When we think about chemicals and babies, we tend to think about food, cleaning products, and skincare. Clothing rarely comes up. But the fabric a baby wears against their skin for 20+ hours a day is one of the most direct points of chemical exposure in their environment — and conventional baby clothing carries more of those chemicals than most parents realize.
The Problem Starts in the Cotton Field
Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically intensive crops in agriculture. It accounts for roughly 16% of global insecticide use despite being grown on about 3% of agricultural land. The pesticides and herbicides used — including organophosphates and pyrethroids — can persist as residues in the finished fiber.
It Doesn't Stop at the Farm
Even if the cotton itself were pesticide-free, the textile manufacturing process introduces its own chemicals:
- Formaldehyde-based resins — used for wrinkle resistance. Classified as a known human carcinogen. Residues can remain in fabric through multiple washes.
- Azo dyes — some break down to release aromatic amines, which are potential carcinogens. Many are banned in Europe for children's clothing.
- Heavy metals — chromium, lead, and cadmium can be used as dye fixatives. These accumulate in tissue and are particularly harmful to developing nervous systems.
- Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) — used for water and stain resistance. Persistent in the body and linked to hormonal disruption.
- Optical brighteners — added to make whites appear whiter. Can cause skin irritation and are not biodegradable.
Why Babies Are More Vulnerable
Baby skin is thinner, has higher surface area relative to body weight, and absorbs substances more readily than adult skin. They also mouth their clothing — sleeves, collars, and mittens all end up in their mouths regularly.
What GOTS Certification Actually Prohibits
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification directly addresses the chemicals above. Certified products must use fiber grown without synthetic pesticides, prohibit formaldehyde, harmful azo dyes, heavy metal fixatives, and PFCs — and be verified by independent third-party auditors at every stage. This is why GOTS certification matters more than "organic cotton" alone.
What About Hair Accessories?
Hair clips and ties aren't fabric, so they fall outside GOTS certification — and we're transparent about that. Our clips use a metal clamp construction, which is what gives them their secure, long-lasting hold. They're designed to be lightweight, stay put all day, and come in colors kids genuinely love wearing.
See our hair accessories collection if you'd like to take a look.
The Practical Takeaway
You don't need to throw out everything in your baby's wardrobe. But when buying new clothing — especially the pieces your baby wears closest to their skin and for the longest periods — GOTS certification is the most reliable guarantee that what you're buying is free of the chemicals above.
All Dew and Dove clothing is GOTS certified. Browse the full collection here.