Nervous new parents may be confused about the proper way of washing their newborn’s clothes what with fears of allergic reactions, harmful chemicals, and shrinkage.  The process involved in washing clothes for a newborn really is not much different from the one used for the rest of the family.

Much of the clothing that we stock here at Yellow Lolly comes with the Oeko-Tex label which means that the clothes have been produced free from chemicals and harmful dyes. The entire Katvig clothing range comes with this label along with Plastisock and a selection of ej sikke lej. This label also means that you do not need to wash the clothing before it goes on your baby or toddler for the first time. Clothing that doesn’t come with this label should be washed once before wearing. There are, however, a few other 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.

One of the well known brands of non-biological powders should be fine, 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 GP, and immediately discontinue using 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: Some baby clothes can be tumble dryed. Always check the label.

A common concern for many new parents is that drying baby clothes in the dryer will cause them to shrink. This does occasionally happen 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 with fuel bills and is the greener option, but whilst the weather is fine the best way to dry any clothes is of course on a line outside!

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.

If you have any queries or concerns regarding the care of baby clothing stocked here at Yellow Lolly, please do give our customer service team a call on 020 8509 1907 or visit our customer service page.

Posted in category: Products by claire | Email This Post |  Print This Post | Add comment
Tags: baby clothes, ej sikke lej, Katvig, laundry, newborn, oeko-tex, plastisock, skin care