Do you...?

Wash your new baby clothes before they wear it?

Here's my thing, I get it with the chemicals and people handling the outfits in the store and yada yada.  But part of the reason there are so many kids nowadays with allergies is because most (not all) parents protect their children sooo much from germs in the early years of their lives that when they get older and exposed to other things their immune systems go crazy and don't know what to do.

Don't get my wrong, I'm not gonna let my kid roll around in mud and eat garbage, but so many people have been giving me their "baby advice" lately, so I was just wondering your take on the new clothes washing issue.

Karen

I don't have children but here is my stance. I will wash all my child's before they are worn. I currently wash all mine and hubby's clothes before we wear them.

A baby's skin is so ultra sensitive. The dyes that are used can cause irration and rashes. Also, sometimes the steamers they have a chemical in them to harden the clothes so they don't get so wrinkled on the racks.

Hubby and I are allergic to the dyes that are in the clothes. So, we break out in rashes even as adults if we don't wash the clothes.

Traci

Thanks Traci, just curious on other people's opinions!!

OMG you're 16 weeks already!!!  You get to find out the gender soon! so exciting!

I agree with Traci. I was my stuff before I wear it so why not the babies? I do agree that things are extreme when it comes to germs now. Hubby and I will have people wash their hands before holding the baby at home, but they don't have to sanitize. The hospital is a little different.

I have had 4 kids and have never washed any of my kids clothes straight from the store.

And I agree with you that too many parent do overprotect their kids at early ages so they don't build an immune system.

I have hand sanitizers on all my kids back packs and in my house and at work, but I'm not so over obsessed that I don't let my kids be kids. They go outside and play with the dogs, ride their bikes, and play dirty sports. Because of this, they don't have allergies, and hardly ever get sick.

But you have to do what is right for you. You will always get "baby advice" from everyone no matter how many kids you have jumping around.

Good luck and congrats with the upcoming baby.

I do let my kids roll around in mud lol.  I'm not a germ freak by any means.  Well I wasn't before Noah caught RSV.  Now I don't want anyone even breathing in his direction lol.  I do wash all the new clothes though.  For one thing most of the clothes are stiff and uncomfortable feeling.  I dated a guy in high school that hadn't washed a new shirt.  I had my head laid on his shoulder and his shirt faded on my cheek.  I had a nice burgundy color to my face lol!   So I always think of that too.
Amy

I bought most of my son's clothes from resale stores like, Once upon a child, (and I still do) so I would wash them because they might have never been washed after someone else had thier child in them. Now, when I buy clothes from a department store brand new for him I don't always wash them, I'll admit. When he was a newborn I would wash everything though. His skin was way more sensitive when he was that tiny. Now he's just a tough skinned all rough almost 3 year old boy with no allergy problems. He's only had a cold three times since birth which is pretty good. With this next baby, I'll be washing everything again at first. I was also one of those MOm's who didn't leav ethe house too much with her newborn until he was about two months old or so. I know too many people who did and their child ended up with pneumonia or RSV and at that age I wasn't taking any chances.

I am so on board with not being overparanoid about germs.... but chemicals is another story.

I did wash all of Cooper's clothes before he wore them until I was sure he wasn't super-sensitive.

If something is dark colored I still wa**** - or if timing is right I wa****  But I admit to putting him in some "off the shelf" clothes now that he's older if they don't smell too much like a store. (icky).

In my mind allergies -- exposure to animals, dust, dirt, foods, etc is TOTALLY different than chemicals.

We have too many chemicals in our lives... perfumes, strong cleaning agents, pesticides, etc that (in my non-scientific opinion) are causing more kidney and liver problems in  adults / kids.  Dr. Oz had a show about it....

So I DO try to limit chemical exposure.  We bought kid/pet friendly cleaners for counters and surfaces and are thinking of getting a steam cleaner for our hardwood / tile floors instead of using chemicals. 

But dust doesn't bother me.  Cooper chewing on Ivy's wet-rawhide bones only bothers me slightly.  I let him chew on things that have fallen on the floor and only brush off his pacificer if it falls on our floors (Walmart's floor is a different story). 

My husband and I are struggling now with a difference of opinion on the yard...he wants to use fertilizer / weed and seed, etc and I would prefer him not to. 

Good question!

Cindy

LOL I seem to remember a photo of Cooper in an outfit with the tags still on it from when Daddy was in charge! 

I'm with Traci - I have super sensitive skin so I will wash all the baby stuff before it gets worn just to get rid of any chemicals that are on it.

Oh and I fully intend to let my kid roll in mud! lol

I am not afraid of germs either. I mean I clean with bleach but kids need to be exposed to things.