Do I really need to wash baby's clothes before she arrives?

[Ellarose85]

Is it really necessary to wash all the new clothes/blankets etc that we have bought for baby?

I spent days washing as DS's stuff before he arrived then any new stuff I bought for him when he was here but stopped washing new stuff when he was about 3 months old and it didn't do him any harm. I also stopped using non-bio as I read that the UK is the only country that does this and that is isn't necessary - again this is doing him no harm, never had a problem with sensitive or sore skin.

Just wanted opinions on what others do or don't do.

Following as also been wondering this.

Washed everything with DD1 but then she was born with sensitive skin and had irritation in places so the midwife did advise it due to that.

I would.

But that's just me. I think its nice to put babies in clean, nicely fragranced clothes, even if they only wear them for half an hour before they puke/poo on them.

I didn't with my DS and he was OK even though DH is allergic to lots of washing powders. Although this was partly because someone I knew from work bought all girl things and washed them then found out they'd got it wrong when she delivered a boy - expensive mistake.

I didn't. Mine were fine.

I didn't wash anything new before my children wore them as babies. Only hand-me-downs got washed.

I've never understood why people do that tbh.

I didn't.

And used my normal bio washing powder as that's what we usually use.

I figured if it was a problem I could always switch to non-bio after she was here but no skin problems at all.

I've washed a load of stuff for baby arrival. Will probably only last me the first week. I've washed brand new stuff, but stuff that people have given us second hand has already been washed before given to us so I'm not doing it again.

I washed some and not others, like pp I stopped bothering when they were a bit older.
I have heard that the manufacturing process for the cloth can use some nasty chemicals. Not sure how true it is but it sort of makes sense. I don't really like the smell of new clothes anyhow and will wash if I've got time as I much prefer the smell of my morrisons fabric softener!

Nope ! Only stuff from charity shops...

yes you do.
they are treated with pestizides and anti fungals before shipping and the shop store rooms are shockingly dirty.

And they're sprayed with acid and cyanide and kicked around dirty dog kennels too, eh GreenMarkerPen?

Don't! Leave the labels on as well. Then you can swap stuff easily if you have a bigger or smaller baby than expected (or more gifts!)

No.

No. You really don't. I didn't and we all have pretty sensitive skin and do use non-bio for that reason.

I have yet to hear a single person come onto these threads with an actual example of how this affected their baby in any way.

Not all shop store rooms are shockingly dirty. I worked in retail for a fair few years for various high street stores and all the clothes were in plastic wrapping until they were put on the shop floor so that's not a worry for me.

I didn't, not even stuff from charity shops.
What was supposed to happen?

nan0second that was my thinking, the first size stuff I have looks ridiculously small and scans have shown that baby is on the large side!

20thCentury, all the babies get very, very ill from all the 'pezticides' you know.

Mine certainly did not

I washed everything we had before she was born. Then she was given loads of new stuff which went straight on her. She was fine.

Yes - always. Here's an article highlighting why. Of all the reasons exposure to formaldehyde would be my biggest concern.
www.wsj.com/articles/do-you-need-to-wash-new-clothes-before-wearing-them-1431955513

I would. I've been in clothing factories all over the world, they're full of things that will start off sensitive skin

But don't do too many, you may want to return little sizes if baby turns out to be big!

Congrats

So why are people not keeling over from exposure to formaldehyde then?

Where are all the ill babies?

Why are midwives and HVs not warning of the dangers?

Crock of shit.

I did. I have sensitive skin, didn't want to risk it in case the baby took after me. I bought all gender neutral stuff anyway and not massive amounts, mostly multipacks of plain vests and babygros to start with, so it all got worn. I still do wash everything first (5 months old now), given how much laundry the boy makes, chucking a few extra bits in is hardly a big deal.

Lilac, it's not keeling over sick, it's just awkward patches of eczema or a sniffle or two. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but personally I was so freaked out about every other aspect of having a baby, it was nice to have one less thing to worry about.

Sorry Playduh, we cross-posted. It wasn't your post I was responding too.

I totally understand for people with allergies and skin conditions but there have been a couple of over the top nonsense posts on this thread.