Organic Cotton vs. Regular Cotton for Babies: What's the Difference?

The case for organic cotton is mostly about the farm: no genetically modified seed, organic fertilizers like compost, and natural pesticides instead of synthetic ones. For your baby's skin, the research is scarce, and "organic" doesn't cover what's added at the factory. For eczema-prone kids, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends loose-fitting 100% cotton and doesn't mention organic.

Maybe you've stood in a store holding an organic cotton onesie and a regular one, wondering if the organic one is worth the extra money. We make our crawling onesie from organic Pima cotton, so we have a stake in the answer. Here's what the research does and doesn't say.

Why is organic cotton better than regular cotton for babies?

The difference is mostly in how it's grown. In a field trial in central India run to international organic standards, the organic cotton got its nutrients only from organic sources such as compost and manure. Pests were managed with natural pesticides, while the conventional plots used synthetic pesticides and mostly synthetic fertilizer.

Organic guidelines also rule out genetically modified seed, so organic growers can't plant GM cotton. If you'd like your money to back that kind of farming, buying organic is how you do that.

What the label doesn't describe is the finished onesie in your hands, and that's where the baby-specific questions start.

Do organic baby clothes have fewer chemicals?

Not necessarily. Chemicals can be added during dyeing and finishing whether the cotton was organic or not. As one team of toxicologists put it, "organic cotton refers only to cotton obtained through organic cultivation," not to what's added during manufacturing.

That team, at Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain, tested 120 items of baby, toddler and maternity clothing for formaldehyde in a 2022 study. Formaldehyde is used in some fabric finishes to help resist wrinkles. Half the items were organic or eco-friendly.

Formaldehyde showed up in 20% of the samples. On average, the organic and eco-friendly items had more than the regular ones: 10.4 mg/kg compared with 8.23. The difference was statistically significant only for two kinds of maternity underwear, and the study's two highest readings came from maternity panties made of 100% organic cotton.

The reassuring part: every sample was under the EU limit of 75 mg/kg. In the clothes for babies under 12 months, formaldehyde turned up in just one of the 10 sock samples and in none of the pajamas or bodysuits. When the researchers washed 20 of the maternity garments once, none had detectable formaldehyde afterward.

Studies of other chemicals in baby clothes have gone both ways. In a preliminary study of 10 baby bodysuits, the same team found lower average levels of PCBs, chemicals associated with some pigments, in the organic cotton ones. They estimated that wearing the bodysuits posed no health risk.

Researchers at Indiana University tested 86 infant clothing items and found the highest levels of melamine-based compounds, a type used in stain- and water-repellent finishes, in nylon clothes, followed by organic cotton. In a lab test, washing with detergent removed an average of 97% of them.

Either way, the Spanish team's advice is to wash all new clothing before the first use. Our guide to washing and caring for organic cotton baby clothes has a routine for that.

Is organic cotton better for sensitive skin or eczema?

Research hasn't shown that it is. We couldn't find a study comparing organic and regular baby clothes on infant skin, and the Spanish researchers describe information on organic cotton's benefits as "scarce."

What dermatologists do recommend is cotton itself. For children with eczema, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests loose-fitting clothes made from 100% cotton and avoiding wool and polyester. Its guidance doesn't mention organic.

The AAD's other clothing tips for eczema-prone kids:

• Remove all tags.
• Machine wash with a fragrance-free laundry detergent with no dyes.
• If you use fabric softener, pick one labeled fragrance-free.
• Layer clothes so you can remove one as needed, since sweat and overheating are common triggers.

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) also lists some fabrics among the things that can make eczema worse, along with soap and laundry detergent. There's more on dressing an eczema-prone crawler in baby eczema and clothing.

Is organic cotton softer?

Not by itself. "Organic" describes how the cotton was farmed, while softness has more to do with which cotton it is and how it's spun and knit.

More than 90% of the world's cotton is one species, upland cotton. Pima comes from a different species, Gossypium barbadense, known for its extra-long fibers. Textile mills prize long, fine fibers, which can be spun into finer, stronger yarn.

So a onesie can be organic, Pima, both or neither. The knit and finish change the feel too, so check the fiber content and feel the fabric when you can. There's more on Pima in our guide to what Peruvian Pima cotton is.

Are organic baby clothes worth paying more for?

They are if you care how the cotton was farmed. If you're paying extra hoping for gentler fabric, the organic label alone won't tell you that.

For eczema-prone skin, the advice with expert backing is the same either way: 100% cotton next to the skin, a loose fit, no tags and a wash before the first wear.

If you want to spend more on softness, spend it where skin contact is greatest. The Spanish researchers point to pajamas, bodysuits and socks as the baby clothes with the most direct and prolonged contact with the skin. For the rest of the shopping list, see what to look for when buying organic baby clothing.

When to talk to your pediatrician

Clothes are only one possible trigger. The NHS's list also includes heat, changes in temperature, pets, pollen, house-dust mites and certain foods. Your pediatrician can help you work out what's bothering your baby's skin and how to avoid it.

Check in if you notice:

• Skin that flares where seams or tags touch, or eczema that gets worse after your baby wears certain clothes. The AAD lists both as signs that clothing could be a trigger.
• Patches that are cracked or bleeding, or scratching until the skin bleeds. The AAD lists these as signs that dry skin or scratching could be a trigger.
• Itchy, dry patches that could be eczema, or eczema that isn't getting better with treatment. The NHS advises seeing a doctor in both cases.

Call your pediatrician right away if your baby has eczema and:

• It's blistered, crusty or oozing, or has pus-filled spots.
• It's swollen or feels warm.
• It suddenly gets worse or bigger.
• Your baby has a fever or seems unwell.

The NHS says these can be signs of an infection or a more serious condition called eczema herpeticum, and advises an urgent appointment.

Before the appointment, jot down when flares happen and what your baby was wearing. Those details make triggers easier to spot.

Common questions

Is organic cotton better for babies?

Organic cotton is grown without genetically modified seed, relying on natural fertilizers and pest control instead of synthetic ones, so the main difference is on the farm. Research hasn't shown that organic clothes are gentler on baby skin. For babies with eczema, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends loose-fitting, 100% cotton clothes.

Are more expensive cotton baby clothes softer?

Not automatically. A higher price or an organic label doesn't guarantee softness, but the cotton matters: extra-long-staple cottons like Pima can be spun into finer, stronger yarn.

Organic cotton vs. regular cotton for babies: which should I buy?

Either can work if it's soft, loose-fitting and 100% cotton. Choose organic if how the cotton was farmed matters to you. Whichever you pick, wash it before the first wear.

Should I wash organic baby clothes before the first wear?

Yes, organic or not. For kids with eczema, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests washing new clothes before wearing to remove excess dyes and fabric finishers. In a 2022 Spanish study, none of the 20 garments the researchers washed had detectable formaldehyde afterward.

If you'd like organic Pima cotton on your crawler, that's what we make. Our padded crawling onesie is 100% organic Peruvian Pima cotton, padding included, with diamond-quilted pads sewn in at the knees, elbows and bottom. It comes in sizes 6-9M, 9-12M and 12-18M, and unworn items can come back within 14 days.