what to wash and when??

mrs.bubbly

Did you remove tags from all the new clothes and wash them? or did you only wash a few pieces? Hard to know what size baby will be...so I'm leery of removing tags b/c then nothing can be returned/exchanged...

also, what about washing the changing pad covers or boppy covers? do i need to this before I use them? air dry them?

crib sheets get washed and dried in dryer?

sorry for so many questions...suddenly i can't make my own decisions and second guess everything I do for baby Cole...hehe.

Mystery2B

I would wash fabrics that will come in contact with LO - sheets, boppy covers, changing pad covers, blankets, etc before use.

Clothes - I'd wash the ones you'll be using (ie, not the 9-12 month sizes yet) soon. 

That said, I wouldn't wash stuff quite yet since you've got over a month to go and I wouldn't want everything to get dusty before then. I did wash my sheets, but mainly because I wanted to put some on I'll rewash closer to LO's arrival.

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designermom2009

I'm at 36 weeks, and I'm going to start washing tonight. I'm kinda big on overkill, so I'll be washing all of the clothing and bedding, burp cloths, towels, washcloths, boppy covers...everything that's fabric. I don't have curtains, so not those! hee hee! I was even considering steam cleaning the carpet first. We have pets, though, so if you don't you probably won't have to do that. I'm pretty sure he'll fit into most things at first since I dont' have any preemie clothes, so the tags are all off and waiting by the washer for when I get home from work!

GirlieG

I washed all the 0-3m clothing before DS was born.  Since you live in NJ and you're due in December, you'll be able to use the winter clothes for at least 3 or 4 months, so I think it'd be safe for you to wash all of your 0-3m clothes.  I knew DS was going to be a big baby, so I only bought a few NB sized clothes and I washed those (he never wore any NB clothing). 

I also washed all the sheets, blankets, changing pad covers, and Boppy covers.  I dry all of DS's clothing on Low heat.  It takes a little bit longer, but things don't shrink as much, especially the crib sheets.  Once those shrink up, they're pretty much useless.  Things with any type of plastic waterproof backing on them ( changing pad cover liners or a waterproof crib mattress pad) get dried in the dryer for only one 30-min cycle.  Before I reset the timer for the rest of the clothes, I take those specific items out and hang them to air dry.  If you dry them too long in the dryer (even on Low heat), the plastic backing can melt. 

Goldengirl16

Well, I'm a few days behind you, but I'm a control freak.  I've already washed all her clothes (all sizes since they can't be taken back after 3 months anyways) and sheets, boppy covers, socks, quilts, towels, burp cloths, etc.

I just washed them on the gentle cycle with Dreft and dried them (no dryer sheet) on perm. press.  Everything turned out fine. I have a few dresses for her and those I hand washed and laid on a towel to dry so as not to ruin them.

 

AussieAbbie

My friend in Australia gave me a great idea to get prepared early as to not leave things to the last minute.. wash all the NB sized stuff and a few 0-3 items if you're not sure LO will be a biggy.. then fold and put into the plastic (clean) bags you get in the fruit and veggie section at the local store.  Tie a knot to keep dust out and then put them in the drawers in an order that you wont forget what you have cleaned.. that way you can also keep a 'bag' of what you want to take with you (with LO's clothes in it) to the hospital all clean and air tight and put the rest away in drawers.  When you get home from the hospital with the LO, everything will be clean and ready to go and you can 'open' up the plastic bags as you need, or all at once!