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01-11-2013 at 9:15 AM
JJ3813
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Infant clothes in dryer?

I'm getting ready to wash the outfits we will be taking to the hospital and what we will need in the few days afterwards (a few newborn, a few 0-3mo, blankets, hats, mits, socks, etc). We're keeping the tags on the rest so we can exchange them as needed or wash them to use when we get home. 

I know when I buy clothes for myself, I account for a little bit of shrinking in the dryer when choosing a size.

 From your experiences, do infant clothes shrink in the dryer? Should I hang them instead? Or fluff them for a few minutes so they're soft and then hang them? This is my first experience with all of this but I can't help but notice that these newborn clothes look soooo tiiiiiny already!!

Thanks!! 
 
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01-11-2013 at 9:19 AM
b0710
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I have found that some of the clothes shrink excessively and some hardly shrink at all, it just depends on the brand and sometimes even just the material.  From my experience, they outgrow them before your dryer can shrink them too much to not fit anymore (or maybe a combination of both).  Just because it's wayyyyy easier, I would use the dryer if it were me. 
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01-11-2013 at 9:25 AM
TMWarren85
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I think a lot depends on the brand- I had some Gerber onesies with DD that got distorted after one trip through the dryer, they shrunk length wise but not width, it was the weirdest thing. I have had really good luck with Carter's stuff not shrinking, but heck newborn stuff looks tiny regardless so as long as it has been proportional I haven't paid much attention. I will say overall Target's Circo brand is short and wide so DD was never able to wear their stuff.
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01-11-2013 at 9:36 AM
drpayne
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It really depends on the brand. I agree Carter's stuff doesn't shrink terribly. The cheaper brands are worse. Honestly, if they shrink, the shrink. I wouldn't consider line drying. You will be doing so much laundry!!
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01-11-2013 at 9:39 AM
onlymeggan
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Dry on low and you'll be fine.  :)
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01-11-2013 at 9:42 AM
lkm2006
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I hate the way hanging clothes feel, they just never seem soft enough.

I dry on delicate or extra low and have rarely had problems with shrinking. I had a little guy so I actually purposely tried to shrink several things and it never made a huge difference.

I saw someone mentioned Gerber, in my experience their clothes run WAY small and are more cheaply made so I would totally believe they are problems after being dried.
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01-11-2013 at 9:53 AM
JJ3813
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Thanks Ladies!!

Most of what I'm washing now is Carter's...good coupons, outlet near by, adorable clothes...how could I help myself :)

I do however have another dilemma...we have a front loader washer and i just noticed all of those cute little socks are stuck in that little space under the window of the door. We've never washed anything tiny enough to fit in there lol. I'm thinking maybe they go in a delicates bag from now on. 

Please excuse my amazement with the cuteness of all of this...I was gone at my first sniff of Dreft :)  
 
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01-11-2013 at 9:59 AM
Trish&Pete...
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I don't use the dryer much since I try to hang laundry outside in the summer or on lines in my laundry room during the winter. But I have found that I am using the dryer more now and if some baby clothes go in and they shrink then oh well. I find the sizing on baby clothes is all off anyways. Sometimes a 3 month sleeper is too small for a NB or a 6 month shirt finally fits a 1 yo. And they go through clothes so fast anyways. 
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01-11-2013 at 10:09 AM
sthomas122...
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I just threw them into the dryer, high heat too! They grow out of things so fast anyways. So, I rather not be worried about having to hang crap to prevent shrinkage while being sleep deprived. But we're also CDing and will have enough to worry about adjusting to that to worry about anything else...
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01-11-2013 at 10:17 AM
milk2481
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I had the same problem with the little socks getting stuck in the front load washer! I bought a lingerie bag before I washed the next load. Actually, I bought two: one that could be in the washer and another so that one would always we clipped to the hamper. 
 
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01-11-2013 at 10:25 AM
rm2013
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milk2481:
I had the same problem with the little socks getting stuck in the front load washer! I bought a lingerie bag before I washed the next load. Actually, I bought two: one that could be in the washer and another so that one would always we clipped to the hamper.nbsp;


Great idea, I'll have to use that!

To OP, yes as PPs state it depends on the brand. Carter's is a good one. I want to be able to dry everything on normal heat so I plan on investing in better but economical brands that are preshrunk. The Baby Bargains book does a great job of calling out which brands are poor quality and which ones wont shrink.
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01-11-2013 at 11:03 AM
dande2129
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b0710:

I have found that some of the clothes shrink excessively and some hardly shrink at all, it just depends on the brand and sometimes even just the material.

This for me too.

Gerber onesies run INCREDIBLY small. DS was 7.7, and he wore those onesies only a couple of times before they were way too small. 
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01-11-2013 at 11:22 AM
JJ3813
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I see exactly what you ladies were talking about. I took a peek after drying everything on low heat for 20 minutes...everything from Carter's looks exactly the same yay!!

the newborn button up from Target looks like it could fit a Barbie and the outfit  from BRU that was a 0-3mo is now shorter than the Carter's newborn stuff. 

I have a feeling I'm going to be learning a lot through trial and error in the coming months and years.

Thanks again for your help :)  
 
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01-11-2013 at 11:45 AM
Sophia1913
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I'm glad you posted this as I plan to start washing things this weekend and I was wondering about whether or not to dry. I guess I will dry on low/delicate. I also heard of washing things like socks and mittens in lingerie bags so I got one at Walmart for .97 cents. They were on the aisle where the irons and other laundry stuff were. Cant beat it!
 
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01-11-2013 at 12:33 PM
BigPoppa22
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milk2481:
I had the same problem with the little socks getting stuck in the front load washer! I bought a lingerie bag before I washed the next load. Actually, I bought two: one that could be in the washer and another so that one would always we clipped to the hamper. 

 

My wife told me to buy one of these and I thought she was crazy, had no idea what she was talking about.  Where do I find these?
 
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01-11-2013 at 12:51 PM
Runaway22
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Some of mine [organic cotton shrank a little, but the rest [nonorganic cotton] didn't seem to shrink at all.
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01-11-2013 at 1:35 PM
lulamagoo
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BigPoppa22:

milk2481:
I had the same problem with the little socks getting stuck in the front load washer! I bought a lingerie bag before I washed the next load. Actually, I bought two: one that could be in the washer and another so that one would always we clipped to the hamper. 

 

My wife told me to buy one of these and I thought she was crazy, had no idea what she was talking about.  Where do I find these?

Laundry section at Target (where the have the baskets, ironing boards, etc.).  They are pretty cheap so I would buy 2. 
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01-11-2013 at 2:23 PM
baby oh ba...
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I have washed some clothes and don't see a difference.
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01-11-2013 at 4:36 PM
drpayne
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JJ3813:

Thanks Ladies!!

Most of what I'm washing now is Carter's...good coupons, outlet near by, adorable clothes...how could I help myself :)

I do however have another dilemma...we have a front loader washer and i just noticed all of those cute little socks are stuck in that little space under the window of the door. We've never washed anything tiny enough to fit in there lol. I'm thinking maybe they go in a delicates bag from now on. 

Please excuse my amazement with the cuteness of all of this...I was gone at my first sniff of Dreft :)  

 

Just fyi... Dreft is full of fragrance and chemicals.  I have NO clue why it's marketed as a baby product.  Newborn skin and noses are really sensitive... everything they come into contact with is new.  It smells good to us but baby doesn't need that.  

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01-11-2013 at 8:12 PM
TamaraR4
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Imo, Carters brand is the only one that stayed true to size. Gerber shrinks short and fat.
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01-11-2013 at 8:21 PM
JJ3813
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drpayne:
JJ3813:

Thanks Ladies!!

Most of what I'm washing now is Carter's...good coupons, outlet near by, adorable clothes...how could I help myself :)

I do however have another dilemma...we have a front loader washer and i just noticed all of those cute little socks are stuck in that little space under the window of the door. We've never washed anything tiny enough to fit in there lol. I'm thinking maybe they go in a delicates bag from now on. 

Please excuse my amazement with the cuteness of all of this...I was gone at my first sniff of Dreft :)  

 

Just fyi... Dreft is full of fragrance and chemicals.  I have NO clue why it's marketed as a baby product.  Newborn skin and noses are really sensitive... everything they come into contact with is new.  It smells good to us but baby doesn't need that.  

 

I was wondering about that!! After washing and drying, it made the whole room quite fragrant...much more than the detergent that we use on our clothes ever has (and fabric softener for that matter). I was trying to figure out how it would be better for LO's sensitive skin. I guess I fell for that one...

What would be a better choice for next time? Maybe that All free and clear kind?  
 
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01-11-2013 at 9:34 PM
picopurl
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 All free and clear is what I used for DD's cloth diapers since it doesn't leave residues behind to effect their absorbency. Great stuff and would definitely recommend it. But I also have always used the Target brand dreft detergent for her clothes. I don't find it overly scented and she's never had any issues with skin sensitivity. HTH! 
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