oven-sterilizing layette?

[mamaknature]

Could someone remind me how I'm supposed to prepare the layette in brown paper bags in the oven. I can't remember the temp and duration.
Thanks.

[cottonwood]

Personally, I think washing with gentle detergent and drying on hot is sufficient. But here are the instructions I got from my midwife:

Wash items with a laundry disinfectant (bleach, Lysol, ...) and dry for 20 minutes past the time they feel dry, then put away in a clean bag. If you do not use a dryer, use bleach in the washer, hang dry in sunshine, and bake everything in a paper bag in a 250 oven with a pan of water on the bottom rack for 20 minutes.

[mamaknature]

I agree!

Thank's, Blue-violet. I think it's over-kill, as well.
Now, I can't use bleach, because it's organic cottons. The main reason I need to know the oven-sterilizing procedure is because I need a cloth for the placenta. I'm planning on a lotus birth.

I can't remember... is it a couple of hours on 200?

[Faith]

I'm sorry, but I'm lost. Would someone explain it to me?

Why would a newborn and a placenta need sterilized clothes and cloth?:

I had a homebirth (but not a lotus birth).
I'm sure the midwives had some sterile things, but I just washed the baby clothes in gentle soap.

[Jane]

Forgive me for jumping in, but I think the theory is to minimize bacteria contact with the placenta, probably to minimize smell?

This site (http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/cordcare.html) is not talking about clothing, but one midwife recommends 225 F for no more than 90 minutes.

Since it is clothing...boiling seems like a possibility to me instead of bleach.

[mamaknature]

Thanks for the info! Yeah, sterilizing the wrap for the placenta is so it won't rot, and sterilizing the layette (or the very first things the newborn will touch besides mom and dad) is just plain wierd.
Hey, I live in Bothell. Small world!
Nancy

[Jane]

'Tis a small world.

If you don't mind me asking, are you planning on using a colandar to drip dry or just a wrap for absorbency? I'm quite curious about the preparations and then what ends up being successful.

[mamaknature]

Just a wrap. My midwife doesn't think I need any herbs or salt. I'm still reading as many articles as I can find about it. This will be the second lotus birth for me. I'd like to improve on the first one, where I used newspaper and salt. Not very ceremonial, but it was very spiritual nonetheless.

[Jane]

Thanks for indulging my curiosity. I look forward to reading your birth story in the not-so-distant future. (Congratulations, by the way)