Recent studies have found that babies and children can experience massive benefits from a natural fibre called Merino wool. The incomparable fibre has evolved over millions of years to create a wool that provides babies with the most effective protection against all the elements. Founder of Merino Kids, Amie Nilsson believes “Merino wool is the very finest fibre for the best start in life. It is a fibre fit for heroes-and for everyday people. As modern as moon flight, and as ancient as hills.”

The key advantage of Merino wool is its unique ability to maintain a comfortable microclimate between body and bedding. The wool does this by breathing and controlling moisture and has the ability to adapt to changes in temperature, keeping babies warm when it is cold and cool in hot conditions.

The way in which the fibres can breathe and control the moisture in the baby’s clothing prevents babies from ever having to feel ‘clammy’ again, as the humidity between the skin and garment is lowered. The wool does this by absorbing the perspiration in the baby’s skin and releases it into the air. This attribute of the wool also protects babies from extremes by regulating the temperature.

On top of the wool’s amazing ability to moderate a child’s temperature, Merino wool has numerous natural features which have made it one of the most comfortable of fabrics to wear for babies, making super fine Merino feel soft and silky next to a baby’s skin. Amie continues, “In history Merino is what they only used for making garments designed only for royalty because of its amazing properties.”

Merino wool’s comfort comes from the fact it is a fine-spun fabric. The wool also has a natural elastic property so garments made out of the wool fit snugly every time. But most importantly Merino is fire resistant. This is due to the wool containing natural fire retardants that further helping safe guard children's health.

Research has also found there are numerous medical benefits to the wool, specifically with premature babies and assisting their sleep routines. This was revealed by research conducted into the sleep patterns of premature babies at the Cambridge Maternity Hospital in 1979. The research showed babies sleeping alongside Merino settled more quickly, cried less, fed better and gained weight faster. The benefits were so great for premature and low weight babies that they gained an extra 10g a day compared to babies that weren’t sleeping on Merino.

In addition to helping with babies’ sleeping patterns and the weight gain of premature babies, Merino wool can also help babies with skin allergies. In 2003 this was how Amie discovered the wool for her baby range, “my first daughter Lilybelle developed a terrible heat rash and had problems sleeping. From research I carried out I found, newborn – 12 month old babies have trouble regulating temperature whilst they sleep. Synthetic fibres only compound the problem as the fibres do not breath and they simply trap moisture.”

This is unlike Merino wool, which in addition to controlling the moisture in the baby’s clothing can actually reduce the allergies on the baby’s skin with the superfine Merino, which is soft and silky and therefore does not itch a baby’s skin.

Studies have additionally found that the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) can be influenced by babies over heating when sleeping. Findings have also shown that swaddling has reduced the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Therefore babies swaddled in the Merino wool, are at a much lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, with its ability to regulate heat and humidity. Merino Kids have specifically taken this research into consideration when designing their Merino Kids baby sleep bag which, Amie explains, “promotes baby / infant sleeping on their back, is sleeveless to allow complete air circulation whilst in the cot, regulates temperature and is designed to ensure that baby never gets tangled or slips in bedding.” Merino wool can also help save the planet. This is because wool is an eco-friendly fibre grown sheep and therefore is an annually renewable natural resource, which biodegrades without harming the planet and can be easily recycled. This is particularly important to Merino Kids who believe using Merino wool in children’s clothing “Is not just about providing the best 100% natural start to life, but also about protecting the world that the young child will live in.”