Those tiny labels sewn into baby clothes look like a secret code, and it is tempting to ignore them. But the care label is the maker's own instructions for keeping a piece soft, the right size and looking good wash after wash, and baby clothes get washed a lot. This guide explains what each laundry symbol means and how to use them without overthinking laundry day.
Where to Find the Care Label
Look inside the back of the neck or along the inside side seam. Some pieces use a printed label instead of a sewn tag, and small items like socks and hats may only show the symbols on the packaging. If you plan to snip out an itchy tag, take a quick photo of it first so you always know how to wash that piece later.
The Five Symbol Families
Most labels are built from a handful of basic shapes. Learn these and you can read nearly any tag.
- Washtub (washing): The dots show the maximum water temperature. One dot means cool (about 86°F / 30°C), two dots mean warm (about 105°F / 40°C), and three dots mean hot (about 120°F / 50°C). A hand in the tub means hand wash only, and an X through the tub means do not wash. Lines under the tub signal a gentler cycle: one line for reduced agitation, two for delicate.
- Triangle (bleach): An empty triangle means bleach is allowed, a triangle with two diagonal lines means non-chlorine bleach only, and a crossed-out triangle means no bleach. Most parents skip bleach on baby clothes altogether.
- Square with a circle (tumble dry): The dots show the heat: one for low, two for medium, three for high. A filled-in circle means tumble dry with no heat, and a crossed-out square means do not tumble dry.
- Plain square (natural drying): A curved line at the top means line dry, vertical lines mean drip dry, and a horizontal line across the middle means dry flat.
- Iron: The dots show the heat (one low, three high), and a crossed-out iron means do not iron.
You may also see a plain circle, which is for dry cleaning. A crossed-out circle means do not dry clean, and most baby clothes never need it. Labels from other countries can look slightly different, for example a number inside the tub instead of dots. That number is the maximum wash temperature in Celsius.
How to Read a Label in Three Quick Steps
- Start with the washtub. It tells you the water temperature and the cycle.
- Check the drying symbol. This is where most shrinking and stretching happens, so it deserves a second look.
- Scan for anything crossed out. Those are the “don'ts” that matter most, whether it is bleach, tumble drying or ironing.
Match the Care to the Piece
Knits are the pieces most likely to need a little extra care. A set like the Baby Knit Cotton Set with Collar Pullover & Pants usually does best with a gentle cycle and drying flat, so the pullover and pants hold their shape from wash to wash.
Everyday cotton is more forgiving, but a few habits still help. For a daily sleepsuit like the ABC Bear Long Sleeve Romper, close the snaps before it goes into the machine so they do not catch on other items, and follow the temperature on the tag.
What If the Label Is Missing or Faded?
When there is no label to follow, go cool and gentle: cool water, a gentle cycle, mild detergent, and low heat or air drying. You can always go a little warmer next time, but you cannot un-shrink a piece. If something already looks smaller after a wash, our guide on how to tell if baby clothes have shrunk in the wash can help you work out whether it was the laundry or a growth spurt. For the full routine, see our complete guide to washing baby clothes.
A Simple Rule of Thumb
The label beats habit. When you wash a mixed load, set the machine for the most delicate symbol in it, and keep the crossed-out symbols in mind when you dry. If you are building a wardrobe of organic cotton baby clothes, the same label-reading habits apply to every piece, and they are what keep small clothes soft and true to size for as long as your baby fits them.