What's your take on washing newborn clothes before it is worn?

[DPAW]

I am debating on whether or not I should wash my newborn clothes before placing them on the baby. The blogs I've read indicate that many moms do but I'm not sure if it's necessary, my mom and mother in law said they didnt and everything was okay but after hearing about some of the conditions of the sweat shops where these clothes are manufactured abroad it begs the question. What's your view?

[DPAW]

Thank you for your advice ladies!

[spiritwolf31]

I would wash them simply bcuz you never know who has touched them or what. Since I have a mild case of OCD myself I dont even try on clothes bcuz I am afraid of what and who else has touched them. I wash it once I get it home and hope it fits...lol!

[1975sam]

I have done A LOT of reading, and everything that I have seen has said that you should wash your babies clothes, blankets etc. prior to them coming in contact with your newborns virgin skin.  Here is a website that also gives you tips on what soaps to use & what products you should avoid to prevent possible skin irritation/allergies.  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/323656/5_tips_for_washing_baby_clothes.html?cat=25
Hope this helps.  :)

[mmeriche]

i plan to wash the newborn sizes, and some of the 0-3 months items, but will hold off on the next sizes up. i will wash those when it is closer to the time she will be wearing them, otherwise i may be inclined to rewash them. i agree with the irritants in the fabrics that can bother baby's sensitive skin, and not knowing who has handled the clothing before i purchased it. even the organic onesies i have purchased, i will wash, since they came in a plastic package. i want whatever touches my baby to be clean and stored away properly.. that's my take on it :)

[kylesMom09]

I have always washed all new clothes before being worn, even for myself and my husband.  Melissa has many good point about the irritants and other things, but my biggest this is you don't know who's handled the clothing before it came to you.  I am far from a germophobe or anything, but I figured that the clothing along the way was in someone elses hands and you don't really know what is on the clothes.  I have just done it out of habit, but it's up to each individual person.

[Melissa_1982]

I've always made sure to wash the clothes before putting them on either of my kids, even to this day & they are 2 & almost 8.  There are so many chemicals added to the fabric in production & for shipping that MOST clothing says to be sure to wash it on the label or the attached tags.  It's really up to the individual parent, but you have no way of knowing if the chemicals will cause irritation to your baby so it's usually easier for piece of mind to wash them.  The clothing that we wore when younger didn't have half the stuff in it that they use now & it's always best to be safe then sorry.

Just my views, but have seen the irritation caused to my kids when their father forgot that something hadn't been washed & put it on them.  Ivory baby soap is gentle & works extremely well :-)