Where do you buy clothes and other items for your baby?
It was daunting to me. Where does one get these? I was so concentrated on going through my pregnancy without any problems, I was not focused on shopping or the actual fun parts of that period of my life. It’s a pity, really! Even then, I kept hearing about this brand, BambooBebe. It seemed to be where every Korean mom got their basic supplies. That was my introduction to BambooBebe.
After my baby was born, I used the clothes we were given but I was never happy with them. In the beginning, I was focused on putting something on her so she stayed warm but as I was gaining some breathing room I started thinking about the fabric. Also, I was in full-on breastfeeding problem-solving mode. All we had were those full-body onesies with closed toes but her feet felt clammy because they weren’t breathing well. That’s when I went back to my cultural background: cotton.
Natural fiber is the answer, but there are differences
Cotton is such an important part of Korean culture. Any natural fiber really, such as bamboo, silk, hemp, cotton, and others. We were raised with clothes made of natural fiber and good quality cotton was always part of our daily lives. We had handkerchiefs, comforters with cotton filling, cotton quilted outfits, underwear, and so on. Because of their significance, a high-quality cotton outfit and handkerchiefs are some of the first ones new parents prepare for their babies. I missed out on that step as I was overseas and my focus was elsewhere.
I ordered my first BambooBebe outfits after the first month. It was delivered by a friend who was coming to Alaska from Korea. When I first touched the “space suit” (onesie but without the feet) I finally felt a big relief. This was exactly what I wanted. From that point, there was no going back.
I try not to fuss over everything about the baby. At least I try not to. But I am particular about a few things, and my baby’s clothing’s fabric is one of them. I don’t want non-breathable synthetic materials on my child. Especially when she can’t communicate fully with me when she’s uncomfortable. Babies can’t regulate their temperature, so they must be in a breathable material. A cute novelty outfit (usually made with polyester) isn’t going to make it to our closet. So you can imagine how ecstatic I am about BambooBebe, which only uses the highest quality cotton + bamboo fabric for all their products.
Story of BambooBebe
BambooBebe started in 2006, because a mom wanted to create the best product for her son “Muk” who had sensitive skin. She wanted to create the best cloth diapers. She met with hundreds of partners searching for the cleanest and most eco-friendly fabric. They started slow but soon became the most well-known baby brand for Korean parents because of their soft fabric and designs that touch Korean sentiment (정서).
I love their minimalistic design that features very Korean emotions or sentiments, which we call “jeongseo”. There’s no exact translation of this word in English. It’s something that you know when you see it. You can feel it in the architecture and designs on Korean temples, hanbok (traditional clothing), or even food presentation. Living in a foreign country, having a piece of home and introducing it to my baby is such a great comfort.
Why Bamboo fabric?
It’s breathable
Bamboo fiber has a special structure that allows high breathability and brings cool feelings. That’s why it is good for babies who have higher body temperature than adults.
It’s more absorbent than cotton
Bamboo fiber has micro holes and micro gaps in the middle and surface areas. It absorbs baby dribbles and sweat faster than cotton, and keeps our skin clean and fresh.
It’s soft
Bamboo fiber has a soft and silky touch like silk that has no irritation to the skin.
It’s clean
Because bamboo grows with sunlight and water it does not need any pesticides or chemicals. That’s why bamboo fiber is an eco-friendly material that does not damage nature.
My favorite BambooBebe items
I’ve used many products over the last year, from cloth diapers (flats) to clothes, bath towels to stuffed animals. The clothes and diapers went through countless cycles of washes and that’s when you can really tell the quality of the fabrics. I’m happy to report that they still look and feel great. The diapers, which we use daily, are more absorbent after many washes. I’m happy knowing that my baby is in the softest fabric that helps her regulate her body temperature. Their best-selling items are flat cloth diapers and handkerchiefs. They are a staple in Korean households with babies. But you can’t really go wrong with any of the products. I particularly love the multi-use blanket. It has little tabs in each corner so you can tie to use it as a nursing cover, carseat blanket, and more. And the breathable material makes it such a great nap cover for my baby. If you need any guidance, I would be happy to recommend my favorites!
How you can get BambooBebe
BambooBebe has a dedicated global website. Now you can be part of the trend that Korean moms have been on for years! If you are like me, a little bit particular about fabrics, browse what they offer. The great news is that they are also available on Amazon now. You can see them on my Amazon shopfront! (I get a small commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.)