Washing baby clothes

[Stargazer87]

Interested to hear if people are washing absolutely everything prior to use or just newborn/first clothes etc? Or not at all? I'm thinking that there must be a point whereby you stop washing clothes before wear? Also I kind of feel like it ruins the new clothes a little by taking away the brand new crisp freshness that only comes with new clothes??

[Oneandabean]

Second hand I would but not new, although with the Covid currently I’ll probably wash all new

[LividLaughLovely]

I did (and ironed them but that’s unnecessary!)

Think of all the chemicals that get sprayed on fabric, and that’s ignoring covid....

[theresaplaceforus]

I’ve washed all the newborn and up to 1 month and the blankets and sheets. Other bits will probably be washed in due course. All bits for the hospital are washed and packed too.
I think I would have always washed them but with Covid I do feel it’s essential as so many people could have touched that item while browsing the shops, sometimes things are returned and then put back on rails so I just wanted to be safe.

[Lilybet1980]

Once you’ve smelt new kids clothes from Next you will always wash new clothes, they absolutely stink!

[happymummy12345]

I didn't wash anything, didn't even realise it was a thing

[espressoontap]

I wash everything. Due no2 next week. I still was my nearly 4 year old's, too.

[Stargazer87]

I think a lot of people don't realise it's a thing...I've been watching a lot of hospital bag videos and nursery tours etc on YouTube and a lot pack hospital clothes for baby and have drawers full of clothes with labels still on...

[Saoirse22]

I only recently realised that some people don't wash newly bought stuff when my mother in law was slightly shocked upon seeing all the washing I did
I was equally shocked that she's not washing anything lol!

I washed everything I've bought for the baby just like I've always done with everything I bought for myself or my husband. You never know what chemicals are on the clothing and who touched it before you've bought it. The latter being more important than ever in this covid-19 situation.

[eggontoast2]

Absolutely should he washed! Still washing new clothes before my 3 year old wears them.
I don't understand why anyone would put a vulnerable newborn baby in clothes that they don't know where they have been.

[RainbowFlowers]

@eggontoast2 because what can possible be passed on through new clothes?

I didn't wash anything that was new with either of mine and I had no issues.

[Clevs]

I wash all clothes before wearing - baby clothes and adult clothes. I like to get rid of the plastic/shop smell before wearing them.

[Mochiface]

We washed all our DD's clothes even if newly bought . My sister used to work in the fashion industry and she told me that in the factories that she went to where the clothes were made , they threw them in the floor and conditions were not great. After hearing about that , I always washed new clothes regardless baby or mine..

[Stargazer87]

I suppose I've never thought about washing my own new clothes. I've been doing some reading around it and there's mixed opinions on if it's required for baby clothes to be washed before wear...

[SunnySideUp2020]

I personally wash all my new clothes.
Second what people say re chemicals, perfumes or whatever is sprayed in shops, floors and all.
I would definitely wash newborn clothes!!!
They aren't clean. They can be dragged and left on floors where people walk, coughed on, touched by unknown dirty hands... i mean i am a bit of a germaphobe but still for newborns who have fragile immune system and sensitive skin I'd just do it...

[Stargazer87]

Do you put them on a full cycle or just a quick wash? I've got a 28 min daily wash cycle, would that be ok?

[espressoontap]

Full wash.

[fassnk]

I washed all new clothes when i was pregnant with DS up until he was about 12 months. I just wanted him to be used to our 'smell' and our washing powder as i have sensitive skin. I dont do it now, and i dont was my or my husbands new clothes.

[scotgal99]

The only stuff I have washed is items that have arrived with marks on. Aside from that I won’t be washing anything.

[5lilducks]

I've always washed baby clothes and my own clothes before wearing. I even ironed the first lot of baby clothes but since having DD I don't even have time to iron my own clothes. Dh doesn't believe in washing new clothes before wearing and it hasn't done him any harm. I am sure I've seen a documentary somewhere which showed different parts of the same clothing item being made by different people so this means any given clothing item could have been handled by several people. Also, a lot of these clothes are made abroad so have travelled a long way, and may also have been kept in dusty storage facilities, so I will continue to wash them before wearing

[5lilducks]

I put them in a 60 minute fast wash.

[LunchBoxPolice]

I always wash baby clothes/blankets etc before using them as they usually have a weird plastic shop smell

[HumbleCrumble]

I can understand the logic of washing them but I have a history of big babies in my family and I don't want to wash a load of newborn stuff that might not fit and then not be able to return! I suppose I could wash a small selection of newborn and 0-1 then get DH to wash more once we know what we need?

[aToadOnTheWhole]

I washed everything I bought for DS1 and that was in 2016. If this pregnancy continues then I'll wash everything for that too. Shops are not clean, factories are not clean, they are sprayed with all sorts too.

I can understand the logic of washing them but I have a history of big babies in my family and I don't want to wash a load of newborn stuff that might not fit and then not be able to return! I suppose I could wash a small selection of newborn and 0-1 then get DH to wash more once we know what we need?

I didn't buy anything newborn. I had a few baby nighties for in the hospital and then onesies were up to 1m. My DS was a 9lb-er and they fit him fine and with wiggle room. You can always buy after birth and stick stuff through the wash then.

[Margo34]

I have washed some of my new baby clothes to get rid of any residue and dirt from factory machines for baby's delicate skin, on a quick 30 degree wash. Enough for a few days, but have more with tags still on in case they don't fit!
I have washed all my second hand baby clothes on a cotton 60 degree wash with antibac laundry cleanser added, too.

[FTMNOV]

I'm 30 weeks and I've just started taking all the labels off and putting into dark and light and white piles ready to be washed when the weather is right/when I get a chance to put a load in. At the moment I'm washing all blankets, sheets, towels and clothes in newborn, up to 1 month and 0-3 as that is what I will be putting out in his wardrobe ready for his arrival.

Bigger chlothes are in plastic boxes that are labelled on the side what age is in the box, it's a mixture of new and seccond hand, I will wash it when I think he's just about to grow into it as he begins to grow out of the size he is in.