Parents naturally want the best for their children's skin and overall comfort, especially when it comes to choosing the right clothing. In Australia, where the climate can vary greatly throughout the year, finding clothing that offers comfort in both hot and cold conditions is essential. Merino wool stands out as an ideal solution, providing year-round comfort for babies and kids. This natural, high-quality fiber is not only incredibly soft and breathable but also sustainable and eco-friendly. By choosing merino wool, parents can ensure that their children stay cozy and protected, no matter the season.
What is Merino Wool?
People have been using wool to make clothing for thousands of years, and for several centuries they have been breeding sheep specifically to obtain higher quality wool. Merino wool comes from sheep breeds that produce particularly fine wool fibers. These fine fibers give the wool a remarkable flexibility that gives it a robust, yet incredibly soft and comfortable texture. Due to their natural origin, merino wool fibers are biodegradable. The sheep are usually shorn once a year, making wool a renewable and sustainable resource.
As a mother who cares about the health and future of our planet, I find these facts extremely appealing. Even more impressive, however, is how well merino wool protects my child while keeping him comfortable. Merino wool is naturally breathable and can absorb large amounts of moisture - it can absorb up to a third of its own weight before it feels damp! As the fibers absorb the moisture vapor, it is wicked away from the skin. This means that in hot weather, the vapor is released to the outside, keeping your child comfortably cool. In cold weather, however, the vapor condenses inside the fibers and generates heat - even when the wool is wet, it keeps your child warm.
Benefits of Merino Wool for Babies and Kids
Breathes and regulates moisture
A special property of merino wool is its ability to absorb perspiration from the skin and release it into the air. This prevents your child from feeling damp or sticky as the moisture between the skin and clothing is reduced.
Temperature regulation without TOG value
Merino wool fibers actively regulate temperature and protect your baby from extreme conditions. It keeps warm in the cold and cool in the heat, eliminating the need for a TOG value as with synthetic materials.
Improves sleep
Medical studies have proven that merino wool improves the sleep rhythm of babies and toddlers. A 1979 study at Cambridge Maternity Hospital showed that babies who slept on merino wool settled faster, cried less, fed better and gained weight faster.
Premature and low birth weight babies
The same studies found that premature and low birth weight babies who slept on Merino wool gained 10 grams more per day than those who did not.
Swaddling with merino wool
Studies have shown that swaddling babies can reduce the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Since overheating is considered the main cause of SIDS, merino wool is a particularly safe choice due to its temperature-regulating properties.
Advantages of merino wool
- Reduces skin allergies: Superfine merino wool is soft, silky and does not itch on your baby's skin. It adapts to changes in temperature and is therefore one of the most comfortable materials you can put on your baby. In addition, a link has been established between merino wool and a lower incidence of skin allergies.
- Comfortable: Superfine merino wool feels pleasantly soft against the skin. The fine thread ensures a comfortable feel, while the natural elasticity of the fiber guarantees a perfect fit.
- Fire resistant: Merino wool contains natural fire retardants that further contribute to your child's safety.
Easy care
Merino wool fibers have a natural protective layer that prevents stains from penetrating. This makes it ideal for active and messy children. Merino wool also resists odors, bacteria and stains, so it needs to be washed less often and less intensively than synthetic fabrics.
Merino Wool vs Wool
There are a variety of animals such as goats, rabbits and alpacas that provide wool for the manufacture of clothing. In this context, 'regular wool' refers to wool from common sheep, often known as 'scratchy wool'. This type of wool usually has thicker and coarser fibers that feel less comfortable against the skin. While it is warm, it also dries more slowly when it gets wet.
Wool in general offers many excellent properties and has become a tried and tested material for clothing over time.
Merino wool, on the other hand, comes specifically from merino sheep, which are mainly found in Australia and New Zealand. Compared to conventional wool, merino wool fibers are much finer and silky soft to the touch. This softer type of wool is known for its high wearing comfort and is appreciated in many stores for its pleasant feel.
Merino wool fibers are more tightly woven together than the thicker fibers of regular wool, making the fabric more durable, lighter and more breathable. These properties also make merino wool ideal for wearing in warmer months, as it wicks away moisture, making it comfortable and breathable to wear.
A special property of both regular wool and merino wool is their antibacterial and odor-repellent effect. This is due to the natural protective wax coating of lanolin on the wool fibers. Lanolin, which is produced by the sheep's sebaceous glands, protects the wool and the animals' skin from moisture and at the same time prevents the formation of odor-causing bacteria. This means that clothing made from merino wool rarely develops unpleasant odors - a relief for parents of teenagers!
Why Choose Merino Wool for Baby Clothing in Australia?
At Snuggle Cubs, we place great importance on creating beautiful baby clothes without neglecting social responsibility. Our versatile 100% merino wool collection is made from extra fine merino wool (19.5 microns) and is certified by Woolmark.
Merino Wool Growsuits
Equip yourself with stylish and practical 100% merino wool growsuits that feature a two-way zipper for easy on and off. Available in three colors and one print, these growsuits are knitted from fine yarn with a wide rib that fits close to the body for warmth without itching. They also keep their shape over time.
Merino wool bodysuits
An essential and versatile garment for everyday wear, our 100% merino wool baby bodysuits are lightweight and ideal for layering. As with the Growsuits, a fine yarn in a wide rib is used to keep your baby warm without overheating. Perfect combined with the matching merino leggings for an ideal outfit in any season.
Merino wool leggings
No baby wardrobe is complete without soft and stretchy leggings. Our 100% merino wool baby leggings offer optimal comfort for little legs on cooler days without restricting movement. They stay in place and are durable enough to cope with everyday play.
FAQs about Merino Wool
Is Merino Wool Itchy for Babies?
Most infants with mild to moderate eczema can comfortably wear superfine merino wool. For a child with eczema who tends to overheat and becomes irritable and restless when too warm, merino wool can help to improve their comfort. Merino wool directly against the skin ensures that the child stays warm without the need for too many layers of clothing and prevents overheating. Merino wool is still soft enough to be worn even on very sensitive skin.
How to wash merino wool for kids?
As parents, we already have enough laundry to deal with! A big advantage of merino wool is that it doesn't need to be washed often. For sleeping bags, it's enough to air them daily (unless there's a nasty diaper accident!), and for clothes, it's enough to wash them only when visibly soiled. Merino wool is naturally dirt and odor repellent, which means it needs to be washed less often - that's definitely a big plus!
Conclusion:
When choosing clothing items such as onesies, socks, and blankets, focus on products made from 100% merino wool with fine fibers for maximum softness and comfort. In Australia, Snuggle Cubs offers excellent merino wool baby clothing that is both ethical and functional. These brands prioritize high-quality materials and sustainability, ensuring that your baby stays comfortable year-round while also supporting environmentally responsible practices.
Email: contact@snugglecubs.au
