Washing new clothes before wearing them??

Julie - posted on 05/05/2010

Definitely wash them. Fabric gets treated against bugs during shipping and who knows what else...

You don't need to use Dreft, a scent- and dye- free detergent is fine. We have a HE washer and used Tide free and clear (or whatever it's called).

Michelle - posted on 05/05/2010

Well, first of all, congratulations to you on your new arrival! Yes, you should definitely wash the clothes before he wears them. Newborns have especially sensitive skin that could get irritated by the dyes in the clothing!

Christina - posted on 05/05/2010

You should always was new clothes before putting them on. You want to wash them with DRIFT-powder works best for stains too. If you have any other questions or just want to talk here's my e-mail nkotb-1fan@hotmail.com, my name is Christina.

Simone - posted on 05/02/2010

yea i'd def wash them, ecostore or the like powder but not heaps. you just need to get the factory and handeling residue off i reckon.

get your mum or friends to do it if you run outa time

Donna - posted on 05/01/2010

I would wash them as they put chemicals in new clothes.Just do a load at a time when you have time. He wont get a chance to wear all of them anyway,

Cathy - posted on 04/30/2010

By all means, have someone help you wash them, in Dreft. The dyes in the fabric could and probably will cause a rash, just one reason to wash baby clothes. Good luck!

Robin - posted on 04/29/2010

I did this at first, but it it depends on your child's skin. Over time I stopped...extra energy spent on something that wasn't required - besides if you got lots of gifts, you may not use them all and exchanges for diapers is a good idea. My recommendation...wash some of it up front - some onesies, etc. and then see how it goes. Don't get sucked up into all the over paranoid hype that the Internet and other people try to tell you. You're going to have your hands full with a new baby...trying to be perfect according to the latest guideline just makes it more stressful.

Angie - posted on 04/29/2010

I wash my clothes before I wear them the first time, I do the same for my children. There are too many chemicals on the clothes to let them touch tender skin without washing them.

September - posted on 04/29/2010

Congrats! You should wash them if you have the time. Or at least wash a couple of weeks worth to tie you over until you heal and can wash more. Good luck and best wishes...I bet you're excited for Sunday :) Yay!!

Jennifer - posted on 04/29/2010

You should always wash clothing before it is worn whether for you or your child. Lots of companies do not prewash fabrics and there could be residue from the dying of the fabric ,as well some companies put chemicals on clothing to prevent them from wrinkling as much when being shipped.
Good luck in the weeks to come ..babies are definately the greatest adventure...just remember to breath :-) Specific baby detergent is not really necessary just make sure the detergent is unscented and use less of it then recommended.

Cristin - posted on 04/29/2010

I also worked in retail for many years, and recommend you definitely wash the baby's clothes, blankets, etc. Just as the other woman said, merchandise is packed into dirty boxes (from dirty warehouses), and once they arrive @ the store, the clothes are stored in disgustingly filthy stockrooms until they can be brought out to the selling floor. And then there are clothes that have been returned...u have no idea what the clothes were exposed to in another home. I firmly believe in washing ANYTHING new anyone in the family will wear.

I would wash ALL nb sizes and 0-3mo sizes as well as bibs, blankets, birp cloths. I say do it now while you have the time...you'll be doing more important things after baby arrives. Best of luck!

Katarina - posted on 04/28/2010

Wash it! For all the reasons above AND baby clothes SHRINKS! It would suck if you washed something only to find out it shrunk to much for him to wear. At least if it's pre-washed you know how big/little he needs to be to wear it at least once.

Jennifer - posted on 04/28/2010

I always wash everything before wearing them. You don't know what chemicals may be on the cloth and that could irritate the baby's skin. Sort them by size and wash them that way. Dreft or Baby All (which is harder to find) are both very good products

Sharon - posted on 04/28/2010

Wash the onesies - maybe 14 (2 packs?) of them, a couple of outfits, some of the receiving blankets, etc... leave the rest in their packages or with tags on, in case he outgrows them before he gets a chance to wear them.

Karen - posted on 04/28/2010

I agree with everyone's posts. I washed my baby's clothes separately in baby detergent and I ran it through a separate rinse cycle.

I washed all the blankets, sheets, bibs, burp rags, some onesies, and some nightgowns, and his coming home outfit. I washed all the clothes in 0-3 mos size before his birth. (I knew that he might be too big for newborn so I didn't wash any and just kept the tags on.) Your partner or family can throw in a load for you if you need something.

After he was born, he spit up a lot, so I washed my shirts with the baby clothes.

My suggestion is to get baby spot remover. If you don't use spot remover, milk and food stains don't come out.

Hope your delivery goes well.

Enjoy your baby!!!!

Mika - posted on 04/28/2010

I worked retail for years and I personally wash everything before my daughter wears it. They come in dirty boxes in dirty trucks and sit getting dust and who knows what else on them until they sell. I even wash my new clothes before I wear them for the same reason. I do agree with just washing what you feel like you can for now and worry about the rest later. If anyone asks what they can do to help after baby is born ask them if they can help by doing a load of his laundy. My mom did it for me so I could rest after my little one was born.

Robin - posted on 04/28/2010

You should deff wash the ones that he will be wearing the first couple of weeks home so you don't have to do that when you get back after having the baby. The baby may have a reaction to the clothes if they aren't washed because you don't know what all has gotten on them in the store that may irritate baby's skin.

Amanda - posted on 04/28/2010

I would definitely say wash them in a hypoallergenic detergent like Dreft or Ivory just to protect his sensitive skin. I don't know what your finacial situation is, but if you can, you might want to call Merry Maids or a similar type maid service near you to see if they can send someone to launder them for you (or call in all those favors from friends, family, and colleagues...have a laundry party). That would save you a lot of folding! Baby clothes seem to multiply when you are ironing and/or folding them!!

Karen - posted on 04/28/2010

if you get a chance i would - you never know how sensative his skin is going to be, if nothing else. i washed all my son's at first, but now that he's older and i know his skin isn't sensative i'm not always so concerned with washing new clothes before he wears them. good luck and congrats on the upcoming new arrival!

Alison - posted on 04/28/2010

I don't think I washed everything, but it is definitely preferable. New clothes are not clean and newborns do have sensitive skin.

Ally - posted on 04/28/2010

I would hun. I did for my son before he was born..wow was that ever a job there were so many clothes!!! haha. I washed all of babes clothes together and just used regular detergent but I put them through an extra rinse cycle so all of the soap got out. Babies have such sensitive skin so you don't want to take any chances. Good luck with your son!! Boys are great!!! :)

Melissa - posted on 04/28/2010

I would wash them... you don't know what got onto them before you purchased them. If you are concerned with needing to return some just wash atleast 3 outifts a day for a week! (If you're lucky that is all you'll need! lol) Then leave the rest for another time or return them what ever you decide. Good Luck with your lil man!

Audrey - posted on 04/28/2010

do it!! you never know whats on them and babies skin is very sensitive! its just better to do it anyways!! the baby detergent may be a little pricey but very worth it! and wash the bedding bassinett stuff maybe even ur shirts!! avoid perfume and scented lotions just to be safe!!

Ashley - posted on 04/28/2010

Congrats!! With my first son i washed all of his clothes in the Dreft laundry detergent before he was born so i made sure they were clean for him! I'm not sure that it matters either way tho, and since you are having a c section very soon you may not have time!! I am having a c section this coming tues May 4. Good luck!!

Jennifer - posted on 04/28/2010

I recommend you wash his clothes before he wears them!It is not the end of the world if you do not have time!But, I would suggest you do wash before he wears them...