Washing new baby clothes?

[joosiewoosie]

Sorry for asking what may be a blooming obvious question to some, but should you wash new baby clothes straight out of the bag in prep for your bundle of joy?
Was thinking about starting to put a hospital bag together, but have paused pending MM wise words from those with experience!
If you should wash them, how do you know which powder to use so Bubbs' skin won't react badly? (Am only 31 weeks, but thinking ahead a bit).
Cheers all.

Yes you should wash them. Apparently they put chemical stuff on them and you don't know if they have been dragged round the floor etc. I am 33 weeks and did mine this weekend (someone in my nct class gave birth early which kicked me into action!) I washed them in fairy and our washing machine has a special baby and toddler wash which gives them an extra long rinse to get rid of the washing powder on them.

I second what Florin said, they definitely need to be washed first as the manufacturers put chemical treatments on clothes to keep them crease free and feeling soft for when they are displayed for sale. I wash all of mine in Surecare laundry liquid which says is for sensitive skin on the bottle. I then use Ecover fabric softener as it doesn't contain any nasties and the fragrance isn't too strong.

I did. Even packet ones cos you don't know if they've been dropped on a factory floor or what not

Wash them in non bio powder/liquid. You can use softener & worked on the principle if it's ok for my dh (very sensitive skin) itd b ok for me :-)

Some will tell you you are crazy for washing them, my mum and dad worked in manufacturing, and baby clothes for many years and would be horrified if they weren't washed.

I'll go against the grain - I didn't bother (DS is now 5 months old and I've never washed new stuff for him) but I know I am lax about such things!

Going against the grain here, I didn't bother, as I don't believe in these stories (same ilk as 'throw your mascara out after 3 months' ) as I think they exist for us just to spend more money.

Ds1 had no problems whatsoever.

Also I started washing with standard supermarket non bio- again no probs whatsoever. Obviously I'd have changed if he'd reacted at all but he hasn't.

Oh and I used whatever I had including my lovely smelling fabric conditioner.

You are supposed to as the chemicals on the clothes can bring your baby out in a rash. If this rash occurs when you're in hospital they won't let you out till it's gone.

I never bothered - with DD1 I didn't know you were supposed to and with DD2 I figured that DD1 had been ok! Also, I had enough of DD1's hand-me-downs to wash so CBA washing new.

I've never used fairy non bio either non-bio washing powder is shit and they've both been fine, but don't listen to me I'm an awful mother :o.

Also, if the clothes don't fit/are wrong then you can't take them back if they've been washed. I know people who've had 10lb babies, I which case newborn would be too small!

I washed everything first again because new clothes often have chemicals on them. I used non-bio. When my lo was a baby she came out in a rash wih baby wipes and baby lotion and even now she comes out in a rash with certain wasting powders/softeners. Baby clothes take hardly any time to dry and iron so it's not that big a job. It's up to you if you think it's worth the trouble but if you ave any skin issues in the family it's prob better to do it before baby is born than wait. If baby is sensitive then you'll have to then start and was everything when new baby has arrived.

We didn't wash anything for ds1 or 2. We've also never used non-bio washing powder. Some will, some won't!

I always wash new cloth, whether they are for me or LO... :)

I washed everything. Still do, even if new clothes for me.

I was also really really sad and took photos of the vests and grows on the washing line for my pregnancy book

In my defense, they were arty farty ones....who am I kidding, there is defense DD was my PFB and I wanted pictures of the first washload!

there is no* defense...

I didn't.

When I did wash them I used normal washing powder but didn't use fabric softener (on advice of paediatrician as both me and DH have sensitive skin).

You ironed the baby clothes abby??? I used standard non-bio powder, and did a wash and tumble dry but the only things that get ironed in this house are DH's work clothes. Baby clothes were just folded quickly after tumbling to keep most of the creases down.

Slightly worried about newborn clothes being too small, but I only got a couple of packs of vests/sleepsuits, and does anyone have the time/energy to return less than £10 of baby clothes in the first month with a newborn?

Cheers all. Thanks for experiences and advice. Think I'll get some non-bio and wash bits before use, at least for first couple of months while baby sorts its skin out. X