New baby clothes - wash or not?

[ruthieruthuk]

Bought some new outfits/sleepsuits for baby who is due Jan 2nd and was wanting opinions, would people wash brand new baby clothes or pack as they are?

I’ve pre-washed all the baby clothes but only because I read about it on Mumsnet. I wouldn’t have thought to do it otherwise!

I prewashed everything for pfb. Obsessively.

No2? Not so much...

Now they’re 2 and 4? Never!

I normally wash, takes a moment really to chuck it all in the washer and turn on, then transfer it to the dryer and turn on, then lob it in the drawer (I don't fold and iron baby stuff).

Always wash everything first. Newborns have sensitive skin and those clothes are covered in chemicals (plus the stockrooms can be filthy).

I’m not washing stuff because my baby is measuring large at the moment (above 90th centile). I’ve got a packs of newborn vests and sleepsuits in my hospital bag that I’m keeping sealed so that I can exchange them if he/she goes straight into the 0-3m ones.

I may wash the 0-3 stuff if I get bored on my maternity leave but I’m not too worried - chances are they’ll only be worn for a matter of hours before they are vomited/pooed on and end up in the wash anyway!

Always wash because of nasty chemical dyes.

I never washed any new stuff but washed second hand stuff depending on who it came from.

I've never washed my own stuff if it was new and I use to have very sensitive skin due to an immune condition. In fact I would have reactions against washing powder and/or fabric condition clothes where washed in.

Oh and I don't do more washing since was she born - I do less as I'm not off doing sport.

I always wash new clothes (even for adults) because the fabric can be treated with all sorts of unpleasant chemicals that aren't washed out before they are distributed and sold. Plus God knows where they have been stored and how many different people have handled them in production / transit.

I'm generally quite laid back about dirt/cleaning but our family all have sensitive skin so I think pre-washing is important and certainly so for a baby's delicate skin that will possibly have a difficult time adjusting to being out in the world anyway.

I quite enjoyed sorting and washing everything - and marvelling at how much of the teeny tiny stuff would fit on my clothes horse (and I detest laundry generally).

Never washed new clothes for any of my 4 DCs. They are all fine.

What do you worry will happen?

I personally don't like the slight chemical smell new clothes have, so I was all new clothes when bought, regardless of who is going to wear them.