Lucy & Sam is a UK childrenswear brand making baby and kids clothes from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, in gender neutral prints, from newborn to six years. Below are the questions we are asked most often, answered directly.

Last updated: 9 September 2026.

Organic cotton and GOTS certification

What does GOTS certified organic cotton actually mean?

GOTS is the Global Organic Textile Standard, the most widely recognised certification for organic textiles. To carry the GOTS organic label a fabric must be at least 95% certified organic fibre, and the standard governs every stage from field to finished garment — spinning, dyeing, sewing and packing — not just the raw cotton.

The part most people miss is that GOTS is a supply-chain certification, not a fibre test. It bans chlorine bleach, formaldehyde and azo dyes that release carcinogenic amines, restricts what can be used in dyeing and finishing, and sets social criteria for workers based on International Labour Organization conventions. Certification is verified by annual on-site inspection of every processing stage.

Every Lucy & Sam garment is made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. You can read the full standard at global-standard.org.

Is organic cotton better than regular cotton for babies?

For baby clothing the meaningful difference is chemical processing rather than the fibre itself. Conventional cotton is typically finished with chlorine bleach, formaldehyde-based wrinkle resistance and unrestricted dyes. GOTS certified organic cotton prohibits all three, so less residue sits against skin that is thinner and more permeable than an adult's.

	GOTS certified organic cotton	Conventional cotton
Grown with synthetic pesticides	No	Commonly yes
Chlorine bleach permitted	No	Yes
Formaldehyde finishes permitted	No	Yes
Azo dyes releasing carcinogenic amines	Prohibited	Not restricted by default
Worker welfare criteria	Required (ILO-based)	Not covered
Independently audited each year	Yes, every processing stage	No

Organic cotton is not softer by nature. It tends to feel softer because longer staple fibres are usually selected and because it has not been through the harsh finishing that stiffens conventional cotton.

Is organic cotton good for eczema or sensitive skin?

Organic cotton is a reasonable choice for sensitive skin because it is breathable and, under GOTS rules, processed without formaldehyde finishes, chlorine bleach or restricted azo dyes. Many parents come to Lucy & Sam for exactly this reason. It is a fabric choice, not a treatment.

We cannot make medical claims. If your child has diagnosed eczema or another skin condition, your GP, health visitor or a dermatologist is the right person to advise you on fabrics, detergents and bathing. What we can tell you is precisely what is in the garment: 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, with no chemical finishes applied after weaving.

Gender neutral design

Are Lucy & Sam clothes unisex?

Almost all of them. Lucy & Sam designs gender neutral by default — bold prints and strong colour rather than a pink-and-blue split — so a garment can be worn by any child, shared between siblings and passed on afterwards. A few cuts such as dresses and frill rompers differ, but they use the same prints and palette.

The practical argument for gender neutral baby clothes is that they stay useful. A sleepsuit that is not coded to one child can be handed down to a sibling, lent to a friend or resold, which is the cheapest form of sustainability there is. It also removes a guess from gift buying when the baby has not arrived yet.

Sizing and fit

What size baby clothes should I buy?

Lucy & Sam sizes follow standard UK age sizing and run from 0-3 months to 5-6 years. If your child sits between two sizes, size up. Organic cotton relaxes slightly with washing, and babies outgrow clothes faster than they wear them out.

Size	Typical stage
0-3 months	Newborn and early weeks
3-6 months	The size most gifts should be
6-9 months	Sitting up, starting to crawl
9-12 months	Crawling and pulling up
12-18 months	Early walking
18-24 months	Confident walking
2-3 years	Toddler
3-4 years / 4-5 years / 5-6 years	Preschool and early school

Detailed measurements are on our size guide.

What size should I buy as a new baby gift?

Buy 3-6 months rather than newborn. Most babies are only in 0-3 months for a matter of weeks, and new parents are usually given more newborn clothing than they can use. A 3-6 month piece arrives just as the newborn gifts are being outgrown.

If the baby has already arrived and you know they were large or small at birth, adjust accordingly. If you are buying before the birth, 3-6 months is the safest single choice, and a gift receipt covers the rest.

How many babygrows does a newborn need?

Most parents find six to eight babygrows is the working minimum for a newborn, assuming you wash every two or three days. Newborns commonly go through two or three changes a day between feeds, nappy leaks and posseting, so a stock that sounds generous disappears quickly.

It is worth having them across two sizes rather than eight in 0-3 months. A zip babygrow is easier than buttons at 3am, which is a small thing until it is not.

What ages do Lucy & Sam clothes cover?

From newborn to six years. Sizes run 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18 and 18-24 months, then 2-3, 3-4, 4-5 and 5-6 years. Baby and toddler ranges share the same prints, so siblings at different ages can be dressed from one collection.

You can shop by age at organic baby clothes and organic kids clothes, or by individual size from the Shop by Size menu.

Delivery

How much is delivery, and how fast will my order arrive?

UK standard delivery is £3.99 on Royal Mail tracked 48, and UK express is £7.99 on Royal Mail 24. Delivery is free on UK orders over £40. Orders placed before 4pm Monday to Friday are usually dispatched the same working day.

Destination	Cost	Free over	Typical time
UK standard	£3.99	£40	Royal Mail tracked 48
UK express	£7.99	—	Royal Mail 24, next working day
Europe and Ireland	£9.99	£80	5-7 days
Rest of world	£14.99	£100	5-7 days

Orders placed after 4pm go the next working day, and weekend orders go on Monday. During public holidays and peak periods allow 7-10 days, or choose express. Full detail is on our delivery and returns page.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. Lucy & Sam ships worldwide by Royal Mail standard service, typically arriving in 5-7 days. Europe and Ireland is £9.99 and free over £80. The rest of the world is £14.99 and free over £100.

Customs charges and import duties are set by the destination country and are the responsibility of the recipient, not included in the delivery price.

Returns and exchanges

What is your returns policy?

Lucy & Sam accepts refunds and exchanges on anything bought through the website within 6 months of purchase, which is considerably longer than the 14 or 28 days most retailers offer. Items must be unused and resaleable with original packaging and labelling.

Email hello@lucyandsam.com to arrange a return. Include the dispatch note that came with your order, or a note of your name and order number, so we can match it up quickly. The returns address is on the dispatch note.

Can I exchange something for a different size?

Yes, within the same 6 month window and on the same condition — unworn, with labelling intact. Email hello@lucyandsam.com with your order number and the size you need and we will arrange it.

If a gift has arrived in the wrong size and you do not have the order number, the name and address it was sent to is usually enough for us to find it.

Washing and care

How do you wash organic cotton baby clothes?

Wash at 30°C. That is enough for organic cotton, uses less energy and is far gentler on the fibres than a hot wash. Air dry where you can, avoid tumble drying, and skip dry cleaning entirely. An eco detergent is kinder to both the fabric and delicate skin.

1. Wash at 30°C on a normal cycle.
2. Use a non-biological or eco detergent, and skip fabric softener — it coats the fibres and reduces absorbency.
3. Air dry flat or on a line. Tumble drying is particularly hard on natural fibres.
4. Avoid dry cleaning, which is chemical-intensive and unnecessary for cotton.
5. Store completely dry, folded along the seams.

Our care guide goes further, including repairing and passing on clothes.

Do organic cotton clothes shrink?

Expect a small amount of relaxation in the first wash, as with any natural cotton. Washing at 30°C and air drying keeps it minimal. Tumble drying on heat is what causes noticeable shrinkage, which is one reason we recommend against it.

This is part of why we suggest sizing up if your child is between two sizes — it absorbs the first-wash settle and buys you a few more months of wear.

Why do organic cotton baby clothes stay soft longer?

Because they have not been treated with the chemical finishes that make conventional cotton feel smooth on the shelf. Those finishes wash out over the first several cycles, which is when conventional garments start to feel rough. GOTS certified cotton has nothing to lose, so it stays much the same.

Washing at 30°C without fabric softener and air drying is the single biggest thing you can do to keep it that way.

Sustainability

Is your packaging plastic free?

Yes. Lucy & Sam sends orders in plastic-free packaging. This applies to how the order arrives as well as what is inside it, and it is part of how the business operates rather than a one-off campaign.

What should I do with clothes my child has grown out of?

Pass them on before you throw them out. Gender neutral organic cotton is well suited to a second and third life — hand it down to a sibling, give it to friends, sell it on, or donate it. Cotton that has been washed gently and air dried usually has plenty of wear left.

If something is genuinely beyond wearing, textile recycling is a better destination than household waste. Our care guide covers repairing, altering and recycling in more detail.

Gifts

What is a good baby shower or new baby gift?

A baby bundle is the simplest choice — coordinated newborn essentials in a reusable gift bag, so nothing needs wrapping. If you would rather work to a budget, Lucy & Sam groups gifts into three price tiers, and 3-6 months is a safer size than newborn.

• Gifts under £15 — bibs, hats and single pieces
• Gifts under £30 — bodysuit sets, blankets and sleeping bags
• Gifts under £50 — bundles and larger gift sets

If you genuinely cannot choose, a gift card lets the parents pick once they know what they are short of.

Do you sell gift cards?

Yes. Lucy & Sam gift cards are delivered by email, can be used across the whole range, and do not commit you to a size or a print. They are a sensible option for a baby who has not arrived yet.

Contact

How do I contact Lucy & Sam?

Email hello@lucyandsam.com and a person will reply. Lucy & Sam is a small team, so questions about sizing, a gift, or an order that has not arrived are usually answered faster by asking than by guessing.

Still not answered?

Email hello@lucyandsam.com. If a question comes up often enough, it ends up on this page.