Wash before wear?

Haysgriff · December 2013

Hi all, firstly apologies if this question has already come up recently but I'm curious to know your thoughts on washing brand new baby clothes before dressing your LO in them.

I've seen mixed opinions online about whether its best to wash clothes first or can babies wear new clothes straight off the hanger/out the packet?

pete0121 · December 2013

I always wash my kids clothes before wear.

sweetmelissa0707 · December 2013

I've always washed everything. New or otherwise, even if it was saved from one baby to the next. Clothes are often treated to discourage insects, you don't want that stuff on a baby's skin.

RedDawnsRevenge · December 2013

Wash... People love touching cute baby stuff... I seriously question the hygiene of many of my fellow humans...

KHendy27 · December 2013

I wash before wear just to soften it up. with that said, I got a TON of clothes with my oldest and ended up returning a lot of it... so if you want to wash before the baby is born, that's cool and all, but only wash your favorite stuff and keep the others on the side in case you want to return.

KatieKim0815 · December 2013

Clothes now are made with lots of dyes etc. I would always wash first with baby friendly detergent!

Twirple · December 2013

Some new clothing contains formaldehyde, which is used to give new clothing that permanent press look. For that reason alone, I would wash it before using it.

rlmanning · December 2013

I wash as you never know who handled the clothes prior to you owning it...

Also like @khendy27 advised only wash what you know you will keep. Anything else keep tags on so that if you decide to take it back you can.

pete0121 · December 2013

I use Tide Free and Clear and downy free.

J&NL · December 2013

When DD was a newborn I always washed her clothes before putting them on her. Not the same story now lol

Haysgriff · December 2013

Thanks ladies, will definitely wash the clothes then - new or hand-me-down. My mum dismissed the idea as nonsense as they "didnt do it in their day" so I thought it was worth getting opinions.

I'm in the UK so not familiar with those brands of washing powder but will find something nice and baby friendly

maelic · December 2013

I never not wash new clothes, baby or otherwise. Why wouldn't you? They were touched by a billion people, stored in weird places, and stiffened with chemicals, for starters. Yuck.

All Free and Clear for the win!

WifeofaComposer · December 2013

I wash all of the baby clothes, towels, sheets, and cloth diapers. When they are brand new from a store, I want to get the chemicals off, and when they are hand-me-downs, I want to get the possible nasties from other children and pets off. I use free and clear detergents and no dryer sheets until I determine that the baby's skin can handle the same detergent/dryer sheets the rest of the family uses.

rlmanning · December 2013

MrsStanton87 I used Dreft when Bay was a newborn, and then slowly changed to Tide (same stuff I use for DH and I). Dreft got expensive and I didnt see the harm in less loads of laundry and less expense to our pockets. DD is 2 1/2 and is fine. We never had any issues with using Tide

MamaFantastic · December 2013

definitely always wash first!!

MapleLeafMama · December 2013

heck yes.

Serenla · December 2013

@ColleenSwerb said:
I always wash. We use All Free and Clear on the baby stuff.

Didn't you mention you use that with the cloth diapers as well? Does it work out ok?

LittleLady77 · December 2013

We wash everything for before we ware it, of course we will do this for the babies too.

JNova78 · December 2013

Another question: I plan to try All Free and Clear. I know you shouldn't use fabric softener on pajamas, but is it okay on clothes, blankets, etc? If so, what brand do you suggest?

Sisimama10 · December 2013

ColleenSwerb said:
I find it ironic because most ppl think they need to use Dreft (I think because our parents and grandparents used it) but now the recommendation is anything "free and clear". And I'm pretty sure Dreft is NOT free and clear.
I planned to switch to our regular Tide, but I still haven't finished the ginormous bottle of All free and clear that I got at BJ's for DS. So I'll just keep using that, and buy another if I actually finish this bottle, lol.

My pediatrician told me dreft is the worst for babies skin. We use all or tide free and clear. Wash before wear for baby stuff! Now that DD is four I wash first if it doesn't feel soft otherwise I just let her wear it.

BR · December 2013

I wash all clothes before wearing and use All Free & Clear for the whole family's clothes. My DD has extremely sensitive skin and I didn't want her to have any reaction from being held by us if we used different detergent for my husband and I's clothes. Plus, then I can throw all of our clothes in together and don't have to do separate loads.

JNova78 · December 2013

KimC85 said:

JNova78 said:

Another question: I plan to try All Free and Clear. I know you shouldn't use fabric softener on pajamas, but is it okay on clothes, blankets, etc? If so, what brand do you suggest?

Why shouldn't you use fabric softener on pajamas??

Baby sleepwear is flame resistant, and softener breaks down that protection.

AcaAwkward · December 2013

Major side-eye to Dreft. I believe it's one of the worst detergents out there when it comes to fragrances and icky ingredients ("icky" being my scientific term of the day).

I wash everything. If it's a bigger size and I'm unsure if it will be seasonally appropriate by the time it fits (and I know I can return it if isn't), I keep the tags on and wait until LO will actually fit into it before washing (or returning).

We've used several natural / free-and-clear detergents since DD was born. Method and Charlie's Soap Powder are my favorites.

b-ruth · December 2013

I would wash them. I worked in retail and so many people handle the clothes once they hit the store....who knows what they have been through before they arrive to the stores.

Sisimama10 · December 2013

I use free and clear dryer sheets instead of fabric softener. We have way too much static in my house to just skip it and use nothing.

smashton14th · December 2013

We wash her clothes even if they are hand me downs. We have never used a special detergent though. We have always used Tide.

JWest07 · December 2013

I wash everything before putting my baby or child in them. I do use free and clear detergents for newborn clothes. I always think about how many people have touched the clothes before I get them.....and how many of those people probably don't wash their hands after they go to the bathroom.

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