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Original poster

Tumble drying baby clothes...not done in polite society?

79 replies

NineUnlikelyTales · 18/05/2007 11:34

I have always tumble dried my DS (8m) clothes if the weather is too bad to hang outside. I was having a conversation with friends the other day and mentioned that I don't use fabric softener. This is how the conversation went from there..

Friend 1 - But don't the clothes get hard?
Me - No as I iron them which makes them soft if they've been hanging on the line, and if they've been in the dryer I use dryer balls and that softens them too
Friend 1 - You tumble dry his clothes? Oh I would never tumble dry DD clothes
Friend 2 - No I would never do that either. I have dryer balls too but I would never tumble dry DD clothes.

So have I broke an unwritten rule here? Am I a slattern for occasionally tumble drying DS clothes? And if so, why? I am genuinely confused!

OP posts:
LilRedWG · 18/05/2007 11:36

If you've broken a rule then so have I! I dry on line if weather good enough or in drier if not, same goes for nappies too!

LilRedWG · 18/05/2007 11:36

I don't use fabric conditioner either - DD is allergic to it.

AnnabelCaramel · 18/05/2007 11:37

Eh???? it has rained nonstop here for about a week. Without a tumble dry my lo would be wearing puddles!!!! Weirdos.

BettySpaghetti · 18/05/2007 11:38

Well count me in as well -what shall we call ourselves? Tumble Drying Slatterns Anonymous?

seamonster · 18/05/2007 11:41

Same here I'm afraid with the weather and the clothes and the nappies. I have been known to give them a quick blast when they have been dried outside so as to prevent any ironing....

SweetyDarling · 18/05/2007 11:55

Ask yout friends - I'd like to know!

noseynora · 18/05/2007 11:58

My tumble dryer is on at the moment - full of DD's clothes (oh, with dryer balls too!) Didn't realise I was breaking a good-parenting rule

ChippyMinton · 18/05/2007 11:59

I tumble dry. I am recent convert to dryer balls but i still use a drop of conditioner bbecause i love the smell.
I HAVE to tumble dry my DC clothes as my DC are little and until i tumble dry them, their clothes are too big.
Do I win the most slatternly launderess award???
Your friends are Weird!

Aloha · 18/05/2007 11:59

did they say why? I'm really baffled by this.

ChippyMinton · 18/05/2007 12:00

Would just like to clarify, i do not tumble dry my DC That would be unacceptable.

agalch · 18/05/2007 12:00

Eh? Weird imo!! My dd's go through lots of changes of clothes so need to use drier to have anything for them to wear.

stealthsquiggle · 18/05/2007 12:00

"I would never" implies there is some reason why baby clothes in particular shouldn't be tumble dried (so not just general enviromental and financial arguments against tumble driers) - which is a new one on me - DC's clothes almost always get tumble dried (even if the weather is dry, if I am in a hurry ) - and rarely ironed

Now I really want to know - what is wrong with it?

AnnabelCaramel · 18/05/2007 12:01

And another thing! Do your friends think wet laundry draped all round the house is preferable? Surely a damp atmosphere is worse than tumbley dried clothes???

ProfYaffle · 18/05/2007 12:01

I don't tumble dry, but then I don't have a tumble drier. Am planning on getting one soon though and will have no qualms about drying dd2's clothes in there.

blueshoes · 18/05/2007 12:03

Weird. I don't use fabric softener. I don't have a tumble dryer but will certainly use it on ds' clothes if need be.

Are your friends of the PFB brigade? (not that all parents with firstborn/only children are precious) ...

Original poster
NineUnlikelyTales · 18/05/2007 12:05

I thought it was just my friends being wierd and over zealous, but I am glad to have it confirmed by you slatterns too

It really stumped me too. I will ask one of them later and report back, just so you all know why we are bad parents.

ChippyMinton thanks for the health and safety warning

OP posts:
seamonster · 18/05/2007 12:05

I believe by implying I never iron that I win the slatternly laundress title. But tumble drying the kids, now there's an idea, it might stop them growing out of everything as quickly.

Original poster
NineUnlikelyTales · 18/05/2007 12:06

And yes, we are all PFB-ers (some PFBs are more P than others though it seems)

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 18/05/2007 12:10

Would tumble-drying DS stop him whingeing he is "chilly" the moment he gets out of the bath/shower?

AnnabelCaramel · 18/05/2007 12:11

Well, he'd certainly have drier balls.......

blueshoes · 18/05/2007 18:10

anabel, lol

Chloe55 · 18/05/2007 18:17

Why on earth shouldn't you tumble dry babies clothes? Weird.

ChippyMinton · 18/05/2007 18:40

any feedback from your wierd friend yet NineUnlikelyTales???
LOL at annabel

Hulababy · 18/05/2007 18:42

I tumble dried DD's clothes when she was a baby and do now also (she's 5).

I don't use fabric conditioner.

Seems bizarre!

Manictigger · 18/05/2007 23:23

I must admit, I don't tumble dry dd's clothes because I'm worried I'll shrink them and with her cloth nappy bum making them quite a snug fit already, slight shrinkage might mean new clothes. In my defence, they do dry really quickly on an airer.

(runs away before anyone shouts FREAK)