Washing your newborns clothes and bedding in advance of them arriving?!

[moomin35]

I'm sure I've seen this discussed somewhere before but I'm not sure where so I apologise if this has been done to death but I just wondered whether you will be washing all sheets/blankets/towels/clothes etc before your baby arrives?
Also what about muslins, I have some brand new ones from mothercare ones which feel very crusty to me(!) on taking them out the packet but would it be ridiculous to wash these before using seeing as they will only be used to mop up p*/snt/puke etc?!

[Pickles79]

I washed everything last time and will again this time.

[SilveryMoon]

I washed everything. I used muslins to hold around the bottle and at the face when feeding my babies, so I could catch dribbles wsithout having to take out bottle.

[whereisshe]

I washed absolutely everything except the car seat because I couldn't figure out how to get the cover off. Who knows what chemical residue is left from the manufacturing process or what dirty storerooms they've been sitting in in the interim.

[SizzlesSit]

Yes I did for DS1 and am in the process of doing it for DS2 - both new stuff and DS1's hand me downs as they've been stored away in boxes for 2.5 years...

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I washed everything before both mine arrived.

[Angelina77]

Why does everything need washing?

[HolidayCriminal]

I never washed a thing unless it looked dirty or smelled, and I would do exactly that again.

[moomin35]

For those of you that washed everything can I ask whether you washed muslins too?! Or is it that unnecessary?

[Clargo55]

Things are covered in pesticide chemicals and chemicals to make them shop 'ready' basically keeping them crease free for display in stores. These chemicals are not great for baby's skin. Not to mention some store rooms are filthy and have vermin crawling around over the stock.

[marzipananimal]

I washed muslins. They'll be used for wiping baby's mouth etc

[GiveTwoSheets]

I washed everything including Muslins just so they were soft and not scratchy plus like smell of my home (washing powder&comfort) on stuff

[pootlebug]

If your muslins are new I'd wash them. They go much more fluffy and absorbent after a wash (and absorbent is the point with muslins). As well as fewer chemicals, as per previous post.

[22honey]

I will be washing everything, got some new and second hand stuff. Not looking forward to it though, I hate cleaning and housework to be honest and thats what I consider it as, lol!

My SIL when she had her first baby last year went absolutely insane with the cleaning and washing everything, actually spent days sterilising the whole house ?! Yet didn't have a problem using a second hand mattress for her cots and moses baskets, and has now passed them to me expecting me to do the same. Her theory is, babies used to sleep in drawers and other unsuitable places back in the day so it will be fine. If thats the case, why spend so much time and effort sterilising and cleaning everything, as back in the day people used to live in caves and huts and nothing was clean?

Needless to say I'm not really keen on using these now third hand mattresses but felt rather rude saying no.

[TheRealYellowWiggle]

22honey please don't use such an old mattress, I really don't think that is good practice re SIDS.

[22honey]

I'm not going to, I already knew it was a risk and told DP however SIL kept insisting it was fine, aslong as its clean blah blah blah. Makes no difference really as I won't be using her old mattress and got kind of annoyed with her trying to force her way of doing things onto me. I couldn't care less if ages ago babies slept in drawers, a lot more of them died of SIDS then aswell!!

[SizzlesSit]

Agree - get a new mattress. We have for our moses basket - got one for ten quid brand new. Not bothering for the cot tho as DS almost never slept in it we started cosleeping almost from the moment he went in his cot and put him in a normal bed at 13 months as he point blank refused the cot

And yes, I washed muslins. They are used to wipe baby's mouth and hands which then go in the mouth...

I didnt find washing everything a big chore - baby clothes dont take much space! Did 2 machine loads

[SizzlesSit]

X post

[22honey]

Yes definately will be as do not feel comfortable whatsoever when its so easy and cheap to replace, and I know I won't be co sleeping though as a friends DS died whilst doing it at 7 months old. My mum apparently did it with me but after my friend sadly losing their DS I'd never feel comfortable risking it!

Should baby stuff be put in the tumble dryer or just on radiators etc to dry? Does it matter? xxx

[Clargo55]

Tumble dryer will be fine. You want to avoid drying on radiators really as it can cause damp in your house and damage to the radiators over time.

[22honey]

Thanks, yes I don't use the radiators much anyway only for the odd time I'm drying clothes of mine that can't be tumble dried due to shrinkage or whatever! xxx

[Hobby2014]

Sorry to go off course slightly, and hijack the thread, but when did you all wash the baby stuff? How many weeks before baby was due? Is there a too early?

[Clargo55]

I think some time between 30-37weeks would be a good time.

I guess it's good to have some washed before packing a hospital bag, so I'd maybe start them at a similar time.

It's lovely seeing little baby's things out on the line

[moomin35]

Thanks pootlebug I'll put them on a quick wash in that case

[Moonshine1]

I washed all of baby's things last time and will again this time, including muslins!

[Waggamamma]

I washed everything for dc1 in first sizes but by bigger sizes I had given up.

The only issue I have is that I don't know what size baby is going to be, I have bought some newborn and 0-1 month things. If I take the tags off and wash then and baby is 10lb+ then it's a real waste as I won't be able to return them or sell them as new. There's a chance this will be a big baby as dc1 was over 9lbs.