choosing natural, sustainable products, we communicate “We don’t want plastic in our clothes, so stop selling it. We need clean, healthy, transparent, and affordable options.”
The best baby & toddler clothing brands
Hanna Andersson
https://www.hannaandersson.com
Pricing: **
Fabrics: mostly 100% cotton, Tencel Lyocell
Certifications: OEKO-TEX standard 100, GOTS Certified by OTCO
Hanna Andersson is a parents’ favorite for a reason. Their cotton pajamas in adorable prints last through multiple kids and hold their value well. The cotton line is a bit thick for summer, so I’m really pleased they introduced the HannaSoft collection made out of Tencel Lyocell. It is a semi-synthetic fiber from wood pulp that is hypoallergenic and OEKO-TEX standard 100 certified. In addition to pajamas, they offer many different styles of tastefully designed clothes. Hanna Andersson is not the most affordable, but they often run great promotions.
Janie and Jack
https://www.janieandjack.com
Pricing: ***
Fabrics: mostly organic 100% cotton, linen blends
Certifications: the website mentions sustainable materials, but they are not disclosed
Janie & Jack has a wide selection of heirloom-quality baby layettes, classic outfits, and accessories for special occasions, holidays, and even family photoshoots.
Kate Quinn
https://katequinn.com
Pricing: **
Fabrics: organic cotton, bamboo, modal, blends
Certifications: only organic cotton collection uses GOTS certified organic cotton3
Kate Quinn’s brand stands out from the crowd with its unique, whimsical, and colorful patterns. From mushrooms and squirrels to florals and vegetables, there is something for everyone. Their seasonal collections are full of unexpected inspirations, and while not all of their designs appeal to my taste, some are the most beautiful I’ve seen. With affordable pricing and a wide selection of fabrics and styles, they are definitely worth checking out.
Little Sleepies
https://littlesleepies.com
Pricing: **
Fabrics: Lunaluxe Bamboo (synthetic Viscose made from bamboo pulp).
Certifications: not disclosed4
I’ll be honest here, hoping I won’t offend anyone. I have a love-hate relationship with Little Sleepies. It’s often described as a brand with a cult following and high resale value, especially for its limited, seasonal collections. Their bamboo is soft and high quality, and I love how functional the pajamas are, with their fold-over mittens and footies. Because of their cuff’s elongated design and stretchy fabric, they do last longer than other pajamas.
But I find it hard to believe when moms say their 1-year-old still fits in the 0-to-3-month-sized LS pajamas. My son has always been a chubby baby, and I felt like they were too snug on him. I do not like most of the brand’s pattern styles, as I find them overly busy and overwhelming for a baby (it’s like you see the pajamas first and only then notice the baby).
I wish the bamboo-making process was more sustainable, and the brand offered more transparency and certifications on what exactly their “Lunaluxe Bamboo” is. And anything with a “cult” following immediately puts me a bit off.
Kyte Baby
https://kytebaby.com
Pricing: **
Fabrics: Rayon from bamboo
Certifications: OEKO-TEX standard 1005
Kyte Baby is a brand universally loved by parents for its super soft sleep bags for babies and walkers. I much prefer the fabric color and pattern selection of their baby pajamas. Their styles are beautiful, and the matching zipper color is another elegant touch. And while they offer footie and romper-style pajamas, I wish they would introduce the fold-over footie feature that Little Sleepie has. That way, I don’t need to choose. I appreciate their material transparency and focus on offering clean, certified bamboo, and I’m also happy to see their revamped parental leave policy disclosure.
Bellabu Bear
https://bellabubear.com
Pricing: **
Materials: bamboo rayon
Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and Eco-Cert
While bamboo fabrics are controversial, as a semi-synthetic fiber, Bellabu Bear invests in organic and certified textiles. The baby pajamas feature a convertible footie design with an added gripper for walkers, which I find super functional. While I don’t love all of their patterns, the wide offering ensures there is something for everyone. With their OEKO-TEX certification, it’s a good alternative to Little Sleepies.
Pehr
https://pehr.com
Pricing: ***
Fabrics: 100% organic cotton
Certifications: GOTS certified
I love everything about Pehr, including its designs, styles, accessories, material transparency (it uses certified organic cotton for almost everything), sustainability, and high quality. The women-owned brand is based in Canada, and is one of the best baby & toddler clothing brands. Its products are “ethically manufactured in India with a focus on sustainably produced natural materials and artisan craftsmanship.” 6 All this good stuff, understandably, comes at a higher price point. But they do run a good sale once in a while.
Primary
https://www.primary.com
Pricing: **
Fabrics: Mostly 100% organic cotton
Certifications: GOTS certified cotton
As the name suggests, the Primary brand focuses on a gender-neutral selection of simple patterns and primary colors in their collections. By offering timeless pieces in styles that don’t try to keep up with fast fashion trends, they can follow more sustainable practices and offer high-quality, affordable products for babies and kids.7
7 Am Enfant
https://www.7amenfant.com
Pricing: ***
Materials: Polyester, cotton, nylon, blends
Certifications: OEKO-TEX, BCI (Better Cotton Initiatives – less stringent than GOTS), tested according to CPSIA standards and on phthalate/6P, lead, and other toxic heavy metals8.
Polyester-made synthetic down almost entirely replaced natural but ethically questionable goose and duck down fillings in the outerwear industry. While I would prefer natural materials, I settled on choosing cotton linings and/or outer layers and ensuring the textiles used are as clean as possible. 7 am Enfant has a selection of functional outdoor clothing and gear (snowsuits, car seat covers, stroller footmuffs) that seem to be designed with transparency in mind.
Angel Dear
https://angeldear.com
Pricing: **
Materials: organic cotton, bamboo viscose, modal, spandex
Certifications: not disclosed
Soft pajamas, muslin rompers, and blankies made by Angel Dear are parents’ favorites. While they offer an organic cotton line, their popular lovies are made of polyester, and as an item often mouthed by babies, I would look for an alternative. The brand doesn’t disclose information on the source or certifications of its fabrics, and I’d like to see that improve.
L’ovedbaby
https://www.lovedbaby.com/
Pricing: **
Materials: 100% organic cotton
Certifications: GOTS-certified9
L’ovedbaby is a family-owned business that offers a wide range of baby clothing made from 100% certified organic cotton. The brand is committed to using safe, chemical-free fabrics and dyes, and its products are made in factories that ensure ethical labor practices. From bodysuits to sleepwear, L’ovedbaby has all the essentials in soft, sustainable fabrics.
Quincy Mae
https://ryleeandcru.com/pages/quincy-mae
Pricing: ***
Materials: organic cotton, bamboo rayon
Certifications: GOTS-certified cotton. Uclear on bamboo. Additionally, their manufacturing facilities are certified by either WRAP, BCI, or BSCI.
The ultimate sad-beige baby clothing brand. Jokes aside, this Californian brand focuses on organic clothes that are sustainable and made responsibly. That is reflected in beautiful, neutral colors and patterns.
What about the giants?
The infamous fast-fashion giants offer us what small brands can’t – affordability. While I try to stick to more sustainable-oriented boutique brands whenever I can, it’s not always possible. If I buy from them, I choose baby clothes and products made of 100% organic cotton or other natural and/or recycled fibers. While fast fashion has a lot of work to do, our purchasing habits can signal to them what we, customers, care about and want for ourselves and our children. We can support their initiatives meant to reduce the harmful effects of the fashion industry on our health and planet while being vigilant about green-washing. By purchasing select products, we signal to the industry that we care not only about beautiful promises but also about following through with actual change and positive impact.
H&M
https://www.hm.com
Pricing: *
Materials: vary, but 100% organic cotton available for select garments10. They offer recycled cotton and cotton sourced through their Better Cotton program.
No one needs an introduction to this fast-fashion giant. H&M offers a variety of affordable and adorable styles for babies and kids. While most of their clothing is made of polyester-based textiles, their baby and kids collections also feature 100% organic cotton, wool, and cashmere clothes and accessories. Before purchasing, it’s best to check the “materials” tab (that even features supplier information).
Zara
https://www.zara.com
Pricing: **
Materials: vary, but organic cotton and recycled polyester are mainly used for kids’ collections
Certifications: OCS (Organic Content Standard) -certified cotton, RCS (Recycled Claim Standard)-certified recycled polyester
While not exactly famous for it’s clothing for babies, Zara’s collections for babies and kids offer a variety of beautiful styles, colors, and prints with a classic aesthetic. I love their fashion-forward toddler collection for boys, inspired by street, skate, and surf styles. Their rubberized, waterproof outdoor pants and jackets have been a go-to for my son for the past two fall seasons.
The OCS certification in their cotton is not as strict as GOTS, but I’m happy to see the company’s growing efforts and transparency.11
Banana Republic/ Gap
https://bananarepublic.gap.com Baby & Infant section
Pricing: ***
Fabrics: Supima Cotton, organic cotton, cashmere, cotton-silk blends
https://www.gap.com/browse/baby-and-toddler?cid=1137869
Pricing: **
Fabrics: a bit of 100% organic cotton, cotton blends, but also polyester
Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic are owned by the same company (Gap) and are considered fast-fashion. Each one differs in quality, price, and materials used.
Even though some of their cotton is certified or sustainable, I like their Gap for Good campaign. Disclosing exactly how much of their goals have been reached already is a breath of fresh air. For example, their goal to“use 100% more sustainable cotton by 2030, including regenerative, organic, in conversion to organic, recycled, and U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol verified cotton” has reached 15%.1213 While not impressive, it seems pretty transparent, showing where they are and want to be.
I’ve seen a lot of companies making vague green-washy statements like “we strive to achieve this (insert goal)”, but not what it actually means, what steps are being taken, how much change has already happened.
Banana Republic offers a small selection of baby clothes. Still, the ones they do have are made from high-quality materials like Supima cotton (a trademark of American-grown, clean, sustainable, and oh-so-soft, cotton), cashmere, and silk. It’s a more affordable way to experience a bit of luxury.
Gap offers a few affordable styles for babies in 100% organic cotton. I think it is a valid choice for families that can’t afford more expensive products. But it’s important to double-check the fabric content of each item before purchasing.
Little Planet by Carter’s
https://www.carters.com/b/littleplanet
Pricing: *
Materials: organic cotton, recycled polyester
Certifications: GOTS-certified cotton14
Generations of kids were raised in Carter’s clothes, but their Little Planet line focuses on organic, affordable and more sustainably made, but still fashionable clothes for babies and kids.
Conclusion
When it comes to dressing your baby, comfort and quality are paramount, but style and sustainability also play an important role. These 10 baby clothing brands represent the best in the industry, offering a range of options for every style and budget. Whether you’re looking for eco-friendly options, trendy pieces, or timeless classics, you can trust these brands to provide your baby with the best clothing possible.
References
- Natural Fibers as Sustainable and Renewable Resource for Development of Eco-friendly Composites: A Comprehensive Review https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019FrMat…6..226T/abstract ↩︎
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2003/CPSC-Alerts-Shoppers-to-Dangers-of-Using-Loose-Fitting-Cotton-Garments-as-Sleepwear-for-Kids ↩︎
- https://faq.katequinn.com/kb/fabrics-9783477e611aa85d/are-your-products-gots-certified ↩︎
- https://little-sleepies.gorgias.help/en-US/do-you-use-any-flame-retardants-in-your-pajamas-148846 ↩︎
- https://kytebaby.com/blogs/news/kyte-baby-and-our-safety-standards ↩︎
- https://pehr.com/pages/sustainability ↩︎
- https://www.primary.com/blogs/using-our-words/primarys-sustainability-initiative ↩︎
- https://www.7amenfant.com/pages/faq ↩︎
- https://www.lovedbaby.com/pages/gots-certified-organic-cotton-our-materials ↩︎
- https://www2.hm.com/en_us/sustainability-at-hm/our-work/innovate/our-cotton-explained.html ↩︎
- https://www.zara.com/us/en/z-join-life-mkt1399.html?v1=1471214 ↩︎
- https://www.gapinc.com/en-us/impact/esg-resources/sustainability-policies ↩︎
- https://www.gap.com/page/gap-for-good?cid=1086537 ↩︎
- https://esg.carters.com/2022-little-planet ↩︎
You may also like
Starting Solids! The baby feeding Essentials.
Yes, this is essentially a post about spoons and plates. And I wish it was as simple as picking cute
Best gifts for a 2-year-old boy*
Turning two is a big deal. The birthday party is exciting for all the family, and as parents, we can
10 baby products I regret buying and things I wish I got sooner
I realize now that excessive shopping was my coping mechanism for pregnancy and post-partum anxiety.
Post a comment