We love Merino wool for premature baby’s clothing as it has some amazing benefits! Today we’re giving you a rundown on what merino wool is, why it’s perfect for prem clothes, and how to care for your baby’s merino garments.
Firstly, we all know woollen clothes are great for keeping warm, but Merino is a superior quality wool that comes from the Merino breed of sheep. Unlike other wool varieties Merino fibres have a crimped shape (like a tight wave), and these special fibres allow the sheep to live comfortably through the extremes of both hot summers and freezing winters. As a bonus, each year the sheep grow a whole new fleece, making their wool sustainable and renewable.
One of the most valuable reasons to use Merino baby’s clothing is for temperature regulation. All premature babies - and full termers with a low birth weight or growth restriction, can struggle to maintain a normal body temperature so they need incubators or heated cots, and most NICU/SCBU rooms are heated to feel like it’s summer! The natural insulating ability of Merino makes it our favourite choice for keeping baby warm in both the NICU and at home. One fantastic article I came across was by a wool organisation (IWTO), they learnt that underweight babies sleeping in woollen bedclothes had a 61% higher weight gain compared to babies sleeping in cotton! It’s incredible that a small change like dressing your baby in merino can make a difference.
Another great property of Merino is that it’s breathable and able to draw moisture away from baby’s skin. It allows air to circulate, absorbs any sweat or damp and evaporates it into the air. The Merino fibres are super absorbent and can hold around 30% of its own weight in water before feeling wet. While man-made fibres trap moisture, putting baby at risk of becoming clammy and overheating, Merino naturally keeps baby warm and dry in all seasons.
Some wool may be rough and scratchy, however Merino is a smooth and lightweight fabric. The thickness of fibres are measured in ‘microns’ and Merino is usually less than 22 microns, for comparison a strand of human hair is approx. 50 to 100 microns. Most of our premature baby merino clothes, including our hand knitted range, are made from Superfine Merino and these fibres are just 16.6 to 18.5 microns! Our Merino feels beautifully soft and is comfortable against baby’s delicate skin.
Laundry requirements used to be a huge downside to wool, because no-one wants to be hand washing loads of clothing when you’ve just had a baby! The good news is that’s pretty easy to care for Merino baby clothes, check the garment care label first but most are machine washable. Use the right settings like a wool or delicate wash cycle, cool temperature (30°C max) and wool approved detergent. Some items are best washed inside out or in a delicates bag to prevent pilling. Merino babywear should be laid flat in the shade to dry, which stops it stretching out of shape and protects any dyes from discolouration. If you need to spot clean try using cold water with mild soap like Sunlight, and gently blot the stain rather than rub.
Our range of premature merino clothing includes gorgeous hand knitted clothing made locally here in New Zealand from Superfine wool. Think snuggly Cardigans, Booties, Hats (a must-have as up to a third of a baby’s heat loss is through their head), and stretchy Singlets that can be worn both over the top or underneath other clothing. The long sleeve Merino Bodysuits, aka Onesies, are a fantastic base layer too, and of course the prem Merino Gowns and All In Ones are ideal to keep your baby warm both day and night. You can shop the full range of prem sized Merino clothing here at Small Babies and help keep your baby cosy - remember to check out our bundle deals and multibuys too for some discounts!
Posted: Friday 7 March 2025