Tips on caring for baby clothes
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
|
|
| |
General Tips
It's a good idea to wash baby new clothes before putting them on your
baby for the first time. |
 |
| This will remove any treatments that give
new garments their characteristic 'new' feel, which can cause skin
irritation |
Unless your baby has very sensitive skin or eczema, there's no need to
treat her clothes any differently from your own. Most are machine washable
at 40ºC, and it helps if they can also be tumble dried (check the care
label for full instructions).
Do take care with drying, though, as some fabrics will shrink a little
despite instructions that say tumble drying is recommended - and a little
shrinkage in babywear can mean the difference between the clothes fitting
or not afterwards.
If your tumble dryer or washer-dryer has a 'gentle heat' option, it's
best to use this for a longer cycle than using the higher heat for shorter
bursts.
If your baby does have sensitive skin or eczema, it's best to choose
a non-biological washing powder or liquid, as it's the 'biological' stain-treating
element that can exacerbate irritation.
Many brands of children's clothing include an 'easy care'
range now, which means that after washing you tumble dry them for a short
burst then hang them up straightaway, cutting out the need for ironing.
Although easy-care fabrics are generally a bit more expensive than others,
the amount of effort you can be saved as a result may be worth the extra
cost. In any case, there's little point in ironing stretchsuits and vests
as most of the creases stretch out of them as soon as they are worn anyway!
Fabric conditioners are a matter of personal choice. Some
washing detergents include them; other products claim to make ironing
easier; most will make clothes smell nicer. The main point to look out
for is that if your baby has sensitive skin, it's best either to choose
a specially marketed 'sensitive' product or avoid fabric conditioners
altogether.
Clever mums will
- Add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle when washing baby clothes
that have been soaked in milk or urine: this will not only make them
smell beautifully fresh, it will cut down on static, too!
Read more...
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
|
