Are you about to become a new mom? If so, you most likely will be the one tending to your baby's laundry. Washing your baby's laundry does need more attention than your own or your other family members.
Are you a new or expectant mom? If so,
it's safe to say that you will be taking care of the majority of your baby's laundry. Washing baby's laundry does require a bit more care than your own, and that of other members of the family.
Your parents, in-laws, and mommy friends have given you advice on every aspect of baby care, but what advice have you received on this particular subject? Certainly not nearly as much as you've heard about crib choices and parenting itself. Here are a few tips on washing your baby's laundry that will help you take a load off, relax, and give your baby's laundry the care it requires.
Washing Baby's Laundry - Are These Myths?
If you're like most new moms, you are wondering what you can and can't use or do when it comes to washing your baby's laundry. Your grandmother may have warned you against washing baby's laundry along with yours, but on the contrary, it is okay for you to mix the two. Did that take a load off your shoulders and a task off your to-do list or what?
Mixing Laundry Well
A big thing to remember when mixing baby's laundry with the whole family's is that you must use fragrance free, colorless laundry soap. If you do not use one, then you should change. You do not have to go and buy costly detergents that are made especially for babies, unless the baby has had an allergic reaction to your regular detergent. Do not chance your baby getting a rash. Use a laundry soap that will not irritate your baby's sensitive skin and one your whole household will like.
What Not to Mix
There are a few items that should always be washed separately from baby's laundry. Any family member's clothing that is tainted by smoke, chemicals, minerals, or excessive dirt (for example, your construction worker husband's work wear) should never be washed with baby's laundry.
If you also use cloth diapers, make certain that you wash them apart from both the family's laundry and all your baby's other laundry. As well, you will want to keep away from bleaches, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets, these can reduce the life of baby's washables and even lessen the strength of the flame retardant chemicals on your baby's sleepwear.
List of what to Wash
Washing your baby's laundry can be a huge task, probably larger than washing your own laundry and that of the rest of your family as well. You baby's laundry list:
* Articles of Clothing
* Towels
* Washcloths
* Bibs
* Burping clothes
* Crib sheets
* Receiving blankets
* All other bedding
* Stuffed animals
* Play pen pads and fabrics
* Car seat and stroller linings
* Your own Shirts
As you can see, just about anything that will come into contact with your baby's sensitive skin requires washing with some extra care. Always check the tags on your baby's washables for any special instructions and stick to the detergent that works best for you.
