Washing clothes in prep for baby... Prob a daft newbie question...

[bumpitybumpbump]

I'm 34 weeks and am starting to get everything ready for baby no. 1's arrival.... I have read that you're supposed to wash all the new baby clothes, so I've done this with all the babygros, vests etc. But how far is one meant to take this? Do I also wash all the sheets, blankets, sleeping bags, cardigans? And what about soft toys? It all sounds a bit neurotic but I'm assuming there must be a good reason for this? Any words of wisdom would be gratefully received .

[Bunnychan]

Can't answer this but a good question so I'm going to hang around too to see the responses. On the positive; I had a musical toy second hand and I washed it in a pillowcase. I honestly thought it wouldn't play music anymore but it did! Lol x

[cleoowen]

I washed anything he would wear or lie on not toys. Should be,gentle washing liquid,too like fairy non bio. I ve started washing all our stuff in it now as it smells so nice.

[Missingthemincepies]

Yes, basically.
Wash anything that is going next to the skin or prolonged contact. So yes to sheets, blankets, sleeping bags, cardigans. Soft toys don't bother unless its going to be the one you leave in the cot with them to chew at night.
Non-bio recommended with no conditioner.
2 main reasons. Clothes etc come with various chemicals on to make them hang well in the shops, these can irritate babies skin. Also, people have looked at the amount of bacteria on new clothes (from them being chucked on the storeroom floor/from when they were made etc) and its huge! They may look clean but they're not!
DS is 2.5 now and I still wash all his clothes before he wears them, but I do with mine too. Have a visual image of a rat dropping infested storeroom.... (And yes that's been found on kids clothes too).

Others will say this is majorly OTT but I know why I'm doing it and I don't think it is.

[SweetTransvestite]

I've washed all clothes, sheets, blankets and gro bags. More to give me something nice to do though than for a particular reason.

I think you're supposed to wash new clothes as chemicals will still be on them from the manufacturing process and unless they are wrapped in plastic, you don't know how much they've been handled in packaging, delivery, while in shops, being dropped on floors etc.

[TheCountessOlenska]

I think it's just because brand new clothes, blankets etc might have nasty chemicals on from the factory so it's a good idea to wash them in non-bio. But I wouldn't bother doing the soft toys as well - baby will be too little to start putting them in his/her mouth.

I am on baby number 2 and I will be washing the first size clothes but I remember from last time that you start bunging them in baby grows straight from the packet pretty quick!

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

I washed all clothes, blankets and sheets.

I didn't do toys though, but I did tick his little teddy bear into my top so it would smell of me and provide some comfort. I completely made that theory up and have no idea if it worked or not

[SweetTransvestite]

Oops cross post mincepies.

[twinklesparkles]

I wash everything other than toys

If somethings new in sealed packet I might not wash it.

Use the same washing powder and conditioner for all the items

:)

[Discolite]

I washed all my new baby stuff yesterday actually. I've done it on the 15 minute cycle with one washing tablet and then stuck it on again for another 15 minutes with no detergent to get rid of the excess.

Second hand things from friends have gone through the full cycle as they've been in storage for a long time!

I'm going to wash the second hand soft toys and sling as well as they've been up in my friend's loft and could do with freshening up.

I just see it as a fresh start really. And I have been enjoying folding sleepsuits and vests, makes it seem more real!

[Bunnychan]

Do you also wash home knitted clothes? X

[MortifiedAdams]

I didnt pre wash anything.

[Nordicmom]

I washed all clothes and bedding in ecover non bio . Often clothes and sheets etc have residue of chemicals left on them . Babies skin is much thinner and more delicate than adults so might get irritated more easier. I didn't wash toys. For an older child I have washed some plactic toys that they eat with washing up liquid .

[Nordicmom]

Also washed my bugaboo chameleon seat fabric and footmuff that DS had used years ago and the Moses basket liner fabric.

[willoughboobs]

i didn't pre wash anything and my dc skin was fine
my df pre washed everything and then gave birth to a ds and had to put him in all pink and couldn't return anything

[Bibs123]

i didnt wash any brand new stuff. DD was fine. i think its more of a choice thing not a necessity.

[StuckOnARollercoaster]

This makes interesting reading... On other threads I've seen comments that its hard to know how much you will need in the newborn/0-3 month sizes because it depends on your own babies size and how quickly they grow, so you should leave tags on so you can swap for better sizes if you are not using stuff.
I'm guessing you can't take something back to a shop for a swap if you've already washed it?

[bumpitybumpbump]

Thanks everyone! I think I'll wash everything, but it's good to know why I'm doing this! Hasn't even thought about store room floor element, yuk! X

[GingerDoodle]

I didn't wash anything that was new. I didn't think it was necessary and my DD (4 months) is fine.

[worsestershiresauce]

I've not washed anything, and won't be able to. Mid building work - if I can find somewhere clean and dust free for her to sleep I'll consider myself organised. I'm reassured to see other people didn't and their babies were fine.

[NotSoNervous]

I washed everything, clothes, sleeping bags, sheets, the lot. I didn't wash toys because when their newborns their not going to be cuddling/eating ect

[5madthings]

I washed all clothes and bedding for each of my five, as others have said they are treated with chemicals etc and also not always stored well by shops etc.

[AmberHare]

We inherited lots of used clothes from sister's children that we used for the first few weeks. But after that, never bothered to wash new clothes that we bought ourselves or received as gifts and have never had any problems as a result.

[MrsHoarder]

We only bought 2 packs of sleepsuits and vests in newborn for exactly that reason: cost about a tenner so we weren't worried about them not fitting. Babies don't need outfits for the first few Weeks and you'll probably be given loads of stuff.

But yrs, we washed all clothes and bedding. If you will wash it normally then its no hassle to wash it before use.

[Nordicmom]

I only bought 0-3m for both of mine . No newborn size at all. Both turned out to be quite big and grew into their clothes . DS needed lots of vests and babygros because he brought up half a feed every time but DD stayed clean for the whole day normally so didn't use as many...