Do you wash brand new clothes before putting them on your newborn baby?

[FetchHistory]

We're expecting a baby in a couple weeks and just been out buying some baby clothes with a friend. On the way home she mentions, all you have to do now is wash all these new clothes and iron them just in time for baby's arrival.

AIBU to put new clothes straight on my baby without washing them first? Is this a done thing or is she being unreasonable?
This includes packaged clothes. She said everything gets washed and sterilised before use.

NC because I didn't do this with my first DC and feel like a terrible mum 😭

Yes in non bio

All clothes incase some scruff in the factory scratches their bum then stitches a hem on my stuff with bum hair in their hands.

🤢🤢🤢 I can't get this visual out of my head and I'm now going to put all the new clothes I've just bought in the wash. Thanks 😂😭😭

I always wash them in non-bio detergent, but never iron anything!

Never even crossed my mind - two healthy grown up kids!

Yes of course for washing. You have no idea where they've been.

Ironing no chance

No - most were presents and after unwrapping them they were put in the chest ready to wear. I never ironed any baby clothes - they wore babygros until they were about nine months old.

Yes, dust and chemicals plus new clothes don’t smell very nice, you don’t want to take away from that lovely newborn smell. All feeding equipment and dummies should be sterilised before use. I’m not sure if anything else needs to be sterilised for a newborn baby

God no. None of my kids died. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes because the actual fabrics are stored with insecticides to repel insects and moths, and that is before they are cut and stitched and packed with further fungicides in order to transport them to the UK.

I wash everything when it is newly bought. You can often smell the chemicals.

I didn't. No issues.

I didn’t, no.

All still with us.

I did until he was about 6 months but have never ironed them.

Yes. Absolutely everything is washed.
Towels, bedding, bibs, blankets etc

Yes I did and I ironed them. With my second I’ll wash but I won’t iron 🤣

No need to sterilise clothes, that would be batshit but yes I washed newborn clothes for both of mine. There are lots of chemicals used on clothes. Also for me it was a nesting thing, there was nothing nicer than being heavily pregnant, hanging tiny little baby grows up on the whirly gig and feeling the baby kick

Yes, because as a first time mum I was fucking insane. I give you the benefit of my experience OP - you do not need to do this.

I did with my DDs newborn and 0-3 but didn’t bother after that. The smell of fairy laundry liquid just always reminds me of being pregnant/having a tiny baby now!! A few years ago my mum had a new pair of jeans from M&S and wore them on holiday, she ended up with a horrendous rash all over her legs from some chemicals that were left on them, so I wasn’t going to take that risk with my tiny baby!

Who on Earth would iron baby clothes?!

I never even got them as far as the washing line - straight from washing machine to tumble dryer.

No, never washed them.

@PattyPan

Who on Earth would iron baby clothes?!

To get the creases out.

there was a thread some time ago where posters specifically liked the plastic smell of new laundry and would never wash bedding before using it...

Each to their own. I do wash my own stuff, so I can't see how I wouldn't wash my kids ones.

First baby: yes, second baby: no

I intended to... But then DS came early so I didn't have time before. By the time the clothes actually fit him he was a couple of months old and I didn't have time/couldn't be bothered

Yes - because-

1. It's fun.Washing all those little things dreaming of days to come why not. We are allowed to enjoy such activities!
2. New clothes always have a "factory smell" to me, like industrial, slightly petrochemical smell of machinery, lubricant etc.
3. New clothes of any sort often contain startch and stiffening agents to make things look good in hangers and packaging- but I think it makes fabric feel rough.

So for a newborn I like to wash in mild soapy water- rinse really well and line dry in a gentle breeze.
Smelling fresh and feeling soft.
Babies won't come to any harm of course being dressed in clothes straight from the shop- but just the way I prefer to do thigs.