washing baby clothes

amy11401 · August 2013

I keep putting off washing the baby clothes that we have gotten. I feel that I should not do it too early just in case (I am due September 25) I considered just washing the 0-3 month clothes soon. I am not sure if I should wash the newborn outfits (we only have a few) (besides the one we will take to the hospital) because he could be too big for them. What is everyone else doing?

PrettyFade · August 2013

I've actually already washed everything we have. Which isn't really too much since we haven't had a shower. But I think I'll be waiting on any new newborn things we get until LO gets here. He may just be too big!

anotherlady2013 · August 2013

I washed the newborn things that either 1) didn't have tags or 2) we were taking to the hospital. We didn't get many newborn things. Worst case I can always donate or give to a friend. I washed a bunch of 0-3 stuff and socks/hats.

Make sure not to use fabric softener!

amy11401 · August 2013

RedHead0917 said:

Make sure not to use fabric softener!

Thanks...I have not been and I have used all free and clear so no scents or dyes! I washed the crib sheets etc like that. DH has lots of athletic/workout clothes that are no fabric softner so I throw them in with those.

mmdd20 · August 2013

DS was in Newborn size for well over a month. We ended up needing to go out and buy more newborn sized onesies.

The only brand you might want to return in Newborn Size is Gerber. They are made ridiculously small and my 6 lb 9 oz boy was too big for them at birth.

rachelstauf · August 2013

I'm a huge nerd, so I have an Excel spreadsheet of all of the clothes I have for LO. I counted items I really loved, items given to me by someone who would be hurt if I didn't use it, and items that didn't have tags. I washed all of those. Then, I boxed up all of the rest to see what I would actually need when he hits those sizes.

bumpuser9130703 · August 2013

I have washed everything except the few 6 month and up things that we have.

Pretty much as soon as I did I started having anxiety that she is going to come out a he (mind you I have had 4 or 5 ultrasounds since finding out she was a girl and they have all confirmed girl).

ajbook · August 2013

I washed all sheets, blankets, burp clothes, socks, hats, and any clothes newborn-3 months because these are the things I wanted to have organized and out in her room. Everything else I have sorted by size in baskets in her closet, but I figured I'll wash them when she needs them.

Burrberrymum · August 2013

I've washed everything other then the stuff I just got at my shower yesterday but its all in a basket ready to be washed. I'm due the 21st and I just feel like its gonna take time to organize it all in bins and place everything where it needs to go so I'm trying to get it all ready well before I'm too exhausted too, and you never know if baby will come a little early and I know I won't want to be doing all the new laundry at first.

beatingIF · August 2013

rachelstauf said:
I'm a huge nerd, so I have an Excel spreadsheet of all of the clothes I have for LO. I counted items I really loved, items given to me by someone who would be hurt if I didn't use it, and items that didn't have tags. I washed all of those. Then, I boxed up all of the rest to see what I would actually need when he hits those sizes.

Spreadsheet is exactly what I did! I'm a humongous nerd!

PrettyFade · August 2013

RedHead0917 said:

I washed the newborn things that either 1) didn't have tags or 2) we were taking to the hospital. We didn't get many newborn things. Worst case I can always donate or give to a friend. I washed a bunch of 0-3 stuff and socks/hats.

Make sure not to use fabric softener!

Uh Oh, well, I'll do a search on the subject in the meantime, but I did use Bounce. Why should we not?

redfallon · August 2013

rachelstauf said:

I'm a huge nerd, so I have an Excel spreadsheet of all of the clothes I have for LO. I counted items I really loved, items given to me by someone who would be hurt if I didn't use it, and items that didn't have tags. I washed all of those. Then, I boxed up all of the rest to see what I would actually need when he hits those sizes.

^:)^

Juliebird8307 · August 2013

PrettyFade said:

RedHead0917 said:

I washed the newborn things that either 1) didn't have tags or 2) we were taking to the hospital. We didn't get many newborn things. Worst case I can always donate or give to a friend. I washed a bunch of 0-3 stuff and socks/hats.

Make sure not to use fabric softener!

Uh Oh, well, I'll do a search on the subject in the meantime, but I did use Bounce. Why should we not?

I was wondering the same thing. I use Downy Free and already washed everything.

foxyroxy · August 2013

I just Febreezed everything. That counts, right?

anotherlady2013 · August 2013

PrettyFade said:

RedHead0917 said:

I washed the newborn things that either 1) didn't have tags or 2) we were taking to the hospital. We didn't get many newborn things. Worst case I can always donate or give to a friend. I washed a bunch of 0-3 stuff and socks/hats.

Make sure not to use fabric softener!

Uh Oh, well, I'll do a search on the subject in the meantime, but I did use Bounce. Why should we not?

It reduces flame retardency because it coats the fibers. I don't know about you, but I plan to have weekly bonfires inside the house, just a precaution. Okay just kidding on the last part but anyway the first part is true and they're full of chemicals. I do use it on my own clothes,though...so make of it what you will.

amu110902 · August 2013

I washed everything newborn and 0-3 months sizes, plus bibs, socks, blankets, sheets, etc. I wanted to be prepared, and since this is the first baby and lots of my friends haven't started their families yet, I figure the clothes will get worn eventually, even if he grows out of NB sizes quickly. The rest are organized by size and ready to be washed when the time comes.

Bellodomani · August 2013

beatingIF said:

rachelstauf said:
I'm a huge nerd, so I have an Excel spreadsheet of all of the clothes I have for LO. I counted items I really loved, items given to me by someone who would be hurt if I didn't use it, and items that didn't have tags. I washed all of those. Then, I boxed up all of the rest to see what I would actually need when he hits those sizes.
Spreadsheet is exactly what I did! I'm a humongous nerd!

Me too! We got a ton of hand-me-downs, and I wanted to see where we had a surplus or deficit in certain items/ age groups. It was very satisfying.

foxyroxy · August 2013

AFwifelife said:

foxyroxy said:

I just Febreezed everything. That counts, right?

You have to use Lysol, duhhhhhh!! Haven't you seen the commercials that Febreeze doesn't kill the germs?!?!?!

Please. Like I don't know to give my clothes a good ol' fashioned Lysol soak? I Febreezed them to get the disinfectant scent out. And, before you get on my case again, YES, I did this at the doctor-recommended 6 weeks, 3 days before my EDD. It is important that clothes be washed at a very specific time. I did remove all the tags and used them to weave a baby carrier for myself (I used styrofoam peanuts as padding).

A37licia · August 2013

When I had my first, my mom had actually suggested to keep tags on the older stuff and only wash and get ready the littler clothes. You are gifted so many especially if you have a shower, (and more will come when baby is actually born, yes) that there were lots of things our first never wore. I was able to return them or sell them NWT. We had more children, but we still had way too many clothes in each size to keep around. I regretted having a lot of clothes washed that were 3mo, 6mo, that he never wore, but generally had to be considered used since I'd washed them and removed tags.

I recommend keeping tags on older clothes, having them in a place you can find, and washing them as baby approaches that size. Or going through your whole stash of 3mo if you have an abundance and picking out your favs, wash those, and keeping aside outfits you're not as sure about in case you return them for credit or sell them.

Jilly82 · August 2013

Everything I got is washed and ready to go

amy11401 · August 2013

RedHead0917 said:

RedHead0917 said:

I washed the newborn things that either 1) didn't have tags or 2) we were taking to the hospital. We didn't get many newborn things. Worst case I can always donate or give to a friend. I washed a bunch of 0-3 stuff and socks/hats.

Make sure not to use fabric softener!
Uh Oh, well, I'll do a search on the subject in the meantime, but I did use Bounce. Why should we not?
It reduces flame retardency because it coats the fibers. I don't know about you, but I plan to have weekly bonfires inside the house, just a precaution. Okay just kidding on the last part but anyway the first part is true and they're full of chemicals. I do use it on my own clothes,though...so make of it what you will.

I also think that a reason they say not to use it is that the scents etc could irritate newborns' skin. Once he gets older I will consider using it as long as he does not have sensitive skin.

HSDixon · August 2013

Me too - all washed and folded! It was a busy Sunday

diablesse · August 2013

I'm a huge nerd, so I have an Excel spreadsheet of all of the clothes I have for LO. I counted items I really loved, items given to me by someone who would be hurt if I didn't use it, and items that didn't have tags. I washed all of those. Then, I boxed up all of the rest to see what I would actually need when he hits those sizes.

Lol, I though I was the only nerd who did that! I made it in google docs so I could share it too. It was useful cause I could make sure a washed a few of everything.

ravenclaw1 · August 2013

all our stuff is washed and ready

to be fair, we haven't received a ton of clothes. I don't think people enjoy clothes shopping for team green babies as much as they do for gender specific gifts

foxyroxy · August 2013

ravenclaw1 said:

all our stuff is washed and ready

to be fair, we haven't received a ton of clothes. I don't think people enjoy clothes shopping for team green babies as much as they do for gender specific gifts

I think people just don't know what to give. The cashier at BRU actually tried to "save" me from "making a mistake" because there were some boy onesies mixed up with all the girly stuff I was buying. Vomit.

Missy2020 · August 2013

I'm also due 9/25 and I have already washed everything, including NB sizes. If anything doesn't fit, I will just donate them!

Surfergirl013 · August 2013

I have had most of it dry cleaned...It is so delicate I did not want to ruin it...

redfallon · August 2013

Surfergirl013 said:
I have had most of it dry cleaned...It is so delicate I did not want to ruin it...

:-/

Skalbrecht · August 2013

All washed and ready to go. Folding all that tiny stuff is so time consuming! Didn't realize how much more fits in a load of laundry....

foxyroxy · August 2013

Surfergirl013 said:

I have had most of it dry cleaned...It is so delicate I did not want to ruin it...

At least they must fold it for you, too.

Surfergirl013 · August 2013

foxyroxy said:

Surfergirl013 said:

I have had most of it dry cleaned...It is so delicate I did not want to ruin it...

At least they must fold it for you, too.

That's what I thought, it was easier to pack away...

babylaundry · August 2013

side question, should I use Deft to wash my baby's clothes? My mom said I should

AppleMuffins · August 2013

I have done a load of baby laundry and already lost three socks! I ordered a mesh laundry bag to wash the rest in. I also hate folding baby laundry. Well I hate folding non baby laundry, but baby laundry especially because it's so tiny so much more of it in a load!

@babylaundry no, you don't need to use Dreft. Any free and clear detergent will work (and will be cheaper and have less chemicals).

LiveNLove44 · August 2013

When I read the first person's post about a spreadsheet, I was surprised, but to each her own. Then as I read on, I realized many people have done this! Kudos to you ladies for your organizational prowess. I just washed everything and put it away according to sizes since we don't have a surplus of any one size. I eyeballed the stacks of each size, which is my version of doing a spreadsheet for inventory...

kimmykaye · August 2013

I have everything washed and in the drawers, but just preemie and newborn and sleepers that fit 0-9months. I have small babies, both dd1 and dd2 were in preemie for a month (longer for dd1). This LO is already measuring 10 days small as of 32weeks. Next u/s is at 35 weeks, and if she follows the same trend she's been on, she'll be measuring 15 days small at that point. I'm taking preemie and newborn to the hospital just in case, but I'm sure we'll use the preemie clothes for at least a couple weeks. I am pretty much using everything I had from dd1 and dd2. I have the larger sizes organized in bins for when she gets to those.

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