A few months before our child is born, we parents want to have everything ready for that special moment. One of the favorite tasks is usually to place the clothes of the future baby in his closet. However, whether it is bought, inherited, given or borrowed, washing a newborn's clothes is essential before using them. In fact, they are one of those delicate garments that we have to learn to wash.

Although it is a simple task, if it is not done correctly it could cause allergic reactions in the baby's dermis, especially when he has just been born. Therefore, we show you some tips for washing the clothes of a newborn. Let's go there!

Tips for doing laundry for a newborn

1. Always wash clothes before wearing them

Washing a newborn's clothes before putting them on is essential. We should even do it with adult clothes to remove excess dye that the garments may have, as well as to get rid of accumulated dirt in the store.

Keep in mind that all the garments go from the factory to a warehouse until they end up in the stores, where they are usually handled by dozens of people before being purchased. In this way, if you wash a newborn's clothes before using them, you will ensure that they are in perfect condition.

It is advisable to wash your future baby's clothes in the final stretch of pregnancy, so they will be ready for when the newborn arrives. But you don't need to anticipate too much either, because it could collect dust inside the closet and your work will have been useless. Ideally, you should do it after week 36 or 37 of pregnancy.

2. Wash a newborn's clothes separately

You already know that you should wash a newborn's clothes before use but, in addition, we advise you to do it without mixing it with that of adults. In fact, it is recommended to wash it alone during the first 6 months of the baby's life for several reasons:

- Adult clothes are usually washed with more aggressive products.

- Sometimes, we must use hot water to wash adult clothes.

- Washes for adult clothes are usually longer.

- A baby's clothes are washed much more frequently.

For its own comfort and practicality, as well as for the use of different products, it is easier and more beneficial to wash the clothes of babies and adults in different washes. In addition, if it is more comfortable for you, you can also wash the baby's clothes by hand, whichever is faster and more comfortable for you.

3. Better to use cold water

Washing with cold water helps to preserve the colors better and prevent the wear of the garments. However, hot water is necessary to better dissolve difficult stains, but you can also do this by using a neutral soap directly on the stains.

Also, hot water will cause certain fabrics to shrink, and they will no longer fit the baby. In case your clothes have complicated stains, such as poop or food, it is better to rub the area immediately before putting it in the washing machine.

4. Use gentle products

We know that babies' skin is very sensitive, especially during the first 6 months of life. For this reason, another tip for washing a newborn's clothes is to use a neutral, fragrance-free detergent. You should also bear in mind that babies put everything in their mouths, and it is not advisable for them to suck on the remains of certain products that may remain on their clothes.

It is best to use a mild and hypoallergenic soap where you specify that it is special for sensitive or delicate skin. In the same way, you should avoid fabric softeners or use one for babies, as they contain too many chemicals that could harm our little one.

5. Use short programs

Surely you have wondered how to wash a newborn's clothes in the washing machine, with a long program or a short one. Well, our advice is to use a short program, around 30 minutes, and better with cold water. The delicates program will be ideal for this purpose.

6. Wash stains right away

Difficult stains, as we said before, it is better to rub them as soon as possible so that they do not remain embedded in the fabric. To do this, put a little neutral soap without perfume on the stain as soon as possible and rub with a soft bristle brush or with your own hands. Then, rinse the garment with water and wash it by hand or in the washing machine as we have indicated.

7. Dry clothes

Finally, once you finish washing a newborn's clothes, it's time to dry them. To do this, you have two options:

- Outdoors on a clothesline, because a newborn's clothes are so small that they dry quickly. Of course, avoid direct sunlight so that the color of the garments is not affected.

- In the dryer, as long as you do not use perfumes for the reasons that we have mentioned before.

All these tips for washing a newborn's clothes should be carried out, at least, until 6 months of age. From there, each one can decide if they want to continue doing it this way or mix their clothes with the other members of the family.

Finally, remember the importance of following these precautions to wash a newborn's clothes, since otherwise, his skin could suffer the consequences. And not only with clothes, you should also follow these tips with other accessories such as blankets, bibs, towels, gauze, muslin, etc. What are you waiting for? Now you can prepare the clothes of a newborn!

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