As you know, baby skin is incredibly delicate and prone to irritations. That’s why proper baby clothing care is essential to prevent potential allergic reactions.
When you buy clothes at the store, the first thing you do is wash them before the baby wears them, but is it really a good idea? What should you consider when caring for baby clothes? We’ll discuss everything below.
Caring for baby clothes: tips to achieve it 100%
When we buy baby clothes, it’s normal to wash them before putting them on. In fact, as adults, we can also have this habit. But should we do it or not? Well, the truth is that yes, although it’s a recommendation.
When washing before wearing (either for the baby or the adult), the aim is to remove any residue of fabric finishes, dirt, or chemicals, which is essential to avoid unwanted reactions on the baby’s skin.
And what other tips can we give you? Take note:
Proper products for washing
When it comes to washing baby clothes, the best choice is special baby soaps, as they are formulated to maintain the baby’s skin pH and are easily accessible in supermarkets.
These soaps are usually neutral and hypoallergenic, and some even contain dermatologically tested natural ingredients.
Avoid using fabric softener on baby clothes
Isn’t this surprising? Don’t worry, it’s normal to add a little fabric softener when washing clothes to make them softer, smell good, and feel much nicer to the touch and smell. But the truth is that it’s not recommended for baby clothes.
You see, during the washing cycle, softener is the last product used, and residues can remain on the garment after rinsing. These residues could cause reactions or irritations on the baby’s sensitive skin, so it’s better to avoid using it.
Hand or machine wash
You may hear from your grandmothers and great-grandmothers that you have to hand wash because it’s safer. But nowadays, the technology in washing machines means you don’t have to worry as much. In fact, it’s better to wash clothes in the machine than by hand.
However, you have to wash it following the appropriate advice, not only to ensure it’s clean but also to prevent it from deteriorating quickly.
Separate baby clothes
When we put clothes in the washing machine, we tend to put everything together. But in the case of babies, their clothes should be washed separately to avoid contamination with other garments.
We recommend that you choose the delicate garment program and use warm water, never hot. This means you’ll have to do a separate load for their clothes (but we’ll tell you, it’s easy to fill because babies tend to go through a lot of clothes).
Best fabric for baby clothes
Among the fabrics found in clothes, the best material for babies is undoubtedly cotton. This natural fabric, with minimal processing, has unique properties, such as the ability to absorb moisture, expel body heat, and resist high temperatures.
Cotton clothes are durable, dye easily, do not generate static electricity, and can be easily washed in the machine.
What do the laundry symbols on clothes mean?
Finally, on the subject, we want to leave you with a small guide to understand what the laundry symbols on clothes mean. They give you information to know how to properly wash clothes, but often we don’t realize or don’t understand what they mean.
So here are the most common ones:
- Machine Wash:
- Tub with a number: Indicates the maximum wash temperature.
- Hand in tub: Hand wash is suggested.
- X over the tub: The item should not be washed.
- Drying:
- Square with a circle inside: Can be tumble dried.
- Square with a circle and an X: Do not use a dryer.
- *Horizontal line: *Dry flat.
- Ironing:
- Hot, warm, or cool iron: Indicates the suitable temperature.
- Iron with an X: The item is not suitable for ironing.
- Dry Clean Only:
- Circle with letter: Indicates the type of solvent to be used.
Washing, drying, and ironing following these symbols will help you maintain the quality of the clothes and ensure proper care.
Of course, each baby is unique, and some may need more care for their sensitive skin than others. So, if you notice any reactions, it’s best to consult their pediatrician for help. And, above all, choose cleaning products that are suitable for them. Keep in mind that if the washing machine is old, it could still have residues from previous washes that, even if you try to clean, may remain and mix with your efforts to wash as safely as possible for your baby.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
