One of the many exciting parts about being a mom is shopping for adorable outfits for your baby!

Your matching looks and the month-on-month Instagram posts are planned to a tee, but a little more care goes a long way with everything that involves your bundle of joy, and that includes washing your baby’s clothes.

To get you started on the right track, keep reading our basic guide with all the things you need to know.

Read Care Labels

Some baby clothing items, particularly sleepwear, have special washing instructions you need to watch out for. Make sure to read the care labels of each garment, then group and wash them accordingly.

You can either hand wash your baby’s clothes using a gentle baby laundry detergent or use a washing machine; most garments recommend washing with the gentle cycle setting to keep them looking good as new for longer.

Another tip to prevent damage is to watch out for loose buttons and unfastened hook-and-loop fasteners, which can get caught and could damage other clothes.

Choose the Right Laundry Detergent

Your baby’s skin is still underdeveloped and delicate, making it three times more sensitive than adult skin-- that’s why it’s recommended to use a mild detergent that’s safe for your little one.

The residue left behind by regular laundry detergents might be too harsh for your baby, causing skin allergies and irritations.

Choose a baby laundry detergent that is clinically proven to be mild and hypoallergenic, and free of any irritants like bleach, dyes, phosphates, and fabric softeners.

Ask your pediatrician what brand and product they recommend.

Treat Stain as Early as Possible

With babies, stains are surely going to happen; they aren’t anything to stress over. However, you can’t put stains off for too long as they get more difficult to treat, or worse, can become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria over time.

Poop stains on clothes and cloth diapers are one of the most common ones you will be encountering and it's important to wash and disinfect the soiled clothes before throwing them into the laundry machine.

Rinsing with water and lemon juice can also be helpful for other stains from spit-up and food particles.

For harder to remove stains, you may opt to use a baby-friendly, mild stain soaker that is safe and not as harsh as your regular bleach.

Always Wash New Clothes

When it comes to new clothes, you can't know for sure what it's been in contact with before landing in your hands.

As exciting as it is to dress your little one in a new outfit, make sure to err on the side of caution and wash the items well before putting them on your baby.

Wash Your Baby’s Clothes in a Separate Load

Making the effort to wash a separate load will prevent exposure to bacteria or chemicals from other family members' laundry. If the efficiency of smaller loads worries you, remember that babies use and soil a number of clothes, diapers, and blankets all day, everyday.

Don’t forget to include in the regular load anything that touches your baby’s skin—from nursing covers, to beddings and towels. Your baby’s garments may be tiny, but you’d be surprised at how quickly it all adds up to a full load. 

Try Sun Drying

Sunlight can act as a natural disinfectant for your baby's garments. Not only does it conserve energy, but it also avoids wear-and-tear from machine drying. Depending on what works best for you, machine drying can work just as well because of its high temperatures and sterilizing capabilities.

Have you already filled your little one's closet with the cutest outfits or are you filling up your cart waiting for the next big sale?

As a no-compromise parent, make sure to stock up on hypoallergenic and safe baby detergents while you're at it! Shop here for all your baby’s laundry needs. 

Related Article: Common Newborn and Baby Skin Issues: What Causes It and How to Prevent It

Watch: How Residues Left on Clothes Can Harm Your Baby's Skin

Actual Test: How Regular Laundry Detergents Cause Allergy and Irritation to Your Baby's Skin