What is the best yarn for babies?

When you knit/crochet clothes or toys for babies, it is always a good idea to consider what type of yarn you are using, as not all types of yarn are equally suitable for baby knitwear.

When talking about yarn for babies, these types of yarn are often referred to as "baby yarn". Baby yarn is not really a limited term for one particular type of yarn, but rather a collective term for many different yarn types and yarn qualities. 

What specific properties should baby yarn have?

One of the most important properties that baby yarn should have is that it should not be scratchy, as this can irritate the baby's delicate skin. You should therefore only go for soft and non-itchy yarn.

You should also choose a yarn type that is able to withstand washing at relatively high temperatures. Babies tend to leak a little from both ends, it will therefore be nice and convenient for the parents if the clothes or toys are able to go in the washing machine.

Moreover, the yarn should be breathable and temperature-regulating, as babies are not able to take off their clothes or tell you when they are too hot. This is why it is important that the yarn is not too insulating. You should therefore go for natural materials, as artificial fibres are generally not very breathable.

Lastly, you should always choose a yarn that is relatively thin - especially if you scale down an adult pattern. Many people forget that you also have to scale down the thickness of the yarn, otherwise, the baby will have difficulty moving around because the yarn is too thick.

These are the types of yarn you should go for

It may seem a bit overwhelming to find a yarn that lives up to all of the criteria listed above, but there are actually several types of yarn that you can easily use. To make it a little easier for you, we have found two options for you here:

100% cotton yarn

100% cotton yarn is very breathable, and it is also a rather lightweight yarn, making it ideal for babies. Cotton yarn is also suitable for machine washing and tumble drying - Note, however, that coloured cotton yarn should not be exposed to more than 40 or 60 degrees.

100% wool

You can also use 100% wool yarn if it is labelled as superwash or 100% pure, new wool. The yarn fibres will be so fine that it does not irritate the baby's skin. It is even possible to wash this type of wool in the washing machine, which is a great advantage.

However, as previously mentioned, there are no set rules that determine what can be categorised as baby yarn. So you do not necessarily have to limit yourself to these two types of yarn. Still, it is a good idea to keep these specific qualities in mind when shopping for baby yarn.

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