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Original poster

When did you put your cot together and wash your babies clothes?

31 replies

K8eee · 13/01/2014 14:30

I'm 30 weeks with baby #1, and have just ordered the cot, some bedding & I have bought a few clothes. We've got a carry cot that came with the pushchair we bought, so baby will sleep in this for the first few months (I hope!) but when should we put the cot together? Also, how late before the baby was born did you wash it clothes etc...? And can you use dermatologically tested fabric conditioner on babies clothes. I always use non bio on mine and dh's clothes, and have Comfort fabric conditioner (the gentle one) so am hoping baby's clothes can go in with ours?

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cravingcake · 13/01/2014 15:33

First baby i washed all the new clothes (& muslins, blankets, bedding etc) once i startrd maternity leave at 34 weeks. Cot & bedroom furniture was assembled around the same time. While baby slept in with us until he outgrew moses basket it was handy to have somewhere to put him that was safe - if i needed the loo or was changing bedding etc.

Second baby (due next week) i have washed all clothes at 37 weeks and finished tidying up baby's room at weekend so we can do the same again.

I just threw it all in on our normal wash with our normal non-bio 2in1 (bold i think it is) washing liquid. I'm not going to start doing seperate washes of baby stuff or buy expensive washing liquid if i dont have too. Obviously if DC2 shows any signs of skin irritation we will immediately change to Fairy.

Seeline · 13/01/2014 15:36

I put hte cot up straight away as I too used hte cot as somewhere safe to put hte baby during hte day. I tended to have the moses basket downstairs for nap times. So washing my hands after a change, or whilst I showered I would pop them in the cot. It helps them get used to it as well.

Souper · 13/01/2014 15:40

Put the cot together whilst having contractions.... Actually, that should be between contractions. I don't recommend leaving it that late!

2blessed · 13/01/2014 15:52

I washed new clothes, linen etc at about 32 weeks. Used moses basket for first 4 months so didn't have a cot until then. I took the pushchair out of the box and assembled at about 38 weeks.

The whole family now use Fairy for washes.

AnythingNotEverything · 13/01/2014 16:03

I washed baby clothes and bedding once I started maternity leave. They went in with our normal stuff - Pers non bio and Ecover or Comfort conditioner.

We had the Moses basket set up before baby was born, but only built the cotbed the day she moved into it. Current guidelines are that baby should sleep in the same room as you for 6 months, and I knew the Moses basket wouldn't last that long, so I didn't want to build the cot only to dismantle it and rebuild it.

StupidMistakes · 13/01/2014 16:11

DS's cot went up at 35 weeks the day after we moved and his clothes were washed ready a week before he was due, oh make that the day I went into labour cos someone decided to be early!

Starballbunny · 13/01/2014 16:18

Dh built the crib in the middle of the living room while I was in labour. Much to the MWs amusement (HB)

Don't think I washed new stuff, my old stuff I washed when I dug it out for DD2 and DF checked and washed her stuff before lending it me, as her attic has mice.

Pixielady83 · 13/01/2014 16:28

I think we put the cot up around 36/37 weeks, whenever DH finally pulled his finger out and sorted the nursery (there was a bit of denial going on and not a lot of progress for quite a long time!). Must have washed the clothes around that time as well, although to be honest I didn't have heaps. Will probably do clothes a bit earlier this time to try and catch a good drying day and as I'm finishing work earlier this time Grin Cot won't go up until we need it though as currently we have no room ready for this baby and are unlikely to for some time so hoping it fits in moses basket for 3 mths!

Writerwannabe83 · 13/01/2014 16:49

Might be a silly question - but why do all new clothes and bedding items need to be washed?? And can we just use our normal powder and fabric conditioner?

cravingcake · 13/01/2014 16:55

A lot of new clothes have a lot of chemicals on them for keeping them looking good during transport & when hanging in shops. Plus you dont know if they've been dropped on the floor & trampled on etc. It also makes them nicer to put something so tiny & small & delicate & precious as your newborn in.

Hemlock2013 · 13/01/2014 16:59

I never washed the clothes? I think I mentioned it to mil (ex midwife) and she looked puzzled and asked me why I was washing all the clothes, and I didn't have a clue why, other than knowing it was what other people did. So I didn't and baby was fine! X

spritesoright · 13/01/2014 17:08

I didn't wash the clothes either. Most were second hand from a friend and smelled fine (like they had been washed recently.
I think we set up the cot and dresser a month beforehand. DD slept in a baby bay next to our bed for 5 months so she didn't need it but I would rather organise that stuff while pregnant rather than with a newborn.

Original poster
K8eee · 13/01/2014 17:10

I just like knowing that they're clean, and haven't got that 'packet/shop' smell. I'm funny about smells (weird I know) and even if my own clothes when bought new smell odd I wash them Blush

Writer with regards to the type of detergent to use, babies have really delicate skin. Dh and I both have sensitive skin as it is, and I'd hate for my lo to get eczema or a nasty dry rash Hmm

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Original poster
K8eee · 13/01/2014 17:11

Also, as were using a carry cot, any suggestions what we can put it into whilst asleep in our room with us? Dh thinks it'll be ok in the carry cot on the floor BlushI think it'll be draughty.

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bouquetofpencils · 13/01/2014 17:25

Didn't wash new clothes. Washed those passed down to me as they had been in people's lofts. Baby will come out in blotches quite a lot in few weeks as absolutely everything is new to them but with my DD now 5mths that passed after a bit.
I found our carrycot was too small for sleeps and used the Moses basket instead. Good luck, exciting times ahead!

AnythingNotEverything · 13/01/2014 17:53

I agree that all babies come out blotchy and dry in the early weeks. DD had awful baby acne but it cleared up by 6 weeks. Newborn babies aren't as pretty as the Pampers adverts make out!

K8eee - what do you mean by "carrycot". Does it have open or low sides? Is your house draughty?

Original poster
K8eee · 13/01/2014 17:57

It's basically a Moses basket with a hood. It's got solid sides and properly padded; icandy say it's designed for over night sleeping.

Well if babies come out blotchy normally, our poor lo might be a bit more worse off Sad

OP posts:
AnythingNotEverything · 13/01/2014 18:02

Ah ok. I suspect it's similar to the bassinet for our Uppababy Vista.

Baby will be fine in the carrycot on the floor. Your back may not be. I'd be tempted to build the cot in your room and put the carrycot in it. That way baby gets the comfort of a small, cosy, bed, and you don't have to bend down to the floor every time baby squawks.

You may be able to buy a compatible stand on eBay. We actually got our Moses basket and stand for £10 on eBay - might be worth a look.

Ragwort · 13/01/2014 18:10

I didn't bother to wash baby clothes or bedlinen Blush - can't remember exactly when we put the cot together, had a moses basked for the first couple of weeks anyway.

Expectingtwins1975 · 13/01/2014 18:26

OP apologies for hijacking your thread... But it's got me thinking about baby's sleeping arrangements when newborn. I'm having twins and was planning putting both into 1 cot next to my bed to start with. Is it ok to put them straight into a cot when they are newborn? I notice that most people use Moses baskets etc first.

Original poster
K8eee · 13/01/2014 18:36

Tbh I've always wondered why they don't go straight into a cot Blush thanks for asking expecting Smile

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neversleepagain · 13/01/2014 18:48

We put our cots together when I was 28 weeks pregnant, washed bedding at 32 weeks.

I used soap nuts with lavender oil (no fabric softener) for the first 12 months. Now we use Ecover washing powder and fabric softener.

Babies came at 34 weeks.

AnythingNotEverything · 13/01/2014 18:52

I think it's mostly fashion tbh.

Some babies like to be cosy, and some people don't have enough space in their bedroom for a cot.

I don't think there's a real benefit. DS was in his for 4 weeks and DD for 10, so I wouldn't spend a lot on one.

BobaFetaCheese · 13/01/2014 18:55

Nothing until they were born here.
Went into hospital with new, still packaged, clothes for both DS's.

K8eee, I've got awfully sensitive skin & wash all the clothes here with Persil non-bio & whatever big branded fabric softner is on offer, no breakouts yet (I find the hardness of the water is what affects me the most).

Expecting, the only reason for not putting in cot from birth is usually newborns like the 'snugness' of the moses (similar to womb!) although not the case in any baby I've ever known, you can get Positioners for keeping baby snug/in place (still use mine for cosleeping with DS2, 5m). and cot wraps are safer than bumpers.

Clargo55 · 13/01/2014 22:01

You can put them straight into a cot, some baby's may not settle though due to not being 'snug'. However, many babies are not keen on Moses baskets either.

SIDs advice states that baby should be in the same room as someone for all sleeping until 6 months of age so I would set the cot up in your room and then use the carrycot downstairs during the day.