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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give up on ironing baby clothes before baby is even here?

77 replies

directyourcall · 15/07/2016 13:53

Oh my god they're literally impossible to iron. Spent over an hour and only ironed a couple of them. Managed to get them crease free with only a few tears.

Left them on the ironing board yesterday and I've gone to them today and the crease goblin has been and they don't look like they've been ironed at all. I folded them once in the middle, that's it.

Fuck it. I've packed them in babies hospital bag anyway, I'm 39 weeks so it needs to be packed regardless. AIBU to think it's a little bit pointless to try and iron them again? Sad I don't want baby to look scruffy but I'm fighting a losing battle here.

OP posts:
Trooperslane · 15/07/2016 17:16

Sweet Jesus are you kidding me?

I am 43 and my clothes don't get ironed.

STEP AWAY FROM THE IRON

DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING!

lifesalongsong · 15/07/2016 17:16

Is it no caffeine when pregnant now?

I'm glad my children are older and I didn't have to worry about that, I don't know how the teens of today managed to survive with all the bad stuff we used to do. What is the concern with caffeine?

BoredOnMatLeave · 15/07/2016 17:18

OP if it makes you feel slightly less mental I have ironed not only the baby grows but also the muslin squares Blush

I'm 39 weeks too and have put it down to nesting and know that they will never be ironed again

kungfupannda · 15/07/2016 17:18

What?! Sorry, WHAT?!!!

FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 15/07/2016 17:21

lifesalongsong you're allowed 200mg of caffeine per day! That's a couple of cups of tea - and you have to beware of chocolate because it's caffeinated. Oh yes.

EdmundCleverClogs · 15/07/2016 17:21

What's an iron Confused.

My child's clothes barely see the naice chest of drawers he has, it's usually just a circle of wear, laundry basket, wash, dry, wear.... (Mil got every so judgy-pants about a few bits hanging on the radiator, but needed them close to had for an especially pooey newborn Grin)

OhNoNotMyBaby · 15/07/2016 17:31

How very funny!
though this is the path to ruination OP. Now I only ever iron work clothes, wear odd socks and generally don't wear make-up. It's a long slippery path...

Please tell your OH - nicely and politely - to just fuck the fuck off.

foxessocks · 15/07/2016 17:37

I remember doing this when I was pregnant with my first. I was definitely nesting! This time I'm 34 weeks pregnant and have just dug out some old vests which are covered in sawdust so I suppose I'd better sort that out at the very least...

Fomalhaut · 15/07/2016 17:42

My mum ironed all our baby stuff before ds arrived.
So they've been done once...😬

Original poster
directyourcall · 15/07/2016 18:00

I love fizzy drinks (I survived on them when at the throwing up faze) as I don't drink hot drinks at all. So I tend to drink squash or fizzy drinks during the day. I do drink full fat cola with caffeine but if I do I know Im only allowed maybe two large glasses plus any chocolate I have. So if I buy caffeine free cola I know I don't have to worry about how much I'm having that day. Especially as chocolate milk (don't like plain milk) seems to be more effective than gaviscon for acid now. Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
directyourcall · 15/07/2016 18:02

Oh and yes probably nesting. Not quite got the urge to clean the whole house but I keep panicking about not having enough clothes or the Moses basket looking too shabby...

Come to think of it I've only got 3 baby grows in newborn size as I've been predicted to have a big baby so it's all OH can do to restrain me from buying more clothes. Just in case. Despite family telling me again and again that they will dash to shops if I need small sizes.

OP posts:
Babysafari · 15/07/2016 18:08

Well I don't iron anything at all. I gave up ironing a couple of years ago and haven't looked back.

I know you're nesting and I was this time last year, I wasted time polishing the towel rail and re straightening cushions but honestly just put your feet up.

BeALert · 15/07/2016 18:08

Now is a really good time to remind yourself that you don't have to do what your MIL thinks you should be doing (or indeed what anyone else).

You are an adult, about to have a baby - you get to make the decisions.

Enjoy your last week or so and good luck with the baby!

thatsn0tmyname · 15/07/2016 18:11

Blimey, I'm house-proud but wouldn't dream of ironing baby clothes. Put your feet up and enjoy a good box set.

idontlikealdi · 15/07/2016 18:12

Give your OH the iron them!!

Babysafari · 15/07/2016 18:13

Just read your comment about your oh and mil.

It's definitely not normal to iron baby clothes. You definitely won't have time once baby is here and if your dh wants them ironed then he can do them.

It's quite normal to have to change a baby's clothes 2-3 times a day it's poo/sick and then later on with weaning, no way would you keep ironing it all.

jusdepamplemousse · 15/07/2016 18:17

Ironing baby clothes indeed GrinGrinGrin

No. We do not iron baby clothes.

YABVVVVU to iron baby clothes.

FlowersChocolateCake for you. Step away from the iron. Good luck for the birth!

waterrat · 15/07/2016 18:41

Op. The most important thing to learn here is that when you have a child you will need to start ignoring other people's opinions. All.the.time.

catsilversilk · 15/07/2016 18:42

I've got 2 dc's, it never occurred to me to iron anything, at all, until they were at least school age! Particularly baby clothes, not sure I ever met anyone who did?

I second the pp, seriously tell your OH to jog right on!!

Sleepybeanbump · 15/07/2016 18:45

I honestly didn't know that anyone ever in the history of the universe has ever ironed baby clothes. WHY?

On the plus side, you're obviously having a MASSIVE nesting urge and are bound to go into labour any minute.

SO SIT DOWN AND STOP WASTING YOUR LAST DAYS/HOURS/MINUTES OF FREEDOM!!! Smile

Also babies all look scruffy. It will have a flaky scalp and, puke all over its clothes not to mention a gradual built up or exploding-nappy stains that just won't bleach out.

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/07/2016 18:47

My DSs are 16 and almost 15 and have never in their life worn anything (other than pants and socks and swimwear/non cotton sportwear) that hasn't been ironed. DH does it all though.

RaspberryOverload · 15/07/2016 18:50

Another vote in favour of not ironing the baby clothes.

Most baby stuff is that cotton jersey. Hang to dry nicely and fold carefully and no ironing. Job done.

In fact, I only have a few clothes that I actually iron, most of my stuff just dries on hangers and gets put away without ironing.

geekymommy · 15/07/2016 18:52

If you want to be extra nice, give MIL or OH the iron so they can grasp the handle in their hand, so they can iron the baby clothes. If you DON'T feel like being extra nice, give them a hot iron to the face (or... use your imagination).

I am 41, and I have never ironed anything. If anyone had told me to iron baby clothes, I would have laughed at them- I would have been sure they were joking.

To anyone who thinks ironing baby clothes is a reasonable thing to do, I say to you what I say to people who buy $500 baby outfits- "You do know they're going to poo in them, right?"

geekymommy · 15/07/2016 19:16

Your standards of dress will go down, with a baby. If someone asks me to put clean clothes on myself and the baby, I'd be like, "what, is the Queen coming over for tea?" If you and the baby are wearing clothes that don't have any wee, poo, spit-up, or milk on them, then you're doing pretty well.

Unless your MIL IS the Queen... In that case, don't you have servants to do that sort of thing for you? Even us commoners have laundry services we can use.

honeylulu · 15/07/2016 21:08

Ironing baby clothes? Ahahahahaha!