How to iron baby clothes for newborns and is it necessary?

Why and how to iron newborn children's clothes is usually taught at courses for young parents. Unfortunately, not every young woman has access to them and the time to attend such classes, and parents’ recommendations in this matter may differ significantly from the pediatrician’s advice. Therefore, in order to make a decision about ironing and how to carry it out, you have to summarize the information received from different sources, as well as logically expose particularly stupid myths around ironing children's clothes.

How long does it take to iron a newborn's clothes?

With the advent of washing machines and comfortable diapers in our lives, the burden on young parents has decreased significantly. Washing has become easier, and its volumes have decreased, and accordingly, ironing has decreased significantly. But despite this, many parents are wondering how long it takes to iron a newborn’s clothes?

Pediatricians are quite loyal in this regard and believe that if there are no deviations from the child’s health, then after the umbilical wound has healed there is no need to iron diapers and clothes.

Important! Teach your children to be “unsterile” so that in the future they will not be afraid of elementary microbes and will not react too painfully to them. For the baby’s hygiene, it will be enough to change the underwear every day to clean ones. This way you will provide him with a healthy and neat appearance.

This way you will provide him with a healthy and neat appearance.

For the baby’s hygiene, it will be enough to change the underwear every day to clean ones. This way you will provide him with a healthy and neat appearance.

How to iron children's clothes correctly

You should iron your clothes while they are damp or moisten them with warm water from a spray bottle. Alternatively, you can use a steam iron. This way the laundry will be ironed faster and easier, and all bacteria will die.

It is not necessary to iron newborn clothes on both sides. It is enough to iron it well from the side that touches the baby’s skin. At first, it is better to iron diapers on both sides. If you wrap your baby in them or simply lay them on the changing table, the baby will be more comfortable and safer.

Be sure to choose a comfortable ironing board. To prevent your arms and back from getting tired, it must be adjustable in height. You shouldn’t skimp on a good iron either. Ironing will be faster and more enjoyable. And if you buy a steamer, the ironing time will be reduced by at least three times.

If you have the opportunity to use the help of your husband or grandmother, you need to use it. After all, almost all responsibility for a newborn child lies entirely with the mother. Therefore, whenever possible, delegate household chores to your family.

Well, in the end, working with an iron can be combined with something pleasant. While caring for children's clothes, turn on an interesting movie or listen to music. With great success, you can start learning foreign languages or improve your knowledge by listening to audiobooks.

And of course, ironing baby clothes will benefit your figure. In half an hour at the ironing board, 400 kilocalories are burned.

Finally, I suggest watching a video on how to quickly iron baby diapers.

But even here there are those who think it is enough to iron only on the wrong side, which is in contact with the child’s body. Well, there was a time when a newborn's clothes would take long hours to iron. Now everything is much simpler, there are automatic machines, they will wash and dry. And many machines have a steam treatment function, it kills all germs, and there is no need for long ironing.

Iron newborn items a month after birth. Then you no longer need to do this often. The only point that mothers who are especially scrupulous about this issue can take into account is that after vaccination against tuberculosis (BCG), ironing can be resumed until the wound heals. Carefully store ironed linen in a locker on a separate shelf.

Children's bedding and clothing, unlike adult items, require a special approach to heat treatment with an iron.

How to iron things for newborns:

You must put a special cover on the ironing board before ironing your child’s clothes. It needs to be washed regularly. It is advisable to do this every week.
It is better to iron baby items in the steam generation mode, so the item will be softer and sterile.
Do not set the iron to too high a heat setting. This can cause the fabric to dry out, which means it will become stiff and irritate your baby's skin.
Only a newborn baby should be ironed on both sides until he is 1 month old. Starting from 2 months of life, ironing on one side will be enough.
It is recommended to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for caring for your laundry. The attached label will always tell you how to iron baby clothes for newborns correctly.
If the diaper is too dry, it will be easier to smooth it out using a spray bottle. The water must be boiled and warm.
If you don’t have an iron at hand, you can use a steamer. It will disinfect and soften the child’s things just as well.

Later in the process of using them, you will no longer need to iron them, because these are the baby’s personal belongings, which only he uses.

After the child turns one year old, his accessories can no longer be ironed - this is from the point of view of antimicrobial treatment.

Double-sided ironing

Many people are used to ironing things on both sides and don’t even think about why this is needed.

There is actually no objective reason for this. Usually, such advice is given to young parents by their own parents or grandparents, although they themselves cannot explain why they need to do this.

Steam ironing

Modern irons are very different from the old, heavy devices that our grandmothers used. The question of how to iron a newborn’s things with your own hands became a real problem. Today, irons iron much better, so you don’t need to add more work to yourself - ironing on one side will be enough, especially if you iron with steam.

How to iron things and save time

The problem of lack of time has always been, is and will exist. And young parents don’t even have a free minute. Of course, I want to avoid wasting time and get as much done as possible. Here are some tips on how to iron newborn clothes quickly:

Iron clothes only on the side that comes into contact with the newborn's skin, that is, on the wrong side. Don't save money on an iron and ironing board. The more convenient the ironing process is, the faster you will cope with the mountain of wrinkled items after washing. The legs of the board should be adjustable so that you can adjust the height to your height. You should feel comfortable while ironing. The iron should be purchased with a steam generator. This way you won't have to waste time using a spray bottle and wetting the fabric by hand. In addition, steam helps smooth the fabric faster. Young parents should share responsibilities among themselves to get everything done quickly and in an organized manner. Will honestly take turns ironing things. Ironing things can be combined with watching movies, TV series, educational programs and videos, or you can iron them while listening to audio books. This way you will kill two birds with one stone. You don’t have to iron diapers after three months of your baby’s life if you don’t have enough time for it. But this must be done within three months.

To save time, no matter what you do, you need to know exactly what you need to do. The same goes for ironing a newborn’s clothes, no matter how simple this activity may seem. The video in this article will clearly show you this process and give you an idea of how to iron baby clothes for newborns correctly.

How to wash and iron newborn clothes

An interesting fact that will help you get down to business if you are simply too lazy to iron: half an hour of ironing burns 400 kcal. So, by ironing things, you not only perform a useful task, but theoretically you can also keep your figure in shape.

How to iron things for children

It is very important to iron newborn clothes on both sides. It’s not for nothing that this rule has been in effect for a long time and is still in effect today.

This must be done at least until the baby’s umbilical cord heals. How to iron baby clothes for newborns?

It is better to use steam ironing - this will effectively destroy all germs. To protect your baby from infection, you need to iron him, following some recommendations.

Let's look at how to iron things for newborns and small children:

It is necessary to iron any seams well and prevent the formation of folds so that there are no wounds or abrasions on the baby’s body. If wrinkles on clothes or diapers appear during the ironing process, they need to be smoothed out with an iron.
It will be easier to iron your laundry if you sort it first. Then you can set the iron to the appropriate mode and iron several items in a row without any problems.
Terry towels and diapers do not need to be ironed.
Avoid using synthetics for children under 5 years of age.
Silk items are ironed only on the reverse side.
If you want to iron your baby's clothes with a regular iron, first moisten them with water from a spray bottle - this will make ironing more convenient and the end result will be better.
Ironed items should be folded carefully.

Woolen items should be well dried; when ironing, you should not stretch them - the item may become damaged. An ironed woolen sweater should be dried thoroughly and only then put away in the closet.

After ironing, any items need to lie down and cool down, only then can they be put away on the shelf. We hope that we have helped you understand why ironing clothes for children.

How to iron baby clothes for newborns? Useful tips

Before the birth of your baby, you need to purchase a good, reliable and high-quality ironing board. It would be better if its height is adjustable. This will help make the ironing process more comfortable and less tiring.

A high-quality, functional iron is not a groundless whim, but a necessity when there is a small child in the house. With this iron, ironing will turn into a quick and enjoyable task.

Important! It is desirable that the ironing equipment has steam treatment and spraying in its functionality. The iron should not be too heavy; it should fit comfortably in your hand. Involve your husband, mother and other helpers in this activity

This procedure can be easily done by all adults, so don't do it all yourself

Involve your husband, mother and other helpers in this activity. This is a procedure that all adults can easily handle, so don't do it all yourself.

Don't turn this activity into a boring routine. Turn on your favorite music or movie and enjoy something pleasant and useful at the same time.

Important! Don't try to do everything perfectly. Much more important than neat baby clothes is the well-being and peace of mind of a young mother. Therefore, if you think that ironing is no longer necessary, put the iron aside and calmly do more important things

Therefore, if you think that ironing is no longer necessary, put the iron aside and calmly do more important things.

Now that you know all the positive aspects of ironing children's clothes, you can objectively decide for your family how best to continue this process. Use the iron until the baby gets stronger, or put it aside until urgent - this is your choice, which no one has the right to judge. But it's always good to be safe. After all, the most important thing is to preserve the health of the child.

How to make ironing easier?

A properly selected iron is the key to not only high-quality ironing, but also saving time. A good household appliance should fit comfortably in your hand; the cord must be of optimal length so as not to get tangled or stretched to the limit. It’s great if the iron is equipped with the following functions:

dry ironing;

steaming;

vertical steam supply;

sprinkling;

automatic shutdown.

You don't have to grab the iron as soon as your baby falls asleep. Often, you can stroke by positioning yourself in the baby’s field of view and talking to him or singing: if the baby is healthy and calm, he will watch with interest the actions of his mother from his crib. An ironing board that can be easily moved around the house will make ironing easier, and if the board has an adjustable height, it will help take the pressure off mom's spine.

When mom’s time is strictly scheduled by the minute, and when she looks at the clock, she begins to frantically count how much she still has to do around the house, then you can resort to the help of household members. Even dad can handle ironing: it’s enough to explain which things to iron first and which ones later, and set the desired temperature setting on the iron.

Adviсe
How to iron bed linen correctly? Not every housewife knows how to carry out these actions correctly. Let's look at the main points on ironing a bedding set.
This article will tell you how you can iron things and clothes as quickly as possible. Such knowledge will help you if there is a mountain of unironed linen in the closet, and there is absolutely no time.

Conclusion

Only the mother herself should decide until how many months her baby’s diapers, caps, blouses and rompers should be ironed - the first days or always. If the baby is calm, sleeps a lot, doesn’t cry for no reason, and the mother has time for ironing, then why not iron? A huge advantage in this case will be the always neat appearance of clothes and the ability to quickly dress up the child if he has to go out somewhere.

However, modern fabrics are often wrinkle-resistant or the washing machine is equipped with an easy iron function. In this case, it is enough to hang the baby’s clothes correctly when drying, and then fold them evenly, and the clothes will look neat.

It is worth keeping in mind that after the navel has healed, there is no urgent need to be diligent at the ironing board. It is enough to iron things that have contact with the baby’s bare skin, and leave the rest to washing powder and an automatic washing machine. Excessive sterility will not replace a smiling and rested mother for a child.

To iron or not to iron?

As you can see, no one can give a clear answer to such a simple question as whether a newborn should iron clothes. Therefore, all responsibility in resolving this issue lies entirely with the mother.

First you need to understand why ironing children's things?

The umbilical wound is an open passage for bacteria into the child’s body. And a very weak child’s body is not able to fight them on its own. And even if you wash baby clothes at 90 degrees, all kinds of microorganisms can stick to them during drying. Only ironing and steaming will kill them completely.
A newborn baby has very delicate skin. The seams on clothes become much softer after ironing.
Ironed clothes look much neater than clothes that have been washed but not ironed.

Do I need to iron?

Of course, children's clothes need to be ironed well after washing, especially if they belong to a newborn baby. This should be done not only because it is customary, but because:

bacteria die;
the structure of things softens;
seams on clothes are made more pleasant to the body;
their appearance improves;
things acquire additional comfort.

Even our grandmothers never put unironed clothes on their baby, fearing for his health. Today, despite the variety of useful devices, not all mothers consider this activity necessary and therefore simply neglect it.

According to the recommendations of pediatricians, you should not refuse to iron children's underwear . Even if you have washed your beloved baby’s things with a state-of-the-art laundry detergent, you still need to iron them. Even if your powder can cope with the main pathogenic bacteria, thickened diapers are still more pleasant to the sensitive skin of a newborn.

If washed by hand, ironing is especially necessary. The water temperature for this type of washing is always below 90 degrees, which means that pathogenic bacteria are not killed and can get on the baby’s skin, which can lead to negative consequences.

Tip #1! Particular care should be taken to heat treat items that will come into direct contact with the surface of the umbilical wound, the most vulnerable place for bacterial microorganisms.

By the way, it is necessary to wash and iron things not only after they get dirty, but also after purchasing them in a store. Thanks to a good wash and careful ironing of clothes, particles of dirt from the store and people who previously touched these things are removed from them.

Based on all the above arguments, we can safely say that ironing a baby’s diapers is not only a mandatory activity, but also simply necessary.

Related article: How to start a pumping station after airing?

How to iron correctly

You should start ironing children's clothes by selecting the right equipment. Since you will now have to do a lot of ironing, do not skimp and purchase the right and convenient ironing board and steamer. Using a steamer can not only help in cleaning the house, but also significantly reduce the time spent ironing children's clothes.

If you have prepared technically, you can be sure that you will do everything correctly and your child will be protected from all sides.

Children's clothes should be ironed wet, this is done in order to:

It was easy to kill any bacteria that might have gotten on the laundry during drying. A humid environment promotes the proliferation of microbes and ironing on both sides can completely kill them, without any additional treatment method.
Save time. Dry diapers and baby clothes are much more difficult to iron than wet ones.

Up to the age of two months, experienced mothers recommend ironing underwear and diapers on both sides; this will additionally protect the baby from pathogenic microorganisms.

You can iron things immediately after washing if you spin the laundry at high speeds during washing.

During drying, bacteria get on children's clothes, which should be destroyed by ironing.

There is a simple scheme for ironing baby clothes that will help any young mother save a lot of time:

First, you need to sort your items according to ironing and washing temperatures. After washing the items and then spinning them at high speed, proceed to ironing.
Many mothers ask why iron the baby’s clothes on both sides, because after heat treatment in the washing machine, the bacteria die anyway. Pediatricians cannot answer this question unequivocally, but before the age of two months this must be done. Pathogenic microorganisms can harm a baby's delicate skin. Therefore, if you decide to iron, then lay out the items on the ironing board and set the required temperature. You need to start ironing at a low temperature, gradually increasing the heat.
It’s good if you wet things with clean water from a spray bottle during ironing.
A conditioner diluted in water and poured into a spray bottle can help remove any stubborn creases.

After all, each mother decides for herself up to what age she will take certain measures to care for her child.

Why iron clothes?

To look neat? Yes, this is one of the arguments. But its weight can easily be disputed. It is enough to hang the T-shirt on a hanger after washing, and you will no longer scare others, in the literal sense of the word, with its wrinkled appearance. But still:

The main argument in defense of the iron: heat treatment. It kills germs that may have found a home in your shirt. And although washing at high temperatures will also rid your clothes of unwanted tenants, you need to remember that not every fabric will withstand it.
No matter what rinse aids you use, after hot steam your clothes feel much nicer to your body. And what can we say about fresh, crispy bedding? It is an argument in itself that is difficult to argue with.
After ironing, the clothes look neat. Using an iron you will get rid of the toughest creases and folds. And no matter how hard you try to carefully hang your husband’s shirts on hangers, they will only look presentable after ironing.
Even if your clothes rarely see the iron, baby's clothes are a completely different matter. A baby can be harmed not only by germs from unironed clothes, but even by the folds themselves. They can provide the baby's delicate skin with itching and allergies.

How to care for a newborn’s things and do they need to be ironed?

If you ask the older generation whether it is necessary to iron a baby’s things, then you are guaranteed a perplexed and condemning look and an hour-long lecture. They can be understood: in those days there were no advanced technology, modern detergents and other little things that would make life easier for mothers of the 21st century. But is it necessary to maintain a sterile environment for a newborn and iron vests and rompers in our time?

Why iron children's things?

Following family traditions or falling under the influence of grandmothers, many mothers do not even try to figure out why it used to be so important to iron children’s clothes and whether this rule is still true today. Moreover, by deciding to challenge the norms and abandoning fanatical ironing, you risk being branded a bad mother among your friends who have given birth.

Will it be true? Of course not, and here's why.

Sterility in the presence of wounds.

The main reason why baby diapers and linens needed to be ironed is an unhealed umbilical cord.

It is this that seems to be the vulnerable spot of a child up to a month old, and an unsterile vest or diaper after dubious hand washing, and even unironed, could cause an infection if it comes into contact with the wound.

The same can be said about any damage to the baby’s body. So, if a child has scratches, wounds on the skin or inflammation, ironing things is strongly recommended to avoid infection. Ironing should be resumed even when the baby is more than a month old, if, for example, the scar from the BCG vaccination becomes inflamed or a painful diaper rash appears.

Ironing to soften the fabric.

Why bother ironing when the umbilical cord has healed? Many mothers find that after ironing, the diaper fabric, and especially the seams, becomes much softer, which is quite important for the comfort of the newborn with his delicate skin. If it seems to you that the child is experiencing discomfort in clothes, and you consider softening agents to be undesirable chemicals, then you can continue ironing as long as you see fit

The aesthetic side of choice.

If the child is healthy, and the mother continues to iron diapers and clothes, then this is entirely her initiative, not based on medical recommendations and prescriptions.

In this case, you can consider ironing as a personal choice for everyone: someone irons bedding and underwear even in adulthood, simply because they like it that way, while others find it more convenient not to do so.

There is no crime in this, as long as you do not ignore other ways to maintain proper sanitary conditions necessary to maintain the health of the newborn. In the end, many mothers just like to show care for the baby in this way, and they really enjoy it.

Advice

If you use a dryer, then you can forget about the iron as a disinfectant: the drying temperature in modern machines is high enough to save you from headaches about germs and bacteria.

How to iron clothes for newborns?

Ask if your mother remembers the exhausting ironing of each diaper and baby vest on both sides

At that time, careful tissue disinfection was very important for the newborn. Now the requirements for the process have become much less stringent, and the mandatory minimum no longer looks so daunting

It is necessary to iron exactly those things that come into contact with the unhealed umbilical cord. So, it is very desirable to iron baby diapers, but, for example, a cap or socks is not at all necessary.
It is enough to iron a newborn’s clothes from the inside out, because it is the inside that is adjacent to the body. Moreover, you can iron only the area in contact with the wound, without paying much attention to the back, sleeves and legs.
Continue ironing until the wound heals. Further continuation is entirely at your discretion.

It would also be a good idea to change your baby’s clothes as they get dirty at least once a day to prevent the newborn from reacting to germs from a sweaty undershirt or wet diaper. Too much effort was put into ironing to let this happen!

Advice

Too frequent ironing is not very gentle on fabric fibers, causing rapid wear and yellowing. Even in such a legitimate matter as maintaining sanitation and hygiene standards, it is worth knowing when to stop.

Experience shows that the first child makes the mother feel more apprehensive than the second or third, and usually by the second pregnancy the woman realizes that ironing diapers may not be such an absolute necessity. Nevertheless, if you like the neat appearance of your children, and the process itself is enjoyable, then there is nothing wrong with long-term constant ironing.

We recommend: How to properly iron jackets made from different types of fabric?

Now you are pleasantly awaiting the birth of your baby. You go shopping and choose beautiful, cute things for your son or daughter. Most likely, you are not asking the question: “Do you need to wash new baby clothes?” Of course, you will immediately put them in the washing machine with a special detergent for the sensitive skin of a newborn.

But is it necessary to iron a newborn’s clothes after washing?

Opinions differ on this issue. The habit of ironing children's things appeared a long time ago. The fact is that before there were no washing machines, so it was impossible to use high water temperatures. Accordingly, the surest way to defeat germs is to iron things. Our grandmothers and mothers, in addition to washing by hand, also boiled clothes and diapers. At that time, there was no technology to make mother’s life easier - a washing machine, dryer, steamer, as well as various special detergents that were developed for the delicate skin of newborns.

Now, even despite modern conveniences, many pediatricians are convinced that the question of whether or not to iron things for newborns should not arise. This is a mandatory step in preparing for the arrival of a little person in the family.

But there are pediatricians who consider this a relic of the past. But they are quite loyal to this, they perceive the mother’s desire to iron the newborn’s clothes after washing, as the parents’ desire to see the child beautiful, in ironed rompers.

It is believed that there are still a number of good reasons why it is necessary to iron the things of newborns:

When exposed to steam and high temperature, a large number of germs and bacteria are affected, which can get on things after washing (especially important for an unhealed umbilical wound).
The likelihood of an allergic reaction to detergents is reduced.
Newborns' clothes become softer. This is of great importance, since the baby’s skin is very sensitive to mechanical stress.

How to properly iron things for a newborn?

Pay attention to the material of things . Different fabrics need to be ironed at different temperatures. If the temperature is incorrectly selected, the fabric from which clothes for newborns are made may lose certain properties, such as repelling moisture.
Once you have ironed the item, do not rush to fold it and hide it in the closet. Wait a little while for the clothes to cool down.
Most often, things for newborns are made of cotton. To make ironing easier, use the built-in spray bottle, and the best way to iron things is with steam . This then guarantees a significant reduction in the number of microbes on the surface of things.
Things need to be ironed on both sides after they are completely dry.
Make sure that the seams are ironed evenly . Since creases can cause irritation on the delicate skin of a newborn.
Keep your newborn's ironed linen separate from other items..
For children's clothes, use a separate ironing board cover , which should be washed once a week.

Why is there an opinion that ironing the things of newborns is not only unnecessary, but also extremely harmful?

The fact is that immediately after the birth of a child, his body begins to be populated by bacteria and microbes from the environment, thereby forming microflora. This microflora subsequently serves as a barrier to various infections. If a mother irons baby clothes after every wash, she thereby destroys the flora that surrounds and protects the baby.

But it is worth noting that there are compelling circumstances why it is not only better, but mandatory, to iron a newborn’s things. Of course, these are various skin lesions, for example, atopic dermatitis, chickenpox, affected areas of the skin, an unhealed umbilical wound or a trace from a BCG vaccination. That is, in this case, the ingress of bacteria or microbes can cause significant harm to the child’s health.

But even then, it is worth remembering that by artificially protecting a child from the environment, we do not give his body the opportunity to work to create a shield against pathogenic microbes.

Everything requires moderation and a common sense approach. If there are no objective reasons for ironing a newborn’s clothes, then there is no need to fanatically rush to the iron and steam every seam and fold on the baby’s rompers. Do not isolate your newborn from the outside world, thinking that by doing so you are protecting him. In fact, it can only make things worse. But if it seems to you that it is aesthetically more correct and the child should be brand new, then of course no one can forbid you from ironing the newborn’s things. If you decide that ironing a newborn’s clothes throughout his infancy is an unnecessary and unnecessary task, but at the same time you are afraid and afraid that the baby may pick up some kind of infection in the first time after the maternity hospital, then find a compromise. Iron things only for the first month or two after arriving home, then the newborn’s body will be adapted to the home flora, and there will be nothing to be afraid of.

Weigh your strengths and capabilities, based on the situation and the state of your baby’s health, and choose the option that suits you best. Also note that the condition of the newborn’s clothes and how he feels in these things is very important. This may seem like a small thing, but it’s not at all true! The child cannot tell you in words what is bothering him or what physical discomfort he is experiencing. The baby may cry for a long time, be irritable or sleep poorly, and have difficulty falling asleep. And the reason may be hard or rough fabric, an allergy to washing powder, poorly smoothed seams or folds on things.

That's why external conditions are so important. When working to improve a child's sleep, the first thing we ask parents to do is check whether the conditions are comfortable for the baby's healthy sleep. You can download a free CHECK LIST on our website, one of the items will be comfortable clothes for the baby. Pay due attention to this so that your baby feels comfortable!

Author: Tatyana Kremneva.

What happens if you don't iron it on both sides?

During the period of caring for an infant, it is dangerous for a mother to burden herself with unnecessary work.
Postpartum recovery, hormonal changes, daily household chores - all this contributes to the accumulation of excessive fatigue. If the child is healthy and developing well, there is no need to carefully iron the linen, especially on both sides.

And if you use modern technology, ironing can be a pleasure. Knowing the basic rules for washing and drying things will help you completely forget about ironing.

The only disadvantage of refusing to iron children's clothes is possible condemnation from relatives, loved ones, and friends. Some mothers find it difficult to bear this moment.

Why iron newborn clothes?

Everyone knows that ironing guarantees the sterility of products, kills germs and dangerous microorganisms

This is especially important if the baby’s umbilical cord has not yet healed. Through a wound, a non-sterile vest or diaper can cause contamination and infection in newborns.

Therefore, such things should be ironed for the first month. This does not apply to socks, caps and hats. These products do not come into contact with the umbilical wound, so they do not require ironing at all. Whether to iron the clothes of older babies is a separate choice for everyone and remains at the discretion of the mother.

It is necessary to iron the bedding of newborns, children with allergies or dermatological diseases

In this case, it is important that ironing kills bed mites, which can easily live in bedding. In addition, it is necessary for delicate fabrics that cannot be washed at high temperatures.

Gentle washing modes do not cope with the destruction of dangerous bacteria.

This treatment of clothing is important and necessary for children with problem skin, which often becomes inflamed. If a child has scratches and wounds on his body, severe diaper rash and other similar troubles appear. This is necessary to avoid infection and worsening the situation.

By the way, an ironed warm (not hot!) diaper applied to the baby’s tummy reduces colic. Ironing also softens the fabric and internal seams, making clothes and items more comfortable for babies. However, here you can use special softening agents for washing. But they must be hypoallergenic and safe for children.

How to properly wash clothes for a baby?

You need to wash children's clothes by hand and in a washing machine separately from bedding and clothes of adult family members and even older children.
When washing children's clothes, it is advisable to use special programs “for children's clothes”, “delicate”, in order to avoid changes in their quality.
Do not use chlorine-containing bleaches, conditioners, or balms.
The most important point is their active rinsing - this factor is more significant than the correct choice of detergent:

Rinse 2-3 times with warm running water when washing by hand;
additional rinsing modes in the washing machine;
If the baby is predisposed to irritation and rashes, additional hand rinsing with running water is necessary after washing in the machine.

Arguments in favor of ironing

Opinions regarding the need to iron diapers are controversial even among experienced pediatricians. There is a large category of specialists who are convinced that excessive disinfection of everything that the baby comes into contact with is not only unnecessary, but also harmful for him, because:

Microorganisms, inevitably present in our environment, force the young body to fight infectious agents, thereby creating the effect of natural vaccination;
Ironed linen partially loses its ability to absorb moisture and can cause heat rash or irritation of delicate baby skin.

As for the issue of healing the umbilical wound - the main argument in favor of the need to iron diapers - this part of pediatricians believes that it is not so much the sterility of the diapers that is important, but the timeliness and correctness of processing the wound itself (see how to properly treat an umbilical wound).

An equally large category of specialists insists that a newborn’s clothes must be ironed, but only until the navel is completely healed. It's connected:

With a weak infant immune system. During the first month of life, the baby needs protection from all kinds of bacteria. Even if the baby’s clothes are constantly washed in very hot (up to 90 degrees) water, when drying on the balcony or radiator, germs still get on the fabric. A hot iron and steaming system effectively destroy all microorganisms and disinfect children's clothing; During the ironing process, residues of detergents that can provoke an allergic reaction in the baby are neutralized; Steaming and ironing can make natural fabric softer. The same happens with the seams: having softened, they do not rub the delicate baby skin

Diapers that are ironed will last longer; Well-ironed items look aesthetically pleasing, which is important when visiting a clinic or during a visit from your mother-in-law: a baby dressed in them will look more attractive and well-groomed

In order not to burn children's clothes and not switch the iron every minute, before starting ironing, things need to be sorted by type of fabric. Having set the iron control to the minimum value, first begin to iron clothes made from delicate materials (for example, silk), gradually moving on to chintz, cotton and flannel;
Flannel and cotton are used to make diapers. These fabrics require steaming and ironing at high (190-200 degrees) temperatures. The dried fabric should be sprayed with a spray bottle and set aside for five minutes, allowing it to “depart.” Even if you have a modern iron with a powerful steaming system, you should iron diapers on both sides. This is not done at all in order to destroy bacteria (the steaming mode will destroy them even with one-sided ironing). This is necessary for optimal alignment of the cotton fiber structure;
For products made from chintz, one-sided ironing and a lower (150 degrees) iron temperature are required. Ironing on the front side will give the fabric a glossy shine, and on the back it will give it a matte finish. Dry chintz needs additional moisture, even if the steaming function is used during the ironing process.

Little tricks

It is better to moisten dry diapers with warm water poured into a spray bottle. This water is absorbed faster and softens the fabric much better.
Children's clothes can be ironed only on the side that is in contact with the baby's skin: this saves both time and effort for the mother.
By adjusting the height of the ironing board to suit her own height, mom can reduce the load on the muscles of her arms and back.
An ideal iron should have a comfortable handle, a spray and steam system, and not be very heavy.
Before ironing, you need to make sure that the ironing surface and the steam coming out of the iron are clean. Only distilled water should be used for steaming.

After the umbilical wound has healed, you can stop ironing baby clothes and diapers (the only exception is the healing period of the BCG vaccination given in the maternity hospital, which tends to become inflamed a month after it is done; during this period, it is better to resume ironing).

Well, let's just smile

General washing rules

How to wash baby clothes for a newborn? Basic recommendations:

Baby clothes and diapers must be washed separately from adult items. The same applies to storing both dirty and clean linen. White and colored fabrics should be processed separately. Also, when sorting, you need to pay attention to the texture of the material. You should not wash away individual stains instead of immersing the entire item in water. This method does not allow you to achieve cleanliness. In addition, the part of the item treated with detergent cannot be rinsed thoroughly. Before washing, remove any feces or food debris from the fabric under running water. Only special products for newborns can be used. It is not recommended to use conditioners, bleaches and stain removers. At the end of washing, the items must be rinsed very thoroughly, using a special mode in the washing machine, and when washing by hand, changing the water several times. Clean clothes should be dried outside or on the balcony.

It is important that the surrounding air is not too humid, otherwise mold may form.

Negative side

Although pediatricians advocate ironing baby diapers and clothes, they also agree with some negative aspects of such an event:

Ironed bedding or clothing can cause heat rash in a child, as it loses its ability to absorb moisture to some extent. Therefore, you should not try to iron your child’s things too carefully and for too long.
Germs are present everywhere around children and adults. If a child’s underwear is over-disinfected, the young body will not develop natural immunity and resistance to harmful environments. This can lead to the baby getting sick often.

Therefore, there is no need to try too hard to disinfect and iron children's accessories. Everything should be in moderation.

It is believed that in the modern world it will be enough to iron only the wrong side of clothes and diapers, and not, as in the good old days, on both sides.

Choosing a detergent for washing newborn clothes

The health and well-being of a newborn in the future depends on the correct choice of detergent for washing a newborn’s clothes. This is due to the anatomical and functional characteristics of the condition and structure of the skin of newborns and infants, the high predisposition of babies to the occurrence of local allergic reactions and their long course, as well as the immaturity of all organs and systems of newborns and children in the first months of life. One of the main reasons for the development of allergic diathesis and dermatitis is the impact of contact allergens on the child’s skin, including washing clothes with powder containing a high content of phosphates and surfactants, and the use of conditioners or bleaches.

Therefore, when choosing a detergent for washing children's clothes, you need to consider several main points:

washing clothes for newborns and infants up to six months of age should be done with baby soap, preferably grated (soap shavings), especially if there is a hereditary predisposition to the occurrence of any allergic reactions and diseases, high sensitivity of the child’s skin (diaper rash, prickly heat, dry skin);
washing powder must contain natural ingredients with a minimum amount of phosphates and surfactants (no more than 35%) and fragrances, dissolve and rinse well;
The detergent must contain a note indicating that it can be used in newborns;
Do not use conditioners, rinse aids, or bleaches for washing children's clothes;
It is not advisable to starch children's clothes - they become hard and do not allow air to pass through well, which can cause skin trauma or increased sweating of the child;
Mother's things that come into close contact with the newborn's skin should be washed with the same products as the baby's clothes (soap, baby powder or gel).

Washing powder for newborn clothes: which one is better?

Situations arise when a mother cannot wash things by hand for a long time, and soap shavings cause washing machines to break down and you have to use other laundry detergents (powder or gel). Their correct choice is the basis for the prevention of allergic skin reactions.

Today, parents are offered a huge range of detergents for washing children's clothes and they need to follow several rules:

when choosing a washing powder or gel, you need to make sure that it has a special rating or “for children’s laundry”;
carefully study its composition (absence of phosphates, dietary additives, fragrances, balms, conditioners and bleaches).

The most popular means for washing children's clothes are:

gel "Stork";
powder "Dally Med" (Germany);
laundry detergent “Our Mother”;
washing gel “Domal” (Germany);
powder "Eared nannies".

Tips and prohibitions

To keep your child’s clothes and linen neat and last a long time, you need to know some tricks. Among them:

It is not advisable to iron terry products, they become rough and do not absorb moisture well;
Do not heat-treat clothes with stains, as they will be difficult to remove;
you cannot pull the thing;
First, iron small parts of clothing (collars, cuffs, sleeves);
items made of dark fabric are ironed from the inside out;
the product is first processed across and then lengthwise;
prolonged heat exposure on the fabric will make it rough;
do not overdry things; if this happens, you need to iron them with steam or spray them with water;
After ironing, the laundry should cool for 1–2 hours on the board, and only then put it in the closet, so the clothes retain their shape longer.

The issue of ironing children's clothes relates more to aesthetics than to the practical benefits of the child. If the situation is such that you can’t do without ironing, then you need to make the process as convenient as possible.

What is this procedure for?

If clothes are often ironed after washing, the fabric loses its softness and attractive appearance, the color fades, and white items turn yellow, so for long-term service of clothes it is not recommended to use an iron.

The need to iron baby clothes is due to the fact that in the first weeks of life, pathological microbes can get into the umbilical wound, which delay the healing process. Therefore, during this period it is recommended to carry out additional heat treatment of things that come into contact with the baby’s body. Ironing achieves the following positive effects:

disinfection of linen;
giving things a more aesthetic appearance;
providing softness to children's clothing.

Recommendations for ironing children's clothes

Children's clothes should be ironed immediately after they are dry.

Pay attention to the temperature at which you can iron things. It must be indicated on the label. Buy a comfortable ironing board that has adjustable height

It will also be more convenient for you to use an iron equipped with a steam function. This will save your energy and time

Buy a comfortable ironing board that has adjustable height. It will also be more convenient for you to use an iron equipped with a steam function. This will save your energy and time.

Often, when ironing clothes and diapers for a baby, parents encounter all sorts of troubles and difficulties. Very often they are associated either with not ironing certain areas of the baby’s clothes, or with an increased risk of “burning the item.” How to avoid such unpleasant consequences?

There are a few tips to consider that will make the process much easier.

Tip #1. If you are unable to iron some areas, you should moisten them with plain water from a spray bottle. At the same time, the structure of the fabric will become softer and more manageable for the surface of the iron, and not a trace will remain of clean water. Over-dried items lend themselves well to steam treatment. Many irons have this function, which can greatly facilitate the work of housewives and kill harmful microorganisms on clothes.
Tip #2. Small parts, such as socks, do not need to be ironed. At the same time, you will save your time, and baby socks are not always worn and not on sensitive areas of the skin. Carry out the ironing process itself in a room with good lighting; if this is not possible, install a small lamp nearby.
Tip #3. Before starting the process, test the temperature of the heated iron on a small piece of fabric or ironing board. If you neglect this, you can leave a burn on the delicate fabric from the first touch of the iron and ruin the entire appearance. Therefore, take your time, otherwise the consequences of the procedure will not be the most pleasant.
Tip #4. Before starting the process, the washed wardrobe should be sorted. To begin with, it is worth ironing thin and delicate items, since the surface of the iron is not yet very hot and the risk of damaging the fabric is minimal. Then you should gradually move on to processing thicker and more durable things. At this point, the temperature of the iron becomes the most optimal, and all kinds of folds and bruises can be ironed quickly and without much effort.
Tip #5. When ironing diapers, move the iron slowly over the surface of the fabric, thereby creating optimal conditions for the death of pathogenic microorganisms. It may take much more time, but then the clothes will be as safe as possible for the baby and pleasant to touch.

By the way, in addition to the above tips, it is worth paying attention to the condition of the ironing machine itself (iron). It should also be as comfortable and lightweight as possible. Only in this case will you be able to easily achieve the desired result.

Only in this case will you be able to easily achieve the desired result.

Choosing the right iron

To prevent ironing from turning into daily torture, give preference to an iron that is suitable for you, which will make the monotonous task easier. It is important that the iron has spray and steam functions. In addition, the unit should not be heavy in order to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.

Instead of an iron, you can use a steamer - it will significantly speed up the ironing process and enhance the antimicrobial effect.

Tips and tricks for young parents

Young parents

By fabric type

Depending on what fabric the clothes are made from, the mode and manner of ironing should change. If you iron the fabric incorrectly, you can ruin its appearance and structural qualities.

Satin, silk, twill: these fabrics are usually used to make the lining. Do not iron the lining material using water. These fabrics do not like moisture, the shine disappears, stains appear, which are then very difficult to remove

It is also very important to iron the lining from the reverse side. Synthetics

Items made from such fabric should not be ironed at all or ironed very rarely.

Never iron synthetics when wet. You need to iron with a warm, not hot, iron and always through cloth or gauze. Viscose. Clothes made from this material must be ironed only when dry and always from the inside out. Chintz. Chintz dresses look very beautiful and elegant. The appearance depends not only on the cut, but also on the ironing style. To make chintz glossy, iron it from the right side. If you iron from the inside out, the fabric will look matte. Chintz should be ironed while the fabric is still damp. Terry fabric. Towels and bathrobes are made from this material. Very often, children's clothing is made of terry fabric, these can be rompers, robes for babies that are worn after bathing, etc. The question arises, how to properly iron baby clothes made from such fabric. Terry clothing should create a feeling of coziness and comfort. To keep the fabric soft, do not iron it after washing. However, if the item is for children, then it needs to be treated with hot steam to disinfect it.