It shouldn’t be this hard to dress babies, infants, and children.

Most days, I wish I could just let my son run around in his birthday suit, but he’s not so big on nudity and, let’s be honest, neither is the rest of the world.

For starters, it’s hard enough to get children in clothes without wrangling, pressuring, bribing, or triggering a hissy-crying-fit. Probably because deep down these wise little beings know that it doesn’t really matter what they’re wearing. 

Then there’s the issue of what to dress them in. I’m not talking about laundry, though the struggle is real. 

I’m also not talking about the challenge of letting them choose their own clothes, dress themselves, and express their own uniqueness. That’s a conversation for another day (short sleeves in winter, really?).

And I’m not talking about the challenge of finding unisex, cliché-free, and non gender stereotyping digs for your little ones, which also merits its own discussion (I could write a whole book this).

What I’m talking about is the elephant in the room: finding clothes that are not harming my kid, harming the planet, and harming other people. 

If you’re brave enough to open this can of worms by really looking into what is going on in the fashion industry, you’ll probably regret it. It’s shocking.

The decision to live consciously takes effort because it requires paying attention and, well, being conscious.

If only we could “just” walk into any store and buy baby and children’s clothes like everyone else… right?

As someone with a closet full of Tom’s shoes, worn-in-for-over-a-decade organic cotton (Product)RED T-shirts, and brand-less organic cotton/hemp/bamboo/linen threads (as well as a bunch of “normal” clothes because no one’s perfect), I can say that it’s hard enough to navigate this for yourself.

And then you become a mother.

First, the thought of your sweet little one draped 24/7 in traces of formaldehyde, ammonia, petrochemicals, phthalates, and more-that-shall-not-be-named toxic chemical baked textiles makes you feel so horrified that you want to crawl into a hole and wish you never knew the truth. Hello mama guilt. 

Second, the sheer amount of clothes you need as your little one grows at lightning speed gives you a heart attack because the clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world. More mama guilt. 

Third, factor in the prevalence of child labor in the textile industry – young children just like yours – and it’s game over. If you’re sensitive and empathic you feel all. the. suffering.  Mama guilt galore. 

This conscious motherhood thing is no joke. (exhale)

5 Ways to Detox Your Child’s Wardrobe, Change the World, and Lessen the Mama Guilt

Before jumping in, I want to say that we can only do our best and we need to release guilt for what we cannot do. These are ideas and you’re not a bad person if you don’t do all of these (or any of these) 100% or even at all. I sure don’t, but every bit I do counts and helps me remain aligned with my values. 

1. Choose natural over synthetic fibers, and if you buy cotton consider certified organic and fair trade if you can. Cotton is one of the most highly sprayed and water consuming crops so your efforts to avoid synthetics (and the inherent nasties and environmental damage they involve) can backfire if you don’t choose carefully.

2. Buy or borrow pre-loved clothes and then pass them on. The toxic load on second-hand clothes is less and this also reduces unnecessary waste.  This approach is great if you’re on a tight budget or your bank account is hurting from investing in pricier organic and socially conscious garments.

3. If you buy new clothes, wash them before putting them in your child’s closet or on their skin. Let them soak for a while and use eco and human friendly detergent that is free from fragrances. 

4. Do your research and vote with your wallet. What you’ll find is that you may want to avoid most of the bigger name “fast fashion” brands in favor of smaller brands that use USDA certified organic raw materials or are GOTS and/or Oeko-Tex certified. Depending on where you live, you may need to trade off between locally produced versus organic – feel into which option is best for you and just go with it. 

5. Support conscious entrepreneurs and businesses who are boldly choosing to do things differently. Right now I’m excited for Sat Nam babe, my friend and fellow kundalini yoga teacher Jen Coulombe’s new socially conscious line of play and yogawear for kids under five (and babies!). Support her crowd-funding campaign here by pre-ordering some fun clothes for your little one in these funky prints. The campaign ends in 48 hours and she needs our support now to reach her goal!

CLICK BELOW TO SUPPORT SAT NAM BABE:: 

x Catarina 

Photo cred: Jen Coulombe, CEO and founder of Sat Nam babe