What materials are best for baby items?

Hi everyone,

I’m not sure if there’s already a thread on this—if so, sorry.

I’d be curious to know... When you crochet, knit, or make things for babies,
what materials do you prefer to use, and why?
Whether it’s for shoes, blankets, clothes, or whatever...
What’s both “safe” (in case the little ones start chewing on it) and nice and cozy soft?

Thanks in advance for your advice :)

If you have a question, just start a new thread.
It’s okay if a similar topic has come up before.

Identical duplicate threads where the entire content is simply copied word for word, on the other hand, aren’t a good idea—but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

Dear Krea_Tina,

ever since I became a grandma, this topic has become more important to me, too. Young parents have become much more critical. They don’t want even the prettiest piece of clothing or the coziest blanket if it’s made from the wrong material. So before you start, you need to look into it first.

When I knit something for my grandson, I always look for a yarn that’s “saliva-resistant” and “colorfast.” Yarns with these labels have to meet strict requirements and undergo many testing procedures before they’re approved for the market. My current favorite yarn in this category is “Gesa & Flo” by Zitron. It’s not exactly cheap, but it’s wonderfully soft, and I feel confident using it.

I look forward to more comments, as I’m personally very interested in this topic as well.

Best regards - Ina

Personally, I also prefer smooth yarns like cotton or bamboo. Although I actually prefer bamboo yarn for babies because it feels nicer. In addition to being “saliva-safe” and “colorfast,” you should also make sure that clothing or blankets can be washed at higher temperatures if needed. Wool would definitely be out of the question in that case. There are also acrylic yarns made specifically for babies, but personally, I wouldn’t want to use them for clothing—it gives me that “baby in a plastic bag” vibe. Since babies can’t regulate their body temperature on their own yet, acrylic clothing can quickly turn into a sauna.

Hello Nadeleule,
I know cotton yarn—I like it too. But bamboo yarn, I haven’t heard of that before. Do you maybe have a specific recommendation so I can take a direct look at that kind of yarn? When I google bamboo yarn, I don’t find anything.
Thank you very much.

My grandchildren’s mother prefers natural fibers—like wool, cotton, silk, bamboo, and similar materials. So wool wouldn’t be out of the question for me, because it has a self-cleaning effect. My granddaughter has lots of woolen items that have really stood the test of time—for example, leggings, a cardigan, a hat, etc.

However, when it comes to wool, I make sure it isn’t scratchy. Baby merino or a blend of cotton and merino works very well for that.

So far, all of these clothes have washed well and are worn often.

Ina, Pascuali has a lovely bamboo yarn called “Bamboo Bio Strickgarn”
—my friend once brought me two skeins of it. It’s a pleasure to work with and wonderfully smooth and soft.
I also really like the “Linea Pura Bamboo” from Lana Grossa.
Almost all major manufacturers now carry bamboo yarn in their lines, and some even blend it with cotton.

Thanks for your replies :)

I think I really need to try bamboo yarn. That sounds very interesting.

Since yesterday, I also know what color yarn I need to buy, hehe. Lots of blue and definitely no pink ;)
(Even though I’m not really a fan of that strict color separation ;))

Oh Tina, that’s so nice! A boy! I’m so happy for you.

Ina, I just noticed—that was a typo on my part. Of course, it should say “bamboo yarn” and not “bamboo fern.” It’s annoying when the letters are so close together and my clumsy fingers hit the wrong one....

Thanks :)
Haha, I didn’t even notice the typo—I automatically read “yarn.”
Anything else wouldn’t have made any sense. 

Congratulations :-)

Thank you, @Nadeleule, for your tips and advice. I really did think there was such a thing as bamboo fern yarn :-) . I immediately took a look at the yarns online. Yes, you’re right, they’re just the thing for baby yarn.

@Krea_Tina, that’s wonderful! A little boy. It’s nice when you know that beforehand. That way, you can picture the baby much better and also knit and crochet things and accessories in matching colors. Oh, you have a lovely time ahead of you!

Best wishes - Ina