Merino is a bit of a wonder fibre. It’s breathable, warming, cooling and moisture wicking. And modern merino is so much softer, more snuggly and less scratchy than the old woollens you may know from childhood. It’s the ultimate fibre for being next to your child’s skin. There are so many reasons to love merino, here’s our top 10:
Merino can help keep baby warm in winter and cool in summer as it creates its own microclimate around the body. The natural crimp of a Merino fibre enables it to trap air effectively, thus insulating the body from the cold.
Little babies struggle to regulate their temperature (until they are about 1 year old), so having a breathable, yet insulating layer next to the skin can help baby stop being too cold or overheating.
For the wearer of a Merino garment, the Merino creates its own microclimate around the body acting as a buffer against changing conditions and maintaining higher comfort levels.
Because Merino fibre breathes with the wearer it means there is no unpleasant 'clammy' sensation when baby is too hot and it traps the warm air to create a microclimate around the body in the cold. Synthetic fibres, such as polyester, don't have this ability to breathe.
Merino isn’t just for the cold winter months. It’s so fine and light, that it can be used in summer as well! Its ability to wick moisture away from the skin means it’s a great alternative to cotton as it doesn’t get all clammy and damp. Much better for when you’re trying to keep baby cool at the start of a hot summer night!
Even when air is cold or damp, a molecular process called 'heat of sorption' releases heat, which can be felt by the garment wearer. All fibres do this, but Merino does it four times as much as nylon and at least double this for polyester. The natural crimp of a Merino fibre enables it to trap air effectively, thus insulating the body from the cold.
If baby sleeps in a lightweight merino sleeping bag during summer, they may only need a nappy on underneath. In winter, you can layer your baby in layers of merino under a sleeping bag or sleep suit to ensure they are toasty warm.
Wool fibres form natural air pockets that act as insulators, keeping babies warm without sacrificing breathability. This means your baby will always be at the right temperature – never too cold, never too hot.
Merino can also absorb up to 30% of its own weight in water without feeling damp, so baby remains warm despite nappy leaks or spills. Wool is also resistant to mould, mildew and bacteria; which helps create a healthy sleeping environment.
Merino is one of the least flammable fibres and is slower to burn than other fibres such as nylon or polyester. It also is easier to extinguish and combusts at a higher temperature than other fibres.
The scientific reasons for Merino's fire resistance lie in its unique chemical composition and its relative high-water absorption. Importantly, Merino doesn't melt if it comes into contact with flame, unlike most synthetics which can melt and stick to the skin, causing more trauma to the affected area.
Most little ones with mild to moderate eczema can wear superfine merino comfortably. Eczema babies can tend to overheat and get itchy and grumpy when hot. A merino layer next to the skin, provides enough warmth without overheating baby, therefore ensuring skin is not being irritated from the heat. For children with severe eczema we recommend using cotton or bamboo next to the skin.
Merino naturally resists the build-up of odour and as a result merino garments don't need washing as often or as vigorously as other fabrics. This also helps keep them looking good for longer – perfect for busy parents who already have enough running around to do!
This characteristic is very useful for baby and children's garments. merino sleeping bags usually need very little washing, just air them out on the side of the cot regularly. Merino nightwear can be used for much longer than cotton nightwear before it needs washing, although your children will love their merino so much it's likely they will still be wearing it at breakfast time!
Merino is a hydroscopic fibre. This means it's capable of absorbing moisture vapour from the environment while at the same time repelling liquids. That's unique to Merino.
In technical terms Merino can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture before it starts to feel damp. Its regain factor (the amount of water in the fibre expressed as a percentage of its dry weight) is 17 percent under standard conditions, compared to between 1-4 % for synthetic fibres.
The natural ability to absorb and desorb water vapour contributes to Merino's excellent comfort performance as an apparel fibre and makes it very useful for children who may become wet in the night or sweaty if they get too hot..
Let’s face it, we parents don’t need more washing and ironing! The great thing about merino is that it doesn’t need washing often - gone are the days when you need to hand wash your woollies. A simple air out over the cot each day is all that’s needed to keep it fresh (unless of course, there’s a dreaded nappy explosion in the middle of the night!). We have many parents who wash their merino sleeping bags only when soiled.
Merino also naturally resists soiling. The synthetic fibres being oil based tend to attract and retain oily soils. Washing, wearing and dry-cleaning of synthetics leads to a phenomenon called greying, which is caused by soil build up and absorption of oil contaminants into the chemical structure of the fibre, particularly during dry-cleaning. A further advantage of Merino is that when a garment is soiled the natural water repellent surface allows time for the spills to be wiped away before they cause permanent staining.
We know you have better things to do than spend hours handwashing, so our merino has been designed to be machine washable at 30 degrees with a liquid wool wash and a low spin cycle.
Merino is so quick to dry, that even in winter, you’re likely to be able to wash it and wear it on the same day – ideal for the inevitable overnight accident. If necessary, you can lay your merino item over a heated towel rail to help it dry faster, but if possible, we do recommend drying it flat in the shade.
Merino is a renewable resource, is recyclable and bio-degradable so leaves a very light footprint compared to synthetic fibres. It is highly resilient and can be bent over 30,000 times without breaking (although we don’t recommend crawling around in it)! It’s long lasting before it needs to be disposed of, and once it reaches that point, it will biodegrade as it’s a natural product.
Merino involves a natural growth process of converting grass into fibre, in pollution free factories. It's also recyclable and bio-degradable. Compare this with synthetic fibres, which are made from a non renewable resource and involves the conversion of oil into fibre.
