It can be overwhelming when you have to choose clothing for your yet-to-be-born baby or your new baby. Babies are so tiny when they are born that all visualization and guesswork go out of the window. All you wish for is the maximum comfort for this new precious life you’ve brought into this world, and who cannot decide for itself.
How does one decide on which clothes are safe? Is a Pyjami in Cotton comfortable or a Onesie in Knit? Do you put yourself in the baby’s position and visualize it? Is the baby crying because a label is poking him or her in the back? Is it too tight or too loose??? The list goes on. So does our confusion.
CHHOTABACCHA breaks it down to a few main points that are a MUST.
FABRICS AND TRIMS
Natural fabrics are the safest to invest in. They breathe, let the air pass and are from a natural source. Natural dyes could have medicinal properties, and may even be insect repellent depending on what they are extracted from- common sense.
Trims on the other hand are not required for a new baby. Take a look at Jhablas on our shop https://www.chhotabaccha.com/product-page/jhabla-unisex
Zippers, Velcro, Hooks, Buttons, Shanks, Froggings etc are items that can be abrasive, scratchy or even tough on soft skin. Buttons and Hooks are very small and are not missed easily and can be a safety hazard.
Only once the baby is slightly older, soft buttons or ties are advised.
SAFETY
Babies are completely dependent on us and that makes Safety a very imperative part of an item of clothing. Ties, buttons, bows, zippers and seam finishing are to be taken into your thoughts every time an item is bought. International standards are a must to be followed and can be read up on any platform.
ERGONOMICS
Practicality is extremely important and Ergonomics even more so. Can Papa manage a change as easily as the nanny or the mother? How is the garment space distributed, how do the closures work, how easy is it to remove or get into a garment and how much time does laundry take, these are key points to note.
Ergonomically designed pants at CHHOTABACCHA with ample diaper space and stretch https://www.instagram.com/p/ChzUZeSvUA3/
SIZE
Invest in a size slightly larger than the baby itself. It is quite amazing, the speed at which babies grow! Most brands carry a size chart.
SEASON
Layers are a great way to combat seasonal blues. Even if you wish to add a warm item of clothing, start with a Jhabla as an inner layer for the very young. Older babies can be experimented with. Natural wool is a great warmer and hand knitting is in any case a great Indian pass time.
Soft Blankies in knitted Wool, coming soon for winters. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg19aYeBUSl/
COST
At the end of the day, we all do our Hisaab. The cost of any product needs to be feasible to our minds and also add value to the money spent. Natural and Organic products tend to be a tiny bit expensive but try and keep the preference on quality over quantity.
Remember the baby doesn’t care if there are 5 outfits or 55 in their cupboard!
-Anjali Sharma- Founder