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When did you stop washing baby clothes before use?

87 replies

0hMy · 23/04/2021 06:34

Exactly as the title says, really. I’ve searched other threads and can’t seem to find the answer (neither can Google, it seems). I know some of the chemicals used in manufacturing can be harmful to babies’ skin, but at what age does this pose less of a risk and washing isn’t necessary? Thank you.

OP posts:
ILoveMyCaravan · 23/04/2021 11:46

Wash all new clothes before wearing apart from socks and coats. Can't imagine putting a newborn baby in clothes that have been in contact with all sorts during manufacture and packing.

bumpertobumper · 23/04/2021 12:53

I wash all new clothes before they're worn, except socks usually.
I have been in a clothes factory, a best practice clothes factory where they were showing off the good working conditions for the workers but seeing all the processes and places the clothes go through I have always washed them all since.

DoraDont · 23/04/2021 14:06

Once she was born! There was enough to do without making more work.

I only pre-washed the stuff we got before she was born because I was at home twiddling my thumbs on maternity leave.

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bananaboats · 23/04/2021 14:12

I've never washed new clothes!

WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo · 23/04/2021 14:18

I've never washed things pre-wear.

FizzyApricot · 23/04/2021 14:43

I wash all clothes when first bought apart from socks.

KeyWorker · 23/04/2021 15:08

She’s 6 now and I still wash brand new clothes. I don know why you'd stop!

Eyevorbig0ne · 23/04/2021 15:09

Eh? I never did.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 23/04/2021 15:40

I have genuinely never heard of this.

I might wash something second-hand (from eBay or similar) but otherwise it would never occur to me to wash new clothes!

It's also worth nothing that you can't send things back (unless they're faulty) once they've been washed and have had tags removed, so always worth trying on and making sure you're happy first.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 23/04/2021 15:41

@KeyWorker

She’s 6 now and I still wash brand new clothes. I don know why you'd stop!
Why would you start?
JeanClaudeVanDammit · 23/04/2021 15:43

Never did unless they were second hand or smelled chemically (which I can only think of one set of babygrows where that was the case). It just seemed a bit unnecessary. Never had any problems as a result, glad I saved myself the bother.

Topseyt · 23/04/2021 15:49

I have never washed brand new clothes before they were worn.

If I buy from a charity shop then I will wash them first.

Smartiepants79 · 23/04/2021 16:03

Think I only ever washed the first batch of newborn clothes before they were born.
Didn’t have time to worry about it after that!
If they’d had a reaction I would have done it though.

zukiecat · 23/04/2021 16:08

I didn't ever wash my daughters clothes before being worn.

I don't wash anything at all before being worn.

Love51 · 23/04/2021 16:10

My children mostly wear "Preloved" (second hand) clothes. I always wash before use, although now they are older they dive into the pile and wear their favourites before I get the chance!

foxyroxyyy · 23/04/2021 16:12

I wash everyone's everything before wearing.

Tangledtresses · 23/04/2021 16:16

Most of mot all baby clothes are now made with okeo tex grade fabric
Meaning no nasty chemicals..... check on the back of the label
If not just wash once.... no need to go bonkers

Mylittlesandwich · 23/04/2021 16:17

DS has very sensitive skin so I tend to wash everything but if it wasn't for that I wouldn't bother.

PermanentTemporary · 23/04/2021 16:20

Never did it. If I'd had a baby with eczema that would have been different I'm sure.

YorkshireIndie · 23/04/2021 16:24

9 months but still wash if it is second hand or vests.

CornedBeef451 · 23/04/2021 16:28

I still wash all new clothes before we wear them!

ElaborateSalad · 23/04/2021 16:29

I've never washed any clothes before wearing. Both kids still alive and have never reacted.

bubblebath62636 · 23/04/2021 16:34

I didn't bother with dd1, now pregnant and giving them a wash due to covid etc.

I probably wouldn't bother otherwise and probably wont from 6 months +

CorianderBee · 24/04/2021 19:44

I still do at 25, but I have eczema