The Health Blog

ALLERGY TO CLOTHING: CHILDREN’S CLOTHES

If your child is chemically sensitive, or has irritable eczema or asthma, avoid synthetics and wool. Pure cotton is generally better tolerated, although some unlucky children are sensitive to it, particularly flocky or knitted cotton. When choosing cottons, take care with fabric finishes and:

• wash poplin or denim very well before using to remove any finishes. If very sensitive, avoid altogether

• avoid winceyette, especially sleepwear

Look for clothes made of:

• cotton jersey

• cotton tracksuit fleece

• 100 per cent cotton corduroy

• brushed cotton

Wash everything very well before wearing at all.

The most difficult clothes to find for children in pure cotton are:

• school uniform

• knitwear

• socks and tights

• hats and scarves

• outerwear and waterproofs

School Uniform and Knitwear

Cotton On sell by post a range of school uniform clothes (trousers, shorts, shirts, jumpers, socks) in pure cotton, as well as a range of plain tracksuit tops and bottoms. These are formaldehyde and chlorine bleach-free. Cotton school cardigans and jumpers are available from Sheila Stewart. Angela Knitwear make school uniform, novelty and striped jumpers lor children in pure cotton.

Socks and Tights

Pex manufacture 100 per cent cotton socks for children. They are widely available. Cotton On (details above) sell pure cotton socks for children, and 100 per cent cotton tights for babies and children. Some of their socks are 98 per cent cotton, 2 per cent synthetic fibre, but no reports of reactions have been received. Schmidt Natural Clothing sell pure cotton socks and tights for children by mail order.

Hats and Scarves

Cotton On also sell warm, knitted cotton hats and scarves.

Outerwear and Waterproofs

It is virtually impossible to find warm, waterproof outerwear for children that does not contain some synthetics. One solution is to buy a waxed cotton jacket, and let it hang until the fumes from the new waxing have given off; these are then usually tolerated well, even by the chemically sensitive. Re-wax rarely. Another solution to achieve warmth is to make a coat or jacket liner out of cotton blankets and wear it under a waxed coat or corduroy jacket

The Cotswold Clothing Company make dry wax waterproof rainwear of pure cotton, with a brushed cotton lining. They also have a range of padded pure cotton corduroy and brushed cotton jackets. Next Directory sell soft cotton anoraks with polyester wadding. Joan Hollings makes Liberty cotton wadded jackets and waistcoats. Annie Jo Retail make pure cotton needlecord and poplin padded jackets. The wadding in each case is polyester, but encased so should not cause trouble. You can also try PVC raincoats. If rinsed through with water, and left to air for some time, the new plastic smell goes, and they can be tolerated reasonably well.

Sources clothing

Table 11 gives sources for children’s clothing, mostly mail order. Once again, check all details in catalogues and, if necessary, by telephone. For formaldehyde-free and chlorine bleach-free clothes, see Cotton On, and Schmidt Natural Clothing. Schmidt also make silk and silk blend underwear for children. The Green Catalogue sells unbleached cotton underwear for children.

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