Marriage and children have changed the way I shop. More and more, I keep an eye out for classic, high-quality clothing that will serve us well. With six children in this house, it’s important to me that the products we buy will stick around for the long haul. Especially baby clothes. Thanks to spitup, blowouts, leaks and food messes, infant clothes get washed and dried a lot. So I’m not just looking for soft and cute – durability is right at the top of the list, too.

My husband works at a family-owned manufacturing company, so USA-made is also something that’s very important to me. We know firsthand that American goods help to keep productivity and prosperity here at “home.”

The baby clothing at Cradle & Thread gets 5 stars from me in all the above departments! Their soft, adorable knit clothing for babies is made of 100% American grown and sewn cotton. They are meant to last. And yes, they are incredibly soft and cute! Even better, there’s “Giving Sewn In” the clothes you buy from Cradle and Thread. Here’s how it works: They will donate a set of clothing to a child in need for every $100 in purchased goods. Even if you don’t spend a hundred dollars all by yourself, that’s ok! Your purchase will be combined with others, and every time the $100 mark is reached, another set is donated. It’s a team effort!

My wonderful friends at Cradle & Thread sent Erik this lovely bundle in blue and white, size 3-6 months:

Erik is 12 pounds now and just over 3 months. Everything in the set fit to perfection, except the legs of the pants were a bit long. He’s a short little guy; all my babies tend to be. 🙂 He looks so cozy and sweet in his little Cradle and Thread ensemble. I just want to kiss him!

The Little Sumpin’ Sweater (retail $23) and the Knotty Hat (retail $10) are two of the most versatile pieces in this set. The sweater is perfect for light layering on a cool day, or even in warm spring weather when there’s a breeze or when the air conditioning inside is too chilly. Erik wears this sweater almost daily. I really need to buy another one to keep in the diaper bag! And the Knotty Hat is so clever. You can quickly adjust the size by tying the knot higher or lower. Baby can wear it from the newborn stage forward. This wardrobe staple is just $10 so it’s a great little investment. It would also make an ideal baby shower gift.

Buying classic styles like this really makes sense to me because they are so versatile. Erik can wear the whole outfit to church just as easily as he can around the house. The onesie and pants together make a perfect little “pajama” set. His Little Sumpin’ Sweater can be worn with pretty much anything in his wardrobe – a simple footed sleeper or a dressy church outfit. The styles you find at Cradle and Thread will last through more than one child, and stay cute and fresh no matter what the latest trend is. Everything in our bundle is made of soft, sturdy cotton with good strong seams.

The small up front investment is well worth it in the long run!