How to Reduce Baby Laundry During the Newborn Stage
Before having a baby, nobody really warns you about the amount of washing involved.
Tiny humans somehow create an endless pile of muslin wraps, bassinet sheets, swaddles, outfits, towels and change mat covers, often before lunchtime. Between milk spills, nappy leaks and surprise explosions during changes, the washing machine can quickly start feeling like part of your personality.
While some laundry comes with the territory, there are a few practical ways to reduce the constant washing during the newborn stage and make life feel a little more manageable.
1. Choose Baby Products That Are Easy to Wipe Clean
One of the biggest game changers during the newborn stage is choosing products that don’t need to be fully washed after every small mess.
Traditional fabric change mat covers often need to be removed and washed completely after accidents or leaks. Many parents are now choosing wipeable change mat covers instead, especially for middle-of-the-night changes or quick clean-ups throughout the day.
At Bubs First, our change mat covers were designed with a soft minky top section for baby comfort and a waterproof wipe clean lower section to help reduce unnecessary washing while still feeling soft and practical.
2. Keep Multiple Small Baskets Around the House
Laundry becomes more overwhelming when everything piles into one giant mountain.
Having small baskets in different rooms for baby clothes, burp cloths or muslins can help keep things organised and make smaller daily loads feel more manageable.
Even something as simple as separating heavily soiled items from lightly used items can reduce rewashing and save time.
3. Expect More Nappy Changes Than You Think
Newborns can need anywhere from 8–12 nappy changes per day during the early months.
That’s a lot of opportunities for leaks, mess and outfit changes.
Creating a practical nappy changing setup with easy-to-clean products can make a huge difference to the daily workload, especially during overnight feeds when everyone is already exhausted.
4. Don’t Overcomplicate Baby Outfits
As cute as tiny baby clothes are, complicated outfits with layers, buttons and difficult fabrics often create more washing and stress than necessary during the newborn stage.
Many parents naturally find themselves rotating through the same comfortable zip suits and practical basics on repeat. Bonds Onesies suits were a staple for my girls!
Simple usually wins during those early months.
5. Give Yourself Permission to Prioritise Convenience
There can sometimes be pressure for everything in a nursery to look perfect, but practicality matters too.
Products that genuinely make life easier during the newborn stage can have a surprisingly big impact on stress levels, especially when sleep deprived.
If something saves you time, reduces washing or makes daily routines smoother, it is usually worth it.
The Newborn Stage Is Temporary, Even If the Washing Feels Endless
The newborn phase can feel exhausting while you are in it, especially during the endless cycle of feeding, changing and laundry.
Anything that simplifies even one small part of the day can make a real difference.
Sometimes the most loved baby products are not the fancy ones,they are simply the ones that make life easier. That's why we made our change mat covers, because we were you and it made a big difference for us.