Preparation - new babygrows etc bought - do I really need to wash them before use?

[cotswolder]

Hi

Am 32 weeks and just starting to put kit together for when baby hopefully arrives. We have bought some basic white babygrows, vests, hats and scratch mits for when it (don't know if boy or girl) arrives, but various people have said it is really important to wash them all before use although no one has explained why!.

Personally I was just going to put the packets of first clothing in the hospital bag and get them out when needed. Is this wrong?

Their skin is very sensitive at first, so it might react to chemicals on the clothes from manufacturing or stiff materials.

I washed lots and lots of newborn size brand new pink baby clothes, then had a ginger girl weighing 10 pounds 7. I had to give them all away!

they do use alot of different chemicals in the manufacturing process, and if you think of all the hands that have touched the chlothes before your little one puts them on. I really would prefer to have them washed.

I would wash them - there's loads of chemicals in the fabric when it's new.

You don't need to, actual reactions to the treatments used on some fabrics are very rare. But the minimising of such exposure is very important to some.

Personally, I think it's one of the many things that's done oh so carefully for the eldest child and less (if at all) for subsequent ones.

Wash them. Clothing (even babywear sold in packs) is typically treated with a lot of chemicals prior to sale, and newborn skin is far, far thinner and more sensitive than ours.

Chuck it in the wash with non-bio, one load and you're done.

Given that it takes about one hour to sort I can't see why anyone would feel strongly about not doing it; it's true reactions are rare but it's a nice thing to do for your baby, getting stuff all fresh; handling the tiny clothes is fun, and it is certainly no more overcautious than half the stuff pg women are advised to do (I speak as someone who dared to consume wine, Coke and supermarket Brie while pg ).

Mind you, the only episode of Katie and Peter I ever saw had her packing her hospital bag for Princess's birth and shoving in loads of pink stuff straight from the packet. And she presumably doesn't even have to do her own laundry .

I decided not to do it then i did it anyway, gave me an excuse to play with all the cute baby stuff before she arrives. Got so much so far in advance that by the time i got round to taking anything back it'd be too late anyway so if i end up not using anything it'll just go to the charity shop.

Thanks all and will get them washed following advice I think.

Just didn't really want to do as still a bit in denial about the whole thing and putting packets in a bag and not having to look at clothing seemed easiest (have friends who have recently lost pregnancies at 32 and 39 weeks so feeling very anxious and self protective). Conversely the clothes also looked very cute in packet and seemed a shame to disturb them.

Best of luck with it all. Try not to worry :) I hope evrything goes well.

why dont you wash a basic multipack of sleep suits / vests then you ahve them ready - and when everything is ok and you ahve your baby you can get OH washing the rest - if you have a tiddler or a monster and the sizes are wrong your OH can always then swap them for you?

defo wash all new baby clothes - honestly factories are in far off places and the water systen wouldnt be what you'd want you LO bathing in!!

Wouldn't dream of doing this, but I can see why you might like to do it for a PFB. "really important" to do so is perhaps a bit strong though.

Your poor friends. I can see why you're a bit anxious.

Definitely wash them - I enjoyed folding them all up into the drawers/hospital bags. Is part of nesting, no?

I think that a direct allergic reaction would be rare, but who's to say the exposure to the chemicals wouldn't trigger a reaction there and then but would make a baby/child sensitive to certain chemicals in the future/trigger excema etc? that's why I washed all mine beforehand.

I do know what you mean about them looking cute in packets rather than crumpled after the first wash OP though... I felt the same... but honestly, wait until your baby has arrived and then, even the thought of a new but unwashed item, with all their finishing chemicals, coming into contact with your baby's soft defenceless brand new skin will have you running for the washing machine and feeling guilty you even contemplated putting looks before comfort

It's the first in a LONG line of inner tussles to do with aesthetics over performance/comfort. That's why I have learnt to tolerate certain awful-looking toys because my DS loves them; coats that aren't my favourite fabric but they actually keep him warm AND dry instead of just warm; a buggy that's isn't the stylish one I initially wanted but I reluctantly concluded it was definitely the most practical in the long run. The list will go on!

All the best for the forthcoming new arrival

I never bothered - it seemed an overly precious thing to do!

I've become obsessed with washing EVERYTHING - started with all the baby clothes and I've now moved onto the cuddly toys too, it's keeping me happy though :)

Have just started to get the clothes out of the packets to wash after reading the above... just wondering if anyone advises cutting out labels or is it less irritating for the skin to just make sure they are ironed flat? Obviously first timer here.... sorry to hijack thread!

Ba8y1 - never thought of that one. Guess I'd just iron flat I think unless it started becoming a problem later on.

Blinking minefield all this!

I'm not. I think that if the baby is allergic to the chemicals they are just as likely to be allergic to the washing powder. And virus germs do not survive long outside the body.

I didn't with DD as I didn't realise there was a need to. I probably won't with this baby either. DD's skin was fine but I guess that another newborn's might not. Although, as has already been said - they may well have a reaction to the washing powder too.