The softest fabrics for newborn skin

Softness has four ingredients

A newborn’s skin is thin and easily rubbed, so softness is worth getting right in the first weeks. But soft isn’t one property. It comes from the fibre, from how the yarn was spun, from how the fabric was knitted or woven, and from how it was finished. A fabric that scores well on all four feels gentle from the first wear and stays that way.

Softness also changes with time: some fabrics soften with every wash, while others feel best in the shop and harden in hard water. The fabrics below tend to start soft and stay soft.

Fabrics that tend to feel softest

• Cotton interlock: smooth on both sides, cushioned, and doesn’t curl or twist. A favourite for sleepsuits.
• Fine combed-cotton jersey: light and smooth, and ideal for bodysuits.
• Viscose or modal blends, including bamboo viscose: silky and drapey, with a cool touch.
• Well-washed malmal: airy and very soft once it has been through a few washes.
• Fine merino knits: soft enough for many babies as a layer, over cotton.
• Brushed or peached cotton: a velvety surface that feels warm and gentle.

Details that matter as much as fabric

The footed sleepsuits in our rompers and sleepsuits range use front snaps and covered feet; their fibre content is still being confirmed, so ask us if you need it before ordering.

• Seams: flat or soft seams, with no hard edges inside.
• Labels: printed labels, or ones you can remove easily; scratchy labels are a common complaint.
• Necklines: envelope necks, shoulder buttons or front snaps, so nothing drags over the face.
• Trims: no stiff lace, sequins or rough appliqué where the skin touches.
• Embroidery: a soft backing or lining behind it.

How to judge softness by touch

• Use the inside of your wrist or your cheek, not your fingertips, which are much less sensitive.
• Feel the inside of the garment, since that is what touches your baby.
• Rub a seam and a cuff, not just the middle of the fabric.
• Remember that new clothes may carry finishes that wash out, so judge again after the first wash.

What to avoid in the first weeks

Our newborn checklist covers what to have ready for the first weeks.

• Stiff, heavily embroidered pieces for everyday wear; save them for photos.
• Rough wool directly on the skin.
• Synthetic fabrics as the layer next to the skin, which hold sweat.
• Tight elastic at the wrists, ankles or tummy.
• Anything with a label or seam you can feel scratching on your own wrist.

Soft and warm together

In a Pakistani winter, you don’t have to choose between soft and warm. Put the softest layer against the skin, a cotton interlock or jersey bodysuit, and add warmth on top with a knit set or cardigan. That way the scratchier, warmer fibres never touch a newborn’s skin, and the soft layer does the work where it matters.

Keeping clothes soft

Wash new clothes before the first wear. Use a mild detergent, rinse well, and dry in the shade or indoors rather than baking in hard sun, which leaves cotton crisp. If your water is hard, an extra rinse helps, and our guide on how to wash baby clothes and keep them soft has more. If your baby’s skin looks red, dry or irritated, ask your doctor.

Softness is also about fit: a garment that is too small rubs at the neck and under the arms, however soft the fabric. Check the size on our size guide.

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