Ironing babies clothes before packing them away?!

[kaykayT]

I usually wash and dry and iron every item of the babies clothes (four month old) before packing them away and hanging them up (even down to socks!) and recently she's been teething and I'm so tired that I can't bring myself to do it right now.. but it just feels sooo strange, OCD maybe? (Even though I'm diagnosed with anxiety and OCD and depression) anyone else like this? Is it okay to just wash and pack away and iron when needed? Surely I can't be the only one

Just wash & put away. Don't iron. It's not necessary at all and it's more important that you get some rest

FWIW I never, ever, ironed any of my three DCs' clothes.

@DramaAlpaca definately! Rest is crucial especially with a teething four month old!

I always iron everything. Clothes feel horrible to me if they haven't been ironed. Anf also most things need ironing back in to shape, like muslin cloths!

Think about what else you could do with the time you're ironing.

Cuddle your baby/ have a bath/ exercise/ sleep.... all seem much more worthwhile.

There's no need to iron baby socks!!!

I didn't keep clothes, only the special bits. The rest went to the charity shop- washed, ironed, neatly folded and put in bags in order- all vests together, all baby grows, and so on.
I can't stand creased clothes. They look awful

I have very rarely ironed any of my children's clothes.

ironing is the best possible form of hygiene for clothes, kills all pathogens, so below 3 months, i would say its beneficial.

after that it depends how dirty they were, what sort of dirt, how likely they are to get sucked, etc

No need to iron anything, washing things and letting them dry properly is perfectly hygienic already.

ironing is the best possible form of hygiene for clothes, kills all pathogens

Linky to a scientific paper on this please?

I don't even own an iron! Shake everything out on the line and fold before putting away or hanging up.

Even if ironing kills bacteria, clearly not ironing isn't harmful and exposure to some dirt is very healthy for your babies immune system anyway.

most things need ironing back in to shape, like muslin cloths!

Does it matter if muslin cloths go out of shape?

It’s definitely ok. I have OCD today and it’s teally hard to not do things you feel you should but you know it’s not going to cause any harm doing it and it will harm you to knacker yourself doing it or at least it will deprive you of the benefit of rest, if your own rest is not reason enough then tell yourself it will benefit your baby to have you rested. My rituals are different so I don’t have this problem. If it’s clothes for packin away then they’ll be creased lying in a pile and you’ll inevitably want to wash (and iron!) if taking them out to sue them for another baby. my baby is almost ten months and I have never ironed anything for her not when putting aside special things to keep. I’d recommend using this as practice in combatting OCD - push at not doing small things and work upwards.

Hell no. Have you seen what babies do to clothes?

I meant OCD too (not today!). Also mine’s was longstanding and unmedicated for some time but after getting worse in pregnancy has actually improved since had my baby to lower than pre pregnancy so fingers crossed for you.

Ironing socks? Yes, that is completely over the top.
And by “pack away” do you mean putting away in the drawer until the next wear or pack away when they are grown out of? Possibly a case for ironing if the latter. But otherwise just use fabric conditioner.
My iron is too big to iron kids’ clothes easily. I only iron things with collars that might stick up, or the odd bit of formalwear.

@DramaAlpaca

Does it matter if muslin cloths go out of shape?

To me yes, creases annoy me and it take me 10 seconds to iron them. Also, if not ironed they are about half their normal size! I just do all baby's ironing along with mine, i enjoy ironing, i find it relaxing while i'm watching an episode of something on tv.

You enjoy ironing? Ooh, can I send you mine?

Actually, DH usually does ours, he puts headphones on & irons to music.

@JessieMcJessie I mean packing away until the next wear hun in a drawer

@DramaAlpaca lol maybe I should start a business I do love to iron but after all these comments I think I am really putting my energy too much into something that makes no sense

I don't iron my kids clothes only a few things that really need it or nice dresses for a party etc. My baby will go through at least a couple of changes a day and I can use 5 muslins a day etc as she is sicky so I would have to iron most days and I do not have time for that at all. My kids would never see me with the rest of the house work and shopping and cooking that needs doing.

I’ve parented til near adulthood and never had need of an iron.

If you enjoy it fair enough. I don't even iron my own clothes, let alone babies clothes. Once I ironed a dress, DH saw me and was surprised - until then he never knew we even had an iron.

Ironing is always optional. If you choose to spend your time and energy ironing just recognise it as such. I would prefer to do other things and never ironed children's clothing.
If you genuinely do enjoy it then carry on but don't think you have to do it.

My almost 4yo asked me what an iron is the other day when one appeared in a book we were reading, so ironing is clearly not a priority in this house. But I'd say do what will make you feel calmer - if that is to have everything ironed then there is nothing wrong with that, but if it's to know that not ironing is ok then listen to all the people on this thread saying they don't iron.

It's not that necessary. If it still looks nice and fine then go and pack it right away. You also need to rest.