Washing new baby clothes

[Bibby26]

Hi all!

Just wondering what everyone’s thoughts are about pre washing new clothes for baby? I don’t think it will matter in terms of baby not wearing all the clothes so I cannot return/exchange as most of the clothing has been bought months ago anyway!
Anyone had any bad experiences not doing so?

Really not necessary unless you have lots of time on your hands !! I would only prewash if clothes were starchy which is unlikely.

I've pre washed all mine with non bio washing detergent.

Especially washed the blankets and towels too.

Did with my first. Didn't bother with second because it us unnecessary and I didn't have the time or inclination to do extra washing!

I put my first baby wash on yesterday. Ecover non-bio. I’m actually looking forward to ironing for the first time in my life later today.

Loads of people will tell you they never washed and it’s a waste of time. But I’ve waited a LONG HARD time to be able to buy tiny babygros and fondle three lovingly so I’m sure as hell going to enjoy it while I can!

I washed it all and loved every minute!

I never did.

Always washed with non bio detergent ( even cheaper ones will do).

I'm pregnant with baby number 4 and will do the same.

Even if clothes were brand new, still they were in shops were people touched them, and anyways they didn't get washed before placed on the shop. I would wash mines too.

Yep. Baby number 2 due soon and I'll be washing enough clothing for the first couple of weeks, towels, blankets & sheets with a gentle non-bio.
Just the stuff baby will need at the very beginning.

yes, always pre wash.
clothes are treated to make sewing easier + they are treated with pesticides and funghicides for shipping. some of those chemicals can be quite nasty.

and shop floors are warehouses are filthy.

I've washed the majority of stuff, especially vests and things that will go on baby's bare skin but coats and cardigans and things like that I haven't bothered

Nope. What a waste of time

I didn't wash any of them they grow out of them that quick that I find washing and tumble drying shrinks them too.

Clothing is sprayed with an appalling amount of chemicals prior to shipment. I always wash new clothes, especially any that will be worn by a baby.

I washed everything with my first, didn't have the time or energy to prewash everything for my second. Poor lad, he's due any day and still hasn't got a nursery. Raising a toddler whilst pregnant is hard!!

I am washing all baby clothes in non-bio that will touch skin - aka vests/babygrows - but probably not second layers.
I'll wash muslins too and anything that touches their face/mouth.

Think about how many people have picked up an outfit and handled it in a shop and put it back on the rack? Gross. Also all the starch chemicals in folded packs.

I washed it all the 1st time around. I didn't use non bio - just regular detergent and fabric softener. NHS advice is there are no proven benefits in non bio.

I think I'd be inclined to do the same this time around. I don't anymore with my son as he's 2 now, but I just think with a newborn, probably err on the side of caution.

Wow what a divide 😂 I’ll have plenty of time to kill as I’m going on mat leave 1 month before due date so I may as well. Particularly like what a PP said about wanting a baby for so long any excuse to get the clothes out etc!

Obviously I am also not a fan of any chemicals or germs but I wasn’t sure if it’s just a myth really!

I always washed everything, then got a bit more relaxed as she got older. Didn't wash a pack of tshirts from Next when she was about 18 months - she came out in a rash all over her torso from whatever treatment they give the clothes. I've gone back to washing everything again now - seems better safe than sorry, especially for brand new babies.

And I definitely enjoyed doing it! Gives you something to do until they come along, and all those cute little babygrows!

May have my hands a bit full already this time though, with a 2 year old

I wash even my own new clothes before wearing, don't think much of it really, doesn't seem to be such a big chore.

We washed baby clothes beforehand. We didn’t wash one, and baby came out in a really bad rash after wearing it! As she got older I stopped washing before tho.

I washed all of DS's clothes/blankets/bedding/towels.
DS is now 5 months and I still wash everything before he wears it.

Yes, I washed everything to remove the chemicals used in manufacturing.

Bio/nonbio wasn't important to me. I used an extra rinse to remove the detergent residue, and didn't use softener as that'd just be recoating the clothes in chemicals again.

I didn't iron them though. No patience for that

Yep. Washed and ironed all clothes
Washed all towels blankets and bedding etc.
I can't stand that smell of clothes on hangers or out of packets.

Lots of this stuff is from toddler. Dd.. Towels etc but re washed it as been in plastic boxes.

I’ve washed all of mine, I’m not convinced it’s totally necessary but this is my first baby and a baby wash hanging on the rack makes me smile haha