Washing all baby clothes in preparation for birth...

[Bellyrub1980]

What is the advice on this?

Wash all new clothes before putting on baby?

Any temperature wash ok?

I always use fairy non-bio anyway so will continue to use this for baby clothes. But what about the fairy conditioner? A no no for new borns?

Didn't wash anything in advance. All clothes in our house are washed together in unfragranced non-bio.

Got a lot of things from NCT sales and charity shops - didn't wash those either.

/

I didn't wash any of the new stuff, only the second hand stuff.

I used non-bio and sensitive softener (whatever brand was on offer).

Tip for getting poo stains out with non-bio all you need to do is damp the stained area, then measure out your liquid in to the cap like normal but instead of just pouring it into the machine drawer, put a little on each stain and rub in, you'll see the stain start to lift. Then just wack it all in the machine like normal.

Oh and you'll need to start washing all your clothes and bedding in non-bio too otherwise there's no point washing DC things in non-bio because they'll have lots of contact with your clothes and bedding anyway.

My DH washed all our 0-3mo clothes before eldest was born. Then she arrived so big we had to put her in 3-6mo clothes (no, really! soooo long!) and all those 0-3s couldn't be taken and switched for a bigger size.

Haven't bothered prewashing since!

I've taken all of the body suits and sleep suits out of their packets now, from 'tiny' right up to 3-6 months. Bit stupid really! But I got carried away! So I may as well wash them, but will leave the more expensive dressy things until we know she's going to wear them.

Why on earth did I take the 'tiny' body suits and sleep suits out of the packets?! Our family does not produce tiny babies!! (Must be wishful thinking...)

Oh I remember the days I did all the washing, it made it all very real and exciting

I used (and always use in fact) white vinegar with a little lavender essential oil as a fabric softener, it works really well and avoids loading the clothes/bedding etc with artificial fragrance.

I washed all new clothes we have bought plus whatever we have been given. Have never been as excited about putting on a wash before!
Loved folding all the wee clothes and putting them in hospital bag or drawer!
We use Persil liquid & white comfort but of course this being baby 1 I thought I'd better look online for best detergents to use! after trawling through posts and reading different combinations etc discovered a lovely advertising picture on mn showing the exact liquid/conditioner we use! Whoops!

I only washed them first if they were second hand.

Bellyrub our families dont produce tiny babies either and as a result I refused to buy anything smaller than 0-3m. DS was 16 days early weighing 6lb 3oz and in a 0-3 his legs never even reached the legs! Que popping straight out to Mothercare to buy tiny baby stuff which he was still in 6 weeks later.

I washed everything in the free samples I got of fairy and comfort pure etc coz I wanted it all to smell like baby clothes and not like a clothes shop or like my every day washing. Haven't bothered with a non bio or anything special since though, as someone above says, they come into contact with everyone's clothes and therefore so many different washing detergents that it just doesn't make sense to me to be precious about it. Obviously there will be some babies that are sensitive but most won't, and in my sisters case, she planned to swap the whole family to fairy non bio when DN was born but it turns out DSis is allergic to it!

I washed only enough items for the hospital bag, in two sizes. tiny and normal!

Baby was teeny tiny and I ended up with so much 0-3 that he couldn't wear for weeks. I was able to swap some of it for more tiny things!!

I would strongly advise washing only a few things and leaving tags on everything else until you know it's definitely going to be worn.

Don't think just because your family have big babies that you will. I came from a family that had babies well over 9lbs - I expected similar. My son was overdue and a skinny little thing that weighed 7lb2oz! My mom couldn't get over how tiny he was for our family.

If you don't need the tiny stuff, your bound to get a friend who does sooner or later, who will be very greatful.