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Organic Children's Clothing:
Why Parents Should Seek Out Organic Kids' Clothing
By Heather Pihl (www.suite101.com)
 Hard to find, but health wise, go green with children's clothing and ensure your child a safe and healthy childhood.
One of a mother’s most important jobs is the protection and safety of her children. With the recent shift towards organic and green living, more information is becoming readily available, and with that information, mothers have more power to do their jobs effectively. Though there are many ways to implement a green lifestyle, the two most important avenues are our food and clothing.
For this article, let’s focus on the clothing. Though there are multitudes of websites dedicated to infant and adult organic apparel, there are few that offer children’s clothing. This is a sorely missed opportunity on the part of the manufacturers as this stage of human development is highly susceptible to leaching and intoxication via pesticides and chemicals. So, let’s take a look at the:
- What is organic cotton?
- Why should I care? How will it really affect my kids?
- Where can I purchase organic clothing for my children that won’t drain my bank account?
According to the regulations of organic farming, organic cotton must be grown in fields that have been free of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers for at least three years. To an organic farmer, prevention is the key and though it requires much more work, nearly eliminates the need for contaminants.
Organic farmers rotate crops, allowing for the betterment of the soil, use one pest to combat another instead of using pesticides and use vegetable or animal matter as fertilizer. Traditional farming methods have accounted for the use of 25% of the world’s pesticides used on U.S. cotton crops alone and, according to the EPA’s “List of Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential,” 7 of the 15 pesticides used contain human carcinogens. To illustrate this, the Worldwatch Institute found that, “a cotton T-shirt blended with polyester can release approximately one quarter of its weight in air pollutants and 10 times its weight in carbon dioxide.”
Here’s why you, as a parent, should care.
- "Pesticides pose special concerns to children because of their high metabolisms and low body weights.” This comes from a recent report published by environmentaldefense.org.
- "Exposure to pesticides can cause a range of ill effects in humans, from relatively mild effects such as headaches, fatigue, and nausea, to more serious effects such as cancer and neurological disorders,” according to findings by the U.S. General Accounting Office.
- A National Academy of Sciences study suggested that “one out of four developmental and behavioral problems in children may be linked to genetic and environmental factors, including exposure to …. organophosphate pesticides.”
- And finally, realize that any fabric traditionally harvested and processed is dyed and the chlorine, chromium and other contaminants are released into the environment through this process and long after.
As knowledge is attained and demand increases, more organic clothing will be readily available at affordable prices. For now, there are only a handful of sites and stores that offer truly organic clothing, specifically for kids. Typically, organics can be very plain and even boring, but these companies have found ways to implement water-based dyes to add graphics and designs to their garments that are both safe for the environment and your child. Please note that organic cotton shrinks much more than traditionally processed cotton and it is recommended that clothing be purchased a size larger than usual.
- Mission Playground and Progressive Kid both offer 100% organic materials, water-based inks, and a generous selection for kids in sizes up to XL. Most importantly, the designs are fresh, fun and largely eco-conscious.
- Ourgreenhouse.com, kiwiindustries.com, sunshineshipbaby.com and katequinnorganics.com all offer a selection of 100% organic cotton apparel and sizes for kids up to age 7. Though most of these companies are more minimalist with few designs and basic colors or stripes, the clothing is still attractive and most importantly, safe. Sunshine's Hip Baby is the exception here with a remarkable offering of incredibly cute designs from several manufacturers.
- Figkids.com offers a full clothing line that is 95% organic, with sizes for kids up to age 8. Fig Kids has fun, colorful graphics not often seen in other organics apparel and a huge selection of styles.
- Finally, Wal-Mart is stepping into the green lifestyle and slowly converting their clothing lines to organic. Most Wal-Mart brand clothing is now either 100% organic or an organic blend and can be found online or in the store.
Now that you have the knowledge, take the plunge. Be responsible. Protect your children and your environment, the way they deserve to be protected and go green. Your children will love the killer designs as well as the ultra soft feel that only organic cotton can offer, and you can rest in the knowledge that you have done your part.
Pruitt Chiropractic
88 East Main Road
Middletown
(401) 847.8889
www.pruittchiropractic.com
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