Washing baby clothes- shrinkage?

MrsRoy07 · March 2011

I washed my last batch of baby clothes today, and I can't get over how much some of the stuff shrank! I mean, I followed all washing instructions and dried on delicate, and I know that ppl dry baby clothes all the time so I'm not expected to hang dry everything... but did you notice a lot or shrinkage the first time you washed things? They factor that in when they size the clothes- right? The newborn stuff looks so tiny!!!

tierragirl · March 2011

This happened to me last night too! I washed mostly bibs, blankets and wash cloths, etc. I dried it on the lower heat setting (our dryer only has three settings), and I couldn't believe how much stuff came out all curled and shrunken. Maybe it's time to invest in a new dryer.

Gina418 · March 2011

Depends on the brands too - some do better than others. Gerber is the WORST - shrinks down to baby doll clothes. I've found that the Gymboree brand holds up the best.

I wash everything in cold and use the lowest setting on my dryer.

Nanna · March 2011

I've found the following shrink a LOT/are sized small - Gerber, Circo, Old Navy. I usually plan to be using at least a size larger than my kiddo really is (ie: right now Kermie is a 3T but I would put him in 4T in any of those brands).

Gymboree and Carter's stuff holds up the best. I wash in warm and dry on delicate/low.

Brooke81 · March 2011

yeah stuff shrinks it is cotton and cotton shrinks but most stuff they take that into account. We have lots of carters stuff and I feel it is true to size. DS was kind of swimming in some of his shrunken NB clothes the first week or so. He was 5 lbs 13 oz though. It'll be fine. Newborns are tiny!

Mrs S 08 · March 2011

I did my first load of clothes last night and noticed some things did shrink, which was disappointing. I only washed my newborn and 0-3 mths clothes, so hopefully before she grows into the 3-6 mths clothing I can figure out how to wash them with shrinking.

MrsRoy07 · March 2011

Gina418:

Depends on the brands too - some do better than others. Gerber is the WORST - shrinks down to baby doll clothes. I've found that the Gymboree brand holds up the best.

I wash everything in cold and use the lowest setting on my dryer.

Oh my word YES! The 0-3 month onsies we got look like they belong on a Barbie now. Glad to hear that most brands take it into account/are true to size. Most of the clothes we got are some type of Carters (either for Target, or actually from the Carter's store), so it sounds like we should be good. Thanks ladies!

janjag · March 2011

I have rarely washed baby clothes in anything but a regular warm wash and regular heated dryer cycle. Baby clothes can get DIRTY. I only cold/delicate/hang dry things that are special occasion.

It's not like clothes you buy for yourself hoping to make them last. LOs grow so fast that it really doesn't matter if there's shrinkage (w/in reason), b/c you'll be on to the next thing before you know it.

I agree w/pp, Gerber sizing (and shrinkage) is ridiculous. Buy at least 2 sizes up.