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!

To you, maybe. But only because you have learnt to associate the smell of detergent with "freshness". Your baby isn't going to have that association, they will just be breathing in detergent.

Some unnecessary comments on here. Sheesh.

I rather enjoyed digging out old clothes from DC1 and getting new clothes organised for DC2. I started washing everything around 24/25 weeks as it was summer then so I wanted to take advantage of the nice weather for drying.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I hope you enjoy getting everything fresh and ready for your new arrival. Ignore the joy sponges on here.

For a baby I wouldn't wash anything in such a way that the clothes smelled significantly of detergent/freshener/softener - I'd make sure the clothes were on a full rinse cycle after washing.

Once dried they won't go stale in 12 weeks.

Do people purposely hunt out posts they don’t like just to leave negative comments? 😂 It’s quite clearly a lighthearted question for a mother to be to discuss their plans for baby. Do you all take everything in life so seriously?! 🙈

OP, I will also be using some of DD1 old clothes and so will need to wash them when I take them out of storage. I plan to wash a few things around 32/33 weeks to allow me to get the hospital bag ready, then I’ll be washing the rest maybe 36/37 weeks 😊

I've never washed any baby clothes before being worn. Three children, including one who started off in NICU, all fine. Have never understood why people do this.

God people are so bored tonight aren't they?! Just scroll past if you think it's silly!

I washed mine about 2 weeks before my due date (first baby though) and they still had the lovely fairy non bio smell :)

Congratulations!

Now wondering if something bad might have happened since I never pre washed any of mines baby grows 😅

I don't think your baby will actually want strong perfume type laundry smells their little systems will have a big sensory overload when they come out. The reason to wash them is to get rid of any germs from the factory etc.

And yet you're asking this ... 😂

Oh dear god.

you wouldn't freshen up newborn baby clothes to save one washes impact on the environment. That's nuts!!

Wash them when you have the time and if that is now, do it now. I had washed a few bits for my 2nd baby but then he came over a month early and smaller than expected so DM was brining me brand new smaller stuff and it went on the baby straight from the packet. He survived, it means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

are you serious? newborn skin is very sensitive, clothes has to be washed with non bio products.
clothes get dirty from being in the warehouse etc.. I'm very suprised of your answer..

This. Better to have them smelling of mum.

I only washed clothes to remove laundry stinks, not to add them.

You wash brand new clothes? What if they need to go back to the shop?
FWIW- I didn't wash DS clothes before he was born and nothing bad happened .he's now a strapping 17 year old.

I wish some people with their negative and unhelpful responses would actually piss off. Must be so miserable that they use MN as an outlet.

If you find a thread pointless, how about you move on?

I washed mines two weeks before DD.

Good luck x

It’s a good idea to wash new baby clothes before putting them on the baby because new clothes can have Formaldehyde on them to keep them from deteriorating when packaged.
It’s advised to pre-wash new baby clothes and toys using a scent-free gentle non bio laundry detergent, dry thoroughly and put in a dry non-scented place like a drawer without scented lining paper.

Detergent manufacturers sell the “fresh scent of newly laundered clothes” to us but for a newborn, the strong scent of laundry detergent can be overwhelming. Babies are calmed by the smell of their mum. So if you 2ant the washed clothes to have a scent, put something you’ve worn in the drawer with them while you wait for baby to arrive.

Wash a few baby clothes while you are waiting, they will be fine packed away for weeks. Bear in mind some babies come out small and some come out large and so you might want to return unworn sleep suits and vests. For this reason I would only wash a few things.

wishing you all the best as you await your little one

A newborn is not going to be comforted by the the smell of lenor! Just the smell of you.

Wash them when you have time and please try not to get (any more) anxious

Bloody hell some people 🙄 I know what u mean op, I would recommend no earlier than 4weeks before if you still want the freshly washed smell and as forbpeople saying new clothes don't need washing or baby won't care etc obviously have no common sense themselves, ur obviously asking people's opinion of how long roughly that fresh smell lasts which there not getting, you can have common sense without knowing the answer to that 🙄 some people are so dull they just like to nitpick, drives me mad either don't post or answer the fucking question, we're mums were meant to be supportive to one another 🤬

It's good that you asked the question, OP, because people have now highlighted to use only non-bio products on your baby's clothes, and you presumably wouldn't have known otherwise.

Having said that, (I realise this is contradictory), I don't know what's become of Mumsnet and our collective psyche, when we have to ask strangers for advice on e.g. when to wash baby clothes.

PP is right, and wasn't unreasonable to point out that you 're going to be a parent soon, and will have to get used to making decisions.

Trust your own judgement on simple things. When you're feeling anxious about making a decision, ask yourself: if I get it wrong, what's the worst that can happen?

If it's something simple, that won't actually harm the baby, try and make that decision yourself. If it's something with potentially serious consequences, seek advice if you aren't confident to make the decision yourself.

If you stop and try and assess the question / worry itself, you might be able to rationalise that you are perfectly capable of making decisions yourself, or that you need advice.

Maybe keep an eye on your anxiety levels, and if you feel them spiralling, speak to your midwife, or health visitor if it's after the birth, and you have been discharged from the midwifery services.

Good luck.

Everything can seem overwhelming at times, bur don't always assume that you are incapable of deciding what's best for your baby.

Some REALLY mean comments on here.
So unnecessary.
Op, I’d say a few weeks before your due date should be fine.
Congratulations. I hope all goes well for you.

@NeverGuessWho

Did you a READ the thread?
This is OPs second baby!
Could you be anymore patronising??

Ffs she only asked a question. She’s NOT incapable of making a decision…..she just wants opinions on what others would do.

I bet she wishes she didn’t post now.

Guys this thread was started Nov 2023!!

I'm sure the OP has gotten over it by now & the clothes are washed.

New clothes do not have formaldehyde on them, it’s a banned chemical. They will have been tested and will not have any harmful chemicals on them. There is no need to wash them but if you want to I’d do it about 3 weeks before due date x