Up to what age to iron clothes for a newborn
An umbilical wound in an infant is an open gateway to infection if not properly treated. Newborns are extremely sensitive to new microflora, so their things are carefully smoothed for disinfection. The baby's skin also reacts very sharply to external stimuli, contact with the new environment can occur in different ways and this is not always successful. The things of newborns require especially careful care.
Many doctors advise ironing newborns' belongings for at least three months.
- after washing, the laundry is dried on the balcony or in a room where allergens or dust still get on it, and the baby still has a very weak immunity;
- after washing, the laundry can be rough and easily cut the delicate baby skin. Diapers ironed on both sides are much safer and more comfortable for the baby;
- Ironing also neutralizes residues of detergent that can cause allergies, because even after thorough washing, some of the detergent or gel may remain on the clothes.
Why is it better to iron using steam? Because when steaming, most of the microbes die.
Do I need to iron diapers and things for a newborn? "Of course, ironing children's things is necessary!" - the older generation will say out loud. There is nothing more dangerous than microbes that threaten the health of a small child, and ironed clothes look much neater on him. And in general, dear mothers, it takes a lot of effort and time to raise a baby.
- Firstly, for a small child with an unhealed umbilical wound, who has just left the walls of the hospital, well-heat-treated things are a way to avoid getting various microbes on the skin.
- Secondly, the fabric of the ironed undershirts and bodysuits is much softer and more pleasant to the touch. Well-ironed seams will not rub the already delicate skin of the crumbs.
- Thirdly, if your baby is prone to allergies or dermatitis, the treatment of diapers in this case becomes a must, the mother must provide proper care for the baby's skin.
- Fourthly, ironed clothes have a neat look, so your baby will always look very cute and adorable.
- How many months do you need to iron your baby's things? Minimum - up to 1.5, and more often - up to 2 months of a baby's life.
How to iron correctly? In order not to waste a lot of time, and quickly get the desired result from ironing clothes, you should not neglect these rules:
- Correctly selected detergents will ensure easy ironing of the laundry. Don't be afraid to use a rinse aid - the right conditioner for your baby's clothes will keep the fabric light and pliable.
- Choose the right washing program that will provide you with easy ironing of your clothes.
- It is better to spend the money and time choosing a decent iron than to use up precious minutes that you can spend with your child, or just relax. Use a spray bottle with distilled water if necessary.
- Diapers and sliders should be slightly underdried. Damp cloth is much easier to heat treatment with the best result.
- Divide clothes by type of fabric, this way you can save a lot of time on changing thermal conditions.
- Ironed items should not be immediately laid out in the boxes intended for them. You will avoid creases and creases if the clothes are cool enough before placing them in the closet.
- Organize your workplace carefully. Take advantage of the ironing moment to listen to an audio book, or watch your favorite TV show.
- If you decide to use an iron, you should know that ironing children's things from the outside is not necessary, you can iron only the inside, because the child is in contact with the inside of the clothes and bed linen.
How to make ironing easier?
A correctly selected iron is a guarantee of not only high-quality ironing, but also time saving. A good household appliance should fit comfortably in the hand, the cord must be of optimal length so as not to get tangled and not to be pulled to the limit. It is great if the iron is equipped with the following functions:
- dry ironing;
- steaming;
- vertical steam supply;
- spraying;
- automatic shutdown.
You don't have to grab the iron as soon as your baby falls asleep. Often, you can iron, sitting in the field of view of the crumbs and talking to him or singing: if the baby is healthy and calm, he will follow with interest the actions of his mother from his crib. The ironing board, which can be easily moved around the house, will make ironing easier, and if the board is equipped with height adjustment, it will help take the load off Mom's spine.
When the mother'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 the household. Dad is also quite capable of ironing: it is enough to explain which things to iron first, and which ones later, and set the desired temperature regime on the iron.
Conclusion
It is only the mother herself who has to decide for how many months the diapers, caps, blouses and sliders of her baby should be ironed - the first days or always. If the baby is calm, sleeps a lot, does not cry for no reason, and mom has time to iron, then why not iron? A huge plus in this case will be always a neat look of clothes and the ability to quickly dress up the child if you have to go out somewhere.
However, modern fabrics are often not susceptible to wrinkling or the washing machine is equipped with an easy ironing function. In this case, it is enough to hang the baby's things correctly when drying, and then fold them evenly, and the clothes will look neat.
It should be borne in mind that after the navel has healed, there is no urgent need to be zealous at the ironing board. It is enough to iron things that have contact with the baby's naked skin, and entrust the rest to the washing powder and an automatic machine. Excessive sterility cannot replace a smiling and rested mother for a child.
How long does it take to iron children's things?
Ironing of things begins even before the birth of the child. Mom has a lot of free time, from the 8th month of pregnancy the instinct of "nesting" becomes more acute. And everything that comes across from baby clothes and diapers gets under the steam of the iron. But with the birth of a baby, not all mothers have time and want to continue ironing - some have enough diapers for six months in advance, others have a third child, who can be dealt with without too much stress with such trifles.
First 4 weeks |
The first month of life is the most important. There is a wound on the stomach, which will pass only by the second month, so ironing and steaming of all the seams on baby diapers and clothes is necessary. |
Second to fourth month |
During this period, it becomes more difficult - the diapers have to be re-washed, the stocks of ironed things are running out. Mothers, do zeal on yourself, by 4-5 months the baby needs clean things no less than in the first days of life. |
Fifth to ninth month |
The most crucial period when the work of the sebaceous glands is being formed, but not yet fully realized in action. Therefore, clean bedding, pajamas and body-fitting items require special care. |
Ninth to twelfth month |
By the first year of life, a child can regulate body temperature by himself. However, mothers sometimes overheat babies by wrapping them up. This is a matter of great concern - if the baby is hot, dust and small particles from clothes will remain on the baby's smooth skin. Maximum - you will achieve irritation. |
From 1 to one and a half years |
By the age of one and a half, the child should always have ironed bodysuits, bath towels, pajamas and underwear. For the beauty of the appearance, you can iron the outerwear. |
From one and a half to 2 years |
By the age of two, the child is fully capable of responding to external stimuli. Only those things that are in contact with the body are ironed. |
Two to three years |
The period when the baby went to kindergarten or is just preparing for it. In such matters, the only task for the mother is ironing bed linen and pajamas. For the garden, things should also be steamed. All clothes that get dirty inside the walls of the institution should be boiled. This will reduce the risk of illness in the child and protect against serious childhood illnesses. |
From three years of age and older |
From the age of three, the child's clothes undergo the same heat treatment as in adults. Additional care is the ironing of bed linen with steam. If the child is still sleeping with his parents, adult bedding should be ironed using a press. |
Tip: Do not forget about the period when the child is vaccinated. The injection sites should not come into contact with anyone who is dusty or dirty. It is better to overbid and steam all things than to bring in an infection. Therefore, answering the question of up to what age you need to iron children's things, one should pay attention to the circumstances in certain situations.
Do I need to iron?
Drying in the fresh air is one of the main reasons for ironing
In the Soviet years, the issue of ironing a newborn's belongings was not raised. Most mothers stroked - this was considered the norm. In the modern world, this procedure has faded into the background and each parent decides for himself. It comes to the point that pediatricians cannot really explain whether this is necessary or not.
We believe that additional ironing, especially for babies, will not hurt, and during the healing of the umbilical wound, it is absolutely necessary.
And the following reasons can be given in favor of ironing:
- processing with the additional steaming function turned on allows you to neutralize and remove all microbes that have got on the products during the drying process;
- the healing time of the umbilical wound is the period when the baby is especially vulnerable to the effects of various kinds of infections;
- after ironing, things are more comfortable, soft and practical;
- ironing helps soften internal seams that can chafe the baby's skin;
- new and newly purchased items must go through a full cycle of washing, drying and ironing;
- diapers and sheets become noticeably softer after processing, which allows the baby to feel no discomfort during its development.
With regard to ironing children's clothes, there is a second misconception that the products should be ironed from both sides. In fact, this does not need to be done, since it is enough to process only from the side that is directly adjacent to the skin (purl).
But if you have time and you are too worried about your baby, then iron on both sides. Simply in practice - it will only add to you worries that you already have nowhere else.
Technologies for processing children's clothes
If the baby is in comfort, then his development proceeds without significant deviations.
The process of ironing clothes for newborns is not very different from the processing of similar products for adults. The only thing that complicates the task is the fact that all the things are very small and miniature.
Therefore, even in this case, you can optimize the process a little and iron faster than just starting to iron each item from the total mass of washed items.
The general technology for ironing children's clothes will consist of the following:
- After drying, sort the items into groups based on the type of fabric. This will allow you to change the ironing mode with less frequency, which will significantly speed up the work process.
- The most common fabric for sewing diapers and baby clothes is natural cotton.Before ironing, such a cloth must be moistened with boiled water. To do this, you can use a household spray bottle.
- Remember to turn on the steam function when ironing. A hand held steamer can be used if desired. Such equipment is an excellent choice for disinfection and removal of foreign odors from any fabric.
- After finishing, place items on the ironing board. Spread well and wait 5-7 minutes. This will give the remaining moisture time to evaporate. After that, you can change your baby's clothes or put things away for storage.
Sorting things makes it possible not only to speed up the process, but also allows you to take care of the equipment used. Start ironing with the fabric that requires the lowest temperature and gradually increase the heat. This is the most gentle way to use your iron.
Secrets of a comfortable and fast ironing
Many young mothers do not think about their own comfort at all, giving all the care to their baby. In vain, because even the process of care and housework can be significantly facilitated.
If possible, buy a quality iron with a ceramic sole, light weight and a comfortable tip. The device does not need to be expensive. It can also be an ordinary iron with a power of 1.6 kW or more that meets the above requirements.
If the process of ironing things for a newborn only causes you stress, then you should not do it at all. It will be much more effective and useful for the baby if you do cleaning or any other work that does not cause discomfort.
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Should everything be ironed?
And yet, some mums manage to reduce the amount of housework by ironing only the essentials. Of course, washing, cooking, cleaning is an integral part of household chores. Therefore, the minimum range of ironing tasks is as follows:
Scratch mittens
Scratches are ironed outside and inside. These are the very clothes that require special care. The baby's hands are constantly either in the mouth or on the mother's chest. If the fabric is not treated well enough, the child will “eat” a lot of microbes along with the fibers of the fabric. By the way, on the Internet there are many photos and videos of how scratches are ironed.
Bedding
Children's pajamas should be ironed to perfection. The evenness of the fabric after ironing is the second thing if the child is over six months old. He will spend most of the day in these clothes, so make sure that he is comfortable and safe.
Caps
Why iron children's clothes on both sides and iron the seams? This is the very item of the newborn's wardrobe, which should be perfectly clean. Cotton caps and hats fit tightly to the baby's head, which has sweat and sebaceous glands. Hair and hair follicles are imperfect, and any clothing that comes into contact with the head before the first year of a child's life should be almost sterile.
Bodiki
Probably, there is no need to repeat that slips and bodysuits should be ironed at least until the first year of life. If you do not wash children's clothes at a temperature of 90 degrees and above, as it should be, but follow the numbers that the instructions on the tag suggest, then ironing and steaming is a mandatory process for processing clothes.
Undershirts
Another wardrobe item that needs to be steamed thoroughly. The video in this article will show how experienced mothers do it. Remember that this type of clothing is intended for newborns who have umbilical wounds. Until they heal, the undershirts need to be ironed several times on both sides.
Kids clothes
Why iron children's things from both sides - we figured it out, but why do the same with bed linen, because the child sleeps on only one side.By steaming the cloth on both sides, you minimize the contact of the child with the remains of the powder, which can enter the baby's body through the thin cloth.
Socks
It would seem that no one ever ironed socks. But! A child is a curious creature, and can often shove a whole heel into his mouth. And if this heel has been in a sock that is not the very first freshness, think for yourself whether it will be safe for him?
Diaper
Any mom's favorite pastime is ironing simple square diapers back and forth. Although even in such simple cases, many manage to do ironing for aesthetics - fold it four times and iron the folds for a show. No, this is not possible - the diapers must be ironed for softness and disinfection, on both sides after each fold.
It is not a burden for young mothers to iron a dozen other diapers and undershirts. And experienced mothers do it quickly and efficiently. Although there are those who shy away from such a long and monotonous process due to their inability or ignorance of how to do everything right with their own hands, without resorting to the help of grandmothers.
How to iron correctly
To save time and nerves during ironing, you should follow simple rules:
before the disinfection stage, it is necessary to check whether the fabric is burning - for this, put the nose of the iron on the tip of the clothes
If the material sticks to the surface, it is worth changing the temperature regime;
the room should be well lit in order to smooth out all the folds in the material;
the ironing board cover should be washed once a week, and you should not iron other clothes on it, besides children's;
to speed up the steaming process, things should be sorted into fabrics so that the temperature regime changes once for each material;
it is better to moisten cotton items with water from a spray bottle;
during ironing, do not forget about the supply of steam;
things of newborns should be ironed from two sides - from the inside, paying attention to each seam, and from the outside, without sharpening the stitches;
ironing things should be done slowly, slowly, in order to destroy all germs;
after steaming, the fabrics need to cool in a straightened form, and only then can they be folded and sent to the cabinet.
Important! When ironing, do not get too carried away - otherwise the fabric will coarse, may cause discomfort. Important! When ironing, do not get too carried away - otherwise the fabric will coarse, may cause discomfort
Important! When ironing, do not get too carried away - otherwise the fabric will coarse, may cause discomfort
Tips and tricks for young parents
Young parents
By type of fabric
Depending on what fabric the clothes are made of, the mode and manner of ironing should change. Ironing the fabric incorrectly can ruin its appearance and structural quality.
Satin, silk, twill: these fabrics are usually used for lining. Do not iron the backing material using water. These fabrics do not like moisture, the shine disappears, streaks appear, which are then very difficult to remove.
It is also very important to iron the back of the lining.
Synthetics. It is better not to iron things made of such fabric at all or to iron it very rarely.
Never iron synthetics while wet. You need to iron with a warm, not hot, iron and always through a cloth or gauze.
Viscose. Clothes made from this material must be ironed only 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 manner of ironing. To make the chintz glossy, iron it from the right side. If ironed from the inside out, the fabric will look matte. The chintz should be ironed while the fabric is still damp.
Terry cloth. Towels and bathrobes are made of this material.Very often, children's clothes are made of terry cloth, these can be romper suits, bathrobes for babies that are put on after bathing, etc. The question arises of how to properly iron baby clothes for newborns from such a fabric. Terry clothes should create a feeling of coziness and comfort. To keep the fabric soft, you do not need to iron it after washing. However, if the thing is for children, then you need to treat it with hot steam to disinfect it.
Diaper
Any ordinary baby powder will help to wash off dirt from baby diapers.
It is important that it is hypoallergenic and does not contain dyes. Baby powder will also not ruin the hands of the hostess, it is great for hand washing.
Important: no matter how safe baby powder is, carefully monitor the reaction of the newborn
If there is the slightest manifestation of allergies, immediately remove this thing from the child, call a doctor and replace the washing powder with another one.
An even safer remedy than baby powder is laundry or baby soap. They should also be free of dyes. Laundry soap is made from natural substances and perfectly removes pollution of any complexity.
Is it necessary to iron a diaper for a newborn? Yes, this is a necessary safety measure, decontamination. However, when ironing the diapers, do not overheat the iron. The temperature should be moderate, otherwise the fabric will become stiff.
Thus, by adhering to the recommendations of this article, you will be able to iron the things of the newborn correctly and safely for the health of your baby. Videos and photos clearly show how to iron things for newborns correctly. Ironing rules will keep the child's immunity safe, and young parents will save them from unnecessary worries and worries.
Arguments in favor of ironing
An equally numerous category of specialists insists that a newborn's clothes must be ironed, but only until the navel is completely healed. It's related:
Infant immune system weakness. During the first month of life, the baby needs protection from all kinds of bacteria. Even if the baby's linen is constantly washed in very hot (up to 90 degrees) water, during drying on the balcony or on a battery, germs still get on the fabric. A hot iron and a steaming system effectively destroy all microorganisms and disinfect baby clothes; During the ironing process, the residues of detergents that can provoke an allergic reaction in an infant are neutralized; Steaming and ironing can make natural fabrics softer. The same happens with the seams: when softened, they do not rub the delicate baby skin.
Diapers that are ironed will last longer; Well-ironed things look aesthetically pleasing, which is important when visiting a clinic or during a visit by a mother-in-law? : a baby dressed in them will look more attractive and well-groomed
Secrets of proper ironing
In order not to set children's clothes on fire and not to switch the iron every minute, before starting ironing, things must be sorted by type of fabric. By setting the iron regulator to the minimum value, first begin to iron clothes made of delicate materials (for example, silk), gradually moving to calico, cotton and flannel; Flannel and cotton are used to make diapers. These fabrics need to be steamed and ironed at a high (190-200 degrees) temperature. Dry fabric should be sprayed with a spray bottle and set aside for five minutes, allowing it to "move away". Even with a modern iron with a powerful steaming system, diapers should be ironed 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 of 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 side - a matte finish. Dry chintz needs additional moisture, even if the steam function is used during ironing.
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. Baby things can only be ironed on the side that is in contact with the baby's skin: this saves both time and effort of the mother. By adjusting the height of the ironing board to suit her height, mom can reduce the strain on the muscles in her arms and back. The ideal iron should have a comfortable grip, a spray and steam system, and not very heavy weight. Before ironing, make sure that the ironing surface and steam coming out of the iron are clean. Use only distilled water for steaming.
After the umbilical wound heals, ironing of baby things and diapers can be abandoned (the only exception is the healing period of the BCG vaccination made in the maternity hospital, which tends to become inflamed a month after its completion; during this period, ironing is better to resume).
READ ALSO: How to take care of children's clothes (washing, drying, ironing, storage): tips and tricks
Let's just smile?
Ironing things
When a small 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 increased attention, they need to be bathed, fed, dressed, changed diapers, reassured when they cry, and so on. In addition, household chores also do not go away by themselves, including washing and ironing things. In addition, now there are children's items in the basket that need to be washed by hand, and this also takes time, like ironing. Of course, many mothers start to wonder how to iron things for newborns, and whether a newborn's diapers should be ironed. In this article, you will receive answers to them and useful recommendations.
Why iron newborn linen
Everyone knows that ironing guarantees the sterility of products, kills germs and dangerous microorganisms
This is especially important if the umbilical cord has not yet healed in the baby. Through the wound, a non-sterile undershirt or diaper can cause infection 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, therefore they do not require ironing at all. Whether to iron the things of older babies is already a separate choice for everyone and remains at the discretion of the mother.
It is required 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 settle in bedding. It is also essential 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 clothes is important and necessary for children with problem skin, which is often inflamed. If the child has scratches and wounds on the body, severe diaper rash and other similar troubles have appeared. This is necessary to avoid infection and deterioration of the situation.
By the way, an ironed warm (not hot!) Diaper applied to the baby's tummy reduces colic. In addition, ironing softens fabrics and seams, making clothes and items more comfortable for babies. However, special fabric softeners can be used here. But they must be hypoallergenic and safe for children.
Arguments against ironing
Opinions about the need for diaper ironing are controversial, even among experienced pediatricians. There is a large category of specialists who are convinced that excessive disinfection of everything with which the baby comes into contact is not only unnecessary, but also harmful to it, because:
Microorganisms, inevitably present in our environment, force the young organism to fight against infectious agents, thereby creating the effect of natural vaccination; Ironed laundry loses some of its ability to absorb moisture and can cause prickly heat or irritation of delicate baby skin.
As for the issue of the healing of the umbilical wound - the main argument in favor of the need to iron the 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 the treatment of the wound itself (see how to properly handle the umbilical wound).
How to iron things for newborns?
If a mother has decided for herself that ironing is compulsory, then she should know how to iron baby clothes for newborns correctly. The technology of ironing children's clothes is simple, but it requires adherence to some recommendations:
- Before ironing, sort the laundry according to the type of fabric, depending on which you select the intensity of the iron heating.
- Start ironing with low temperature, then with medium setting, last of all with maximum heat.
- Try to iron baby clothes without waiting for the fabric to dry completely - a slightly damp fabric is easier to iron.
- If the fabric is dry, use a spray bottle - sprinkle the clothes with water and wait a few minutes. Even if the iron is set to the “steam” function, the water from the spray will soften the fabric and make ironing easier.
- Choose an iron taking into account your physiological characteristics - it should be comfortable to hold in your hand. When buying an iron, focus on light weight and the presence of the "steaming" function.
- Before starting work, make sure the soleplate is smooth and clean. For steaming, use distilled water, which will not allow the device to fail prematurely, and will not leave traces of "scale" on clothes.
- It is advisable to iron the laundry on both sides. If there is no time for double-sided ironing, iron the things from the wrong side.
- For ironing, use an ironing board that is adjusted to your height to reduce stress on the muscles in your back and arms.
- Let the ironed clothes lie flat for a few minutes, and only then put them in the closet - this way, folds and creases will not form on things.
Do not take everything on your shoulders - involve your beloved in ironing children's clothes
And the last piece of advice. Don't try to take on all your homework. Attract family and friends, entrusting them even such a responsible business as ironing. Just pre-instruct your mom or husband how and why to iron things for newborns.
Ironing right
In order not to scorch the fabric and not switch the heating mode for each item, sort everything according to the type of fabric. Start with low temperatures and, accordingly, delicate materials: silk, chintz, cotton, flannel.
Most often, nappies are made of cotton and flannel. This fabric loves high temperatures (190-200 ° C) and steaming. You didn’t keep track of it and the material is dry - moisten it from the spray bottle, leave it for a few minutes to let the fabric “come off”. Iron on both sides, even if the iron is excellent at steaming. And it's not about the nasty bacteria that won't die. After all, modern irons have a high steaming power: during the procedure, not even one, but several layers of fabric are disinfected. But in order for the cotton cloth to be aligned optimally evenly, it must be ironed on both sides.
Chintz - the material is much thinner, therefore it is necessary to iron with an iron at an average (150 ° C) heating temperature. And only on one side.If you choose a knitwear, the fabric will be glossy. Ironing from the inside out will give dullness. Moisten dry chintz even if you use the steam function in your iron.