When to wash your baby's clothes

[Dozeyland]

I am 32+4, started mat leave. when should i wash the baby's clothes?

No harm in getting them done now, then they're all ready to go!

I'm 33+5 and have got my last load to do today. Not sure if I have done them slightly early but I am moving house so thought it was better to get them done. Also, it was so nice seeing them hanging out on the line.....!

Do it now while the weather's nice.. :)

Am 36 weeks and started last week. Would have started earlier to be honest, but hadn't yet sorted out the drawers where it's all going to go. One thing I have noticed is that, what with all the sheets and blankets and stuff, there's a hell of a lot more to wash than I thought! If it makes you feel calmer, start washing now!

Have done mine today at almost 36 wks - mainly because the weather's perfect for line drying them and also I just realised I need to hurry up and pack my hospital bag (including clean baby clothes). Can't see any harm in doing it earlier if you have somewhere clean and dust-free to store them.

I'm 35 weeks and started doing a couple of loads two weeks ago and will do the rest when I finish up work at the end of this week. By the time you throw in the sheets etc as cardamomginger says, there is more than you think there will be! Plus, it's nice to know it is all done so you feel prepared and you can pack the various baby clothes you need for your hospital bag too.

The thing is, I had got whats needed, but not half as much as you guys are saying, mine would be about 2 loadsif that???

We haven't got LOADS as we dont know the sex of the baby. I have plenty of vests, still need some more sleepsuits i guess, i have 2 blankets, bibs, etc...

What else should i stoc up on??? (until we get the rest when he/she is here)

I didn't even have a full loads worth!! Now I'm worrying I need to get more!

me too!!! what do you guys have?? do you all know the babys sex??

I've been told that about this is recommended:

6-8 body suits
6-8 sleepsuits
1-2 hats
2 cardigans (less important for summer babies)

Flat sheets, at least 2
Fitted sheets, at least 2
Cellular blankets, at least 2
Pram blankets

You don't need cute outfits - they're a bit pointless for newborns - but you do need quite a few changes of basics as you can get through 5 or 6 a day at first.

in regards to sheets/blankets. how many do i need for the moses? i am planning on getting a cotbed once baby is 6 months or once its fidgety...

and sleepsuits etc, do you have variety in sizes? or just newborn

I got:
10 white sleepsuits (came in packs of 5)
14 white shortsleeved bodysuits (came in packs of 7)
2 hats
2 scratch mits
4 cardigans
1 shawl
4 sets of pram sheets (flat for top fitted for bottom)
3 pram blankets
2 mattress protectors for cot
4 sets of cot sheets
4 cotton cellular cot blankets
4 swaddling thingies
20 muslins

In terms of sleep/body suits I just got stuff in newborn size - seems alarming large to me (this is DC1). They were the cheapo John Lewis Basics range. Cardigans I got in newborn and 0-3 months.

I might have gone a bit OTT on the numbers of sets of bedlinen, but we're in a small flat and if it turns out to be a sicky baby I don't want to have to be washing things every 5 minutes.

BTW - has anyone found that the jersey cotton fitted sheets shed loads of fluff when you wash them the first time? Mine seem to produce loads.... .

I would say no to cardigans for a newborn in autumn winter, just something hooded you can put on in the pram. They sleep most of the time either on you or in the moses basket where you will blanket them. Shouldn't let them get too hot. I would also say no to flat sheets as cellular blankets on their own are fine.

On fitted sheets for moses, 2 should be fine if you use a Muslin under the head for any sickiness (basically fold it in half then fold either end under the sides of the mattress). If you plan to grobag then you definitely won't need top sheets.

Re sleepsuits, depends on size of baby, ours was smaller than predicted so sent my Mum to supermarket where she got the up to 7.5lb size, and washed them for us so first 24 hours a bit swamped in newborn size (7.5lb lasted a couple of weeks) then newborn generally lasts til 10lbs (a month for most people) Then 0-3 is really 1-3 months. I found sleepsuits the easiest until 3 months as outfits just don't fit. On what to buy when, depends on whether you want gender specific. But in newborn would get 6-8 neutral coloured then buy the 3 month size when you are ready (you may get bought lots of stuff or need to swap things).

This time around I bought one 'nice' outfit in up to 7.5lb - baby will fit at birth and for a week I reckon but want it for photos!

I'm 31 weeks and haven't started washing anything yet.....I need to buy a wardrobe and drawers for the baby's things so am waiting until then.....I have got tons of stuff though - mostly handed down from the other DC's as well as some stuff given to me by family. It is looking like it'll be a mammoth task, but I'll need something to do when I give up work in 7 weeks (unless she's early....)

Hello all. Do you need to wash everything, even if it's new? And if so, is it important to wash them in special soaps etc rather than ordinary powder?

I was told that you should wash everything because even though it's new it could have been returned by someone and you don't know who's been sneezing over it, handling it with grubby hands, or whose floor it's been dropped on. Also new stuff has still got all the manufacturing chemicals on it - that's what gives it that "new" smell and feel. As for what to wash it in, I was told non-bio and no fabric conditioner. I've been using Persil.

Oh I love this thread!

I started my washing about 2 weeks ago, (I'm 37 weeks) so that i could pack my hospital bag.

Im sorry to say that I loved looking at the little vests and sleep suits on the washing line that I broke the camera out!!

I have 6 Newborn sleep suits and 6 0-3 months. I also have 8 newborn vests and about 20 in 0-3 ( I went a little overboard!) 2 blankets, 6 flat sheets that frit the pram, moses basket and crib oh and a few muslin squares

I brought some Fairy non bio to wash in.

I'm 36+4 and haven't washed anything yet. I finish work next week at 37+6 so was planning on doing it all then, there's probably 2 loads including the sheets. I know both sides of the family have bought loads of stuff so I chose not to buy too much.
I've got some Persil non-bio to wash it all in. Is it ok to use a tumble dryer on them if it's not nice weather next weekend?

I was actually told that there was no need to wash things - and have subsequently read the same thing in a pregnancy book.

But I will no doubt still wash all of mine regardless...

I had all the newborn clothes all washed and lovely ready for DS and then he was 10lb 6oz and went straight into 0-3 month stuff... cue hectic washing session. So I'd suggest getting some bigger stuff ready too just in case....

I still do wash everything that DS gets given new - just take the labels off and bung in the machine. Also I never use fabric conditioner on his stuff just ecover non-bio...

Also if you're doing washable nappies they all have to be washed a couple of times before you use them to make the fibers all absorbent - again no fabric conditioner...

Me too its nice to hear everyone's lists/ways to go about it!

i'm going to pack my hospital bag properly some point this week, make sure its all washed and ready. so far I have in there( to be washed)

13 nappies (newborn size & size 2)
1 pack of wipes
2 muslins
3 bibs
1 flannel
2 short-sleeve vests
4 sleepsuits
1 all-in-one cardi (depending on weather)
1 pair of socks
1 pair of booties
2 pairs of scratch mitts
top & trousers outfit
white cardigan with hood
x2 dummies
cotton buds
sudocrem
cotton wool
baby talc
x1 blanket

for me:

pk 12 maternity pads
pk 10 slim maternity pads
lasinoh cream
nightie x2
hairgrips
flannel
breast pads

what else do i need????

Word of advise for you - you can't have enough muslin squares.

It doesn't matter if you are BF or FF, you will go through masses of them.

I didn't wash any of my babies clothes before they were born. (apart from hand me down stuff obviously)
Didn't know it was important to, and to be honest I can't see why it would make a differenc really!

I have a pack of 5 muslins so might just take them all?

so you can't use comfort or lenor with washing powder?

I never used any muslins either!!! Didn't have particularly sicky babies I guess.