When a little toddler appears in the house, everything seems to turn upside down. Young parents immediately have a hundred times more worries than they had before the birth of the child. Newborn babies require a lot of attention; they need to be bathed, fed, dressed, diapers changed, soothed when they cry, and so on. In addition, household chores also do not go away on their own, including washing and ironing things. In addition, now children's clothes appear in the basket that need to be washed by hand, and this also takes time, just like ironing. Of course, many mothers begin to wonder how to iron things for newborns, and whether it is necessary to iron diapers for a newborn. In this article you will receive answers to them and useful recommendations.
Should I iron my newborn's clothes?
How to iron baby clothes for newborns? Wrinkled items look untidy and can chafe the body. Why then should a child walk around and be in unironed clothes? Parents want to give the best, so why not iron every seam, vest and cap. Disputes about the correctness and necessity of constant ironing have been going on for a long time in different circles: among doctors, mothers and grandmothers. The world around us is full of pathogenic microbes and viruses, and a hot iron can cope with some of them. In order for children's things to protect the baby's fragile body and bring aesthetic pleasure, they must meet certain criteria:
- Be clean.
- Ironed.
- Made from quality materials.
- Soft, do not rub delicate skin.
- Be comfortable.
Why ironing of children's clothes is necessary, the pros and cons
Not a single pediatrician or experienced mother can say for sure why you should iron a newborn’s things. In addition to the aesthetic principles of how a child looks, ironing helps to make linen softer, smooth out all seams, disinfect things with hot steam, and remove residual soap and powder. Studies show that after washing, traces of feces and urine remain, and hot steam successfully fights them, leaving germs no chance.
Many experienced parents claim that ironing is an essential attribute of any care, and they will be right. The baby is surrounded by many negative factors. And due to his unformed immunity, he is very vulnerable to any microorganisms. Therefore, the task of adults is to make this acquaintance softer and more gradual. The baby was in the womb in sterile conditions, he has delicate and sensitive skin that rubs easily and irritation may occur, the umbilical wound only heals. In the first month you can’t do without an iron.
Tip: for washing children's underwear, use phosphate-free powders and laundry soap marked for children's underwear.
On the other hand, excessive protection and guardianship over the baby, protection from the outside world does not form strong immunity. And how he will cope with diseases in the future depends on his exposure to viruses in childhood. In addition, frequent machine washing at high temperatures kills most germs. Baby powders are specially formulated with antibacterial properties. There is no need for constant ironing.
Benefits of ironing
- When a child's clothes are treated with a steam iron, all germs that could easily get on them when drying clothes on the balcony are destroyed.
Important! This is an argument that is given in response to the statement that when washing clothes at 90 degrees in a washing machine, all germs are destroyed. Don’t forget about the drying process, when clothes are subjected to a new “attack” of pathogenic bacteria.
- In order for the umbilical wound to heal as quickly and without problems as possible, the underwear should be ironed, because an open wound is a kind of “bait” for infections.
- In the first months of life, a baby’s skin is extremely sensitive and is not adapted to the aggressive factors of everyday life. After ironing the fabric, you eliminate detergent residues, making the material softer and more pleasant.
- The seams on clothes after ironing are not so rigid, this prevents chafing of delicate skin.
- New, newly purchased items need to not only be washed, but also ironed. This will help eliminate all production contamination.
- The last argument, which plays an important role for many, is neatness. Your daughter or son will look much nicer and neater in ironed, clean clothes than in crumpled ones.
Important! According to the recommendations of pediatricians, you should not refuse to iron clothes for a newborn baby.
How to properly iron baby clothes after washing
Clothes do not have to be ironed. How to iron clothes for newborns correctly? Ironing clothes is not difficult; even dad can handle this task. Things are processed on both sides, the reverse is ironed more carefully, since there are seams that are neatly straightened without creases. The baby will thank you with healthy skin, cheerful laughter and restful sleep. You need to go over the entire fabric, between buttons, fasteners, snaps. Things are ironed immediately after drying.
Tip: to make your laundry softer, before ironing you need to spray it with clean water from a spray bottle or use damp, wrung out gauze.
Up to what age and why?
From a medical point of view, ironing baby clothes can be justified until the navel has completely healed, that is, until the age of 2–4 weeks. However, if you properly care for the wound, wrinkled clothing does not pose any danger to it.
Women's practical experiences demonstrate diversity to the extreme. For example:
- careful ironing of children's clothes throughout their lives;
- until the baby is 1–3 months old;
- up to six months, a year, 2–3 years;
- exclusively for “exit”;
- They don't iron at all.
How many families, so many options. In this matter, every woman has the right to her own position. The only unanimity noted is that going for a walk, going to the clinic, or seeing guests necessarily requires ironing clothes.
Things that need to be ironed
The list of things that need to be ironed is not that long. First of all, this is underwear that touches the body (rompers, vests, bodysuits, panties and blouses). In the first months, scrupulous parents iron everything and this is the right approach. You need to gradually introduce your baby to harmful bacteria. But whether a newborn’s diapers need to be ironed after washing is something everyone decides individually. If the baby has already grown up or is used as a lining in a stroller or crib, then it is not necessary. If the diaper is used to swaddle a baby, then additional processing is required.
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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.
See also
How to properly alter a dress a size larger, step-by-step instructions and choice of material
Do I need to iron a newborn’s diapers and clothes on both sides?
There is a widespread belief among parents that it is enough to process things only from the inside out, which is in contact with the body. If there is not enough time, there are no assistants, then it is possible as a temporary measure. Modern household appliances have many useful functions, such as washing, spinning until semi-dry, steaming, ironing. With smart technology, the issue of whether it is necessary to iron a newborn’s baby clothes immediately after washing disappears by itself. For maximum cleanliness and germ safety, yes. The process depends on the degree of humidity of the laundry, the availability of an iron, steamer, and free time.
There are alternatives!
In addition to various models of irons, the modern market offers high-tech mechanisms for quickly and efficiently putting things in order.
Along with the inventions of the century, there are simpler and more economical ways to iron clothes. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The table shows alternative devices and methods of ironing without an iron:
| Name | pros | Minuses | How to use | Price |
| Steam generator |
|
| According to instructions | From 2 to 40 thousand rubles. depending on model and manufacturer |
| Steamer |
|
| According to instructions | From 1 to 10 thousand rubles. depending on model and manufacturer |
| Steam | Does not require financial costs | Long wait for results | Hang items over a bathtub of hot water for 20 minutes. Wait until dry. | For free |
| Hot mug |
| You may get burned. | Fill a metal mug with boiling water and iron the item. | For free |
| Special solution |
|
| Pour a mixture of equal parts of 9% vinegar, water and fabric softener into a spray bottle, spray on clothes, and let dry. | From 200 rub. |
| Wet towel | Economical |
| Carefully lay the item on a towel, wait until it straightens out, and hang it on a hanger. | For free |
| Wet hand | Economical | Suitable for minor uneven surfaces. | With a wet hand, run along the folds. | For free |
What happens if you don't iron it on both sides?
In the first month of life, all the baby’s clothes are ironed on both sides. This is done in order to maximally disinfect the laundry from various microorganisms, making it soft and comfortable. If you haven’t ironed the back side once or twice, then nothing bad will happen, of course, but it is advisable to be careful and find time for quality ironing.
Each mother independently determines whether to iron the baby’s things or not, how often, on both sides or on one, whether it is necessary to iron the newborn’s diapers based on busyness, personal preferences and necessity.
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Ironing diapers is an important procedure. The helpful tips below will show you how to do it right:
- To avoid burning the material and switching the heating mode of the iron several times, sort your laundry by fabric type. Start the ironing procedure with the lowest temperatures and, accordingly, the most delicate material.
- Most often, diapers for babies are made of cotton or flannel. These types of fabric can be safely exposed to high temperatures (about 190-200 ° C). Iron on both sides, even if using the steam function.
- Chintz is a thin material, so set the average iron temperature to about 150 °C. Iron items from the wrong side to avoid the appearance of shine on the surface of the fabric.
- Hot steam is an effective way to fight germs, so don't forget to use a steam generator.
- Be sure to let the diapers cool slightly to avoid condensation in the closet. To do this, leave them on the ironing board or hang them on a rope.
Tip: if you overdry the material during ironing, simply moisten it with a spray bottle and leave for a few minutes.
