Washing new baby clothes questions...

[festive]

Hi ladies
I know I need to wash new baby clothes but was wondering if you wash everything or just the stuff that will directly touch baby's skin? (eg vests, bodysuits, towels etc)
Do you need to wash outerwear, cardigans, sheets etc too?
Also how long do you carry this on for? do you just do this for first few weeks / months or did you carry on washing all new clothes for several months / up to a year?
Finally, I use Fairy tabs but read somewhere you shouldn't use fabric softener - is this true? I like to use Comfort Pure...
Thanks and sorry for silly Qs, first timer so need all the advice going!
x

Maybe I'm weird but I always wash everything that's new, including for me and DH and bedlinen etc. It's been manufactured, treated, moved around, packaged and possibly tried on or at least handled by other people before it's got to me so I don't think of it as clean. Also, washing is the only way to get the fold marks out.

In the UK we are recommended to use non-bio washing soap because it is better for sensitive skins. Lots of other countries (Greece for example) think this is bananas so it's up to you. Some people won't use fabric conditioner because it's arguably extra chemicals in contact with baby unnecessarily. Like many things there's loads of advice about what may be "better" but there is nothing to do with clothes washing that's going to seriously harm your baby (including not pre washing the clothes).

non bio doesn't exist in most of europe ( or so i was told) so i wouldn't worry about that.

just wash as you would for any other household member. if the baby has a reaction then you can change, but why create work for yourself?

oh, and enjoy, there is something very special about having all the baby clothes drying on a washing line before you have had the baby

ah thanks for advice ladies
i guess if i am doing a wash i may as well chuck everything in instead of being selective!

happy I also wash everything before using, although it is more down to having a household full of people who react to pretty much any nasties on their skin.

RE washing everything versus jst select few items, pretty much everything will touch the baby's skin somewhere eg. cardigans will usually touch at the collars and cuffs so yes you may as well chuck it all in.

Agree that you may as well use the same detergent for all but why not swap to non-bio for all?