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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

144 replies

FetchHistory · 02/08/2021 17:48

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 😭

OP posts:
DappledThings · 02/08/2021 21:19

@RhonaRed

Is it scare stories or realism?
Well it might all be true but I don't care so as far as I'm concerned it's stories designed to scaring me into thinking badly about something I don't care about
TheNinny · 02/08/2021 21:20

I never did this at all. DD was fine

ActonSquirrel · 02/08/2021 21:22

Not all of them just in case. My friend bought a load of newborn clothes and washed them all before birth. Her son was 10lbs 4oz and went straight into 0-3 months!!!

BobMortimersPetOwl · 02/08/2021 21:23

I wash everything because I've been in lots of factories.

Feetupteashot · 02/08/2021 21:35

I never did. I felt I should have washed 4yos sheets before they went in the bed tho as they stank of chemicals.....

Still, everyone seems fine. Sod ironing baby clothes unless for a wedding!

hulahooper2 · 02/08/2021 21:37

I did wash Everything first when mine were babies

gogohm · 02/08/2021 21:38

I did, or rather my mother did for dd1, bought special washing powder too. Dd2 I didn't (well much was hand me downs) and used normal washing powder after wear

Thehop · 02/08/2021 21:39

I loved ironing tiny sleepsuits, Muslins and vests. I still love to see a pile of neatly ironed clothes but it’s not nearly as enjoyable as baby stuff. Sigh.

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 02/08/2021 21:48

Wash everything new. Doesn't matter if it's for a baby or an adult, it always goes in the wash before anyone wears it. I thought everyone did to be honest!

arcof · 02/08/2021 21:59

Yes

TheKeatingFive · 02/08/2021 22:00

I thought everyone did to be honest!

Why would you think that?

OhWhyNot · 02/08/2021 22:02

I washed them

Soon gave up on ironing

Notebooksarefabulous · 02/08/2021 22:08

I wash all new clothes - mine included. They have chemicals on them from the manufacturing process so yes its best to wash them. Not iron though. I only ever iron things that absolutely definately need it (eg a shirt for work) Everything else - nope. Definately not baby clothes.

WeeM · 02/08/2021 22:20

The only place I’d heard of this was on mumsnet Blush

Comtesse · 02/08/2021 22:25

No and it never even crossed my mind to do so.

ForeverInADay · 02/08/2021 22:26

Definitely wash all baby clothes due to the chemicals. You can often smell the chemicals. Apart from the potential concern of a baby breathing them in, if you have a sensitive skin baby (one of mine was/still is at 6), they can cause skin reactions, rashes, itching, etc.

What's an ironing board though? Hopefully someone will be along to explain to me!

Haffiana · 02/08/2021 22:41

@WeeM

The only place I’d heard of this was on mumsnet Blush
It is in all the baby books and in the printouts the midwives hand out....
eightyfourandahalf · 02/08/2021 22:46

@WeeM

The only place I’d heard of this was on mumsnet Blush
I don't think I have ever discussed laundry with anyone I know in real life!

Possibly my mother? But no-one else.

TheGlitterFairy · 02/08/2021 22:50

Washed everything - clothes, sheets, muslin, bibs etc but no ironing. Fairy non bio here.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 02/08/2021 22:53

Nope, didn't wash them for either of them.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 02/08/2021 22:57

Never understand why people get obsessed with the non bio thing either. The bio enzymes in washing powder are far less likely to irritate skin than the fragrances.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 02/08/2021 23:00

Ps. They don't even sell non bio in most other countries. Only brits are gullible enough to fall for the marketing!

irresistibleoverwhelm · 02/08/2021 23:00

I did because of the chemicals and pesticides they’re often sprayed with. Never did it before then with my own clothes, but now I do my own ones too.

I think it wasn’t so much a thing when I was young - I never heard of it - because I’m assuming more clothes were probably made in the U.K. Nowadays so much clothing is made and shipped around on tankers for months from all around the world - the fabrics and the clothes get sprayed with preservatives and pesticides to discourage insects, rodents etc. while in transit in shipping or in warehouses. Since I read about this I always wash clothes before first use - especially baby clothes!

PepperPepperMan · 02/08/2021 23:03

I washed all for my first, not so much for my second and none for my third.

All living their lives away from home with no harm so, no, don't do it .

lancaster · 02/08/2021 23:21

No, never. Fresh new clothes never feel as good after you've washed them.