How to Wash Newborn Baby Clothing

Wash new baby clothing to make sure it's soft and doesn't have any skin irritants.

Because a baby's skin is so delicate, it is important to take proper care of all of his clothing. When washed correctly using the best detergents, you can ensure that your baby will feel cozy and comfortable in all of his clothes. In addition, you should be able to prolong the life of all of his clothing as long as you take the proper care steps.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Baby-friendly laundry detergent

1. Separate the clothing items by color so that any colors do not bleed on other clothing.

2. Place an individual load in the washer and add baby-friendly laundry detergent. These kinds of detergents will generally be soap free or even biodegradable to ensure little or no irritation on your baby's soft, new skin. Extra fragrances, dyes and starches are never necessary when it comes to baby detergent and should be avoided at all times. Wash through an entire wash cycle.

3. Run the clothes through an extra rinse cycle to make sure all possible irritants are washed out of the clothing.

4. Dry the clothes in a dryer, but do not add dryer sheets or any fabric softener.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are unsure of the detergent that you have, then don't use it.

• Always wash brand new clothing before wearing. Not only can this make the clothing softer, you are also eliminating the risk of residue from the manufacturing process from touching your baby's skin.

• Unless washed thoroughly after use, it is generally a good idea to stay away from bleach or detergents that contain bleach when washing your newborn baby's clothing. This can be an irritant, especially if your little one is prone to skin conditions such as eczema.

References

• Baby Zone: Should I Wash New Baby Clothes Before Use
• The Bump: Q&A: Wash Baby's Clothes Before Delivery?