Snug Organics Blog

Sleeping Kids in Organics

Friday June 25, 2010

To exclusively dress your child in organic baby clothes and outfit their nurseries with organic baby bedding can be more expensive. But by making a commitment to organic sleepwear, at least 50% of your child’s day will be spent in organics.  The investment becomes minimal when looking at the harmful effects of flame retardants, synthetics, and pesticides. Organic sleepwear lasts longer and can be used for more than one child. The Healthy Children Project recommends ” buying clothing, bedding and furniture made of natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, which do not melt near heat and as such do not need to contain flame-retardants.” The Environmental Working Group says, “To avoid any chemicals in sleepwear and reduce the risk of igniting sleepwear, we suggest you choose natural fibers that are inherently fire resistant and snug-fitting.” Most clothing produced today is grown and manufactured with toxic chemicals. The garment industry is well-known for being chemically intensive and polluting.

Flame Retardants

These dangerous chemicals have been detected in blood, urine and breastmilk. They are embedded in our people, our animals and land. PBDE affects the thyroid, immune system, reproductive system, and liver. It disturbs brain development, learning abilities, hormone function and can cause cancer, hyperactivity (ADD & ADHD), obesity, diabetes and permanent behavioral changes. These are all the same conditions that are increasing in our children today, who happen to be the most highly exposed.  According to animal studies, most problems stem from prenatal exposure and exposure soon after birth. Humans have not reached the same levels found in animals, but these levels are doubling every 2-5 years. PBDE does not break down, it accumulates in fatty tissue and works its way down the food chain.  Flame-retardants are most prevalent in the United States. Concentrations of flame-retardants are 3 times higher in children than in their mothers. Their tiny bodies are not able to excrete toxins as easily as adults and their skin is thinner and highly absorbent.

Synthetics

Most children’s sleepwear is made of polyester (fleece), nylon acetate, modacrylic and rayon. These fabrics begin their lives as a vat of chemicals, including petroleum. They have a prolonged landfill life, create more dependence on oil and take 40% more energy to produce than cotton. They are not breathable and block out air sometimes causing the body to overheat. These synthetics can also emit toxic gasses and are allergenic, causing respiratory disease in some cases. Polyester is plastic and will melt when heated. Synthetics must also contain flame retardants.

Conventional Cotton

Conventional cotton is the 2nd most pesticide-saturated crop in the world and one of the most environmentally destructive.  90% of production involves the use of synthetic chemicals. It takes one-third of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers to make one cotton t-shirt. 70% of conventional cotton farmers use GMO seeds and treat them with fungicides and insecticides.  Synthetic fertilizers and herbicides are added to the soil to kill weeds, five of which are probable carcinogens. Aerial spraying of these chemicals drift onto farm workers, neighboring wildlife and communities. They runoff into our water, cannot be eliminated by water treatment centers, and end up in our city water systems. Residues of these chemicals have been found in human amniotic fluid, breast milk and fatty tissues.  The biggest problem with non-organic cotton fabric is the finishes.  Softeners and brighteners like bleach, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and ammonia are used in the finishing process of conventional cotton and a scientific link has been proven between these toxic chemicals and cancer, endocrine disruption and even reproductive disorders.  Permanent press finish releases formaldehyde and no amount of washing removes permanent press.  The reason to buy organic cotton is that conventionally-grown cotton uses a huge amount of the most toxic chemicals, which get into our air and water and soil, and indirectly into our bodies.

The Solution

Fortunately there is a safe and sustainable choice that can be made by informed consumers. Snug-fitting organic cotton and naturally flame-resistant organic wool are the best choices for children. They feel softer, last longer, and protect the developing systems of babies and toddlers. They are free of dangerous chemicals, they breathe and allow for moisture absorption.  Snug Organics has created it’s own line of sleepwear perfect for warm and cool weather and available in baby and toddlers sizes 3m to 5T.

Articles on this topic by:

The Smart Mama

The Daily Green