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 😭

I washed all my DS clothes before he was born, still do. And all his bedding, sleep bags etc. You don't know what's been used on them or who's been touching them. Glad I did as DS has exzema so his stuff has to be washed separately with sensitive detergent.

I washed everything because I wanted it to smell like me and DH- but who the hell has the time to iron baby clothes?! I don’t even iron my own clothes!

I wash all clothes before wearing, but I know plenty that don’t and have lived to tell the tale!

Yes, I washed all baby clothes and bedding/blankets etc, anything touching skin directly. New clothes have lots of chemicals and factory residue on them. Non-organic cotton is often treated with formaldehyde. There are loads of chemicals added to keep them from being creased and stained during their transportation and display in shops. That's why new clothes sometimes don't stain the first time you wear them, the chemicals repel the dirt!

Newborn skin is sensitive and you don't know if baby is prone to eczema or asthma etc.

It's obviously not going to kill them to wear unwashed clothes but it could make their skin uncomfortable or exacerbate allergies or eczema, all the replies saying don't bother mine were fine are missing the point!

I never did.

Yes we washed everything, having worked in retail and warehouses you can see how many people handle things, drop things, how much dust is around and that's after everything they come into contact with whilst in the factory and during transit

Definitely.

I washed everything (and still do) and ironed nothing!

Washed for my first but not for my second & there hasn't been any issue at all... In fact, my first had awful eczema as a baby - my second not at all.

Some I did some I didn't. I was glad I hadn't washed everything with two of mine as they were pretty big and went straight into 0-3 clothes, so all the smaller stuff had to go back

So for a newborn I like to wash in mild soapy water- rinse really well and line dry in a gentle breeze.
This is classic wholesome MN. Did you get them back in if the gentle breeze turned to a harsh gust?

Yes, I washed and ironed all of them in preparation.

I wash everything before either me or my baby wears them

This is classic wholesome MN. Did you get them back in if the gentle breeze turned to a harsh gust?

That is how my life works.
I line dry all year around- I don't have a tumble drier, I live in the NE on the leeward side of mountains, so winds tend to be gentle.
Not sure If I should lie about that.

I didn’t but realised after a few months it can be useful. Certain brands/types of cotton seem to shrink more than others (m&s for example) and we almost missed out on using some things because they seemed so huge compared to others until after the first wash.

Nope. Did for the first lot we got but never again after that lol

I didn’t wish I had, I now use bio d (Online or health food shops), and used warm water and cotton wool rather than wipes, as my ex had excema.
Can’t do any harm to be cautious

No. Everyone survived!

I washed all my new baby clothes, I hate the factory smell on them when they come out of the packaging, and then the subsequent lovely fairy powder and line dried fragrance is so much nicer! I would never iron them though. Life is too short to iron anything.

@Roundandballlike

I washed all my new baby clothes, I hate the factory smell on them when they come out of the packaging, and then the subsequent lovely fairy powder and line dried fragrance is so much nicer! I would never iron them though. Life is too short to iron anything.

Absolutely agree with life is too short for ironing. My general rule is if it needs ironing, it doesn't get bought. I hate ironing lol and do my best to avoid it. 😉

Some I did some I didn't. I was glad I hadn't washed everything with two of mine as they were pretty big and went straight into 0-3 clothes, so all the smaller stuff had to go back

That's a good point @mafted
I've bought a range of sizes. Might need to send some of smaller sizes back in case DD fits 0-3 months. I might skip washing the newborn sizes. Thanks!

I didn't with my older 3. But then dc4 was in nicu and the nurses said all new baby clothes had to be washed first before he could wear them so I did until he was discharged.

Having worked for a clothing retailer. Yes, in non-bio

Did with DC1 because I was told it was the done thing, didn't bother with DC2.

Has never occurred to me to wash anything before use, including bedding and no amount of scare stories about what happens in factories have yet changed my opinion.

I do however iron everything, including babygrows!

Yes because I have been to clothing factories in China. I don't iron them though.

Is it scare stories or realism?