Washing Baby Clothes: What Parents Need to Know

Nervous new parents may be confused about the proper way to wash their newborn’s clothes. Fears of allergic reactions, harmful chemicals, and shrinkage may put stress on new parents  when laundry day rolls around.  The process involved in laundering clothes for a newborn really is not much different from the one used for the rest of the family.  There are, however, a few things to consider when washing clothing for a newborn baby.  A few points to keep in mind are discussed below.

Tip 1: Newborns have more sensitive skin than other family members.

Most common household laundry detergents are too harsh for a newborn’s delicate skin, and may cause itching or irritation for your baby.  Certain detergents are available specifically for a newborn’s skin but generally any detergent that is gentle and free of perfumes and dyes will work very well for most newborn babies.  Running clothes through a second rinse cycle can be very beneficial as well.

Tip 2: You cannot yet know how your baby will react to specific detergents.

Even in adults, soaps and perfumes are a common source of allergic reactions, and a newborn baby is even more susceptible to developing such reactions.  In addition, introducing your baby to harsh chemicals, dyes, or perfumes increases the likelihood that she will develop an allergy later in life.  Examine your newborn’s skin regularly for any redness, irritation, or rash, as it might be a result of the detergent you are using to wash your newborn baby’s clothes.  Promptly report any allergic reactions to your baby’s paediatrician, and immediately discontinue use of that product.  Your baby might be at greater risk of developing allergies if there is a family history of asthma, eczema, or other allergic conditions.

Tip 3: Nearly everything that baby wears can be dried in the dryer.

 A common concern for many new parents is that drying baby clothes in the dryer will cause them to shrink.  This rarely happens to any significant degree, but to decrease the possibility of shrinkage, clothes should be dried on the lowest heat setting on your machine. Using a lower heat setting will also help to maintain the vibrant colors and freshness of your newborn’s clothes.

Tip 4: Dryer sheets and fabric softeners should always be avoided

Dryer sheets are not only a common cause of irritation and allergic reactions, but they can also be a hazard to your newborn’s health.  Most dryer sheets and fabric softeners have the potential to seriously reduce or even completely remove the fire retardant chemicals on your baby’s clothes, putting her at risk in the event of a fire.  It is also important to consider that using dryer sheets on clothing worn by other family members, even if those clothes are dried separately from your newborn’s, can leave a chemical residue inside the dryer and rub off onto your baby’s clothing. 

Tip 5: Every shirt, sheet, and sock needs to be washed before touching your baby.

It is very important to thoroughly wash all clothing and bedding before using it on your newborn for the first time.  Numerous chemicals are left on clothing during the manufacturing process that can be very irritating to your newborn’s delicate skin.  Dyes in the fabric can also sometimes bleed onto your newborn if the clothing gets wet.