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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

washing baby clothes - stupid question

30 replies

stickybean · 01/08/2008 07:38

Morning,
Am 37 weeks and just trying to get all the final bits sorted, i emphasise the trying!!!
I know i'm supposed to use non biological washing powder, but am i supposed to use fabric softner? if so any specific type?

Told you it was a bit of a silly question!

Thanks
xxx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

seeker · 01/08/2008 07:43

I didn't realize I was supposed to wash baby things differently until years too late and just washed them with everyone else's. No ill effects! Sorry -is that unhelpful?

MamaGLovesMe · 01/08/2008 07:43

No question is silly if you want to know the answer!

I used Fairy powder and have never used fabric conditioner. I would try and keep things as natural as possible. Babies really don't need their clothes smelling of lavender or whatever the fragrance is, and it is better for their skin, imo, if they have the less chemicals next to it the better.

Lemontart · 01/08/2008 07:43

no fabric softener
BUT if you like them a bit softer feeling, try tumble drying for 10 mins max when line dry (check labels of course)
This softens mine without needing the fabric softener

Original poster

stickybean · 01/08/2008 07:55

Thank you everyone, won't use any softner, agree with you about the chemicals.
Like the tumble drier trick, will try that.

OP posts:

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 01/08/2008 08:15

So just wash them separately with no fabric softener and normal non-bio? Does everyone wash them separately? Isn't that a bit wasteful in the washing machine?

oopsacoconut · 01/08/2008 08:20

Hi we use soapnuts for bubs clothes - no chemicals at all they end up clean and soft. I have very dry skin and so want to keep chemicals away from her as much a possible.

ilovemydog · 01/08/2008 08:36

I use surcare (unscented washing liquid).

Only because I'm allergic to everything else.

The baby's clothes go into the wash with everything else, unless there's been an accident.....

MrsJamin · 01/08/2008 08:39

We have very hard water so I wouldn't dream of using no softener especially for a newborn, it would be too scratchy. Just a mild softener is fine, just make sure you do an extra rinse at the end of the cycle to make sure the residue comes out.

Lomond · 01/08/2008 08:41

With DD1 I started off washing her clothes seperately, I soon saw sense!

I always used a sensitive softner, just a little.

babyignoramus · 01/08/2008 08:47

Daft question but what difference does bio/non-bio make? I use bio because I'm allergic to something in non-bio.... does that mean I'll have to keep bubba's clothes separate?

MrsTittleMouse · 01/08/2008 08:48

I used the Boots unscented fabric conditioner for sensitive skin. DD had very dry skin, so I was a bit more PFB than I would have normally been (in fact, we still haven't used the bubble bath and shampoo that I was given and she'll be 2 soon).

elkiedee · 01/08/2008 15:59

We do use fabric conditioner usually, and I wash clothes by colour in non-bio, I do mix baby and other clothes where that happens on colour - have very little white stuff which isn't ds's and very little black stuff which is though.

You can also get "dryer balls" which apparently help things to dry faster in the tumble dryer and can help make fabric softer, according to the packet anyway. I don't know whether anyone here can express an opinion on them. Ours double up as a toy for ds.

crokky · 01/08/2008 16:01

I don't use fabric conditioner. I just tumble dry after using non bio liquid. That's how I wash all our clothes.

laura325630 · 01/08/2008 16:31

I use fairy tablets and Tesco pure fabric conditioner. I love the smell and they are both ok for babies. I washed and ironed everything I had before dd was born!! Now I wash and tumble it and then put it on her with creases!!!

MiniMarmite · 01/08/2008 17:27

babyignoramus, there are enzymes in bio and I think that can affect babies' skin.

woodmill100 · 01/08/2008 18:17

non boi of fairy followed by fairy conditioner or comfort pure.

fledtoscotland · 01/08/2008 19:25

we only use non-bio powder at home due to my allergies so i just washed the newborn clothes in that. tbh i washed all DS's clothes before he wore them until he was about 6 months as he also has mild eczema.

i never used fabric softner but then i never do.

I also never bothered to iron any baby clothes as i hate ironing and even now DH and DS's clothes are folded unless they really have to be ironed eg shirts

wahwah · 02/08/2008 08:34

Dryer balls work brilliantly - I use 4 together!

DisenchantedPlusBump · 02/08/2008 08:40

I just bung it in with everything else and use what ever powder I have and use fabric softener!

Non of their limbs have fallen off upto now because of it

lollipopmother · 03/08/2008 11:04

What is the reason for separating the washing into baby and adult?

Bronze · 03/08/2008 11:06

Seeker I have three brats dcs and I have learned just now that you are sipposed to wash babies things seperately. I still hvaen't worked out why though.

EyeballsintheSky · 03/08/2008 11:11

Same as woodmill here. I do wash dd's things separately because at the moment she has so many clothes that I can let it pile up and do a full load every fortnight or so. When I have to start buying her clothes instead of living off the new baby pressies and hand me downs then that might change and she'll have three changes of clothes, like me!

mamadiva · 03/08/2008 11:21

I wash my DS's things in with my mine because we both have Atopic eczema and I use surcare. Did used to use Fabric softener but it broke our skin out, used Comfort Pure which is good but so is Fairy and is probably the best one for kids as far as they say anyway.

If you want to use FC then I'd give it a try and if it breaks skin out or anything then you know not to use it again.

Also if you can't use FC then Laundry liquid rather than powder leaves your clothes alot softer than just powder. Hope this is of some use to you.

ten10 · 03/08/2008 11:31

I use Ecover liquid and occasionally use Ecover fabric softener as well,
as he came out in a rash with a few other brands - worst for him was Persil

Original poster

stickybean · 03/08/2008 13:06

I wasn't intending to always wash the baby clothes seperatly, i was just planning on washing all the new things i have bought before it is born (2.5 wks till due date!) in one big wash on their own.
Hadn't really thought past that!

Is one supposed to always wash their stuff in a seperate wash? surely if i just swith to only using non bio i can wash it all together?

This having a baby lark is so confusing

OP posts:

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