Is it absolutely necessary to wash baby clothes before they wear them?
PreciosaB asked:
I just got a bunch of really cute clothes for my baby shower and a lot of them say to wash before wearing. I don’t want the clothes to look old, worn , just “not new” before the baby gets to try them on. And some are knitted. Do you have to wash them? I know it’s ideal & recommended but you veteran moms out there, did you? Should I? Is there a real danger/harm in not doing it?
Name Brand Baby Clothes at Discount and Wholesale Prices
I just got a bunch of really cute clothes for my baby shower and a lot of them say to wash before wearing. I don’t want the clothes to look old, worn , just “not new” before the baby gets to try them on. And some are knitted. Do you have to wash them? I know it’s ideal & recommended but you veteran moms out there, did you? Should I? Is there a real danger/harm in not doing it?
Name Brand Baby Clothes at Discount and Wholesale Prices
Tags: Baby Clothes, Baby Wear, Ideal
Just watch that the coating they put on new clothes doesnt bother your babys skin. My children were never very sensitive to things like that and I used clothing without washing it.
It’s just a good idea in general. With all the people touching them and handling them in the stores you never know what kind of germs could be on the clothing. Also, some clothing could be returns. I know it may be a hassle but don’t worry about them looking “worn” after just ONE wash. Better to be safe than sorry.
I always have. You never know what residual chemicals are on them, or who’s touched them with their dirty hands, or really where they have even been. I would never feel comfortable putting unwashed clothes on my baby, or even my older kids and myself.
Oh, and regarding them possibly looking “worn,” I have baby clothes that I bought for my first little girl and they still look brand new for girl #2. They were washed multiple times and look great.
In my opinion, (as a mom of a 3 and 1 year old), I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to wash baby clothes before they wear them for the first time.
I never washed any of my kids clothes before they wore them for the first time, and they are perfectly healthy and happy.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Patricia Godfrey
I always did so many germs out there
I once saw an article in Dear Abby where a woman wrote in metioning the dangers of not washing clothes before you wash them. Her son had tried on a pair of jeans, without washing them, had an allergic reaction to the pesticide that had spilled on them during shipping and almost died!
Please wash the clothes, one washing will not make them look worn or old. Your baby will outgrow them before they ever look like that.
Yes because babies are born without a fully developed immune system. The germs from people touching them aren’t good for baby. Even worse is the dyes and chemicals in the clothes, especially if your baby has sensitive skin. Its also important to use a gently baby detergent like dreft.
of course my dear. even if they are new clothes.it has been stored before they are bought out. so better be careful than be sorry
Yes wash them. They are germy from all the people in the stores that have been touching them and breathing on them, even where they are made is probably not the cleanest environment.
Washing takes out some of the finishing chemicals they put on the threads and fabrics too, so would make them softer.
It shouldn’t make them look worn but if you are worried about that, wash them by hand in the kitchen sink, just swishing them around with your hand and a small amount of detergent, then rinse them with some softener. And dry in the dryer.
If the items are hand knitted, they will probably be alright to wear without washing. I usually put a onesie or other soft cotton item under wool (lanolin in wool is a skin irritant even in adults). Items that are store-bought should be washed before wearing, knitted or otherwise. Hand wash all knitted items and lay flat to dry.
Depending on your baby’s skin, the discomfort from chemicals on the clothes can be minor or severe. My daughter has severely sensitive skin and breaks out in an itchy rash all over her body when she wears items that haven’t been washed ( or even are washed in perfumed detergents).
Nah, it’s better to wash them than not to wash them because of the chances of residual dye in the cloth, but all the paranoia about “germs” surviving on clothes for hours or days sounds like something from the 1950s. If the “germs” are that dangerous, chances are your baby will catch it anyway when the germs are transferred to your hands as you load the washing machine and then pick baby up. Not to mention that a standard washing machine cycle is hardly sterilising quality. That’s just scaremongering.
I didn’t bother, still don’t bother, and me and mine are fine.
That said, the baby won’t give a monkeys whether the clothes look “not new” or about “trying them on” and probably the first thing he/she will do is throw up, poop or dribble on them. I’d really recommend you get yourself out of the mindset of your baby looking like something out of a catalogue in one cute new outfit after another – because it ain’t going to happen like that.