How to wash baby's clothes before birth?

Week 30 seems early, but the math is complete: it's not just the clothes, but everything that is woven into the baby essentials. Mouth diaper, shoulder diaper, swaddle, blanket, sheet, towel. There are several washing machines, and the baby may decide to arrive before 40 weeks.

Washing is also the time to check: remove each piece from the packaging, remove plastic and cards, look for loose threads and check if the embroidery has lining inside. It's now that you discover the rough-finished bodysuit, before it bothers the baby.

Cut off large, rough labels, but never lose the size reference. For brands that print the number on the fabric itself, you can cut everything. For the rest, keep the small size label. In pants, it is in an area protected by the diaper and is not uncomfortable.

An alternative is to cut everything and mark the size with a fabric pen on the inside. It works well, with one caveat: if you intend to resell or pass on the baby essentials later, the items marked with a pen lose value. Decide the fate of the clothes before using the scissors.

Check the laundry label: most baby clothes call for cold water or no more than 30 degrees. Pay special attention to ready-made cycles called "baby clothes", because in some machines they heat the water to up to 90 degrees, which can shrink and wear out the parts.

Always schedule an extra rinse during this first wash, to ensure that no soap residue remains on the fabric. Separate the light from the dark and, if you have a piece in an intense color from an unknown brand, do the basin test: let it soak separately to see if it releases paint before mixing with the rest.

The non-negotiable criterion is not to have optical brightener, a substance that remains in the tissue and can irritate the newborn's skin. In supermarkets there are good specific lines for babies that cater to this, although almost all of them contain artificial fragrance.

If you also want to eliminate perfume, the way to go is natural cleaning brands, sold on the brands' own websites and in organic markets. They cost a little more, but they work well for families with a history of allergies.

Dryer depends on the label of each brand. Fabrics from imported brands are usually prepared for it; baby essentialss of different brands require testing, knowing that there is always some risk of shrinkage. The "do not tumble dry" symbol on the label is definitive.

As for the iron: Mom, you can let go of that guilt. There is no health recommendation that requires ironing baby clothes. If someone in the family cares, great. If you're short on time, cross the task off the list, as it won't affect your baby's health in any way.

Two small purchases help a lot in this routine: laundry bags for delicate items, with zippers or buttons, and an exclusive basin for the baby's clothes. It is now used for the ink test and then for soaking leaking diaper clothes.