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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 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.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

unlucky83 · 26/05/2016 18:59

I would and I do - for me and DCs.
I had a bad allergic reaction to something many many years ago - came out in weals that merged into each other - was swollen and itchy all over - eg my knee was three times it's normal size and had to have steroids.

Never found out what caused it - I had been eating/preparing different foods (used to be a chef) so I thought it was something to do with that- but it did start off quite mild just got worse and worse (odd when my exposure was just one night -it was at his worst 4 -5 days later.
I'd never had anything like it before.
Then about 10 yrs later I came out in a similar rash but not as bad. I racked my brains - no new cleaning products, no different foods - the only different thing I'd done was to wear a new pair of pjs the night before without washing them. It is possible that I had worn something new without washing for the first reaction but can't remember - like I said I thought it must be food related.
I've never worn anything without washing first again and I've never had another reaction - in 15 yrs.
(I do react mildly to Methylisothiazolinone a preservative found in lots of shampoos etc en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylisothiazolinone but apparently that's very common.)

starfishmummy · 26/05/2016 19:46

I washed what I had before ds was born. It was all too big so family went out and bought smaller things which he had to wear straight from the packs. Nothing happened

Tessabelle74 · 26/05/2016 20:55

I've worked in a clothing factory and the fabric is stored on dusty shelves, falls on the floor and lots of people handle it from manufacturing the fabric through to packaging the finished article, any number of which might not wash their hands after the toilet etc! It's simple hygiene to wash new clothes before wearing imo

Woohoomoo · 26/05/2016 21:36

I didn't for either of my children and there were no ill effects. Neither was it recommended by any doctors, midwives or health visitors.

NamelessEnsign · 26/05/2016 21:45

I wash everything that comes into the house.

I never used to, but I once wore a brand new bra and developed an awful allergic reaction. First around the cups, then up to my neck and down as far as my thighs. It lasted over a week and was horrendously itchy. For the first day or two, I had a perfect outline of a bra on my body as a bright red rash.

The bra was hot pink and I think I probably reacted to the dye, but I can't be sure.

I couldn't imagine doing that to the kids, so it all gets washed.

ProseccoPoppy · 26/05/2016 21:54

I did because I get eczema and flare ups if I wear new clothes without washing them or if I use bio washing powder. On that basis I figured my baby's skin would be more sensitive than mine. So a simple choice for me! I think the answer is that it depends on your family's usual reaction (I recognise I'm in the minority!)

6o6o842 · 26/05/2016 22:32

Our midwife advised us to wash clothes and bedding so it was all fresh. Our twins were born prematurely and spent five weeks in hospital. When they were well enough to wear clothes that we brought in from home we had to confirm that they were recently washed. New clothes have chemical residue on them and they haven't always followed the most sanitary path to my shopping bags. Plus, my kids like to wear new gear to death - including to bed when they first get it - so I prefer to wash new clothes before they wear them for the first time.

GreenShadow · 26/05/2016 22:38

Nope. Never wash anything for any of the family.
I'm not going to get poisoned from someone else touching clothes or dusty floors. Granted, the chemicals don't sound so nice, but they've never caused a problem in the past, so I shall carry on not washing.

bunnygirl80 · 27/05/2016 01:10

I did. Purely so I could take a picture of all the teeny tiny baby clothes drying on the line. Anything bought subsequent to the photo op wash didn't get done!

Kimbrookes85 · 27/05/2016 06:05

I washed and ironed everything, I actually found it really exciting and it some how made me feel closer to my bump haha.
We had all neutral clothing because we didn't know what we were having and although some tiny baby stuff was never used as I had a big baby it wasn't a problem because I'd bought it a long time before my son was born anyway so it's not like I could have took it back.
I used our regular wash power and conditioner as I didn't want to change what me and my partner use and my baby would be in contact with our clothes anyway when being held he's got beautiful skin so it's not harmed him at all.

chloechloe · 27/05/2016 08:27

OMG people. Most clothes nowadays are made in China, India, Bangladesh etc and handled by who knows how many people working in not the most sanitary conditions. Why would you risk letting those clothes touch the skin of a newborn baby barely out of the womb?

Yes so some detergents aren't great for babies' skin either but that's no excuse for not washing in the first place.

I washed and ironed everything for PFB and when the second comes I will also rewash all the hand me downs which have been kept in the cellar in the meantime. Seriously, how difficult is it to stick a couple of loads of washing on whilst you're on mat leave before the baby comes?

WellErrr · 27/05/2016 08:30

OMG people. Most clothes nowadays are made in China, India, Bangladesh etc and handled by who knows how many people working in not the most sanitary conditions

Ewwww the Middle East.

lljkk · 27/05/2016 08:32

All those dirty people in China, India & Bangladesh must go home to touch their own newborn babies without washing, too. Oh, the horror of it.

scrumptiouscrumpets · 27/05/2016 12:14

*OMG people. Most clothes nowadays are made in China, India, Bangladesh etc and handled by who knows how many people working in not the most sanitary conditions. Why would you risk letting those clothes touch the skin of a newborn baby barely out of the womb?

Yes so some detergents aren't great for babies' skin either but that's no excuse for not washing in the first place.
Seriously, how difficult is it to stick a couple of loads of washing on whilst you're on mat leave before the baby comes?*

This.
A hair-raising amount of chemicals are used making clothes, some of which aren't even legal in Europe.
I will never get why some people are terrified of vaccines harming their kids, but then don't think twice about exposing them to chemicals in clothes, detergents, cleaning products, etc. Formaldehyde for example is a known carcinogenic agent and is used in the manufacture of clothing.

Just stick the washing machine on. You probably won't even have a full load.

Britnyspears · 27/05/2016 16:56

China, Bangladesh and India arent in the Middle East

I had not really considered washing until today when I saw a womans' little dog biting childrens clothes in H&M- slober everywhere. Now that's ew! (Sorry dog lovers )

Primaryteach87 · 27/05/2016 19:46

I didn't. No issues with eczema or anything untoward.

pregnantat50 · 27/05/2016 19:50

Is this something new, my 3 children all in their twentys had new straight from the store clothes without washing and all survived. I didnt know people were supposed to wash them first...but im a lazy mum (which is why I breast fed for so long too)

wigglewam · 27/05/2016 20:00

I didn't and my 3 babies have all survived! No sensitive skin issues, rashes/allergies.

orangeblossomgirl · 27/05/2016 20:07

I definitely would - I work in a baby clothes department and stockroom in a supermarket and they are often dropped on the dirty floor and just have dust brushed off them...also people pick them up and feel the material etc a lot and I just wouldn't put that on a newborn

AlwaysNC · 27/05/2016 20:08

Yes to washing them! But I'd happily wash in bio.
High street store rooms might be clean, but you haven't seen where they were manufactured. You can always wait until baby is here then wash the right clothes size.

AlwaysNC · 27/05/2016 20:08

I as an adult react to new clothes if I don't pre wash them.

bunnyfuller · 27/05/2016 20:19

DD number one arrived early, way smaller than expected so no, her clothes weren't washed. They were bought for tiny baby at midnight in Tesco. And she's still alive age 11!!!

HappiestMummyAlive · 27/05/2016 20:22

Yes I wash all my clothes and my childrens clothes before we wear them.

cariboo · 27/05/2016 20:27

If it worries you, wash the clothing.

BennyTheBall · 27/05/2016 20:31

No.

Why create work for yourself? Unecessary.

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