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Original poster

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

151 replies

Ellarose85 · 25/05/2016 17:38

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.

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Tftpoo · 26/05/2016 14:17

Nope, I never washed any new baby clothes before using them (not even for my pfbs). I use biological washing powder too, it's the only thing that get the poo stains out!

PipeDownSmallFry · 26/05/2016 14:20

I did for dd1 and will do for dd2 due Aug. Just so they are fresh and that the smell becomes familiar to the baby. Dd1 (like me) has a very good sense of smell, and I can tell the scent of freshly washed items, especially muslins are comforting to her.

Sighing · 26/05/2016 14:20

If you have worked in clothing / retail and have seen some of the creepy crawlies that hitch lifts or indeed the state of some of the boxes. You probably would prewash everyone's clothes. Confused

mummytohpm · 26/05/2016 14:21

I did! Mainly because I really REALLY liked the smell of clean washing when I was heavily pregnant so washing everything and drying it all over my house was enjoyable for me!

But in saying that I probably would do it again if I had another only because I have sensitive skin myself and wouldn't want to inflict that on my babies if I can help it!

Sighing · 26/05/2016 14:22

And p.s. no tumble dryer in my life! We wash 2/3 loads a day.

baw53 · 26/05/2016 14:26

You'll have more than enough washing to keep you busy after your baby is born, I never pre washed anything before mine were born.....they are absolutely fine.I never heard of any of my friends pre washing them either.

MumsTheWordYouKnow · 26/05/2016 14:27

Yes as they have been manufactured and not washed so you need to wash off the chemicals from the clothes having been made. That's the only reason. Nothing to do with nice fragrance. And non-bio is just better on a baby's skin.

YorkshireTeaDrinker · 26/05/2016 14:29

I would pre-wash anything that is going to be worn next to the skin, I always do for me and DD. Maybe the risk of toxins accrued during the manufacture and delivery of clothing doing us any actual damage is vanishing small (less so anyway for DD, who has sensitive skin), but the mitigation costs little effort and makes wearing the clothes more pleasant.

MumsTheWordYouKnow · 26/05/2016 14:35

Babies having just come out into the environment from your womb have delicate skin they need a bit of protection from any chemicals etc, it's just about doing what's best for your baby, washing vests, sleepsuits and bedding doesn't take too much effort. If I had another baby I would use natural stuff like Ecover. It's just about keeping their skin irritant free.

getyourfingeroutyournose · 26/05/2016 14:45

I haven't read everyone's replies but I have always found it unnecessary to wash clothes before wearing them if they are new but did it out of habit with DS when he was newborn as I was first time mum. I stopped after a while and if something happens when out and about I will just buy a new cheap item of clothing and put that on straight from the store.
I did this the other day as DS spilled juice all over me so nipped into a local shop to buy something that wouldn't leave me soaked for the rest of the meal and jourrney home. I put it on and that evening realised I had a rash/burn mark in two places on my legs and all over my chest. I had bought a playsuit and just put it straight on because it was easy. I've now washed and worn the playsuit and it's fine but I definitely had an allergic reaction to it and nothing else. I don't normally have overly sensitive skin so I would say wash a newborns clothes for sure.

BayLeaves · 26/05/2016 14:50

"The shop store rooms are shockingly dirty."

This may be true but I find it hard to believe that the clothes themselves are dirty as a result. If the clothes were really coming into contact with that much dirt and dust, how would bright white baby vests stay so white?

When it comes to formaldehyde, it's in so many things, including many fabric conditioners. So washing baby clothes unnecessarily might even be increasing the amount of formaldehyde in your home.

georgetteheyersbonnet · 26/05/2016 15:05

Many clothes are sprayed with insecticides or antifungals to preserve them and you can't necessarily rely on (e.g. safe EU-regulated) levels in clothes shipped from countries like China. These are chemicals like permethrin which kill insects but there is relatively little information available on how toil or carcinogenic they are to humans and you would have no way of knowing how much or what's been used. As a pp said, it's unlikely the baby is going to drop dead of cancer the next day, but I'd just prefer to guard against any unknown, possibly carcinogenic preservatives being next to the baby's skin as much as possible, there is no way of telling how much would be absorbed or what the effect might be. I normally wash in a fragrance-free laundry liquid or something which is as free as possible of other additives like limonene.

Even do this with most of my own clothes nowadays, at least knickers and so on (not so bothered about things that aren't right next to the skin).

georgetteheyersbonnet · 26/05/2016 15:06

*toxic not toil

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 26/05/2016 15:14

I'm not chemical phobic by any means (in fact I'm a chemist) but I have to agree with not using fabric conditioner, just more possible irritants for your skin and smells really unpleasant.

squishee · 26/05/2016 15:22

I once got hives all over my body from wearing a cheapo new dress straight from the shop. I had to see a Dr, who prescribed antihistamines. I felt a right plonker when he said it was from the dress. The hives still lasted a good 10 days or so.

By way of anecdote I live in France, where AFAIK there is no such thing as bio and non-bio.

PigletJohn · 26/05/2016 15:22

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

Because people keep them away from fruit and mushrooms, perhaps?

Though I confess I don't know how much there is in a vest.

Do I really need to wash baby's clothes before she arrives?
GrassW1dow · 26/05/2016 15:28

DOn't think there's any "need" to about the matter at all (in the traditional sense of the word).
Otherwise, clothes manufacturers would, in our litigious society, be quick to advise purchasers to "wash before use" like they do with fruit and veg!

Lukesme · 26/05/2016 15:42

You probably don't need to wash them tbh but I have seen garment factories in India and Bangladesh. Rats, no handwashing facilities and workers with chronic cough. It may look lovely in a packet but it's been through loads of hands before it was packed. I will leave it there......

elliejjtiny · 26/05/2016 16:14

I did with my youngest 2 while they were in nicu but only because the nurses there said we had to if we wanted to put them in their own clothes.

XIIILC · 26/05/2016 16:22

I did when my son was a baba. Don't bother now. Unless it's come from MIL or SIL in which case it will be more smoke than fabric. I accidentally bought bio a couple of times though and he comes out in blotches allover his body and won't stop scratching. I also tend to use sensitive wipes with aloe vera when I don't use a flannel on him for similar reasons. But then my skin does same . My parents always used cheap and nasty powder growing up and bio and I've always had reactions to it. Soon as I switched to non bio it all stopped

LauraB74 · 26/05/2016 17:40

I washed everything but it was for me, i waited a long time to have my babies so it made me happy to have a line full of tiny baby things to keep me smiling. I was carrying twins and lost my son at 32 weeks so i wanted the only thing he was going to ever get to wear to be freshly washed and ironed. It made me heart sing to see my daughters things fluttering on the line just waiting for her to be born. I guess its up to you, I knew my daughter was going to be tiny so knew I wouldnt need to take anything back and asked others to buy her new born and I got the 2 smaller sizes to make sure she would wear whatever she was bought as gifts. x

MrsDeVere · 26/05/2016 18:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnnieOnnieMouse · 26/05/2016 18:28

I used to work in a clothing factory.
I don't fuss about outer wear, but definitely wash undies, bedding, towels and used to wash kids clothes before wearing.

shinynewusername · 26/05/2016 18:32

These are chemicals like permethrin which kill insects but there is relatively little information available on how toil or carcinogenic they are to humans

Permethrin is used to treat scabies in humans. You have to smear it over your entire body and leave overnight. I don't think anyone's going to be harmed by a tiny trace of it on clothes.

WineSpider · 26/05/2016 18:35

I have done for DC2 due in 6 weeks. Mainly so the clothes smell like we do!