Washing clothes before baby uses them

[LibbyLou123]

AIBU to not understand why my sister washes all of her newborn babies brand new clothes before she will dress him in them? I mean, she literally removes the price tag and throws them straight in the wash. A bit PFBish?

My cousin does this. I understand the theory, but I don't do it lol

My son had a reaction the one time I didn't do this! Do you know clothes haven't ended up on the floor in the shop or been handled by someone with filthy hands!?

no, the dressing in the clothes can irritate the skin. washed alll mine as well, though only on the quickwash. did it with both children.

Clothing is generally chemically treated in manufacture, lots of people prefer to wash clothes before putting thm on sensitive baby skin. Many adults still like washing clothes before they wear them themselves. Not pfb-ish, just a pretty normal choice.

I did it. We all have sensitive skin in this house so don't know what new clothes have been previously washed in. I do it with most new clothes, not just baby ones.

I do this with anything that's new and washable. Textiles are treated with all sorts of stuff to keep them neat in transit and storage and I don't like the smell!

I've always done it.

My mate, a bloke, washes all his clothes before he wears anything. Manufacturers use chemicals to launder the fabric so if you have a sensitive skin it can be a good idea.

I did it with my pfb, and ironed them too . Dc2 however... Let's just say I'm a LOT more relaxed.

Lots of people like to because there is apparently some sort of chemical coating on new clothes (which is surely then replaced with another chemical coating of washing powder and softener in the wash?), because it makes them smell nice or because they are worried about general factory/shop ming going on their new baby.

I think it's a bloody faff having done it first time round, I've got enough washing to do without adding to it unnecessarily.

Maybe they bring the baby out in a rash otherwise?

I tend to wash new clothes, as I have found if (haha, or rather when with my baby) they get a stain on them , it is much harder to get out if the clothes have never been washed.

You are supposed to do this!

Some of the chemicals that the clothes may have been finished with can cause a bad skin reaction.

You are supposed to do it with your own clothes too, particularly underwear.

Why would it bother you anyway, is she asking you to do the washing for her or something???

Its not PFB at all, I did it with both of mines - because as I said - you are supposed to!! Just google it...

I do it. Learnt my lesson pre-DS after waking up with a rash on half my face after using a new pillow case. Student laziness, never repeated

Formaldehyde is one of the main chemicals used in clothing manufacture, to inhibit mould growth during transit and storage...it's a nasty one.

But I can't say I washed everything, no!

Crikey, every day is a school day. I had no idea you were supposed to wash things before you or your baby wore them.
How have I got to 47 without this knowledge
I am honestly not being sarkky.

I wash things I've bought from eBay because i don't like the smell of other people's washing, plus you don't know if they have actually washed it recently anyway. But brand new stuff, nope. Never have.

Ok fair enough, I didn't know you were supposed to do this.

rhondajean - I didn't say it bothered me....I said I didn't understand why she did it

I washed everything in non bio, gentle detergent before my babies wore them. I never do it for older children or adults though - apart from Jeans because the excess dye rubs off on your skin until you have washed them

I did this for 2 reasons.

1. You don't know what suff has been on floors or hanging around on shelves etc picking up dirt. You sterilise dummies, bottles for teenies, why not clothes?
2. I wanted to see how lovely they all looked out on my washing line, all the tiny vests and babygros. I was so busy texting my mum to tell her that I forgot to take a picture, which was the whole point !

My MIL was really surprised, she said it had never occurred to her to do it.

Your sister will soon find she has enough to do, and won't do it after LO arrives. It'll be tags off, babygro on!

Kreecher you've obviously been lucky with non - allergic / eczemic children!!

Surely everyone washes new pants before wearing??

smell clothes in the shop - it's not the nicest smell.

ds2 got a funny rash from a new, unwashed ikea fleece i threw over him one freezing cold night.

I don't wash new pants

I did it. Washed everything I bought before DD was born and then when people gave us clothes for presents used to take the labels off and put them straight in the wash. This was DH's job!
Thinking about it perhaps it is a bit PFBish but you are told to do it and when I didn't know anything different I go with the guidelines. Having said that I'd do the same if I had another DC.

I do this for baby dd in non-bio. DH has since started washing his new clothes before he wears them too .