Muslin Baby Clothes Australia: A Heat Guide
Put a muslin top and a cotton jersey tee side by side against a window. You can see daylight through the muslin and you cannot see it through the jersey. On a 35 degree afternoon that difference is the whole ballgame.
Jersey is a knit. The loops sit close together and hold a thin layer of still air against the skin, which is useful in June and works against you in January. Muslin is a plain weave with deliberate space between the threads, so warm air and moisture pass straight out instead of banking up underneath. A baby in muslin is losing heat. A baby in a jersey tee is holding onto it.
This is a guide to what muslin clothing actually does in Australian heat, which pieces suit which age, and the practical calls around hats, naps and the car.
Why the weave matters more than the fibre
Both fabrics can be pure cotton and still behave nothing alike, because what governs airflow is construction, not fibre content.
Babies are worse at shedding heat than adults. They have more skin surface relative to their body size and less capacity to regulate, so the clothing does a bigger share of the work than it does for you. Reducing the number of layers helps, and so does making each layer more open.
Muslin also gets better with use. New muslin can feel slightly crisp. After five or six washes the fibres relax, and the cloth turns noticeably softer and more absorbent.
The range, and who each piece suits
Babies: rompers and dresses
One-piece styles win in heat because they are a single layer with nothing doubled up at the waist.
The Muslin Romper in Light Green Stripe and the Muslin Ruffle Romper in Petal Paws both run 0-3M to 2Y at 34.99. Both use domes at the leg openings, so a nappy change does not become a full undress on a hot day.
For dresses, the Baby Sleeveless Muslin Dress in Light Green Stripe is 34.99 from 3-6M, with a crossover button and keyhole opening at the back. The Baby Ruffle Muslin Dress in Petal Paws is also 34.99 and uses shirred elastic at the back, which means it keeps fitting through a growth spurt rather than suddenly not.
For legs, Baby Muslin Shorts in Light Green Stripe are 29.99, and Baby Muslin Pants in Sand or Calla Green are 34.99 with an oversized fit and pockets. Loose pants are often cooler than bare legs in a car seat, because they stop skin sticking to hot fabric.
Toddlers and kids: tops, shorts, skirts and pants
From 2Y to 8Y the range broadens out.
The Muslin Top in Poppy Field is 29.99 with buttons at the back neckline, and the matching Muslin Skirt is 34.99. Muslin Shorts in Lilac or Toasted Peach are 29.99 with an elasticated waistband and drawstring, which is the detail that decides whether a four year old can manage the toilet alone.
For dresses, the Muslin Ruffle Sleeve Dress in Poppy Field is 39.99 with a button-back opening and a lined bodice. The Muslin Strappy Dress in Toasted Peach is also 39.99.
The one piece people underestimate is the Muslin Long Sleeve Shirt in Sand at 34.99. Long sleeves sound wrong for summer and are not. Worn open over a tee it shades the arms while still letting air through, which is a better bet for a long afternoon outside than bare skin.
Hats, and what they do and do not do
Cancer Council Australia's advice is to "slip on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible" and to "slap on a hat", and it specifies broad brim or legionnaire style to protect the face, head, neck and ears.
Worth being straight about this: our muslin hats are a sun hat and a bucket hat, not a broad brim or legionnaire cut. The Baby Muslin Sun Hat in Green Stripe is 29.99 and has a chin strap, which is the difference between a hat that stays on and a hat in the gutter. The Baby Bucket Hat in Lemons or Sea Friends is 29.99 and is reversible. Both run 0-3M to 2Y and both keep the crown shaded and cool. For extended time in full sun, follow the Cancer Council brim guidance.
Bibs and headbands
Bandana Bibs come in a 3 pack at 24.99 in one size, in Autumn Harvest Ecru or Mountain View Ecru. They pair airy cotton muslin with a gentle terry towelling reverse, so the muslin sits against the neck and the towelling does the absorbing. The Muslin Headband in Poppy Field is 19.99 in 4-6Y and 6-8Y.
What the organic claim covers
The muslin collection is 100% organic cotton. That is a genuine claim about this range and we keep it to this range.
It does not extend across everything we make. Our corduroy, denim and twill pieces are organic cotton too, but bodysuits and tees are soft cotton jersey rather than organic. We would rather say that plainly than let one range's credentials quietly cover the whole wardrobe.
What organic changes is how the fibre was grown, not how the cloth breathes. Breathability comes from the weave. Both matter, for different reasons.
Dressing for the car, the pool and the nap
The car is the hottest part of most summer days. A car seat traps heat behind the back and there is no airflow there at all. Muslin pants or a romper give you a layer between skin and hot harness webbing without adding warmth.
The pool is where muslin earns its place afterwards rather than during. It is not swimwear and we do not make swimwear or rashies. Where muslin works is the hour after, pulled on over damp skin while a child eats lunch and dries off.
The nap is where the layer count matters most. Muslin clothing is a light single layer, which is usually what a warm room needs.
One warning that belongs here. Red Nose Australia advises against covering a pram, and is explicit that a light fabric is not a safe exception, noting that "even lightweight materials, like muslin, can significantly reduce airflow and trap heat". Shade the baby with a hat and real shade, not by draping cloth over the pram.
For building out the rest of a warm-weather wardrobe, the baby summer range and the full baby collection are the places to look. Our summer baby clothes guide goes deeper on layering, and the spring and summer newborn guide covers sizing through the first months.
Washing muslin so it stays soft
- Skip the fabric softener. It coats the fibres and fills the gaps in the weave, cutting exactly the breathability you bought it for.
- Wash warm rather than hot. Hot water shrinks cotton and shortens the life of the weave.
- Line dry where you can. Muslin dries fast and comes off the line soft.
- Give it a few cycles before you judge it. Muslin does not reach its final softness off the shelf.
Done this way, muslin keeps its shape and colour wash after wash, which counts when the same handful of pieces are in rotation all summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is muslin clothing warm enough outside summer?
On its own, not really, and that is the design intent. Muslin is built to let heat out. The long sleeve shirt works as a layering piece into autumn, but for genuine cold you want knitwear over the top.
Does muslin wrinkle?
Yes. A loose weave in a soft yarn creases easily and it is part of the look rather than a fault. It drops out with wear.
Is muslin see-through?
Single-layer muslin is light and does let some light through, which is why the pieces that need coverage are built for it. The Muslin Ruffle Sleeve Dress has a lined bodice and the Baby Sleeveless Muslin Dress has a fully lined upper body.
What size should I buy for a hot summer?
Take the usual size rather than sizing up. Muslin is cut with a relaxed fit already, and a too-large piece slides around instead of sitting off the skin.
Is muslin good for sensitive skin?
It is light, breathable and gets softer with washing, which suits skin that reacts to heat and friction. For a diagnosed skin condition, talk to your GP or maternal and child health nurse rather than relying on fabric choice.
Browse the 100% organic muslin collection to see the full range.
