Simply Life: Your Trusted Source for Eczema Friendly Clothing for Children
Simply Life, founded in 2012 by Gilbert and Yih Min, offer a wide range of products designed to enhance the lives of children and parents. With a background in distributing licensed children's products, we applied our expertise to create our own label. Certified with OEKO-TEX®, our commitment to quality and safety is evident. From our humble beginnings with water bottles, Simply Life has expanded to encompass a diverse collection of items for children, including eczema-friendly clothing. With each product launch, Simply Life continues to captivate a dedicated following, bringing our passion for parenthood and abundant living to families worldwide.
Choosing Eczema-Friendly Clothing for Babies and Toddlers
Eczema is a common skin condition that happens in about one in five babies. Though eczema can affect adults, it appears most often on children since they have more sensitive skin and can be affected by environmental irritants that cause redness, itchiness and burning.
Aside from common irritants like soaps, fragrances and dust, a common (and often overlooked) irritant is clothing. It is important to choose the right protective clothing for children, as the wrong clothing may actually irritate the skin and increase the likelihood of eczema flare-ups.
When choosing eczema-friendly clothing for children, consider various factors beyond fabric. Pay attention to elements such as seams, labels, embellishments, openings, and the presence of chemicals or dyes. Opting for suitable clothing will contribute to your child's comfort and help manage eczema symptoms effectively.
How Do You Know If Your Baby Has Eczema Prone Skin?
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition that can affect children. Many factors can trigger an eczema attack, including the material of their clothing, and the ingredients in their soap or skincare products. Look out for these symptoms and characteristics to identify if your baby has eczema-prone skin:
1. Dry Skin
Eczema often presents with excessively dry and rough skin. Your baby's skin may appear flaky, scaly, or have patches of dryness. By choosing clothing that is gentle on the skin and made from soft, breathable and eczema-friendly fabrics like bamboo, you can help soothe and protect your little one's sensitive skin from irritation and discomfort.
2. Intense Itchiness
One of the hallmark signs of eczema is severe itching. Babies with eczema may constantly scratch or rub their skin, leading to further irritation. Providing them with eczema-friendly clothing can help minimise discomfort and reduce the likelihood of exacerbating their symptoms.
3. Redness and Rashes
Eczema can cause red, inflamed patches on the skin. These rashes may be raised, bumpy, or develop small fluid-filled blisters that can ooze and crust over. Choosing clothing that is gentle on sensitive skin and made from breathable eczema-friendly materials can help reduce irritation and provide comfort for babies and toddlers with eczema.
4. Common Affected Areas
Eczema commonly affects certain areas such as the cheeks, scalp, forehead, and joints (like elbows and knees). However, it can appear on any part of the body. However, with the right eczema-friendly clothing, your little one can experience relief and comfort, even in areas prone to eczema.
5. Nighttime Discomfort
Eczema flare-ups often intensify at night, leading to increased discomfort and difficulty sleeping for your baby. Choosing eczema-friendly clothing can help alleviate nighttime irritation and promote better sleep for your little one.
What Triggers Eczema in Babies?
Understanding the triggers of eczema in children (including common ones like clothing or food) is crucial in managing and preventing flare-ups. Here are some common triggers to be aware of:
1. Fabrics
Certain clothing fabrics like wool or synthetic materials can cause irritation and worsen eczema symptoms. Opt for soft, breathable, and natural fabrics like cotton to minimise discomfort for your children.
2. Temperature
Extremes in temperature, both hot and cold, can trigger eczema flare-ups. Keep your baby's skin well-regulated and avoid exposing them to overly hot or cold environments.
3. Soaps and Detergents
Harsh soaps, detergents, and fragrances can strip away the skin's natural moisture and aggravate eczema. Choose mild, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic products for your baby's bath and laundry routine.
4. Allergens
Allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and certain foods can trigger eczema in some babies. Identifying and minimising exposure to these allergens can help manage eczema symptoms.
5. Irritants
Substances like chemicals, harsh cleaning products, and even saliva or drool can irritate sensitive baby skin. Be mindful of potential irritants and take steps to minimise contact.
By understanding these triggers, you can make informed choices when it comes to clothing for your baby with eczema. In the next section, we will explore five important considerations for selecting eczema-friendly children's clothing, ensuring optimal comfort and skin health.
Eczema-friendly Children’s Clothing: 5 Things To Consider
1. Fabric
The best thing you can do when choosing clothes for your sensitive-skinned baby or baby with eczema is to make sure that everything is ultra-soft, breathable and absorbent, including all clothing, pyjamas, gloves, blankets, towels and bedsheets. This keeps your children comfortable and prevents flare-ups from occurring in the first place.
When dressing a child with eczema, clothing fabric is undoubtedly the most important consideration. According to the National Eczema Society, the best fabric choices include bamboo, silk and 100% cotton. Here at Simply Life, our products are made with a high composition of bamboo viscose (95% as compared to the conventional 70%!), and here’s why they work so well for children with sensitive skin:
Softness
For children with eczema, it is key to choose ultra-soft and silky smooth fabric that glides over skin without rubbing or being abrasive. Bamboo is the softest fabric that you can find for your baby’s clothing and is comparable to some of the most luxurious fabrics like Egyptian cotton and cashmere. As bamboo fibres are without chemical treatment, they are naturally smoother with no sharp spurs to irritate the skin, making bamboo fabric hypoallergenic and more suitable than cotton for those with skin sensitivities.
Breathability
We know that sweat is one of the most common triggers of itch among children with eczema. As the cross-section of bamboo fibre clothing is covered with micro-gaps, it allows for much better ventilation and regulation of the skin’s temperature, keeping your babies and toddlers cool in the heat, and flare-ups at bay!
Absorbency
In Singapore’s tropical climate, it is impossible to prevent sweat. You want eczema-friendly clothing fabrics that will absorb moisture and quickly remove it from the skin. Bamboo is 40% more absorbent than even the finest organic cotton, wicking moisture away from the skin and keeping your little ones feeling dry and comfortable! Besides bamboo, synthetic, viscose-based fibres like modal or Tencel are also much more absorbent than cotton.
2. Seams and Necklines
To minimise irritation on your baby’s sensitive skin, avoid uncomfortable clothing seams and tight clothing. Stiff or bulky seams can irritate eczema-prone skin, causing itch and irritation. Therefore, look out for well-designed clothing for your children with flat or concealed seams, that are stretchy and easy to change into, to minimise abrasion and friction against the skin.
At Simply Life, our clothing items are designed with the comfort of children with eczema in mind. The elastic neckline ensures a snug fit without tight collars, providing greater elasticity, so even the largest baby will fit through effortlessly. Our rompers are easy to put on and take off, allowing for quick outfit changes. Plus, the bottom buttons are easily popped off, enabling convenient and hassle-free diaper changes.
3. Labels
Protruding or itchy clothing labels can cause a great deal of discomfort to babies with sensitive skin or eczema. Ideally, look for garments with the label information printed directly onto the fabric, like Simply Life’s labels. Besides this, our high-quality children's clothing is crafted with premium shiny threads, double-stitched for unparalleled durability. Another option would be fabric labels that are woven into the clothing, which are less abrasive than polyester tags.
4. Closures and Zips
The underside of closures and zips can often be stiff and scratchy to children with eczema. It is best to opt for clothing with closures and zips with a protective layer underneath, preventing abrasion against the skin, and keeping your babies and toddlers safe.
Simply Life's eczema-friendly clothing features two-way, covered zips at the chest and ankle, equipped with high-quality YKK zips. The zips come with a protective covering underneath, ensuring a gentle touch against your baby's delicate skin. With these fuss-free zips, sleep-deprived parents can easily access the diaper area without the need to fully undress their little one.
5. Chemicals and Dyes
Chemicals and dyes in clothing fabric can become an irritant against eczema-prone skin and can lead to flare-ups. When purchasing clothing, be sure to read the label and choose fabrics without added chemicals. Simply Life’s products are free from toxins and are made with dyes that do not contain formaldehyde! Formaldehyde, often used to prevent wrinkles and stains, can be harmful, especially to children with sensitive skin. We also employ special light testing, to guarantee that no unwanted chemicals are present on our fabric. In addition, our products are OEKO-TEX® certified, with all components (including fabric, sewing threads, and accessory parts such as zips and coatings) complying with strict criteria that are baby- and kid-safe, and free from harmful substances.
Explore Our Eczema-Friendly Clothing Collection and Share Your Feedback
Keen to try Simply Life eczema-friendly clothes for your little one? Be sure to catch up on all of the new items in the shop, including our cute new baby and toddler pieces and other essentials!
Have any feedback on how we can improve our products for your eczema-prone babies? We’d love to hear them! Join our Simply Life Family Community here. Be sure to also follow us on our Instagram and Facebook to be the first to know about our latest product releases, giveaways and sales events!