Baby born at 32 weeks- how do I wash their clothes.

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Apologies if I am asking silly questions but both of my babies were born at term and I have no experience of premature babies. Yes, I am aware I could google this but I would rather ask someone who's got actual real life experience if that is OK and people are OK about answering.

A friend of mine has had a baby born at 32 weeks. At the moment the baby is quite poorly though and is still on a breathing machine. My friend has asked me to get some clothes for the little one when they are ready to wear clothes. She's also said that the hospital have asked if the clothes can be washed beforehand. I usually use fairy non bio. Will this be OK or do I need some extra gentle fragrance free stuff? Also do I need to hot wash the clothes? Is there anything else the baby or the mum might need?

Fairy non bio should be fine. Just a normal wash should be ok.

I think Fairy non bio and a 30 wash would be fine. I'd only use higher temps for stained or dirty clothes.
Snacks, lightly fragrance hand cream for the mum possibly

Normal wash should be fine.
Mum of 31 weeker here.
Also I wouldn't get too many as they grow so quickly and the . change of seasons. Lightweight that can be layered would be best.

Does your washing machine have an allergy friendly wash setting? I think it does an extra rinse or something to remove more traces of detergent. That might be an option.

Thank you all for your answers. Will pop a wash on shortly and the deliver the clothes to mum and the wee one when washed and dried.

I would grab some fragrance free non bio - Surcare, Ecover Zero and M&S own brand do one.

Fairy non bio is actually pretty strong if you’re not used to the fragrance. We had someone in my NCT group whose baby’s eczema was triggered by the fragrance.

If you have vinegar pop 1/2 cup in the fabric softener dispenser (don’t use fabric softener) as it will get nearly all traces of detergent out of the clothes.

My Twins were 32 weekers, if you haven’t bought the clothes yet see if you can get the ones that popper down the front from shoulder to hip - makes attaching / gaining access to the wires so much easier plus they are more comfortable as they are not lying on the wires. I got mine in Mothercare (are they online or totally close dc down now) and Petit Bateau.

As for washing my mum washed everything in fairy non-bio, and then re washed it all several times on a wash with nothing - that was definitely not necessary!

same here, fairy does awful things to my skin!

My mum got me a special baby safe laundry detergent

I wouldn’t use fairy it’s very strong smell. Get the fragrance free Ecover or we use Minimal eco liquid. Dont get lots of clothes then baby will grow fast. Ask mum if she wants meals for herself

You sound like a lovely friend. I hope the little one is off the breathing machine ASAP x

Non-bio should be fine. As others have said some sensitive skin cannot tolerate fairy. We use surcare instead.

For the mum, if she is expressing, get some high calorie snacks for her. I was literally expressing gold top for my premmie - my body knew she needed the calories. Which meant I did too. Brownies, energy bars, that sort of thing. And lots of drinks.

No direct experience, but I live in a country that prioritises natural products where possible.

I used fragrance free powder, and vinegar instead of fab con with a baby/ young child. The vinegar gets the clothes pretty soft while clearing any nasty stuff on the material or in the machine.

Still use the vinegar now.

My DDs friend had her baby at 34 weeks recently. Fortunately no problems and she was allowed home after a few days. I washed all baby's clothes for her and put them on a 30 degree wash using fairy non bio. Baby is doing fine and has had no issues with the detergent.

DD was in NICU and I washed her clothes in fairy non-bio.
You can get premature baby clothes that for tiny babies that have space for the wires.
You are a lovely friend

You sound like a lovely friend! My firstborn had horrendously sensitive eczema prone skin as a newborn so I put every wash through a rinse after the first wash with detergent - this rinsed out any remaining detergent and stopped it irritating her skin. I'd do the same for a premie if it was me! Their skin will be so delicate