How to wash newborn clothes (and what to skip)

Newborn skin is thinner than adult skin, so what stays in the fabric matters more than what the detergent bottle promises. The good news: the simplest routine is also the gentlest.

Wash once before the first wear

New cotton carries finishing residue from the mill. One wash before the first wear removes it and takes care of the small shrink at the same time — which is why we suggest not sizing down.

Four rules

• Mild, fragrance-free detergent. Half the dose you would use for your own clothes.
• Skip fabric softener. It coats the fibres and reduces how much a muslin absorbs.
• Wash at 30–40°C. Hot water sets stains and hardens cotton.
• Dry in shade, not direct sun, and pull the piece back into shape while damp.

Softness is not something you add with a softener. It is what cotton does naturally if you stop coating it.

Stains, quickly

Rinse in cold water straight away — never hot. For milk and the usual newborn stains, a soak in cold water with a little detergent for thirty minutes does more than any scrubbing. Sunlight fades the last shadow of a stain on white cotton, once the stain itself is gone.

Cotton that washes well

• Organic Cotton Bodysuit
• Muslin Swaddle (2 Pack)
• Knitted Blanket