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Shopping for baby clothes is always enjoyable. However, it’s difficult to resist the temptation to dress the baby in old clothes once they’re born. Yet, many parents often ask: when should you wash baby clothes before birth? Do they need washing at all?
Generally speaking, you should wash the clothes four to six weeks before the due date. However, it’s best to wash the clothes near the due date to make sure they don’t collect any dust while they wait. Dust which could turn into allergies and mould.
In this article, we’ll go into more detail about when to wash your baby’s clothes and give you a few pointers as well.
Is There a Best Time to Wash Clothes Before a Baby Is Born?
Contents
You must always wash baby’s clothes because they come into contact with their skin. After all, you never know where the clothes have been or what they’ve come into touch with.
Wash the garments 4 – 6 weeks prior to the baby’s due date. If you wash the items before that, mildew and dust can accumulate before the baby has had a chance to put them on.
Do Clothes Get Dirty When They’re Left for Long Periods of Time?
If you keep clothes unwashed for an extended period of time, they may turn yellow. This is caused by a chemical process known as oxidation, which happens when you don’t properly wash your baby’s garments before storing them.
There’s another reason why a baby’s clothes could become discoloured. Even if you launder the clothes well, discolouration could occur if any amount of spilt milk falls on them. This is because the milk’s protein and fat will linger on the clothes and bond to the fabric, creating an awful smell.
Do You Need to Wash Clothes Handed Down?
A baby’s skin is more likely to form a rash than the skin of an adult. Hence, washing used garments before wearing them is highly recommended.
The best way to do that is to immerse the item in some warm water and baby-safe detergent. Rinse thoroughly, then leave to air dry. You can also wash most used baby apparel in a washing machine.
What Should I Use to Wash Baby Clothes?
The key to washing baby clothes lies in the detergent. Purchase a mild detergent designed to protect your baby’s delicate skin and keep their clothes soft.
There are two types of detergents: liquid and powdered. The former is less likely to irritate your baby’s sensitive skin. Also, make sure you pick a detergent with no extra dyes or fragrances that can affect the skin.
Your infant will almost certainly come into contact with your clothing. So, washing your own garments using the same mild detergent is also a smart idea.
Just make sure you wash the baby’s clothes separately during those first 100 days. After that, you can wash all the clothes together, providing the family switches to a baby-safe detergent.
Conclusion
So, when should you wash baby clothes before birth? It’s generally a good idea to wash new clothes before your child starts wearing them, preferably about four weeks before the baby’s due date.
You should use a mild baby-safe detergent to ensure that the infant is happy and cosy. Now, the clothes will be ready for your baby to make sure they’re as comfortable as can be!
