Washing baby and baby's clothes

[IrishMaeve]

Silly questions but here goes anyway ..

My first baby is due in four weeks time and I'm in the final stages of getting ready.

My questions are really basic but also simple.

Washing baby in the first few months:

• what products would you recommend in terms of baby shampoo, bath gel, etc. Would clean warm water suffice at the beginning? I can't see how a baby can get too dirty (apart from nappy-related, of course) until they start grabbing things and becoming more mobile. I went to buy products in the supermarket today and was overwhelmed by the range on offer!

Washing baby's clothes:

• I've read recommendations to wash baby's clothes before they wear them - sounds sensible, would mums agree?
• Also (really silly question now), on clothes which have poppers, do you open the poppers before you wash them?
• Finally, is it generally fine to wash baby's clothes with the normal non-bio tabs?

Thanks and hope you're all enjoying the sun!

[lynniep]

I was advised just plain water until 3 months at very least (and also cotton wool and water to clean bum - that didnt last terribly long though before I switched to wipes!) So no, don't worry about that just yet.
I did wash babys clothes before wearing, but then they were all hand-me-downs anyway.
I never thought about the poppers - they will have gone in the wash open though as thats how they came off DS!
It depends on the baby too - my DS was bit sensitive to non-bio tabs and switched to surcare. He seems to have 'recovered' since as I started using normal stuff when he was about 18 months and he didnt get a rash like he did before. On the other hand the rash may have been heat rash and nothing to do with the washing powder!

[Northernlurker]

You don't need anything to wash baby with other than water at first. They doon't get very dirty but the 'creases' can get a bit milk filled and therefore smelly if you don't wipe them out. Baby shampoo etc isn't needed for ages. When you feel they are big enough to benefit just buy one product whcih is as gentle as possible. I like earth friendly baby organic lavender shampoo and bodywash and the little me stuff is also nice. You don't need talcum powder - it just goes everywhere and makes them cough!

Washing clothes - yes non-bio tablets etc is usually fine. It doesn't matter afaik about the poppers and washing clothes before wear helps to get the stuff that shops put on them to keep them perfect off - and that's good. It also gives you something to do whilst waiting for the birth!

[lynniep]

Oh - exception for me on the products front was cradle cap shampoo as DS had it.

[TheProvincialLady]

Wash them with the poppers open as the first time you put a babygrow on the LAST thing you need is even more poppers to deal with

[IrishMaeve]

thanks a lot ladies!

[bronze]

Only product I use on my is hemp oil. Hes a liitle dry so I put it in his bath water and
he gets fine coating as he comes out of the water.

DD didnt have a bath til she was3 months old so theyre not even essential

[juuule]

For washing baby I used a tiny squirt of baby bath in the bath water. If I was just changing a nappy I used cotton wool and water although sometimes I did use a bit of baby soap to make sure the old barrier cream was removed.
For dry skin, I put a smear of Vaseline on.
For cradle cap I used olive oil.

Washing clothes. I washed all clothes before using to remove residue on new clothes and obviously ensure hygiene on hand-me-downs. I used a non-bio powder and made sure the clothes were well rinsed. Never thought about whether the poppers were open or shut.

[wotulookinat]

I opened all the poppers the first time I washed the clothes (before they were worn). I don't know why and I am pretty sure it doesn't matter.
We also just washed baby in water only for the first few months.
Do get yourself a bath ramp though. I recommend this one.
We did just used cotton wool and water to clean his bottom for a week or so. I wouldn't bother doing that next time around and would just go for wipes.
I remember only using Fairy powder for the first six months, then Persil non-bio. I only started using bio again when he was two.