What to wash?

MrsJOSEnADRI · September 2010

Just read about this on Nurseries and Baby Gear Board, but I also had a convo with my mom on this topic. She suggested I wash all of the 0-3 months clothes and then everything else as she grows into it so I can keep the tags on them in case I need to make returns/exchanges. For example, I noticed that some of the clothes that will fit her at a certain age may not go with the season (like a sweater that won't fit her until next summer, lol).

What else do you recommend washing (i.e. sheets, mattress pads, changing pad covers, blankets, towels, socks, caps, mittens, washcloths, bouncer cover, high chair cover, toys, etc.)??? And, my mom also mentioned that after a certain age, it's no longer necessary to wash everything before she wears it. At what age, did you stop washing their new clothes?

Albah · September 2010

Definitely the 0-3 month clothes and I also washed the other items that you mentioned. We didn't have too much clothes bigger than the 0-3 so we went ahead and washed that too. Now, if you do notice off season clothes and you can return it, I would do that because chances are she won't wear it when the time comes. I don't know whether or not it is necessary to wash clothes after a certain age but up to this date I wash everything we buy for the kiddos...i just feel it's cleaner that way.

Mrs.HisOnly · September 2010

I washed everything that was NB - 3months (carter's) and everything else that was 0-3months. All the blankets, hats, socks, towels, washcloths, bibs, mittens and booties. I washed the bed sheets, but not the bumper or the skirt. I didn't wash the bouncer or swing cover because I figured he would always be in pj's and/or swaddled so his skin would never touch it. I also didn't wash his "going out" clothes until he was ready to wear it. For the first 3 weeks he wore pj's or onesies and pants

Also (totally unsolicited advice), if you're reading the national boards you've probably read that the hospital provides everything you need....Baptist doesn't. I recommend getting a pack or 2 of the Gerber NB snap shirts in long sleeve with the attached mittens or the short sleeve and bring your own mittens. Bring socks and if you're going to bring blankets bring the flannel kind because they say they keep the baby warmer. Everytime I wrapped J in a regular blanket they took it off and replaced it with the hospital kind. Bring something cute for her pictures but personally to make it easy on you don't bring to many pj's. They wrapped him in so many blankets that by the time I got them all off I didn't need anything else standing between me and the diaper. Plus, it was less rubbing against the cord stump. Make sure you bring stuff to shower because after you give birth you will be dying to shower! Bring your own towel because the hospital towels are tiny. Had my friend not given birth 2 weeks before me I wouldn't have known any of this so I hope it helps if even a little!

Albah · September 2010

Oh, and it can't hurt to bring a couple of preemie sized outfits. We made small babies and the newborn was huge at birth. In fact, he wore preemie for a good 3 weeks and he is still in newborn at 1 month. This is not true for most but you don't want it to be you while at hospital. Justine gave great Baptist advice. The "clothes" they provide are these little "paper" shirts that don't cover baby well at all. And we also brought mittens, their nails are super long when born. But I find that the sleepers with the built in "mittens" are sooo much easier.

Mrs. Aleman · September 2010

I washed everything from the car seat cover, the stroller cover, their cloths, socks, hats, towels, everything! Even now I still wash everything we buy before they even put it on. The thing is my kids have eczema so we have to wash all our stuff with a "free" detergent.

UMwife · September 2010

I think everyone did a pretty good job of covering everything. I still wash everything before Carley wear its though, so I guess it's just a preference thing.

Also, I didn't deliver at Baptist (obviously), but Justine made a great point. Make sure you pack your bath stuff and a towel. Hospital towels seem soo scratchy to me, so it won't hurt to have something nice and comfortable from home.

LizC78 · September 2010

I washed everything and I still do.. My son is allergic to everything so just to be sure I wash it all.

And I definitely bring your own towel to the hospital. My hospital they were scratchy and thin.

Oh and mine had the opposite problem of Albah's.. My DD was 8lbs 6oz and my DS was 9lbs 13oz so they didn't fit in newborn clothes AT all. We were 0-3 from the start.

cocojack10 · September 2010

I'm getting anxious and want to start this already too! But since we don't have the dressers yet, I rather just wait a little longer and closer to delivery date before beginning. I did buy our first bottle of Dreft this weekend. BRU has a $5 off coupon for the next couple of wks. I may pick up another bottle for reserve this weekend.

My plan is to wash all that is up to 3 mo, as well as the sheets, towels, washclothes, changing pad cover, blankets, bibs, burp cloths. Basically anything that touches them. As for the carseats, I'll prob line those w/ supports, so I'll wash the supports... we did buy our carseats open boxed, so I'll def be disinfecting them w/ Lysol before adding the support. Our highchairs are used, so those are def getting a good wash before use!

Lots of laundry for us in the upcoming wks! But before I start, we need to 1) fix dryer (takes 3 cycles to actually dry one load), or 2) buy a new dryer. Otherwise, It will take literally 4 hrs to complete one load!

MrsJOSEnADRI · September 2010

Thx for all the advice! I think I'll get started this weekend.

I pretty much figured everything that touched their skin so maybe I'll wait on the bouncer cover, high chair cover, etc. I'll take things as they come with the rest of the washing in the future.

Thx, again, and great advice on the hospital stay. I was going to post soon about what to pack for the hospital.

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