When you’re a new parent, you want to do everything correct, like washing baby clothes before use. It may seem odd to some, but it is important, especially if your baby has very sensitive skin.
By washing their clothes before use, you will surely be protecting them from additional infections.
Do I have to wash my baby clothes before wearing them? Getting the right temperature: Babies have sensitive skin so warm water won’t cause as many problems as hot water when washing their clothes.
Continue reading this article for reasons why you should wash baby clothes before wearing them, how to wash baby clothes for the first time, and tips for washing baby clothes.
Should You Wash Baby Clothes Before Use?
As a parent, you’re probably very aware that babies are more susceptible to allergies and infections than adults. Washing baby clothes before use is an essential part of caring for your little one and keeping them comfortable.
It’s not just dirt and dust that needs to be washed out of new garments, either. Any potentially harmful chemicals used in the production process (and even some natural dyes) may be present in the fibers of the clothing too. And there’s also the possibility that small loose fibers from the fabric can shed during wear, irritating your baby’s skin.
Always check the garment care label for washing instructions and follow these carefully when washing baby clothes for the first time. Some labels advise that you hand-wash certain pieces, others will tell you to wash them at 30 degrees, some say it’s fine to tumble dry on low heat.
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Why Pre-Wash Baby Clothes Before Use?
As with any product that comes into contact with your baby, it’s important to make sure their clothes are clean, particularly if you’ve bought them second-hand. But, there are also other reasons why you might want to wash new baby clothes before giving them a test run.
Dust and dirt
When clothing leaves the factory, it’s packaged in plastic bags and inevitably some small amount of dust will get onto the fabric.
If you don’t wash your baby’s clothes before use, this can cause rashes or irritate their skin when they start wearing the garment.
Chemicals
Some companies use chemicals to make or treat their fabrics that can irritate sensitive skin. As a general rule of thumb, avoid buying colored clothing because it tends to have been treated with more chemicals than white clothing.
Even if the clothes look clean on the outside, they probably aren’t as clean as you think. You can never be certain of the chemicals or other substances that may have come into contact with the clothing in question.
All those harmful things can be washed away with a proper pre-wash before your baby wears any of the clothing in question.
Remove Odors
Pre-washing the clothes is also a great way to get out any lingering odors that come with clothes. Baby will be happy, you’ll be happy and everyone wins.
How to Pre-Wash Baby Clothes
When it comes to washing babies’ clothes, it is always advised that you wash them before they wear them. Washing your baby’s clothes before their first wear will help to kill any harmful bacteria that might cause an infection to your baby.
Here is how to clean your baby’s clothes before washing them for the first time.
Check the garment care label
First, check the garment care label of your baby’s clothes before you wash them; this will help you understand the material used and how it can react to a wash.
Choosing baby detergent
The next step is choosing a detergent that keeps your little one’s skin safe and dry through the washing process. When picking out the right detergent for you and your baby, look for something gentle that will protect your baby’s sensitive skin.
Dreft laundry detergent has been trusted by parents to be gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin while delivering outstanding results every time.
Dreft is a gentle detergent that’s specifically designed to be used on baby clothes so that you can have beautifully clean clothes and soft skin.
Dreft detergent uses a pH-neutral formula that gently cleans clothes and protects the baby’s sensitive skin from irritation. The result is clean and healthy-looking baby clothes that will last through all of their outfit changes.
Wash & Dry
Lay all the clothes out on a flat surface and check for loose buttons, dangling threads, or other potential hazards.
When washing your baby’s clothes, use a gentle cycle with cold water on your washer for normal most of the baby clothes, and use hot water for diapers.
Drying a baby’s clothes is best done by air-drying them outside in the sun.
How Often Should I Wash Baby Clothes
Many parents of newborns find themselves with a mountain of laundry to do every week, especially if the family has more than one child. The sheer volume of dirty clothes can be daunting, and doing several loads may take up an entire day.
You can wash baby clothes up to once a day or wash everything else once per week to keep your loads down. This way you only have to spend one day dealing with laundry each week so it’s less overwhelming.
When to Wash Baby Clothes Before Baby Arrives?
It’s not necessary to wash the baby’s clothes before she arrives. However, it is a good idea to wash your baby’s clothes before he wears them for the first time.
This will get rid of some of the chemicals added to the fabric during manufacturing, which could irritate a sensitive newborn’s skin.
Related Questions
Is 30 weeks too early to wash baby clothes?
No, it’s not too early. But there’s no need to wash baby clothes before the baby arrives because you’re not expecting the baby to wear them yet. However, if you want to be ahead of the game and all of your pre-wash duties are done, then go ahead and throw some clothes in the washer.
Do you need to wash baby blankets before use?
Wash all new clothes and blankets before putting them on your baby. Although there’s no need to do this before she’s born, it’s a good idea to do it before she wears them.
What should I wash newborn baby clothes in
When it comes to washing baby clothes, you’ll hear a lot of conflicting advice. Some people will tell you that you should only use biological detergents, while others will say that it doesn’t matter and regular non-biological detergents are fine.
When it comes to washing a baby’s clothes, we tend to recommend using a non-biological detergent as these are gentler on delicate skin.
Can you wash baby clothes with regular clothes?
You should never wash a baby’s clothes with a load of regular laundry, however. The reason that newborn baby clothing needs to be washed separately is that the chemicals in regular laundry products can be dangerous to your baby.
While they may not react to the chemicals themselves, they might develop an allergy to them. I recommend washing all baby clothes in cold water and making sure that there are no dyes or perfumes present on the clothing before you put it on your little one.
What temperature to wash baby clothes?
Although it might seem like an obvious thing to do, it turns out that washing at 30 degrees is better for the environment than switching on the hot tap.
How to wash baby clothes by hand
How to sanitize baby clothes
Soak your baby’s clothes in hot water before a wash for 30 minutes, then wash and soak them in warm water after the wash. This will ensure that you kill most bacteria.
It is important to make sure that your baby clothes are completely dry. The bacteria grow in damp conditions, so make sure that your baby’s clothes are completely dry before you put them in the washing machine.
Once you have washed your baby’s clothes, always air them and make sure they are completely dry before putting them back in drawers or on hangers.
Make sure that when you put your baby’s clothes away, you put them away clean. If they are not, they will soon become dirty again and start to smell damp.
Do I need to wash baby clothes in special detergent?
Many parents are tempted to buy special baby detergent for their little one’s laundry. The truth is, most people don’t need to invest in a special “baby” detergent. Regular detergent (and even dish soap!) is perfectly safe to use on baby clothes and diapers.
Do you use fabric softener on baby clothes?
Fabric softener is not recommended for use on baby clothes because of the potential health risks to your baby. Fabric softener is a detergent and has been known to cause skin irritation in babies.
How to Keep Baby Clothes Soft
Baby clothes should be soft so that they are comfortable for your little one to wear. Many laundry detergents claim to soften clothes in the wash, but these dyes and perfumes can irritate your child’s sensitive skin.
To naturally soften your baby’s clothes, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the load. The acetic acid in the vinegar removes built-up residue from the fabric and replaces it with a pleasant scent.
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