Factors to consider when choosing infant and toddler clothing
1, Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a volatile compound, usually used as a synthetic reagent for textile anti-wrinkle and anti-shrinkage finishing agents. It can also be used as color fixing agent, water repellent, softener, adhesive, etc. It is also an irritant compound that can cause allergic skin reactions and human respiratory diseases. A small amount of formaldehyde can have an irritating effect on human eyes, skin and mucous membranes, excessive formaldehyde will cause serious inflammation of mucous membrane and respiratory tract, and can also lead to dermatitis. Formaldehyde content ≤ 20mg/kg is required in infant clothing.
2. Decomposable Aromatic Amine Dyes
Decomposable aromatic amine dyes are prohibited in the production of clothing. In the process of long-term contact with human body, clothing containing decomposing aromatic amine dyes will undergo reduction reaction with human metabolites to decompose carcinogenic aromatic amine substances, and change the DNA structure of human body through activation, causing human lesions and malignant tumors.
3. Extractable Heavy Metal Content
Heavy metals in clothing mainly come from some dyes, oxidants and catalysts used in printing and dyeing process. Excessive heavy metals absorbed by the human body will accumulate in the liver, bone, kidney and brain of the human body, which will not only weaken the immune function of the human body and induce cancer, but also may cause chronic poisoning and harm the central nervous system. Therefore, the extractable heavy metal content in infant clothing is stipulated as follows: mercury ≤0.02mg/kg, chromium ≤1.0mg/kg, lead ≤0.2mg/kg, arsenic ≤0.2mg/kg, copper ≤25.0mg/kg.
4. Color Fastness
Color fastness is the ability of a dye or pigment to retain its color under the influence of various external factors. There are many factors affecting color fastness, mainly equipment, dyes, processes (processes, formulas, conditions) and operations and other factors. For clothes with poor color fastness, when they encounter external forces such as water, sweat stains, saliva or friction, the pigments are easy to fall off and fade, which not only affects the appearance of the clothing, but also seriously that the dye molecules and heavy metal ions in the pigments may be absorbed by the skin and endanger the baby’s health. Infant clothing generally requires color fastness above grade 3 or 4.
5. Exposed Length of Rope Strap
The exposed length of the rope on the finished product should not exceed 14cm; this is to prevent the rope from being too long and entangling the baby carelessly.
6. The Bearing Capacity of Buttons and Other Non-removable Accessories
Buttons and other non-removable accessories should be able to withstand a tension of at least 70N. This is to avoid the danger caused by the poor firmness of the attachment, which is pulled down by the baby and put into the mouth.
How to choose baby clothes?
1, Read the label.
Product label is the most direct channel for manufacturers to communicate with consumers. The information on the label should be complete, including the name and address of the manufacturer, product name, standard number, quality grade, inspection certificate, product type and specification, the composition and content of the raw materials used, safety technology category, washing method, etc. Among them, the category of safety technology is the most basic requirement of the national mandatory standard to ensure that textile products are harmless to human health.
Safety technology category Products are divided into three categories according to the requirements: “Class A” for baby products; “Class B” refers to products that come into direct contact with the skin; “Class C” products not in direct contact with the skin. Therefore, when buying baby clothes, we should pay special attention to whether there are signs indicating “baby products” or “Class A” words. Baby clothing product identification should also indicate “not dry-cleaned”, because the residue after dry-cleaning may affect the health of small children. Baby skin is tender, underwear finished trademarks, durability labels should be sewn on the outside surface of the clothing. Marking complete specification is a reflection of the manufacturer’s responsibility to consumers, the quality of such products is often relatively reliable.
2. Look at the ingredients.
Baby’s skin is tender, low resistance, clothing made of pure cotton or recycled cellulose fiber is the most suitable, such as viscose fiber, Modal, tencel, because this kind of fabric is not only soft and comfortable, but also strong water absorption, good air permeability, and not easy to stimulate the baby’s skin.
Color cotton is also a good choice, color cotton is cotton in the growth process of natural color with the cotton. This type of cotton does not have to go through the dyeing process, so it will not harm the skin, healthier and more environmentally friendly. Nowadays Today, the color cotton that can be grown in large areas is generally only brown. If consumers see other colors of colored cotton in the market, please be alert. At the same time, colored cotton and white cotton blend is used more, so generally the darker the brown color means that the more colored cotton, the higher the price.
3. The color should be light rather than dark
Generally, the color fastness of lighter fabrics is better, not easy to fade, and not easy to stain. So try to choose light color clothing. Especially, underwear should choose light color, so as not to hurt the baby’s skin due to dyeing. When choosing white cotton underwear, you should choose true natural white without fluorescent brightening agent, and its color is soft or slightly yellow.
4. Accessories should be less.
Baby life is different from adults: they like to grab and pull clothes, and like to put things into their mouths, if buttons or other accessories are pulled off and swallowed into the mouth by mistake, it will cause unimaginable consequences. It is best to choose clothing with fewer decorations or attachments, and try not to choose clothing with too many sashes, too long, so as not to entangle the baby. The zipper puller should not be removed. The collar and hat edge do not allow the use of rope straps. The exposed length of the rope belt on the finished product should not exceed 14cm.
5. The printing part is not allowed to contain fallable powder and particles; Embroidery or hand-stitched ornaments are not allowed to have glitter and granular beads or palpable sharp edges and tips, so as to avoid ingestion by infants and children. Printing parts try not to have too thick glue or coating, so as not to affect the air permeability of clothing.
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