Can you tumble dry baby clothes? | Mumsnet (2024)

FAQs

Can you tumble dry baby clothes? | Mumsnet? ›

It can make them shrink like all clothes but I've always tumbled dried them. Of course you can.

Generally, a wash with cold water on the gentle or delicate cycle, a baby-friendly detergent, and tumble-drying with low heat will be a good washing routine for most baby clothes. (Cloth diapers are always the exception; they require a special washing routine.)

DRYING BABY CLOTHES

Delicate baby clothes or especially well-loved hand-me-downs may be better off with hang-drying or line-drying versus a machine dryer. For all other items, if the care label gives it the OK, you can use your machine dryer, but may want to use a gentle setting.

Stick to low heat.

While high-heat drying might get the job done quicker, it' a lot more likely to damage clothes. If you have any special or delicate clothes (like a dress with lace), it's best to air on the a side of caution and hang dry. To help with static and wrinkles, consider using a wool dryer ball.

Hang your onesie at room temperature and avoid direct exposure to sunlight. Drying your onesie through hanging might take more than a day, but this will ensure its durability. If you'd like to get back into your onesie sooner you can throw it in the dryer opting to low to medium heat and the most gentle option.

Montreal --March 16, 2011: Contrary to a commercial currently running on radio and television, parents should never try to soothe or put their babies to sleep on their clothes dryer or any other appliance while it's operating or sitting idle.

What does “do not tumble dry” mean? Certain garments shouldn't go in the dryer at all. Subjected to high temperatures, silk may shrink, wool and knitwear may pill and undergarments may shrink or lose their shape. Learn more about how to prevent pilling on your clothes.

It's best to wash them inside out so that they stay bright and colourful for longer! Dry naturally if you can: You should try to hang your baby's clothes (and your own) outside to dry if the weather allows it! Sunlight helps to remove stains and air drying is much better for the environment than using a tumble dryer.

Using wool dryer balls eliminates the need for liquid fabric softeners or dryer sheets that may contain irritants. They are hypoallergenic and safe even for delicate newborn skin.

As for when during pregnancy you should pre-wash baby's clothes, Allison Cirillo, senior director of product integrity and technical design at Hanna Andersson, suggests doing so a couple of weeks to a month before delivery.

Will newborn clothes shrink in dryer? ›

Yes, it is OK to put baby clothes in a dryer but make sure to dry on low-temperature settings. Also, check the care labels before putting baby clothes in a dryer. If it is mentioned on the label that you can't dry these clothes, you should avoid drying them. Otherwise, shrinking may happen.

Dry the Baby

Immediately after delivery, the baby should be dried. Ideally, this is with a warm, soft towel, but don't delay in drying the baby while searching for a warm, soft towel. In an emergency, any dry, absorbing material will work well for this purpose.

Wash and dry

Use cold water, a gentle wash cycle, and a low heat setting in the dryer. (None of this applies to cloth diapers, by the way—they have their own separate washing process.)

Tumble drying our kids' clothes causes them to shrink, weakens the fabric, makes them fade faster, costs money and is not that great for the environment either.

One of the main reasons why you should NOT dry clothes indoors is because it can raise the humidity of the room by 30% or more, making it an ideal environment for mould to thrive. Mould is a type of fungus that grows in damp areas. It releases tiny particles called spores that cause harm to the body when inhaled.

I washed everything up to and including 3-6 months before use, I thought their skin toughens up a bit after 6 months. I've done this for both DDs - a bit necessarily for my second daughter as she didn't fit 3-6 months till she was over 6 months!

Is it really necessary to iron newborns' clothes? No. It is NEVER necessary to iron clothes, but the clothes can look better than when they are ironed. Baby clothes may be softer if you don't iron them.

Just separate baby clothes from adult garments to avoid cross-contamination and consider using a gentle or delicate cycle for delicate fabrics. Properly drying baby clothes is equally important as washing them.

If the tag says it needs to be dry cleaned, it's generally a good idea to follow those instructions. This helps keep those clothes in good shape for longer. Once the child outgrows those clothes, though, you don't have to get rid of them. If you have other younger children, save them for the others as they get older.