Washing baby clothes.

[Katieb21]

Hello, when did everyone start washing baby clothes? I’m nearly 30weeks pregnant and unsure whether to start or not, I feel like I want to, to get it over and done with as I have quite a bit, but also don’t know whether it’s to early I’m scared something will go wrong as I know someone who had a still born at 27weeks, but i suppose this can happen at any time even if I was to leave it to start washing at 36weeks, this is my first baby and I just love to be organised I’ve already packed my hospital bag for the baby and will be starting mine gradually. Thanks in advance!

I didn’t. I just put new babygro’s in the packets in my bag and put them straight on them. And then for number 2 and 3 i took them straight out of the storage boxes and put them straight in the bag!

I did when I went on maternity leave - I went quite early tho due to small complications at 34 weeks. I just wanted to get it done like you!! Chucked all of them in with lots of softener and they were nice and soft and snuggly and smelt lovely! Congrats on your pregnancy

Meant to add sorry - I only washed items that would actually be touching DS skin, vests, babygros socks etc 😂😂

I didn't bother, just took them straight from the packet! Its one of these maternity leave rites of passage i never got into. I did have my daughter at 34 weeks though so part of it was just time.

I mainly want to as I’d like the clothes to be soft, and plus having worked in retail I know how disrespectful people can be with stuff they end up not wanting to buy chucking stuff on the floor and not picking it up and people touching the clothes/blankets to see how soft they are with there dirty hands so if just rather wash them I just don’t know when as I want to do it but don’t know if they will still smell fresh by the time I go into labour lol xx

And thankyou peppapig17 x

Is it necessary to wash them? I don't know what size the baby will be so was thinking of getting different options and then returning the ones that didn't fit (e.g. for baby's going home outfit), which wouldn't be possible obvs if I'd washed them. What do people normally do?

Your washing some clothes will have no affect on the health of you or your baby.

Effect*

I washed them when I was about 6 months pregnant due to over eagerness 😂 - it’s only too early if you’re superstitious I guess.

As pp has said you might only want to wash a few items in smaller sizes though as you might end up with monster sized babies like me 😬

I'm 28 weeks and doing my first load today! I haven't got much new stuff, it's mostly second hand so I really felt the need to wash it.

Maybe controversially I'm not using non-bio because the NHS says you don't need to... so I'm just sticking with my usual Bold 2in1 or whatever it is that was on offer last week!

I did wash mine up until the baby was a few months old, maybe six months. It was to wash shop germs off but also factory chemicals or something (apparently!)

Oh, but didn't actually wash the. Until I was on maternity leave, so about 35 weeks.

Never bothered.

Way too much unnecessary washing for my liking.

Maternity leave and time not in work prior to the baby being born is for resting!

Started washing them around 6 months I think, did a few bits at a time. I always wash new clothes before they are worn, hate the smell of the factory chemicals, and most of the clothes are second hand so obviously wash them too.

Yeah I think I’m going to start washing them in the next week, thanks everyone :)

It's really nice to see all the cute little baby clothes hanging up to dry too.

I didn’t bother, scoffed at the advice... and now have a DD with head to toe eczema and sensitive skin. Bad karma, I guess.

From 34 weeks ish :)

About 36 weeks as I knew I was getting induced. All the granny knitting was washed by them along with bedding etc.

I do use the antibacterial wash (ie Milton or Sainsburys own etx) as it makes a difference.

I didn't wash any new baby clothes and have had no ill effects. You won't cause eczema by not washing new clothes.

I’ve been given around 4 bags of second hand clothes so I guess I should start soon ! Tho will go slowly and in priority order.

Do you use softener ? And does it have to be non bio ?

I got quite a lot of our stuff second hand so just washed everything. I did it in batches from about 34 weeks when I wanted to get the hospital bag packed and ready.

I have two lots of stuff, newborn and 0-3 months, as the midwife is predicting an 8.5lb baby, so the smaller stuff may not fit or if it does, it might not for very long, assuming she is correct (and I know that there's every chance that she isn't!) But I've packed a few of each into my hospital stuff just in case.

It was really lovely seeing all the tiny vests and hats and things on the laundry aired, made it all seem very real!

I’ve used fairy washing powder and softener for the stuff I have washed so far which is just my hospital bag stuff and will be using it for the rest of the babies clothes as I have heard that’s for sensitive skin and good for babies lol xx

That’s not what I was suggesting crazy - rather that I saw pre-washing, non-bio, sensitive stuff as a load of nonsense and now, four months in, I have every variety of washing powder and skin lotion under the sun.