Knitters know that people have been using buttons on baby clothing for centuries. They didn't have zippers or Velcro or clever snaps back in the day. They knit their babies wool cardigans, and those cardigans had buttons, darnit.
But when it comes to baby clothes, regardless of whether or not buttons are actually safe, a lot of parents will not allow them on their baby clothes. End of story.
Some parents who receive baby clothes with buttons will clip the buttons off (hopefully being careful). Others will just thank the knitter profusely, then cram the garment in the back of a drawer, never to be worn.
Knitters know that the way we attach our buttons is (when done correctly) far sturdier than mass market clothing buttons. But that doesn't allay the fear of parents, who worry that their baby will pop the button off and choke on it. And in their defense, never underestimate the strength of a baby. They may look like weaklings, but a determined baby can really grab something with a surprising amount of strength.
In fact, due to safety concerns, some citizen groups have been calling for an end to buttons on baby clothing, although without much success.
As offensive as the idea may be to knitters, the most important thing is not to take it personally. Modern parents are keenly aware of many dangers that people brushed off in the past. (When I was a baby, there was no such thing as car seats. The passenger held the baby, and the odds were good that the passenger wasn't wearing a seatbelt. A lot of people - babies and adults both - died in car accidents back then.)
Parents are just trying to keep their baby safe the best way they know how. They don't mean it as a criticism of you personally, or your knitting skills.
When in doubt, ask ahead. If you can't ask the parents, then your safest bet is to make your baby garment without buttons. A zipper is a good alternative to buttons. Another option is the snap band, which has the advantage of offering a clean look to your garment, since there are no visible buttons or togs.
Image courtesy Flickr/s.red
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