Is it worth getting a tumble dryer before first baby arrives?

[acquiescence]

Just that really. Thinking about a tumble dryer to manage increased wash loads before arrival of first baby who is due in a few weeks. Would you say it is worth it? Some friends have said it is the best thing they bought and some say not to bother because of increased electricity costs and not being able to use it for some items.

For sure, especially if you're planning to use washable nappies.

My parents asked what they could buy us for our second baby, we asked for a dryer!

Thank you all! I think we will be getting one. Space and funds not really an issue, we have a garage accessible from the house, and will look into whether it is worth spending the extra £ on a a++ rated one, there seems to be quite a difference in price.

We don't have one and not planning to. Baby stuff is small, and in winter when the heating is on anyway we just hang clothes on radiators and put the clothes horse next to a radiator too. Never been a problem.

Get one- you won't regret it. Modern tumble driers don't actually use an enormous amount of electricity.

Artandco I don't think it's an essential but I suppose it depends on baby. As a baby mine just added 7 babygrows, 7 vests and a few Muslins to wash a week

Mine sometimes went through 3-4 changes of outfit a day, plus soiled sheets, blankets, towels etc. Not to speak of the extra washing of adult clothes covered with baby vomit etc.

We got one and its great. Not so much for kids stuff or clothes in general (I have this fear of stuff shrinking!) but it's fantastic for sheets/duvet covers and towels. They're always to hard to dry because they need lots of space and weather here (Scotland) is fairly unpredictable and rubbish

Particularly useful when you start nighttime potty training too and have lots of sheets to wash!

Yes, it's worth it!

Yes if you have space and funds its one job that is so much quicker.
for those who don't have space, we chipped in and bought the Lakeland heated clothes horse for a friend with no dryer as a baby gift. Same space as a regular clothes horse but even in Scotland your clothes can be dry over night.

We were given one by an elderly relative bit have never needed to use it! Thought we would, but its never even been plugged in

I don't really use mine except for towels. Tumble driers shrink everything a bit and it just gets worn out more quickly. I hang dry almost everything. It lasts better and looks better.

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Which do reviews. Worth looking at.
Sick kids. Sheets. Not ironing. Rainy days. Multiple loads of washing a day. Towels. Quick drying. Tidier house. Last minute gym kit!
Just some of my reasons!

I didn't get mine until my third baby arrived. Wish I'd got it sooner. That baby is 18 now and the tumble drier is still going strong. It's mainly used for bedlinen, towels and stuff we need to dry quickly.

Definitely yes - I couldn't live without my tumble dryer. I put almost everything in there whether I'm supposed to tumble dry or not and never had any problems.

I find children's clothes much better able to withstand 60° washes and the dryer than my stuff.

I didn't have one when DD1 / DD2 were small. Only recently (with DH in charge of buying) we've got a washer / dryer. I've still not used it! (I had reusable nappies when they were small). Never felt a need for one.