Unisex Style for Baby Gear - Yes or No?

Recently, I had booths at two local Seattle-based shows. (The Northwest Flower & Garden Show and the Seattle Green Show.) Every once in a while someone would say, “They/We don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet”, and ask for something unisex.

The Best Baby Bibs on the Planet Debut at the Flower Show in Seattle

In my experience unisex clothing for babies - especially as a gift - is challenging at best, and a mistake at worst. Why? Because many parents rely on the color and style of clothing to specifically show off their little baby as a boy or girl.

Personally, I never cared if people asked “What’s his name?” about my bald, newborn daughters. And to this day, my son will happily wear pink hand-me-downs and ballet outfits from his sisters. But I know I’m in the minority here.

Some parents actually prefer the idea of traditional “boy” colors on girls, either because they like to break stereotypes, or maybe even so they can use them for the next baby too. But, again, I have found people intentionally putting boy styles on girls to be in a small minority.

Instead, when looking for unisex baby gear, people tend to choose white or yellow, hoping the color will work both ways. And inevitably, once the baby is born, those white or yellow items end up at the bottom of the pile, used only when all the pink or blue outfits are in the laundry, if ever.

Here's one baby bib in the line that sells well for both boys & girls

So unless the customer knows the family’s tastes very well, I almost always advise them to wait. (Yes, I know this goes against all marketing wisdom. But I figure if they need an amazing baby bib, they’ll remember me and come back.) Once the baby is born, there is plenty of time to stock up on your favorite styles.

So I ask you, what do you think? Should I be developing more unisex styles? Should anyone in the baby biz?

Parenting: 150 Key Ideas for Raising Your Kids

Dr. Patricia Nan Anderson's new book feels like a warm cup of tea with a friend

Dr. Patricia Nan Andersons’ New Book features “150 Key Ideas for Raising Successful, Well-Adjusted and Confident Kids ”

For some time I have subscribed to a particular mommy-oriented list serve that offers moms the opportunity to reach out to each other when parenting challenges arise. In theory, a very good idea, but in practice, the thornier the problem, the more likely I want answers from someone I can trust, not a random stranger.

That’s why, when a really tough question came up a while back, I immediately thought of Dr. Patricia Nan Anderson, a highly-respected parenting educator and consultant based in the Seattle area. I forwarded the question to her, hoping she might blog about it.

I didn’t have the problem myself, but I could easily imagine it coming up. And I’m quite sure that should I ever have an issue with my child having befriended a bully who used him as a sidekick, I’d want some some pretty kick-ass advice on how to deal with it - NOW.

That’s why I was so excited to get my shiny new copy of Dr. Andersons’ just-released book, Parenting: A Field Guide, Now, thanks to this book, I have a way to access her thoughtful, informed advice any time.

First, I love that it is divided into helpful sections like “Brothers & Sisters” (check!) and “Sleeping” (check!), and most intriguing of all “Friends & Enemies”.

I also like that it’s meant to be read in small bits. Who has the time to read a whole book at once anyway? Instead you can read just a page or two at a time, starting with those that are most relevant to where you and your kids are.

Finally, Dr. Anderson’s writing style feels like having a warm cup of tea with a friend. After just a few pages I somehow felt calmer and more relaxed. Must be that her special magic is meant for us grown-ups too.

Baby Bibs: What IS That Waterproof Fabric Anyway?

I make a line of baby bibs, so I spend a fair amount of time checking out new bibs as they come on the market to make sure I am continuing to offer my customers the best possible waterproof protection, fashion and value.

There are all KINDS of new styles out there, but what’s in them? Here’s a run-down of the most popularly used fabrics you will find in baby bibs:

1. Plastic/Vinyl

A vinyl baby bib from the good ol days

For a long time, vinyl, which is a type of soft plastic, has been very popular. You can wipe it down, it’s completely waterproof and it lasts. The downside? It almost always contains phthalates, which are the chemicals used to make the plastic pliable.

A good example of phthlates overload is your shower curtain liner, or the tablecloth you use outside when you have a BBQ. You know that awful smell when you break open the package? Well, that smell is the red flag that tells you it contains phthalates.

Recently, phthalates have come under intense scrutiny though, as some studies have shown them to negatively affect the endocrine system, especially if infants are exposed to them.

A new law, called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act took effect recently, and one of its chief targets is phthalates. Before you breathe a sigh of relief though, note that the law is so broad and full of problems, and has come under such intense criticism that it has already been scaled back.

2. Leather

Leather is chic, but works best for neat babies

Polished leather baby bibs started showing up in fancy baby boutiques several years ago. The advantages of leather are that it is natural, waterproof and has a certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to fashion. The down side is that it has a very low friction point - which means spills and dribbles roll right down to baby’s pants. So they really only work if your baby doesn’t need a bib in the first place. Oh well.

3. Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR)

This is the stuff used in wetsuits, and lately is being used for everything from wine carriers to baby bibs. Personally, I think it’s kind of cool for say, a laptop case, but I have never been a fan of  using materials I can’t pronounce on babies. I did find one review explaining that the fabric is, “a layer of rubber or TPE foam with an outer layer of spandex nylon stretch fabric”. So, now we ALL know what to wear on that next trip to check out the corals in Hawaii.

4. Mystery Layers

Without naming names, there is a certain LARGE and ubiquitous baby wear company out there that makes bibs with two layers of cotton on the outside and a layer of mystery stuff on the inside. I cut one open and it looks like the cotton has been heat-sealed to rubber, which seems like a cool idea, and is definitely waterproof. Still, how do they do it, and with what chemical process? There’s really is no way to know without a label.

5. Gore-tex

Gore Tex is waterproof, but what if she dribbles mor ethan four inches...?

Gore Tex is famous for its waterproof properties and you can find it in all kinds of camping gear, outerwear and footwear. Used properly, it offers outstanding moisture protection.

Too bad though, because when I checked with my good friends at the Washington Toxics Coalition, they confirmed that it really isn’t baby-safe.

6. Nylon

Baby Bibs by Baby Chaleco use nylon to keep your baby dry

This is the fabric I use to keep Baby Chaleco bibs dry. It’s waterproof, soft and baby safe. It has no lead, phthlates, triclosan, bisphenol-A or other scary stuff. It’s also machine washable. Is it as natural as cotton or wool? Nope. But if you want safe, waterproof protection, I think it’s the best choice out there.

Have you discovered another waterproof option being used in bibs? I’d love to hear about it.

Carol

The Baby Bib Story

The Start

It all started when my son was born. After two reasonably neat sisters, (who each had their own specialties) he decided it was was time to throw mom a new monkey wrench. So he started out a champion spitter and graduated to become an Olympic baby drool machine. The clothes, laundry and bibs began to pile up and soon I was drowning in the work (all those changes!), the weight (all those bibs and clothes to carry!), and the worry (he was always wet in chilly weather.)

The Search

I bought and tried every baby bib in the market. I scoured the specialty baby stores, the department stores, the internet. Each bib had problems. Some soaked through. Other bibs flipped around. Most used velcro, so he just yanked them off. And every bib - no matter how original the fabric - ruined the outfit.

So I started asking around - moms, grandmoms, pre-school teachers and baby sitters. What did they all say? “oh, yes, the droolers are the worst!” But there was no solution.

The Solution

Desperation drove me. I needed something that would stop the madness - OK, hassle - of all those changes and all that laundry. I started to get an idea of what might do it. No ordinary bib, but a charming, waterproof vest. Something that would stay put, stay dry and be part of the outfit instead of just covering it. Something he could wear without changing all day. And so, Baby Chaleco was born. An evolution of the baby bib that turns ordinary baby clothes into extraordinary, worry-free outfits.

Does Baby Chaleco work for other uses too? Absolutely. They are an exceptionally stylish and convenient way to keep all kinds of baby messes at bay. Customers especially love them for the holidays, special occasions, even dinner out.

But if you have a drooler, and have that huge pile of baby drool bibs sitting in your laundry bin, this product was made with you and your baby in mind.

I’ll be blogging about a lot of topics related to what’s going on at Baby Chaleco in the future, but baby drool is where it all started.