Infants are probably the most neutral bunch – new to this world, they are least biased in their actions, readily stretching their both hands towards anything and everything around. It’s mostly us, the grown-ups, who instill in them, the gender difference by opting blue for boys and pink for girls.

But this gender-specific clothing is relatively recent, started sometime in the early years of the last century. Before that infants or toddlers were mostly dressed in pure white, even up to the age of 6. That has changed now, but the practice of wrapping a new-born in white is still being carried on, thankfully!

Why the white rule?

White, specifically white cotton fabric is the first choice for new-borns (irrespective of their gender) and this trend stands good across countries and races. Milky white is the chosen one not just for clothes, but the linen, diapers, towels are all picked keeping in mind the pure colour.

The reason for this is a bundle of convenience, comfort level and climate.

It’s convenient

Once the excitement over the baby starts wearing off, you slowly wake up to the real infant world, filled with pee and poop. Some new moms even complain that these seem to be the only things the baby is doing, when he or she is not crying for food. And this needs your immediate intervention as there are chances of baby suffering from rashes or allergies, if they stay wet for long.

Here’s where white works the best –

• You will certainly notice when a white diaper is soiled. You will immediately change the clothing and lessen the discomfort for the baby.
• With the extra load of laundry to wash every day, white fabric makes it far easier to ensure that clothes are thoroughly cleaned after washing.
• You need to be extra cautious with kids’ clothing and make certain that no dirt is sticking on to the fabric. Say in a custard yellow cloth, you may not be able to so easily spot when it is soiled or confirm that it is thoroughly cleaned.

Climate Impact on Clothes

Hot, sultry weather does not suit the baby. And the babies would be highly uncomfortable, if they are made to wear dark or bright garments that are usually made from synthetic fabrics.

Comfy & Cozy Whites

Babies predominantly need breathable fabric (like the cotton) that is gentle on their sensitive skin. And the white ones ensure that no extra heat is absorbed by the fabric – providing a pleasant time to the babies.

So next time, you are out shopping for a new-born or infant, stick to white as a rule. Comfort of white cotton clothing is probably the best gift you could give to the little one.