Do the clothes really shrink that much?

bigbear

Hey mamas!

 I have a question: I think I want to start washing some of my baby girl's clothes so I have it all ready. I have to admit that all the early arrivals have made me a bit more excited and nervous and I want to make sure I have things ready

So anyway, I'll be obviously drying all the stuff but wanted to know if the stuff really shrinks alot? I got some newborn, some 0-3m and 3m sizes, but the newborn ones are for up to 8 lbs babies. They look so tiney and if I end up with a good size baby and then the stuff shrinks I won't be able to use it.

So just wondering what your experience has been.

TIA

AliW220

I didn't notice much shrinking... although I washed all the different sizes I got from my shower at once, so if they did shrink they did so all together at once.

When I was comparing sizes, it seems that the differences are mainly in length, and yes they all seem so small!   If you got alot of newborn stuff, maybe wait to wash it until after LO arrives, it's not going to hurt him to be in clothes that are a little too big for a day or two while you catch up with laundry.

I de-tagged and washed it all. I figured even if LO is too big to wear it, I'll keep if for the next one, or for when my friends or sister have kids next.  I'd rather have it all ready to go than deal with returning things after baby is born. Lord knows I'd probably just lose the reciept, or it would be too late to return the too small sizes by the time I would get around to it.

singhanna

I haven't noticed any crazy shrinking - I've washed a ton of onsies plus some outfits.

I do a cold water delicate wash using ECOS detergent then dry in the low heat cycle.  For some of the items I'm more scared about - I hang dry.  No big deal!

Chattsgirl

I think it depends on the brands. Even though I am having a girl this time, I am still going to try to use some of DS's clothes (sleepers, onsies, etc). Some of them were just not even usable b/c they were washed so many times and really shrunk, and others were just fine, so I think it depends. I would wash in cold water and dry on the gauge right above delicate, should be fine. I find that Carters stuff usually holds up pretty well.

LittleMonkeys3

My 8lb 7oz'er and my 9lb 5oz'er both wore newborn for a bit. My smaller baby wore it for a month or longer. My bigger baby wore it for 2 to 3 weeks. I wouldn't have a ton in newborn size unless you find that you have a smaller baby and you need more, you can always go out and get more.  The clothes will shrink a tiny bit but it more depends on your brand of clothing. Carter's newborn runs much bigger than gerber. Gerber runs very, very small so I refuse to even bother to buy it with my gigantor babies.  Circo, target brand runs shorter and wider than Carter's. So you just have to figure out what size your baby is and go from there.

VABride2008

I noticed that Gerber onesies shrink, a lot! 

bigbear

Thanks so much, ladies!

Yes I've heard of Gerber really shrinking. I've noticed that also with the stained boy stuff my MIL is giving me from my nephew for my girl to wear! LMAO . It is so tiney that it may fit a premie if that...

Lhand11

VABride2008:

I noticed that Gerber onesies shrink, a lot! 

 Oh my, yes they do! I don't think they are going to fit!  

selenawrites

I washed a bunch of his clothes, towels and blankets a couple of weeks ago, and you really notice the quality (or lack thereof) once you wash things. I used a cold cycle w/ free & clear detergent and then dried everything on medium heat. When I pulled everything out, there was a layer of fleece threads on EVERYTHING, because I neglected to notice some of the blankets we were given were made from cheap fleece. So then I had to lint-roll a bunch of his clothes, and some things will have to be re-washed, which I hope to get to later this week. So annoying! So learn from me ladies, and be sure to separate your cotton from your fleece.

NiniJ55

I only found that Gerber shrunk.  other than that I was able to dry most clothes with zero issues.

Kelmarwil

I had slight shrinkage at BEST and I used cold water, all natural homemade detergent, and used the dryer set on low/delicate. I think everything looks about the same size. Out of all the brands, the Gerber onesies are the absolute smallest to begin with. I don't think it's because they shrank. I've made sure to stay away from that brand for almost all the sizes or at least plan on using them earlier than their intended size.

Kristine Schilling

wash in cold water. warm or hot will shrink baby clothes, as well as the sheets and things like fitted changing pad covers.

Jolaine83

If it helps, the general rule for Gerber clothes is to consider it a size smaller than it is.  So newborn = preemie, 0-3=newborn, 3-6=0-3 and so on.  I swore by using the gerber onesies for DS and they worked as long as I followed that rule.