Is 3O Weeks Too Early To Wash Baby Clothes?
During pregnancy, parents do so many things to prepare for the baby’s arrival and this includes shopping for baby clothes. Most expectant mums enjoy buying clothes for their unborn, but it is not clear when is the right time to start washing them. So, is 30 weeks too early to wash baby clothes?
It is preferred that baby clothes be washed closer to the due date. This could be anywhere between 30 to 35 weeks. But it could be earlier or later, depending on the mother’s choice. The most important thing is to use efficient washing methods and safe storage.
Washing baby clothes is necessary to protect the baby’s sensitive skin. Some resources will advise you not to wash the brand new clothes, but it is better to wash them no matter how clean they look than to deal with a reaction on the newborn’s skin.
When To Wash Baby Clothes?
You should start washing baby clothes as soon as you are done shopping. For most parents, baby clothes shopping comes last, mostly around 30 weeks of pregnancy and above. You see, there is no right or wrong time as to when you should wash the clothes, but cleaning them early takes away the stress during your final weeks of pregnancy.
You do not want to be stressed about unwashed baby clothes at 38 weeks. Doing it early gives you peace of mind to prepare for the delivery day.
Also, you do not have to be the one to do the washing. You can always delegate. However, it is essential to educate yourself on how to safely wash baby clothes so that you can guide whoever is doing the washing appropriately. This saves you energy to concentrate on more important things like proper diet and pregnancy supplements.
Whatever time you choose to wash baby clothes, ensure that you have safe storage. You see, the idea is to get rid of dust and any harmful chemicals from the clothes. Therefore, it will a waste of time to wash the clothes and expose them to dust and dirt.
How To Wash Baby Clothes the Right Way
When it comes to washing baby clothes, you should be very mindful. This does not complicate the washing process, but you must watch out for the detergent used, wash cycle, and dryer heat. If you are doing it for the first time, below is a guide on washing baby clothes the right way.
Choose a suitable detergent.
There are thousands of washing detergents on the shelves, but not all of them are safe for baby clothes. To avoid making mistakes, purchase a washing detergent specially formulated for baby clothes.
If you are on a budget and cannot afford the expensive baby detergents, do not fret because most household detergents are safe for babies.
Whether baby formulated or general household, the best detergent should be fragrance-free, gentle, and without bleach or fabric softener.
If you cannot afford the baby detergents and you cannot trust the household detergent, you have the option of making baby detergent on your own. The good thing with homemade detergent is that you are sure of the ingredients.
There are several recipes for making baby detergent online, and the most basic is mixing baking soda on equal measures with water. Beware of recipes that include tree oils because of their estrogenic effects.
Washing cycle and drying heat
Manufacturers always have a washing guide tag on baby clothes, and it is essential to follow those instructions. This is the only way to know the best washing settings to prevent damaging the clothes. If the clothes do not have a washing instruction guide, use cold water and the delicate cycle.
The same case applies when it comes to drying the clothes; follow the manufacturer’s drying guide. Tumble dry low is the most recommended because it will never damage your clothes. High heat drying is faster but might end up damaging your clothes. Delicate clothes with, let’s say, jewels or lace are safe air dried.
Always wash before the first wear
New baby clothes appear sparkling clean, but they carry bacteria, extra dye, dust, and chemical residues. Therefore, it is crucial to wash all baby clothes and blankets before use to prevent possible reactions. Baby experts recommend double rinsing new baby clothes to eliminate all chemical residues.
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Combined or baby-only loads?
Most parents choose to wash baby clothes separately from the rest, which is the right thing to do. Doing the baby load alone is a lot of work and sometimes beats the logic because your skin is always in contact with the baby.
However, it is the right thing to do if:
Your baby has very sensitive skin or is suffering from eczema.
If you or someone in the house works in a company that deals with dangerous chemicals. Separating the baby load protects them from possible irritants from the exposed clothes.
Suppose the household detergent contains strong fragrances and softeners. Such will be too strong for the baby and might lead to allergic reactions; therefore, it is safe to separate the load.
Suppose the baby dirties clothes enough for a daily load. In this case, you will have to wash the baby’s clothes alone because no one else is spitting or peeing on their clothes as the baby.
If you must wash the adult and baby clothes together for whatever reason, soak them after washing to get rid of the strong detergents or kill bacteria that might have transferred from the adult clothes and survived the wash.
The washing machine
Beware of the composition of baby clothes load before throwing them in the washing machine. First of all, do not overload the machine. Secondly, separate the baby clothes considering their sizes and the amount of dirt on each.
What’s more, the washing machine carries a lot of dirt, and therefore it should be cleaned regularly. A simple way to clean the washing machine is to run an empty load with regular detergents, bleach, and vinegar.
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How To Prevent Baby Clothes from Shrinking
Baby clothes are made with soft fabrics and are prune to shrinking if they are not washed the right way. Baby clothes mainly shrink in two instances: if washed with very hot water or dried at very high temperatures. Below are tips to help you in keeping the baby clothes in good shape:
Follow the label guidelines on wash and dry
All baby clothes come with a guide instructing you on how to wash and dry them safely. If you follow the suggested wash cycle and dryer heat setting, none of your baby clothes will shrink.
Air dry
Since most clothes shrink in the dyer, it is safe to air dry. Air drying clothes is very gentle and prevents all forms of shrinkage. However, if the clothes are knitted or made of loose fabric, it is best to lay them on a flat surface for drying instead of hanging them. Sun drying also helps with killing any bacteria on the clothes.
Other tips
If your clothes still shrink after following the two tips above, try other strategies like:
- Washing the clothes with cold water
- Removing the clothes from the machine while still dumb and sun drying them
- Folding the clothes as soon as possible
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Best Detergents for Baby Clothes
So far, it is clear that you should use gentle and fragrance-free detergents on baby clothes. While choosing a detergent should be an easy task, many brands offer baby detergents, and selecting the best can be a daunting task.
Here are some gentle baby detergents to choose from:
- Draft Stage 1
- Babyganics 3X Baby Laundry Detergent
- Purex Liquid Baby Laundry Detergent
- Purex Liquid Baby Laundry Detergent
You can purchase the above products from amazon or any store near you.
Tips on caring for baby clothes
- Healthy baby clothing equals a healthy baby. Therefore, it is always important to take care of baby clothes using the simple tips below:
- Buy baby good quality clothes in the right size. Clothes made with 100% cotton are ideal because they are breathable, easy to clean and last longer.
- Wash new clothes before dressing the baby to remove chemical residues and dirt from storage and transportation.
- Wash the clothes the correct way. Always check the wash and dry tag on the cloth from the manufacturer to decide on the right washing and drying settings.
- Use the right washing products. Baby clothes should be washed with gentle and fragrance-free detergents.
- Store the baby clothes safely in cotton bags or a cabinet with free air circulation
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Can You Use Dryer Sheets on Baby Clothes?
It is not advisable to use dryer sheets on baby clothes because they contain fragrances and dyes that can irritate the baby skin, eyes, nose and even cause sore throat. What’s more, some ingredients in dyer sheets have been said to cause asthma.
Instead of dryer sheets, use wool dryer balls for baby clothes because they separate the clothes allowing for airflow.
If you must use dryer sheets on your baby clothes, ensure that your baby’s skin is not sensitive and only use brands with safe ingredients.
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Conclusion
It is best for you to wash baby clothes before you near your due date. This means about 30-35 weeks therefore 30 weeks is not too early for you to wash them. As we have discussed just make sure you get he right detergent and observe the washing instructions to make sure you maintain their size and avoid shrinking.
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