How long before due date to wash baby clothes?

[TTCing]

I want to be prepared and to wash the clothes but I want them to still be fresh.

I’ve got 12 weeks until my due date. Shall I wait a bit longer? I want to be organised but not over organised! Haha.

THANKS!

This is bonkers. Just wash them whenever! Who is going to decide you are over organising by washing them sooner?

Just do what you want. You really need to be able to make your own decisions when you become a parent! 😃

Exactly what I thought. Worse than the threads about whether to eat chicken that's two hours past its use-by date.

@Intermittentgasping i already have one child.

Your comment is unhelpful. Why comment at all? Why waste your time spreading negativity?

I want them to be fresh so my new baby has that lovely fresh clothes smell. It might not matter to some but it matters to me. And I don’t want to wash everything twice.

Please go and leave unnecessary comments elsewhere! I can’t imagine what kind of person leaves negative tone comments on lighthearted posts!

Love and light to you!

And to you @muddyford ! Love and light!

If you both find it ridiculous, why click on the post, let alone comment? Surely you have something better to do?!

OP I think this is one of those things where some common sense is called for.

I would do it 3 x weeks before just in case the baby is early. That's long enough for them to still be fresh and still smell lovely. I've got 3 boys and it worked for all of mine. Enjoy it!

@Grimmz thanks for your super helpful comment… especially helpful in addition to the previous two comments! Enjoy your evening. Love and light to you!

Fresh? I genuinely don't understand what you mean by fresh?

Clothes are either new and unworn, worn and unwashed or clean, surely?

I only washed a couple of packs each of bodysuits and sleepsuits. I didn't pre wash any "outfits" just in case the size wasn't right etc.

@PinkLemons99 i can clarify that for you, when I say ‘fresh’, I mean they smell FRESHLY washed and like the washing liquid/products they have been washed in. I understand if clothes are washed they are clean and if they aren’t washed, they’re either unclean or new but unwashed. But I want them to smell like washing! Not like nothing and not like new clothes.

Thanks both @SecondUsername4me and @Mamma1982 ! The majority of the stuff are clothes which have been worn by my first child. So it will be a case of rewashing rather than opening new packets. But I do have some new bits so will be mindful of not going crazy and washing everything which is new due to sizing!

Are your clothes smelling when you wash them because you’re using scented detergent or conditioner? Some advise using in scented when they’re tiny in case they have sensitive skin.

OK then I'll share my own common sense with you: wash them 2-3 weeks before your due date and store them somewhere where they won't become soiled or absorb unwanted smells.

I don’t think the baby will care 🤷🏻‍♀️

good luck and congratulations!

I don't use fabric conditioner and I honestly haven't noticed my clothes smelling of anything unless there's some chemical residue on new clothes that needs washing out? Is that what you're referring to?

@PinkDaffodil2 no, I use fairy non-bio and they still smell beautiful when freshly washed.

I know it’s not advised to use harsh washing detergents on baby clothes. I’m not a total novice, second baby!

a month earlier in case the baby came few weeks early which all my children did.

@User890976 i expect not, I care though! But thanks for the congratulations!

They'll all pick up the lovely baby smell anyway x

Wash them the day before you're due

I wouldn't wash them, presuming they were packed away clean or brand new. Try to think about the environment...

I refuse to believe that anyone who's already had a baby would be wondering about this! Just do what you did last time.

I'd do it around 34/ 35 weeks unless you think your baby is going to be early. I think I did mine around 30 weeks but I had a high-risk pregnancy.

Damn. I didn’t know you were supposed to wash things before baby wore them.

You mean the smell of chemicals? I.e. breathing in chemicals? Why?

Genuinely fresh clothes that don't smell of detergent would probably be better for your baby.