haven't washed anything in non-bio yet

[badguider]

so... what would happen if I went into labour early? would my newborn suffer terribly if he wore new clothes from the packet?
what about if I washed them in bio capsules? would that be the worst mothering ever?

ok, so i'm being a bit faceitious (sp?) but i can't believe what a big THING this washing of stuff in non bio seems to be... like the world will end if i don't.

neither dh nor i have any skin sensitivity btw so i guess we don't really understand how sensitive a baby really is...???

has anybody here ever put a baby in anything washed in bio? or (heaven forbid) straight out of the packet??

Yes our babies were both put in clothes washed in bio all the time. Where we live you can't buy non-bio.

They were fine.

I've done bio, non bio and straight out of the packet with my 3.

Nearly 8 months pregnant with 4th and not actually bought anything or packed hospital bag yet so will assume straight from packet with this one, unless I manage to get my arse into gear in the next few weeks

Always used non bio for DD1 and DD2 as it was recommended although DH and I have no history of skin sensitivity.

One time DD2 developed a mystery all over chest/body rash and, as nothing had changed (no new food, new toiletries etc) she was diagnosed as having eczema and given creams. Nothing worked. After a few days I realised that the recent supermarket order had substituted/accidentally delivered a bio powder unknowingly (the packets were v similar). I changed the powder back to non bio and the rash cleared immediately on wearing the newly washed clothes. No problems since.

A lot of countries don't even have non bio so I guess for most people it's not a problem.
Bio does make my eczema worse though so we only use nonbio anyway.

My mum gets contact eczema from washing powder and swears by Ariel Bio!

It never occurred to me to wash new baby things first time around. I did this time, but only the newborn basics, not the lot. If a baby is prone to contact eczema, it will be because of it's skin/genetic heredity, and you'll find out pretty quickly. It won't be a direct result of not having washed your baby's things.

There's no reason to not use Bio at all, I did some reading into this matter when planning to use cloth nappies and found that only a couple of countries even HAVE non bio, and they all have lower excema rates too ;)

To replace the bio element of the powder, non bio has other things in, like bleaches kind of, optical brighteners? doesn't sound too gentle to me!

Until coming on MN I'd never heard of washing baby stuff before putting them on or using non bio. With my DS 6 years ago I didn't wash a thing before putting him in stuff & I used the same washing powder i used (not sure what but probably Ariel or Persil).
My new baby is due in December & I am once again not washing a thing - can't be arsed doing extra washing & not sure how big they'll be so not opening clothes until I know how big baby is in case I need to take anything back.
I am rather lazy when it comes to laundry though, my son thinks its hilarious on the very rare occasions I iron something as it doesn't generally happen

I think it depends on your baby. I washed all ds's stuff in fairy non bio until one day persil non bio was on offer so i got that. He broke out with a rash all over his trunk, under arms and legs. Rash went away when we went back to fairy. Some babies are sensitive and some arent. I personally would at least wash the clothes in something, they will probably.have been imported, sprayed with insectisides etc not to mention being handled by loads of different people in the shop.

The nappy lady recommends bio. According to her, the uk is one of the only countries with a non bio obsession/availability yet we also have really high rates of eczema etc. compared to countries who tend to use bio.

I'll be washing all my baby stuff in non bio, but only because im really allergic to biological washing powder and it gives me a rash!! its so bad I have to take my own sheets away places and have my own blankets in hospital!!

I washed all baby clothes as soon as I got given them/bought them. They just got put in with our general washing in dribs and drabs.
We use bio and fabric softener, never had a problem - maybe just luck?

Fwiw I always wash things I buy before I wear them, they've been all over factory floors, shop floors, tried on in changing rooms etc. And I'm not a clean freak by any stretch!

DD got really horrendous eczema from non bio (bleeding and red raw). Cleared up within days of switching to bio. I suspect for most people who react it's generally an issue with a particular fragrance or ingredient in the detergent rather than being caused by bio per se.

Sorry to be thick but why would you wash brand new clothes before wearing? I've never heard of that. Surely they can't get that dirty in shops/factories? Or is it something else?

brand new stuff is often made in warm environment. in order to reach the store in the UK ok, they are treated with antifungals and pesticides (or they would be mouldy and full of holes) + for sewing fabric is often coated so it's easier for the mashines/workers.

plus the many people handling each garment
plus being on a ship in a container full of rats for weeks
plus manky store houses

I wash everything before wearing, except if I need someting in an emergency.

Thanks, I had no idea! I will start washing stuff too now, though I am a bit slovenly.

I often used biological powder on baby clothes and never had any problems. Obviously its different if you already know that you are sensitive to a particular ingredient, but then that could just as easily happen to an adult.

As an aside, this is something I read on the Which website about washing powders. 'Many people think that non-biological washing powders and detergents are kinder to their skin because they don't contain enzymes. However, there is little scientific evidence to suggest that enzymes can cause skin irritation.'

Ooops, I cut off my quotation half way through. Here is the rest.

' Experts at washing powder companies Unilever and Proctor & Gamble have told us that they test non-biological washing powders more thoroughly than biological ones to ensure that perfumes and other possible irritants do not cause skin problems. This might go some way towards explaining why some people with skin problems find non-bios kinder to their skin.

There is little evidence that it is the enzymes themselves that cause skin irritation.'

I started off washing my DS clothes in bio but when he got eczema at 8wks we switched to fairy. PG with DC2 and il prob go straight to fairy just cos il wash their clothes together