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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Washing clothes before baby uses them

69 replies

LibbyLou123 · 23/11/2011 14:23

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?

OP posts:

HappyCamel · 23/11/2011 14:38

I do. For me too. Heaven only knows where they've been, factories, shipping containers, boxes, rails touched by lots of people. They aren't exactly clean! I'd think it was more odd not to.

WobbledWeeble · 23/11/2011 14:40

I did wash all DDs clothes and still do - she has very sensitive skin and when she was first born and didnt fit any of the sleepsuits we already had P ran to the shops to get smaller ones - put one on her and she came up in eczema/rash - midwife said it was something to do with the chemicals used to treat the materials etc. So now I always wash them. Plus they always have that overpowering "shop" smell and I like them to smell of my baby instead!

DesperatelySeekingPomBears · 23/11/2011 14:43

I'm 32 weeks pregnant with DC1 and was planning on doing this anyway, but I just wondered, out of curiosity, what if it's an expensive item and it turns out to be too small? Or the gender you weren't expecting pops out? Will I just have to resign myself to wasting money?

Ragwort · 23/11/2011 14:47

I never did - perhaps I was just lucky as my DS never had any odd reaction !

Most of his clothes were hand me downs so I assume they had been washed at some point I don't always wash charity shop clothes either.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 23/11/2011 14:49

Have a completely insensitive DD and don't wear knickers.

Lexie1970 · 23/11/2011 14:52

I washed all of my DS! As previous poster said - seeing all babygros and stuff drying gives you a warm fuzzy feeling (I know this sounds naff :) :) )

Don't bother now he is nearly 5, don't bother for adults but always wash new bedding and towels.

notso · 23/11/2011 14:53

I made that mistake with DS1 Desparately, bought newborn stuff and washed it, then had a 9lb 5oz chubbster who burst out of a newborn babygro like the incredible hulk with one stretch!

That's what Ebay is for though!

With DS2 I was more cautious and bought 0-3 months.

ohbabybaby · 23/11/2011 15:03

I did for both DCs when they were little babies- newborn skin is very sensitive plus you don't know whether they will have particularly sensitive skin (and don't want to find out the hard way!). Ditto not using fabric softener. I don't consider it a pfb thing to do.

rhondajean · 23/11/2011 15:20

PMSL kreecher!!

Pom how about washing all your non expensive neutral items and waiting to see for the rest?

Psammead · 23/11/2011 15:30

I did it. Nasty chemicals. Takes a few washes to get out. Am not so fussy about 2nd hand clothes though.

sugarandspite · 23/11/2011 15:32

Not only do I wash all new baby clothes, I handwash them with proper soap flakes. And I do all their washing like this up until about the weaning stage when more serious stain removal is required.

It is a bit of a faff but it means there are no chemicals next to their delicate skin and I find it much easier to get pooh stains out this way.

And because my mum told me to!

DeliaSucksStuffingBalls · 23/11/2011 15:32

I did with my first. With the next two DC's I didn't bother. Just like I didn't bother with lots of other things I did first time round.

Kladdkaka · 23/11/2011 15:35

A lot of textiles are sprayed with formaldehyde to preserve them in storage. This is very toxic and can be absorbed through the skin. See scientist husband I do listen to you rabbiting on, I just ignore what you said that's all

Psammead · 23/11/2011 15:37

My midwife told me that clothes need about seven washes to be completely free from the chemicals.

I didn't do seven washes, I did two.

I still do one wash for new clothes for DD before she wears them, she is 2.

Davsmum · 23/11/2011 15:46

Its all part of preparation for the baby coming,... thats another reason to do it ! I enjoyed doing it for my first baby, infact it was exciting,.. I never thought that washing something would excite me. Thats how ga ga you can get when you have your first !

TroublesomeEx · 23/11/2011 16:10

We do it. I still do. For lots of reasons:

1 - the chemicals as previously mentioned although I didn't know about the 7 washes Psammead.

2 - in case they've been kicked around the floor at any point.

3 - in case someone handling them has picked their nose.

4 - in case someone handling them has scratched their arse/jiggled their bits bare handed.

that sort of thing. yuk.

Pom buy white vests and babygrows, they can't be the wrong colour, and whatever size you get, they won't last long anyway.

Blatherskite · 23/11/2011 16:10

I seem to remember an ad campaign around the time one of mine was born that went "New does not mean Clean" which I repeat to DH every time he asks me why I'm washing new clothes before we wear them.

If clothing is washed at all (before it spends months in a shipping container with god knows what else) then it's in much dirtier water than your average washing machine and then it's sprayed with all sorts of chemicals to make it stay "fresh" for it's journey.

And then, for adult clothing at least, you can never be sure of the cleanliness of the person who potentially tried that piece of clothing before you - all those sweaty pits and groins rubbing against your brand new jeans/shirt/bra/whatever

I just googled "New does not mean clean" looking for the campaign and found this!

and this - "There are two good reasons to wash new clothes before you wear them. One is to wash out extra dye that can be transferred to your skin or other garments. And, more importantly, to remove chemical finishes that manufacturers put on clothes to enhance color or texture. The finishes won't bother everyone, but if you have sensitive skin you can develop a rash. Children's clothing, especially for babies should always be washed before they are worn. Babies are particularly sensitive to chemicals. Plus, washing the clothes will make them softer and more comfortable to wear. This also applies to bed linens and towels."

I think I'll carry on as I am.

TattyDevine · 23/11/2011 16:24

I've never done it. And probably never will!

lisaro · 23/11/2011 16:26

Even if the clothes were made in the UK, chances are the fabric or raw materials are shipped over. These will have been fumigated. Also, they will have been treated with all sorts of other chemicals. Frankly, I'm shocked everybody doesn't wash clothes, bedding etc before use either for a baby or yourself.

ratspeaker · 23/11/2011 16:33

I always did and still do
My DD1 gets itchy just trying on clothes in the changing room

difficulttimes · 23/11/2011 16:35

I thought everyone did this ? for babies anyway

my ds is 2 it wont kill him now but I still use non- bio

NoOnesGoingToEatYourEyes · 23/11/2011 16:46

I did/still do this because often it's recommended on the tags or packaging and I think things feel nicer after they have been washed to.

I wash most of DS's stuff before he wears it and I was anything woollen for me because I often get a rash from wool if I haven't washed it first. DH usually washes new socks before he wears them because the dye can transfer due to his stinky feet if he doesn't.

And I always wash new bedding before it goes on the beds.

Shutupanddrive · 23/11/2011 18:40

I always washed new clothes for the dc's until they were about one or two, then didn't bother. Don't bother with mine ever

upahill · 23/11/2011 18:48

I'm same as Kreecher.
nearly 47 and I didn't know you were supposed to do this!

it never occured to me to do it. in fact I would try and keep the clothes as clean for as long as possible so that I didn't have to wash them as I didn't want the colours to fade!

tyler80 · 23/11/2011 18:54

I never do this, far too lazy. I've never had a problem even though I come out in a rash the minute I wear anything that's been washed with softener.

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