And NO snaps! It is much easier, especially after the first couple months, to pull on pants and a little kimono top or t-shirt. Sleep deprived, we wanted to keep things simple. Soon, after some research, I found some great companies, Speesees, Zutano, Imps & Elfs, Kee-Ka and others, and learned that American Apparel (I wasn't a fan, but that has changed) has baby clothes. Many options that were really great for babies - including from some small, independent companies that are using organic material and natural dyes.
In this review, most options are well below $15. More than that is ridiculous for something babies outgrow in a few months. Really, if they are well-made, clothes should fit babies for at least four or five months - though, of course that isn't very long.
Here are the pants we've tried so far, findings and where to get the best prices. I've put them in order of most to least favorite, though all on this list are fantastic. Even when I've found better deals from Old Navy, Gap, H&M and places like that, I ignore those items in favor of the following. About my comments on sizing, our twins (a boy and a girl) are a little below average in size - in about the 40th percentile for both weight and length.
1. American Apparel - Infant Baby Rib Karate Pant ($12; but online sales for $6)
These cute little pants run from 3-6 to 18-24 months, and American Apparel has similar options for toddlers and older kids. They are at the top of my list for the basic colors, simple but flattering fit, comfy-ness for the babies and also how well they hold up to multiple washings. And if you can get them for $6, they're really, really worth it.
PROS: Basic baggy pants, but with a cute style that is wider at the ankles. They have basic colors - at least 14 options - and are 100 percent cotton, fit to size (at least for 3-6 and 6-12 months) and do not shrink or lose color vibrancy. And they stay soft. The waistband is comfy for the babies, and the "2.5cm fold-over classic waist hem" adds a bit more heft (in a good way) than Zutano.
CONS: There aren't really any downsides, though if you want more interesting colors or patterns, you won't find them here.
WHERE TO BUY:
- American Apparel
- Amazon option 1 ($5.59 in March 2008)
- Amazon option 2 ($5.99 in March 2008)
2. Speesees - New Yoga Pant ($22-30; but often on sale)
These pants are 100 percent organic cotton with low-impact and herbal dyes and are fair trade. That's a good start, and then add durable fabric and a cute, simple style, and they're fantastic. They run in sizes up to 18-24 months, and some styles go up to 3T. They are a strong second on my list, though too expensive to get many (even when on sale for $16).
PROS: Great stitching on the behind makes these much cuter on than they look off. Speesees also has come up with some of the best colors, including earth, rasberry and grass. For the original yoga pants, which have contrast stitching, there is more variety in color, including redwood and pear. The company provides a strong, edited collection (not like the ridiculous variety of companies like Zutano). Their tops and onesies are easy to coordinate, and, while expensive, you'll find yourself pulling these out over and over and over.
CONS: Speesees fabric is not as soft as some of the others after washing, and the cotton is thicker (find for cool weather, of course). Oddly, the pants are also quite long. At eight months, the 3-6 month size is finally fitting my twins in length (while the other pants were right on track with length). However, they can be rolled up (though they don't really stay rolled). And the cost is a downside - even on sale at $16.
WHERE TO BUY:
3. Zutano - Baby Basics pants ($12-15)
Zutano has some great basic pants, including solids and stripes. They are 100 percent cotton, and sizes run up to 24 months (and then launch into the toddler basics line).
PROS: Zutano runs tru to size (at least up to the 12 month size), and while extremely baggy at the beginning of each six-month period, they can be rolled up (and stay rolled, more or less) and still look cute. They do not shrink much, and the colors hold up fairly well after dozens of washings - though they do fade. The cotton is cozy, and it stays soft through multiple washings. The elastic waistband is thin and doesn't constrict the baby at all. And with Zutano, there are many, many mixing-and-matching options.
CONS: Zutano pants are quite baggy; there doesn't seem to be much shape to them at all. That's fine for babies, but I realized later with other brands (particularly Speesees and American Apparel) that cut can add a cute element, whether wider legs or stiching on the behind. Simple doesn't have to also mean shapeless. It helps to stay away from Zutano's solid color leggings for this reason. They are just a little too plain and rather balloon-like. Simple stripes or other (basic) patterns make up for the bagginess. Also, it seems a pitfall that the Zutano line is so extensive. You have to weed through lots and lots of designs (many overly cutesy) to find what you want. It doesn't help that some of the sites with the most extensive collections are not easy to navigate.
WHERE TO BUY:
4. Kee-Ka - Leggings ($14; sale online for $7)
Very nice, organic, solid-color leggings that are soft and hold up with multiple washings. They seem better for girls than boys, though, since they're narrow (good under dresses), but of course little boys wouldn't mind. They seem to fit to size, though sizes only go up to 18 months.
PROS: Nice colors (chocolate, green, link, beige, yellow, red, orange and black) with a comfy elastic waist. The white contrast stitching adds some simple detailing. They are 95 percent cotton and 5 percent lycra, which adds a little extra stretch. They are narrow, but there is enough room for the bum and diaper. And they are having a 50 percent sale now (April 2008)!
CONS: With the lycra, the leggings are a little more difficult to get on and off than 100 percent cotton leggings. Also, they aren't quite as gender-neutral as the others. Baggier pants seem to look better on my boy. However, if you're looking for narrow leggings, this is the best bet.
WHERE TO BUY:
5. Baby Soy - Slip-on Pant ($12)
Baby Soy sizes go up to 24 months and are 50 percent soybean fiber, 50 percent cotton. As the company points out, the weaving pattern is not very stretchy. They say they thrive to retain the "soft wheat-butter hue" during the coloring process.
PROS: Unusual colors (petal, ocean, cloud, chocolate, blossom). Nice coordinates with T-shirts, onesies and kimono tops. Several of the colors are gender-neutral. Cute matching double-knotted hat and socks that stay on. The fabric was thinner than I expected, which will be fine for summer. The elastic waistband is wide enough, and the sizing seems OK - it hasn't shrunk much after the first few washings.
CONS: I'm not entirely sold on soybean fiber as opposed to 100 percent cotton. It definitely has a different feel to it. Also, buy a size up since it isn't stretchy, and several people in reviews say that they do shrink.
WHERE TO BUY:
6. Imps & Elfs - Baby Pants ($25 and up; sales online and in shops for less than $15)
It is starting to seem like the best baby clothes companies are all Dutch - Kidscase, Oilily, Cakewalk, Imps & Elfs, etc. I love the non-flowery designs, and it is unfortuante that these little pants fall so low on my list. It isn't because they're not soft or because they don't have fantastically simple designs, but only because they don't fit well. European babies much be really thin - and not wear diapers.
PROS: These may be the softest of all the pants. Cute designs and colors with mostly solids and stripes - and some with solid neon colors. While expensive when sold full-price, sales online are common - and prices are great at Daffy's in NYC if you catch their shipments at the right time.
CONS: Expensive, narrow pants, apprently made for very thin babies. I wouldn't buy these unless ordering several sizes up, and even then they are a little bit off. When they fit in the bum, they'll be too long. Concentrating on the shape of the child is one thing, but the child does wear a diaper. At least in shops you can check out the size, which is difficult online.
WHERE TO BUY:
7. Cotton Caboodle - Soft Wide-Legged Pant ($25 and up; sale for $15)
I wanted to like these - simple cotton clothes made in Seattle. But I didn't - not the fit and not the color.
PROS: Cotton Caboodle provides a large selection of solid-color, cotton basics, and the clothes are manufactured in Seattle.
CONS: They are expensive and, at least with my first purchase, do not fit right. The waistband was a little too snug on my daughter, while they're also really long. And the color was a strange cherry shade that didn't look quite right. It was just off somehow. Maybe I'd try again with this company, but only if the item was priced really, really down.
WHERE TO BUY:
Not reviewed:
- Babystyle - Styles change, but they look fine.
- Kea & Joby - Maybe I'll try them, but they're not cotton.
- Hanna Andersson - These look OK - wiggle pants in organic cotton ($12) and soft landing pants in organic cotton ($20).
- The Gap - Styles change, varying quality, but OK when really on sale.
- Old Navy, Target, H&M - styles change, varying quality, would never pull these out of a drawer if the others were available.
