Dumb question...(washing babies clothes)

[AriQueen]

Ladies,

This is my first child and I'm somewhat clueless when it comes to all these things. I'm trying to do everything right and by the book. I'm getting different opinions from different people about washing all my newborn clothes.....

Have any of you ladies washed your newborn clothes or plan on doing so? I'm confuse b/c some people are telling me that I don't need to and others have said yes I need to do it. Please share your experience with me.

Thanks,
Ari

[sphillips]

This website is for cloth diapers but I feel that if a detergent isn't good enough for diapers why would it be good enough for his clothes.
http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm
HTH

[YvetteY]

Yes you should was your babies clothes....babies have very delicate skin.   You should wash in a mild laundry detergent like dreft or ivory snow.  When clothes are put out on the rack brand spanking new they are sprayed with some kind of chemical that helps the clothes look nice...this chemical can adversely affect newborn skin.   It probably won't bother them when they're older but for newborn skin it could.  

Besides new clothes are stiff, the sheets are stiff, blanks are stiff wouldn't you want soft things on the baby??

To be on the safe side I washed the baby's clothes and sheets, blankets, etc about 6 weeks before her due date.  I was bored.

[AriQueen]

I think i'm starting this weekend. I'm starting to feel quite tired.

[chantal21]

I had all of my clothes washed last month...I don't know why I started so early, but maybe it's a good thing. =)  

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Maybe about a month or so before you are due??  That's about when I start.  I actually will do it a little later, but I don't have any history of pre term labor, so I always feel like I have time.  Hopefully I don't get any surprises from my little Mary this time around!!

[Asking4aMiracle]

i have a question, when should you start washing them? i plan on washing everything, my personal decision, but i wasnt sure when to start? i dont want to do it too early, if there is a such thing... (naive first time mom =)

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I always do and always use Dreft myself.  The clothes are sooo tiny that you will be able to fit a TON in 1 load.  But I always wash all the clothes and blankets too.  Even if I am reusing clothes from my previous children, I always wash it because it has been stored and probably has dust and dirt just from that.

[lmc2132]

From what I read...Wash with any non-dye, non-perfume detergent.  Don't use too much and set the machine on extra rinse.

[chantal21]

I always wash everything, even if it's brand new. But it's up to you. I was just afraid of other people touching it and whatnot and then putting it on my new baby. I was always grossed out by that. lol. But that's me. So I wash everything.

[AriQueen]

Thanks Latrice...I don't wash my new clothes either when I put them on. LOL. I do wash my sheets though before puting them on my bed, strange huh? LOL

[Latrice414]

I guess its up to you, with my first child i did not wash any of the new clothes, he didnt have any reactions or nothing.  When i buy new clothes for myself i dont wash them i just put them on lol.  I dont think im going to wash the new clothes i bought but i will wash the clothes that was donated to me(being my cuzn and friend had the clothes stored in closet in a box.)

So i guess its a personal decesion, whatever you feel comfortable doing, its really trial and error as far as the baby breaking out from new unwashed clothes.

[AriQueen]

Thanks Nicole. I appreciate the advice...in that case I have a BOAT LOAD of clothes to wash! LOL. I was thinking of using dreft too. I like how it smells =)

[NicMom]

You should wash everything because it comes with chemicals on it that keeps the clothing new looking for delivery and sale. I washed EVERYTHING with Dreft. There are other brands of detergent you can use, but I always used dreft with my son so it's my favorite.

If you have any question as to if you should wash or not. Wash just a few items and then feel the difference. It's much softer and smells better than the brand new unwashed clothing and blankets.