Bamboo textile, is it worth it?

I think we can all agree that living in a modern world means being bombarded with so-called innovations all the time. We are being offered "life-changing" gadgets on a daily basis and even though there is an abundance of novelties true innovations are rather rare.

A life cycle of many of them rather resembles one of a fidget spinner. In 2017 every kid had to have one and in 2021 it can only be found on the bottom of the bargain bin up in Tesco.

The baby industry is no different in that matter. While some innovations truly improve our lives others are simply a product of fast trends and even faster marketing campaigns.
The thing that we want to tackle today is a Bamboo fabric. Even though it’s been around for a while it appears that opinions on it are divided. To this day some people call it exorbitant while others declare they’d never use cotton again and whoever will do not take his or her child's skin needs seriously.
We’ll try to hold some middle ground here and provide you with a couple of solid facts so you can make up your mind about it.

What is Bamboo viscose?

Bamboo is one of the most frequently used plants by humans over the centuries. Its viscose is made from bamboo cellulose fibre which is then processed into a yarn and then further into a bamboo textile.

Bamboo practical properties

Bamboo viscose is very breathable and more stretchable than cotton. It is easy to weave this fabric into fabrics with a high number of threads, also the resulting fabrics are usually thinner than their cotton equivalents while maintaining a similar or higher density.
It’s got fantastic anti-allergic properties and is accepted by children with really delicate skin. That means bamboo baby blankets could be lighter, smoother and softer than the cotton ones.

Is bamboo viscose antibacterial?

The answer is yes and no.
Two independent scientific studies confirmed that bamboo viscose discourage bacteria growth and this is due to natural bio-agent called “bamboo kun”. This means that the use of bamboo fabrics, for example, can have a positive effect on umbilical cord healing.

Amazing isn’t it?

Yes, but keep in mind that retaining its antibacterial properties depends heavily on the manufacturing process. If the manufacturer uses too many chemical agents in the process it could be decreased significantly. This is why all of the bamboo blankets we sell are made from genuine bamboo viscose, not the bamboo rayon which is a very different material.

Bamboo textiles are eco-friendly

Unlike cotton plantations which require certain soil conditions and huge water consumption
bamboo could be grown on poor soil, sustainably due to its legendary re-growing ability. Moreover, its processing requires fewer chemical agents which makes a great impact on the environment.

Beware of the bamboo rayon

All the lovely properties we’ve mentioned before apply only to bamboo viscose. There’s also a cheaper counterpart on the market called bamboo rayon and it’s a very different story.
It’s a semi-synthetic material, obtained by the use of a great deal of chemicals with truly bad impact on both environment and people who work with it

Even though it’s more durable than bamboo viscose it has no anti-allergic or antibacterial properties.

So should I replace all my cotton cloths with bamboo now?

While we strongly advocate for the use of the bamboo blankets & swaddles for the children with skin problems other than that it’s a matter of personal preference. There’s nothing wrong with cotton blankets and clothes, and if you need that extra light swaddle or supersoft blanket go for the bamboo. It’s probably best is to mix both and see what works for you.