If you’re expecting a baby in the next few months, you might already have lots of newborn clothes ready for your little one when they get here. In this article, we take a look at how to care for newborn clothing and if there are any extra precautions you should take compared to caring for your own clothing.
All newborn clothing should be washed before your baby is born; this will remove any dust and bacteria that are on the clothing. Newborn babies have very sensitive skin; therefore, it's important to do everything possible to reduce the risk of causing irritation to their skin. Try to wash clothing 2-3 weeks before your baby is born and keep them in a drawer that has been well-cleaned. Adding a date to the container to indicate when they were washed can help you if you need to wash items again before they’re worn.
Baby clothing can be stored in a dresser, hung up in a wardrobe or in storage boxes. Try to avoid anywhere with extreme temperatures, dust or areas that are susceptible to mold. The baby’s nursery is the best place to store their clothing; before placing them in the drawers, make sure the drawers are clean and dry.
It's essential that you choose a detergent that’s delicate and suitable for the sensitive skin of your newborn baby. Most top brands of detergents have been tested for their suitability for newborn babies. However, you can always check on their website to see if the detergent is safe. Some detergents are specially formulated for babies; these can be useful if your baby has skin conditions or you have another child that has sensitive skin, making it more likely that your newborn will also have sensitive skin.
Babies get through a lot of different clothing; you might wonder how you will get it all dry. There are many ways you can dry your baby’s clothing, including hanging items outside on the washing line, using a tumble dryer, on a clothes airer or on the radiator. Just make sure that the clothing is fully dried before you put it away. Otherwise, bacteria can build on the items leaving a horrible damp smell. If you do use radiators or air dryers, a dehumidifier can be used in your home to remove excess moisture from the air.
Newborn baby clothes will often develop stains which can be tough to remove. It's good practice to soak items that may stain to reduce the chances of ruining the clothing. Stain-removing products can also be helpful during the soaking process; just make sure they are suitable for use on baby clothing. After the items have been soaked, you can wash them in your washing machine, and hopefully, the stains will be removed as part of the wash.
If you or anyone in your household is sick, you should wash your baby’s clothing separately. Germs can spread in the washing machine and then be passed onto your baby. This can be avoided by washing clothes separately. If everyone in your household is well, you can wash items together in the same cycle. However, you may want to get a small wash bag for your baby’s socks, mittens and hats, as these small items can become lost in the washing machine or mixed in with other clothing. A wash bag will keep them together and prevent things from going missing.
It's not just your baby’s clothes that need proper care and attention; you should also wash your baby’s toys properly to keep them clean and hygienic. Look at the labels of the toys to see if they can be placed in the washing machine; many soft toys will be suitable for a home wash. Other hard toys can often be cleaned with a baby wipe or using soap and water.
Once you get the hang of caring for your baby’s clothing and toys, it will become second nature. Just remember to wash items before they’re worn, use a gentle detergent and always make sure things are properly dried before putting them away.