Unlike the images we might have in our minds from films, the TV or even our grandmothers , newborn baby clothes do not have to be washed by hand (unless specified in the product label) and for sure, they don’t need to be ironed.
What must definitely be done is to wash all the clothes that are going to be used before the baby wears them (especially if it is new and therefore we do not know where it came from) with hypoallergenic or baby soaps.
We can use a washing machine as usual, but what we need to make sure is not to leave traces of soap/detergent on the clothes. Meaning that a good rinse is the key. Actually, that is the reason why many people still says baby clothes should be washed by hand, because that way you can make sure you’re leaving no detergent.
So, if you’re going with the washing machine option, a good recommendation is to run a drum cleaning cycle beforehand so as to get the soap residue out of your machine and that’s it! Nothing else is needed.
In terms of the detergent to be used, I go for a non-biological one when washing my baby’s clothes, this is because I prefer being extra careful of her very delicate skin. Biological detergents contain strong stain-busting enzymes that could irritate baby's skin, whereas non-biological detergents are still highly effective but are gentler on skin.
So, to sum up, If you’re a mother-to-be, you can spend your time contemplating those super cute clothes, blankets and hats that you got for your little angel, but there’s no actual need of spending your time washing by hand. Here, from the post-natal side, let me tell you… enjoy this time as you will be super busy when baby is here!
Check out babycottons footies, kimono sets, bodies and pants specially conceived for your newborn skin. It is insuperably soft for your baby skin and extremely resistant for the many washes it will need.
by a mom called JR.