Do you need to wash new baby clothes?

[Strawberry06]

Heard so many mixed things! Some saying you must do it, others saying why bother?!

I washed them the week before going into hospital.
Hanging the tiny clothes on the line made the whole thing seem so real (more that the nine months of pregnancy!)

I've worked in a warehouse where they pack clothes to send to the shop.

You need to wash them...

I don't think you have to.
I personally did because I just wanted to.

I did.

We wash most new clothing
but it seems to be a divisive topic on here. 😅

Generally yes, but not the end of the world if you need to use one without washing first...

I didn't have a choice - ds came surprise 3.5 weeks early and DP had to buy loads of premie clothes from the shop while we stayed for a week. No access to a washing machine in hosp

I did but it was a hassle tbh.

I would, but I do for all new clothes we buy. Just because of the dry if factories and chemicals etc.

I didn't and see survived!

Same, if they are new I always washed them. Usually didn't bother for preloved.

I always washed them before, thought everyone did?

This.

You should wash everything before you use, wear or eat it.

I wash all new clothes, I didn't realise that wasn't normal!

I do, but one time I didn't and DS (aged about 18 months) by coincidence got a horrific rash. I think it was actually scarlet fever and nothing to do with the clothes, but it did spook me into always washing them after that!

This is what I did for exactly the same reason. Newborn skin is very delicate.

Yes!! Can’t you smell the nasty factory chemicals on them? Even if you can’t, your baby can.

So many people wonder why their baby cries a lot and sometimes I look at the baby and think well she’s wearing stinky itchy clothes / the sun’s in her eyes / you’ve got her out in kidday heat with no hat to protect her bald scalp…

Just because someone else doesn’t wash new clothes doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.

I always get a rash if I have close contact with fabric that hasn’t been washed since it was made, or has had biological detergent used on it. It’s called having sensitive skin…

New babies can have very sensitive skin so I did, knowing that everything they used had been with the same washing powder and if it caused problems, I could switch.

I did in the main, and still do wash any new stuff before putting her in it (and for us mostly although I’m not as particular about that, been known to buy a few emergency bits in Sainsbury’s to wear that same day or chuck straight in the case if going away).

Only exception was some babygros my husband picked up at Tesco on way to visit - we’d stayed in longer than expected and I’d asked him to bring some from home but he forgot so grabbed some from the nearest supermarket instead. Zero consequences to wearing the unwashed ones but it’s just a preference thing.

Depending on how much you have maybe don’t wash/ remove tags from absolutely everything though - much easier to sell on the stuff that doesn’t get worn it it’s still BNWT so it’s a balancing act/ trying to predict which you will actually use!

Any recommendations for baby clothes detergent/tablets/fabric conditioner? What do you use to wash your baby clothes?

I would wash them just to make sure they are fully clean and any chemicals from manufacturing etc are washed out.

I use this:

I did and softened it too.

Yes, but make sure you use unscented washing powder/liquid. No point in washing away chemicals with new chemicals.

With my first yes as PFB - and they had to be washed in fairy non bio on there own - god forbid if any of mine or DH washing contaminated it.
With my second I realised how ridiculous I was so no.

@Mintesso yes but he hasn't got sensitive skin and then turned out to have (suspected) scarlet fever which he was prescribed antibiotics for. It was a bit freaky though.