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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Do I ned to freshly wash all clothes etc?

77 replies

Halleberry · 11/05/2015 17:17

I'm preparing to meet my baby girl
On Thursday. Just a few questions. The clothes I have are all brand new with tags. Do I need to wash them before she wears them? Also dummies - do they need sterilised straight from the packet before I give her one?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MrsDeVere · 11/05/2015 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

5madthings · 11/05/2015 22:52

I wash all my kids clothes before they wear them, and still do even though they are not babies anymore. But only because I have eczema and allergies so am extra careful about stuff like that.

Umm I think the instructions on the dummies will say to wash and sterilise before use. Some of them the packet they come in doubles up as a microwavable steriliser.

Only dd had a dummy still has one age four for bedtime and I don't give a shit as it means she sleeps my boys would never take one but they can be very useful and yes they are recommended re preventing SidS.

Original poster

Halleberry · 11/05/2015 23:04

Im not even a first time mum (which makes it even more embarrassing) althoughy son is nearly 11 and we were not planning to have more children. I was young when I had my son, my
Mum was my saving grace and I've honestly forgotten everything there is to know about being a mum to a new born so I'm really scared. It feels like my first. Also things seem sooo different now in comparison to when I had my son. So many rules and regulations now. I really don't remember any of the stuff im being told now xx

OP posts:

MrsDeVere · 11/05/2015 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tranquilitybaby · 11/05/2015 23:55

Yea wash the clothes, they are finished with chemicals.

Yes to sterilising dummies if you want to use them, but it might be sidth holding off using a dummy for a few weeks if bf as it can cayse nipple confusion.

00100001 · 12/05/2015 06:56

all these pople who was the clothes because they have 'chemicals'...

what do you think washing powder is full of if not chemicals?

pocketsized · 12/05/2015 08:00

My DD was much smaller than expected so wore clothes straight out of the packet. She's also worn things straight out of the packet a couple of times we've run out of spares out and about. She's never reacted to them. I suppose there's a risk babies could react to whatever they finish them with in the factory, but then they could react to the washing powder you decide to use, there's no way to know so I'd save yourself the stress of unpacking it all now. It will all get washed soon enough!

00100001 · 12/05/2015 08:08

I don't think I know anyone who washes their new clothes first... I'm going to ask at work today!

I don't even wash hand me downs :/

DextersMistress · 12/05/2015 08:17

I didn't wash anything but I didn't really get a chance as pfb arrived early without warning. He was fine, don't unpack just relax while you can!

Oh, and congratulations

Original poster

Halleberry · 12/05/2015 08:18

I never done it with my son (nearly 11 years ago). Everything was put on his straight from the packet (tags removed of course) and he never had a bad reaction. It's just so much has changed since then. The rules and regulations when pregnant now are massive compared to when I had my son. I remember my first MW appointment being totally taken aback when she asked me "is there a chance your related to the babies dad?" I laughed and said "Eh, I hope not" (I was trying to be funny but she didn't laugh lol). I was never asked any of these questions with my first. It's interesting to hear of all the mums who do wash all the clothes first though. All my friends said not to bother but I thought they were just saying that to take the pressure off me because they know I have my bag all perfectly packed. Now I'm torn. My section is scheduled for 2 days time, so I guess I have time to unpack, wash and re pack .... But I'm also over 38 weeks now, and my son came early and I keep thinking "imagine I took all this stuff out, and mid wash my waters broke anyway" so there I am with a washing machine full of clothes and I'm on the way to have my baby xx

OP posts:

5madthings · 12/05/2015 08:20

I don't wash because of chemicals, everything is a chemical.. But the treatments on clothes, the starches etc to keep them crease free can irritate my skin. I use a non biological washing powder/gel and have to be careful. Plus I did read something from someone who worked in a clothes shop and described the storage etc of clothes and how that made her always wash new stuff. I wash second hand stuff as wrll. But having sensitive skin with severe eczema I have to be really careful. Most people don't.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 12/05/2015 09:18

Don't unpack. Put your feet up for the next couple of days.

The 'rules' haven't changed that much - but the 'advice' - cheeselouise, it's everywhere! You have to learn to just filter it out, don't doubt yourself or your instincts.

As you can't BF, I think the rules on how to make up bottles have changed, and rules about sleeping... actually no they're probably the same, baby on back at the foot of the cot, no bumpers or other bits of faff they can pull down onto themselves (my DS is 9 so that hasn't changed since then). Wash carefully then sterilise everything that goes in their mouths.

Honestly, the rest is more or less the same!

Good luck for Thursday!

WhatAHooHa · 12/05/2015 09:45

001 I've read that formaldehyde is often sprayed onto clothes to stop then going mouldy in transit, this is why I washed most of ds2's clothes before he wore them. But also because I wanted to soften them up and make them smell like 'us' rather than a shop.
OP I didn't wash any of ds1's clothes and he had no problems. Ds2 has eczema so I am much more careful. Maybe a middle ground of washing the bits that rub against baby's skin the most (vests?) would ease your mind without giving you tonnes of extra washing?

CookPassBabtrigde · 12/05/2015 10:04

It genuinely never crossed my mind to wash baby clothes first oh well, DS was fine...
If you want to, OP, go for it! For me there is something nice and satisfying about washing and ironing baby clothes now but I didn't do it before ds was born. We all do things differently.
Re dummies - I wasn't planning on using a dummy as everyone told me not to but a week in, DS was waking every hour and a dummy was our saving grace! Do whatever works for you. I don't regret it - he still has one at bedtime and we are planning to wean him off it soon when we think he is ready. Research does also support SIDS risk decreases with a dummy. I know some babies don't like dummies and won't take one - they're all different.
Good luck and enjoy your baby

Sophieelmer · 12/05/2015 10:10

I have been inside clothing factories and shop stock rooms, and would always wash anything that would touch a newborns skin

00100001 · 12/05/2015 12:37

does this mean you all wash new sheets/bedding/cushion covers/curtains - do you really wash every piece of material your baby might comeinto contact with??

5madthings · 12/05/2015 12:54

Well we Co slept but yes I washed the covers for the carrycot mattress etc and the grobags mine used at night. Never used cushions with little ones they aren't recommended. But yes to washing all duvet covers and pillow cases and I wash curtains, though we have blinds in some rooms, easier to keep dust free etc.

So yes I wash everything that will come into contact with my skin, I have to, believe me it's a pita at times. But I can't afford not to do so and I do the same with the kids stuff as well out of habit now as they are older but I didn't want to risk upsetting their skin as newborns. Touch wood none of them have got my allergies or sensitive skin but I wanted to be careful.. Ds2 has some sensory issues and is particular about clothes and their feel/smell so he would need them washed for that.

00100001 · 12/05/2015 13:49

What about if someone was wearing new (unwashed) clothes and held your baby?

00100001 · 12/05/2015 13:50

what about if they were laid down on an new unwashed sheet at someone else house for say... a nappy change?

5madthings · 12/05/2015 13:56

I always had them swaddled in a muslin cloth or cotton sheet type thing when tiny.

I wouldn't check what other people wrre wearing but I do react if say someone who has been near animals is near me or if I hug someone I can and do react to clothing and allergens so I do a sort of sideways hug, no skin contact. Apart from with my kids and dp. if my kids visit somewhere with a pet for example when they get home it's clothes straight in the wash. So if someone held my baby and I then reacted I would change them. Tbh my babies were in a sling attached to myself or dp most of the time.

You seem determined to find fault 001 not sure why. I don't care what others do, I just explained what I do and why. I would much rather not have severe eczema and horrible allergies, but I do so I have to be as careful as I am, you would top if yourself reacted and made you look like a burn victim.

5madthings · 12/05/2015 13:57

And I carried muslin cloths, small fold up change mat with me for nappy changes. Not hard.

sianihedgehog · 12/05/2015 15:07

If either you or your other half have sensitive skin I'd DEFINITELY wash all clothing and bedding before use. As many others have said, new clothing contains dye residues, anti wrinkling stuff, traces of pesticides (to keep bugs from eating it in stoxkrooms), etc etc. Me and my OH both have eczema and have to do this with our own clothes and bedding. Babies have much more sensitive skin than adults, so I think to be safe I'd do it even if you don't have sensitive skin.

HazleNutt · 12/05/2015 15:10

yes, I do wash all bedding, towels etc before use, for both DC and myself. Clothes usually just for DC. Besides the stuff they spray the clothes with to keep them nice for selling, the factories where the clothes are produced are not that clean either. I might have a sensitive nose, but some stuff you take out of packaging actually stinks of chemicals.

Number3cometome · 12/05/2015 15:17

I don't wash all the clothes beforehand, if you child has sensitive skin then fine, but otherwise personally I think it's overkill.
Breastfeeding and bottles / dummies - sorry but personally I think all this stuff about 'confusing the baby' is rubbish. I had no issues giving my fully breast fed babies a dummy or expressing and feeding from the bottle.
I EBF for 10 months with both children.
My DD sucks her fingers, did that mean it confused her when breastfeeding? No of course not. lets hope DC3 doesn't make me eat my words

sweetkitty · 12/05/2015 16:32

None of my four have had a dummy but it wasn't fircthexwabtbof trying on my part tried all sorts they just flat them out, DD1 sucked her thumb until she was 5 though

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