Crafting baby-friendly knits is very different from crafting knits for teens and adults. Dressing a wriggling, sometimes fussy, always curious person—who can’t dress themselves!—can be tricky. And that’s true even with baby clothes, which are expressly designed for babies, in baby-friendly materials.

Baby knits, on the other hand, are not always designed with babies in mind. Some knitwear designers create baby knits with features that are not very baby-friendly, out of materials that are not very baby-friendly. These designs might be adorable, and you may want to make them for that reason. But before you spend countless hours knitting a baby knit for your own baby or someone else’s, read through these essential tips to see if you’re actually crafting a baby-friendly knit. Otherwise, you might be wasting your time and yarn on something that never comes out of the drawer!

• Prioritize Functionality
• Be Mindful About Button Size, Placement, and Attachment Method
• Avoid Busy Lace & Choking Hazards
• Choose. Soft, Easy Care Yarn
• Keep In A Smoke-Free Environment + Away From Pets

1. Prioritize Functionality

First and foremost, you want to ensure your knit garment or accessory is functional for a baby. Focus on garments that have stretchy necks and cuffs. Babies have large heads, so a larger neckline and a stretchy bind off on the neck are important. Babies also have chubby wrists and ankles, so the cuffs on shirts and pants should also stretch easily. The free Busy Baby Boy Sweater in Cotton Fleece (shown above) is a classic and a perennial favorite among knitters. It features a stretchy neckline and looks great on boys and girls.

Also, be mindful of buttons. Sewing a dozen small pearl buttons on a cardigan may be lovely for an adult, but it doesn’t work for a baby. Please, think of the mother who has to button their baby into that cardigan! That’s a lot of buttoning on a squirmy person who has little-to-no patience for getting dressed.

Speaking of buttons…

2. Be Mindful About Button Size, Placement, and Attachment Method

As mentioned, tiny buttons are a no-go for baby knits. It’s too much for the parent to manage, and a tiny button is a choking hazard for the baby.

If you must include buttons, opt for a larger button. Opt for buttons with 2 or 4 holes, as they are easier to secure than a button with a shank. A larger button should also have large enough holes that you can use yarn to secure your button and weave the end down in the back using duplicate stitch. The Wee Twist Cardigan in Lamb’s Pride Bulky featured in our blog Baby Knits in Brown Sheep Yarns (above)features one big button secured with the same yarn. Yarn is better than thread, as thread can cut through your yarn—especially if small, grabby hands are tugging on the button a lot!

In terms of button placement, avoid buttons on the tops of the shoulders or down the back. Those placements are not comfortable for the baby, who will spend most of their time lying on their back, or getting buckled into a car seat that presses down on their shoulders.

If buttons are too scary, consider i-cord ties or a zipper as an alternative.

3. Avoid Busy Lace & Choking Hazards

The little eyelets sprinkled through the Summer Swing Top in Cotton Fleece (above) are baby-friendly because they’re fairly small and the top is made for an older child.

Knitters should avoid overly lacy fabric with baby knits because tiny fingers and toes can get stuck in the lace and cause injury.

And as much as we love a pom-pom, we would recommend steering clear of pom-pom attachments as they could be a choking hazard. The same can be said for bobbles that are attached after the knitting is completed. Bobbles created while knitting should be ok, as they are part of the fabric and much more difficult for a baby to rip off.

4. Choose a Soft, Easy-Care Yarn

Make it easy on mom and dad and opt for a yarn that is soft, durable, and easy to care for. Ideally, aim for a machine-washable yarn like Cotton Fleece or Stratosphere. Both yarns are machine washable and soft, so they won’t irritate sensitive baby skin. The above Happy Hues Baby Cardigan is knit in 6 colors of Cotton Fleece and is a fabulous knit for a happy baby!

5. Keep in a Smoke-Free Environment + Away From Pets

Most babies have sensitive skin, and many babies are born with allergies that they may or may not grow out of as they get older. It is important, especially if you’re knitting for someone else’s baby, to make sure the knitting is kept in a smoke-free environment, away from pets. Pet dander and fur can stick to knitting and irritate a baby’s skin, nose, and eyes—especially if they have allergies.

If you have lots of furry friends in the house, make sure to thoroughly wash and dry garments and accessories before gifting.

Are you ready to start crafting baby-friendly knits? Check out Baby Knits in Brown Sheep Yarns, More Baby Knits in Brown Sheep Yarns, Even More Baby Knits in Brown Sheep Yarns and Even More Baby Knits Volume 2 for great pattern ideas!