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.

I would. I still wash new clothes for my 10 yr old though . It's just nicer and new clothes from the shop smell horrid .

I washed ours simply because they were mostly hand me downs which had been in the attic for a year or two.

I deliberately didn't wash any new stuff, in fact I left it in packets with labels on. I am very glad I did as dc1 was 10lbs, and all the new born and 0-3 stuff got taken back and swapped, and most of the 3-6 months too.

I also swapped loads of stuff given as gifts for the next size up. (and one very cute pair of trainers which were for a 3 month old, were too small when he was born, and really I couldn't get past the question Why? 3 months- trainers??? )

I would, yes. You can't guarantee that they're clean otherwise, and clothes are obviously treated with chemicals as part of the manufacturing process. I'd rather just whack it all in the washing machine to be on the safe side. They smell nicer then too.

No definitely not. My DH is a dermatologist as says it's nonsense. Also no need to avoid wipes when first born.

If you have lots of new bits I'd maybe just wash a couple to start with.

I did with my first. Then it when she was born it became clear she was allergic to my washing liquid!
I didnt bother with the second!

I did. Purely because I was bored out of my mind on maternity break and had nothing to do
If I had a second I wouldn't I'm quite fond of new clothes smell

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen. I'm not happy to expose my baby to it willingly. It's certainly not a crock of shit to actively try and avoid a carcinogen. Are they going to drop dead of cancer a day later? No, of course not but why not try and lower their exposure to nasty chemicals? Meh, to each their own.

DS1 got a rash all over body from unwashed baby clothes, confirmed by GP. He hasn't got particularly sensitive skin either, so dunno why that happened. Never had it again. Also, some of his clothes did say 'wash before use' on the label.

I think they coat/treat new clothes to make them softer/sit right for display.

However lots of previous posters baby's were fine. Up to you OP.

I have washed all new clothes for baby on the way.

FurbysMakeSexNoises I realised that with my second after carefully using only cotton wool and water with pfb. I actually hid the pack of wipes when the midwives came round. Doubt they gave a shit (pardon the pun).

formaldehyde... make sure to never get food wrapped in a paper bag, then. And of course no toilet paper or baby wipes allowed.

Avoid redecorating the house.

I've got sensitive skin, so will wash baby clothes before. But, I'm not intending on buying shed loads to begin with, I'd rather wait till baby comes out, see what size will fit, then I'm absolutely certain my dm will love a job buying new babygro's in Tesco!

I am, my daughter has very sensitive skin at 3 years I usually need to wash new stuff and things given in case they used bio. For my newborn I'm washing stuff slowly. It's a bit of a pain, but it's been in storage for 3 years

I always wash things, even before I wear them, so will definitely be doing it with all the baby clothes. All clothes in the shops are treated with chemicals to keep them from creasing on the rails. I realise that they're not going to kill anyone, but personally I'd just like to know they're freshly washed and clean

I did, and I'm glad I did as DD had eczema as a baby, which also flared up where I switched from Fairy to Persil non-bio, not even tried bio with her and she's 6 now!

But won't the baby be wearing your DS's old stuff?

I will be washing our little ones things when it gets closer to the time, but I also wash my own clothes before wearing them. Baby will be smelling my clothes and I want his clothes to smell the same too.

True, new clothes might have all sorts of nasties on them, but 99.5% of your regular washing powders/detergents have parabens and other nasties which can be absorbed and are proven endocrine disruptors, so unless you have a really 'good' washing power too, you might be replacing one nasty with another (of varying toxicities, granted, but my point remains).

river yes she will have all his neutral stuff but I have also bought her some little girls clothing.

I didn't. No issues at all.

Just wash it people!!! How hard is bunging stuff in a washing machine to be on safe side??! you've probably wasted more time posting here and reading responses than it would have taken to put a wash on.The few items I didn't wash bought both DC out in mild rash on tummy so just not worth it.

It's not hard at all, that wasn't my point. I have got a lot of first size clothing and my baby is measuring big and I didn't want to wash a load of clothes that would be too small when I could take them back and swap them for a bigger size. I did mention this further up the thread.

Not that I have to justify myself to anyone but money is tight this time around as we no longer have two wages coming in.

Yuck. I was all our clothes before we wear them, and I don't stand on a firm ground of obsessive hygiene. Those clothes were made my someone in a factory, packaged by someone, etc.

In this case I'd treat the baby the same way I treat all members of our family.

We wash all our new clothes before wearing them and I'm certainly not an obsessive laundry freak either, but DD(10) does sometimes get a slight rash if she wears new clothes without washing and it's something I've generally always done, you don't know where they've been and what they've been sprayed with.

We use non-bio, non-fragranced for everything, always have done because I get eczema and hate the smell of fragranced laundry products. I accept that the non-bio thing has been shown to not make any difference, but the habit has stuck.

You could just do a few of the small size ones and leave the rest till baby is born and you know how big they are.

Well, I wash everything I buy for myself before I wear it, so I wouldn't treat my baby any differently. You don't know where those things have been! All it takes is one sewing machinist who doesn't wash their hands after the loo. My DH doesn't bother washing his new things (direct quote, "how do you think people have one night stands?") and I leave him to that particular grubbiness.

I'm not necessarily washing new things before the baby is here, though. I reckon the washing machine will be running often enough afterwards, and there's the mountain of hand-me-downs to clean. It would be nice to sell/return things if the baby is big.

Re: the formaldehyde question, we know that long term exposure to some chemicals has long term consequences, and that babies are more vulnerable to exposure than adults. You don't need evidence of people 'keeling over' for that to be a sensible concern.

I got lax about washing new clothes then quickly reverted when my son had a rash come out on his wrists and ankles where the elasticated bands of a new pair of pyjamas sat.

It was just irritated skin though, no keeling over at all . But I'll happily wash an item of clothing to avoid either .

I perhaps wouldn't bother with a cardigan or something though.

I have and have more to wash today. No harm in giving them a quick wash.