Washing baby clothes

jesscc88 · August 2015

Some people have said they did and others said they didn't. Is anyone else washing their new borns clothes before baby arrives even if they are brand new?

elittler · August 2015

If the mood strikes me I will, but otherwise no.

rachswi · August 2015

Honestly, I don't intend to wash anything before baby comes unless it was from a consignment/thrift store and I can't be sure of where it came from. Pretty sure there's going to be enough laundry after baby is born that I don't need to add to it now. Also, kiddos need changes of clothes so often, it's not like they'll have any outfit on for too long

lally6168 · August 2015

I am washing baby clothes before use with all free and clear.

elbou · August 2015

I always wash baby/kid's clothes before they wear them, no matter where I got them from. I'm particularly concerned about it with infant clothes. At that age, you just don't know yet how sensitive their skin is yet, and I would hate to cause a rash because I didn't bother to wash their outfit before throwing it on.

If you are concerned about having the wrong size and not being able to exchange it, wait until baby is born so you can check sizes and then wash before wear.

VexedMommy · August 2015

I will be because my SD has a history of allergic reactions to sizing/starch (chemicals used on fabrics to make them crisp) that are often found in new clothes. If it weren't for that, I don't think I would wash the new stuff. Stuff from friends maybe, maybe not depending on whether I think they would have washed them recently. Thrift shop or Craigslist finds absolutely.

sarahsnowball · August 2015

I usually wash things first. It's actually quite nice to wash all the first size stuff in the weeks before LO arrives. It really hit home when I washed DS's stuff late in the 3rd tri that I was going to have a real-life tiny human. It was quite emotional!

turkeybabt · August 2015

I used to work in a store that sells clothes- it was unbelievable how dirty clothes are! After handling them all night with opening boxes, restocking and packing, my hands had to be washed. After that experience I learned that whenever I buy clothes, I wash them first- the same applies to babies' clothes. I would say wash them first!

urby87 · August 2015

I plan on washing all of the baby clothes before they're worn, no matter where they came from.

CarrieOct15 · August 2015

I'm going to wash a handful of outfits in newborn and 0-3 mo. sizes, but not everything since I don't know what will fit her until she's born.

jesscc88 · August 2015

Someone said to me that because midwife advises you to not use baby wipes on a new born and to use cotton wool and water I thought maybe using washing powder wouldn't be good either then....?

Bettytteb · August 2015

I plan to wash just a couple things first (in case the baby takes after my sensitive skin)...everything else I'll keep with tags/receipts in case LO is too big for newborn clothes.

Lolo427 · August 2015

So actually yesterday I went through and washed all my lights of 0-3 on; today i start the joys of trying to start prepping my cloth diaper stash. My husband talked me into only doing a few newborn outfits as he's afraid that baby will come big and we'll want to exchange. Used babyganics to wash.

magnolia0212 · August 2015

Yes, I will wash some stuff for sure. I won't wash much of the newborn size stuff though in case I need to return it.

Also, just a tip. Don't waste your money on buying Dreft or any other "baby" detergent. It is expensive and still has perfume. Just buy another brand's Free and Clear. So much cheaper.

MoRay05 · August 2015

You should definitely wash the clothes before your baby wears them. Babies can be very sensitive and there are chemicals, etc on new clothes.

nachomama27 · August 2015

Already washed all my 0-3 month stuff. We only have 2 NB outfits. One is washed & one isn't. I have really sensitive skin & want to be prepared if baby does too. Because of my sensitive skin, we already wash everything in Whole Foods brand organic free & clear detergent, so I just throw the baby things in with ours. The detergent is not nearly as expensive as I thought it would be.

vomitrosa · August 2015

With my first I washed EVERYTHING, which I later regretted because she didn't wear half of it. You fall into a routine of which outfits work and which are just never going to happen. As lots of people say, they grow out of newborn clothes really quick and she did...so I have a huge pile of brand new clothes that I wish I hadn't taken tags off of.

kwaldy · August 2015

CarrieOct15 said:
I'm going to wash a handful of outfits in newborn and 0-3 mo. sizes, but not everything since I don't know what will fit her until she's born.

This exactly. I plan to wash some newborn/0-3 mo. things so I have them on hand, but if it happens that my baby can't fit these things very long, I'd like to have tags on the remaining items so that they can be exchanged.

brustum241 · August 2015

I have a sanitizing setting on my dryer, I wonder if that will work instead of washing? Or should I wash then sanitize while drying??

urby87 · August 2015

brustum241 said:

I have a sanitizing setting on my dryer, I wonder if that will work instead of washing? Or should I wash then sanitize while drying??

I would still wash first, then sanitize. As PPs have mentioned, the main reason to wash new baby/kid clothes is dyes/chemicals that might hurt their sensitive skin. Those aren't going to be removed without water.

brustum241 · August 2015

Ok i will do that! Thanks!

MargaretC5 · August 2015

brustum241 said:
I have a sanitizing setting on my dryer, I wonder if that will work instead of washing? Or should I wash then sanitize while drying??

I agree definitely wash, but I think sanitizing might be overkill.

rox7777 · August 2015

As someone with a background in retail, I highly encourage you to pre wash at least baby clothes. They're not always packaged the best upon arrival and you wouldn't believe how many people can touch just one item in a day.

elbou · August 2015

MargaretC5 said:

I have a sanitizing setting on my dryer, I wonder if that will work instead of washing? Or should I wash then sanitize while drying??
I agree definitely wash, but I think sanitizing might be overkill.

My thoughts exactly!

Save the sanitizing for when they inevitably get sick and you want to make sure the germs are gone. (Even then...regular heat does a pretty good job of killing germs.)

lulamagoo · August 2015

I wash my clothes before I wear them and do the same for my children.

oliarnmom1517 · August 2015

I was about to ask the same question because I have heard that you should but then that you shouldn't if it's new and you trust it...

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