From time to time, well-meaning commentators will go into a rap-session about formaldehyde danger for babies and how the presence of formaldehyde on cotton fabric will soon destroy all life as we know it… the planet’s babies, just to kick-off with.

How much of this frenzy about the presence of formaldehyde in clothing is just hypochrondria-hype? Should all parents be very afraid about dressing their baby from their first day in comfortable cotton baby singlets? Or even ubiquitous baby t-shirts and rompers? Let’s see if we can make sense from nonsense regarding this particular known toxin and what danger – if any – it may present to baby’s wellness and future.

We do need to agree, it’s true that formaldehyde is a toxic chemical. Just the word “formaldehyde” sounds like something you really wouldn’t want to get a baby very close to. Isn’t it used for preserving lab rats? Well more or less, but formaldehyde is also one of quite a few substances that have become very useful in fabric factory production. But do the benefits excuse the means? Or is the worry blown out of all proportion?

There are typically two kinds of applications for fabric which have the active ingredient: formaldehyde. One kind washes out without delay and the other is made to bind permanently to material, performing efficiently and causing potential allergy problems over time. Of course, it’s those wonderful ’no iron’ and ‘crease-free’ treatments which qualify for concerned outcry. These industrial applications contain formaldehyde-bearing resins that will stay on the fabric over its lifespan. It’s elementary to test for formaldehyde. For the whole time that the ‘permanent press’ treatment is present on the fabric, the formaldehyde is giving off its toxicity in detectable amounts.

Luckily for babies the world over, most baby clothing is made from natural cotton. During the manufacture, cotton fabric is treated with a formaldehyde-containing formula. This solution makes the cotton fabric shinier on the surface and more crease-resistant. The increased surface sheen also makes the material more slick, so it can be cut in layers and sewn together more rapidly in the factory. This enhanced smoothness helps the whole way through to the shops and boutiques, where clothing items can be racked straight out of the shipping carton without having to iron them again.

There would be little argument about the fact that the new baby rompers you bring home from the store carry a detectable formaldehyde presence. But anyone who has purchased a nice t-shirt, given it one wearing and put it through the laundry cycle will know that “shinyness”, “newness”, “smoothness”… these generally desirable attributes do not survive the initial passage through the family wash.

For mothers who are giving themselves grief about the presence of formaldehyde in baby singlets etcgarments and blankets), the solutions are very straightforward:

1. Launder all new baby clothing items AT LEAST ONCE before putting them on baby.

2. Steer clear of buying, giving or receiving baby items with tags proclaiming the clothing to be “wrinkle-free” or “little ironing required”.

Following these common-sense steps will mean that newborns can enjoy all the comfort and practicality of cotton baby clothing, without this ever-popular selection weighing too severely on the consciences of their parents.