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Every parent wants the best and safest products for their children, and that includes baby clothes. But what are the best organic baby clothes, and what does that even mean, exactly?
When discussing clothing, the label “organic ” denotes that the materials, like cotton, used to produce it have been made using sustainable farming practices. This means things like using organic fertilizers instead of synthetic ones, engaging in techniques like crop rotation, and not using pesticides or chemicals. Most brands use the Global Organic Textile Standard, or GOTS, to signify that their clothing is made using these organic practices, and they can use the label if their products are made with 70% certified organic materials.
Simply put, buying organic clothing ensures that you are supporting sustainable fashion, something that is more important than ever when shopping for clothes for kids. Because these little ones go through so much clothing. Some pieces are lost to stains and blowouts, others never even get worn before they are outgrown.
But with these choices, you can feel a little better about what you're buying. Here's some of the best organic clothing brands for babies and kids, tested by Glamour editors and other real moms.
Hanna Andersson is no newbie to the organic clothing game; the brand has used sustainably sourced materials since 1995. It now uses “certified organic cotton free of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs” for many of its products, including its adorable and popular long john pajama sets and sleepers. The brand is working to make organic cotton a reality for others, partnering with farms to work toward certification because “less than 1% of the world’s cotton is organic, and there’s not enough to meet global demand.” It also touts its quality fabric, which is sturdy enough to sustain through multiple hand me downs, an inherently sustainable feature. “My favorite thing about buying Hannas is how they hold up through multiple washings, and look as good as the day we bought them,” shares Stephanie McNeal, Glamour senior editor and mom.
Carter’s makes some of the best affordable staples for kids, and now that includes affordable organic options too. Its Little Planet line “uses 70-100% organically grown cotton certified to the global organic textile standard (GOTS).” Translation: A range of super soft, breathable fabrics in aesthetically pleasing designs. Anna Moeslein, Glamour deputy editor and mom to 10-month-old twins, is a big fan of the textured gauze fabric in particular because it doesn’t show wrinkles. “The organic cotton onesie recently held up against a four-hour car trip,” she says. “My daughter had blueberry stains from her fruit pouch all over her cream onesie, and it washed right out.”
Mori uses a unique blend of 30% organic cotton & 70% bamboo from viscose, which is “a natural, sustainable and renewable resource.” Moeslein says she’s been recommending Mori to all her new parent friends because of how soft the fabric is. “The feel is so luxurious, I’m thinking about buying their family matching pajamas for myself,” she says.
Pink Chicken is a mom favorite for special events; McNeal especially raves about their party dresses for little girls. But the brand also makes select clothing with 100% organic pima cotton. This ballerina ruffle romper is the perfect fancy outfit for a tiny dancer, it's chic enough for a daytime fete while still being a sleeper because you know, it's for a baby. For older kids, we love this charming yet subtle puppy print pajama set as well. “I think Pink Chicken has the cutest designs of any kidswear brand,” Moeslein says. “And it’s nice to know the brand’s ethos is as positive as the patterns and prints.”
If you have kids, you're probably no stranger to Gap's many adorable yet functional options for kids, babies, and toddler clothing. But the brand now offers select clothing made with “100% organically grown cotton,” and has included some of their cutest styles in the selects. Snag your little one some of these classic Gap overalls or breathable short-sleeved pajamas. Bonus? They are unisex, aka extra sustainable.
McNeal was recently introduced to Young Days, a new (founded in 2022) brand created by a father and son which uses “organic and recycled materials” in all clothing, primarily organic cotton. “I'm a huge fan,” she says. “Their clothing not only feels well-made, but it's cheery and fun without being garish.” Bonus: many of their clothing are also unisex for maximum hand me down potential.
Jackalo, a mom-founded brand that offers colorful separates in mostly gender-neutral designs, encourages its customers to have a long life cycle with each piece they buy. You can send back clothes your kiddo has grown out of as part of their “trade up” program and get credit toward your next purchase. The brand uses “premium, highly traceable organic cotton” for their material as well as “deadstock fabric” ie material that was produced but never used. We love how flattering the brand's shorts for little boys in particular, as well as how soft and durable they are.
A Swedish brand with whimsical flair, Mini Rodini has quickly become a favorite for its unique patterns and designs that look different from what you typically see in children's clothing (like this “clairvoyant cats” dress). The brand also stands out for its commitment to sustainability. It “always strives to have 100% certified materials” in its clothing and makes it all with organic cotton. “I don’t want to say my twins are the best-dressed kids at daycare, but…they’re the definitely the best-dressed kids at daycare when they wear Mini Rodini,” jokes Moeslein. “Their clothing is so high-quality and the designs stand out so much that I don’t think there can be any comparison.”
Jessica Biel's company has long been a mom favorite for its eco-friendly and safe baby products, from baby lotion to soap to diapers and more. The brand's ethos has carried through to its line of baby and kid clothing, which makes select items with “100% organic cotton.” These items range from the practical (this frankly huge pack of basic T-shirts) to the more fun, like this darling sweatshirt-style romper. Moeslein likes to buy the multipacks for friends with kids. “You can never have too many basic onesies, and Honest Baby has so many good gender-neutral options,” she says.
Primary is a brand we often see on social media for its reputation as the antithesis to the “beige baby trend.” And while we love a good neutral moment, we also can't help but love the brand's fun yet tasteful prints in every color of the rainbow. But the brand also has a commitment to sustainability, with a line of “100% organic cotton styles” which are “GOTS certified.” Win win.
McNeal is a big fan of Monica and Andy for their adorable prints and wide variety of sizing and colors, which make them easy to mix and match or sibling matching. The brand also has an organic line is made with “GOTS certified, organic cotton," and includes some of their most creative styles. “I mean, those little lobsters? To die for,” she says.
This mom-founded brand makes sustainability a priority. All of their clothing is made with organic cotton, which they say is not only better for the environment, but is gentler on baby's soft skin. “What I like about this brand is how fresh their designs feel,” McNeal shares. “They are subtle yet elevated, and are great for boys or girls.”
When the personal care line Burt's Bees launched their line for baby and kids in 2012, they set out to use only organic cotton in their clothing, and more than 10 years later the brand has continued this practice. Better yet, they are more affordable than some other 100% organic brands, and are available on major retailers like Amazon. McNeal loves that their basics that come in like multi-packs (like sets of five onesies for less than $25) but their trendier styles, like this jumpsuit, are also too cute to pass up.
Pehr was founded by two moms and best friends, who say they are focused on all the details to make clothing that other parents can feel good about buying. This shines through in their materials used, as the brand only uses “100% certified organic cotton in all of [its] bedding and apparel. “I have a soft spot for Pehr, because one of their bodysuits was the first outfit I bought my daughter,” McNeal says. “It was so soft, and the perfect size for her.”
Patagonia has been open about its commitment to sustainability; the founder gave away the company to donate its proceeds to fight climate change after all. Since 1996, the outdoors brand has used only “100% virgin cotton grown with organic practices,” according to its website. The brand also does not use “synthetic pesticides, herbicides and GMO seeds in our products.” Even better, it has some adorable, sustainable, and long-lasting styles for kids, from the cutest little baby overalls to colorful T-shirts for kids.
Elegant Baby specializes in beautiful gift sets, many of which are available in “100% organic cotton muslin which is GOTS certified or meets the highest organic textile standard for limiting the use of bleaches, dyes and other chemicals during the production process.” Moeslein recommends the brand’s organic muslin baby blankets and clothes for parents concerned about sensitive skin issues, like eczema, or just want cleaner options for their kids.
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