You found the one. The baby tee that hits exactly at the waist, hugs in all the right places, and makes every pair of low-rise jeans look like a moodboard. Then laundry day happens, and suddenly it fits like a doll’s shirt. Heartbreak, in cotton form.
Good news, darling: shrinking is mostly avoidable. Baby tees are small, fitted, and usually made from light knits, so they react to heat and rough handling faster than a roomy boyfriend tee. Treat them a little more gently and they can keep their shape, color and cute graphic for a long, long time. This guide walks you through exactly how to wash, dry, store and even rescue a baby tee, step by step.
A quick note about Dear: our first heart-and-star baby tee arrives with the first drop in spring 2027, and its final fabric and care label are not locked in yet. The advice below is general care for cotton and cotton-blend baby tees. When our tee is ready, its own label is the one to follow.
Why baby tees shrink in the first place
Most baby tees are knitted from cotton or a cotton blend, sometimes with a little stretch fiber for that second-skin fit. Cotton fibers are stretched and relaxed during spinning and knitting. When they meet heat, water and a lot of tumbling, they relax back and pull tighter, and the garment gets smaller. Heat is the biggest trigger, agitation is the second, and the tumble dryer combines both.
Because a baby tee is cut close to the body and cropped on purpose, even a small change shows up. Losing a little length on a regular tee is no big deal. On a baby tee, it can turn “just above the belly button” into “wait, where did my hem go?” That’s why the goal isn’t just clean clothes, it’s protecting the fit.
What usually causes the damage
- Hot water, especially on a first wash.
- High-heat drying, or running the dryer until everything is bone dry.
- Heavy loads with towels and denim that rub and twist lighter knits.
- Fast spin cycles that wring the fabric while it is wet and weak.
- Hanging a soaking-wet tee by the shoulders, which stretches it in one direction and shrinks it in another.
Step 1: Read the care label (yes, really)
Before anything else, flip your tee inside out and find the label. It tells you the maximum safe water temperature and whether tumble drying is allowed. The tub symbol shows washing; dots inside it show temperature (one dot is cool, two is warm). A square with a circle is the tumble dryer; a cross through any symbol means skip it.
Think of the label as the upper limit, not a target. If it says warm is fine, cold will still be kinder. If it says low-heat drying is allowed, air drying will still protect the fit better. Labels differ between fabrics and brands, so always check each new tee, including ours when it lands.
Step 2: Prep it like a pro
Turn it inside out
This one tiny habit protects screen prints, embroidery and rhinestones from rubbing against other clothes. It also cuts down on pilling on the outside of the fabric, so the tee keeps that fresh, smooth look longer. If you love a sparkly graphic (very rhinestone era of you), inside out is non-negotiable.
Use a mesh laundry bag
A mesh wash bag keeps small, light pieces from tangling around bigger items. It’s especially helpful for baby tees with thin straps, trims or delicate necklines.
Sort by color and weight
Wash pastels with pastels and lights with lights. Pinks and baby blues can pick up dye from darker pieces, and a new bright tee can release a little color in its first few washes. Keep heavy items like jeans, hoodies and towels in a separate load so they don’t grind against your knits.
Pre-treat stains first
Lip gloss, iced coffee, glitter body lotion: it happens. Dab stains with a little mild detergent before washing so you don’t feel tempted to crank the water hotter to “make sure it comes out.”
Step 3: Wash cold and gentle
Here is the heart of it. Choose cold water and the gentle or delicate cycle. Cold water is the single easiest way to reduce shrinking and fading, and modern detergents are designed to clean well in cool washes. If your machine lets you choose spin speed, pick a lower one so the fabric isn’t twisted hard while wet.
- Detergent: a mild one, in the amount the bottle suggests. More soap doesn’t mean cleaner; extra residue can leave cotton stiff.
- Skip bleach on colored tees. It can fade pastels and weaken fibers.
- Go easy on fabric softener. It can coat fibers and reduce stretch over time, especially on blends with elastane.
- Don’t overload. Clothes need space to move gently, not be crushed together.
Hand washing, the extra-soft option
For a tee you’re truly obsessed with, hand washing is the gentlest route. Fill a clean sink with cool water and a small amount of mild detergent. Swish the tee for a few minutes, focusing on the underarms and neckline, then rinse in cool clean water until no suds remain. Don’t wring or twist. Press the water out with your palms, then roll the tee in a dry towel and press again to absorb extra moisture.
Step 4: Dry flat, never hot
If you only change one thing in your laundry routine, make it this. Air drying is the best way to prevent shrinking. Lay your tee flat on a drying rack or a clean towel, smooth out the wrinkles and gently reshape the shoulders, side seams and hem with your hands while it’s still damp.
Why flat? A wet tee is heavy. Hanging it by the shoulders can pull the body longer and the neckline out of shape, while the width narrows. Flat drying keeps everything even. Try to dry in a shaded, airy spot: long sessions in strong direct sun can fade bright pinks and prints over time.
If you have to use the dryer
Life is busy, we get it. If the dryer is your only option:
- Use the lowest heat or a delicate setting.
- Keep the cycle short and check the tee early.
- Take it out while it’s still slightly damp, then finish drying flat.
- If your dryer has a moisture sensor, use it to avoid over-drying.
Over-drying, running until every fiber is crispy, is where a lot of shrinkage happens. Pulling the tee out early is a simple save.
Step 5: Store it so it stays cute
Fold baby tees instead of hanging them for long periods. Hangers can stretch out the shoulders and leave little bumps on light knits. Fold in thirds lengthwise, then in half, and keep them in a drawer or on a shelf without heavy sweaters piled on top. A pretty stack of pastel tees in a drawer is also, honestly, a mood.
Washing less often helps too. If you wore a tee for a few hours and it’s still fresh, air it out and wear it again. Fewer washes means less wear, less fading and less chance of shrinking.
Caring for prints, graphics and embellishments
Graphic baby tees (hearts, stars, glitter lettering, little rhinestone details) need a little extra love:
- Always wash inside out.
- Never iron directly on a print. If you need to smooth wrinkles, iron inside out on low heat, or put a thin cloth between the iron and the fabric. A handheld steamer is often easier.
- Avoid harsh stain removers on graphics; test any product on a hidden spot first.
- For glued-on gems, hand washing is the safest bet.
Oops, it shrank. Can you fix it?
Sometimes, a little. Cotton knits that tightened can often be relaxed back part of the way. Here is a gentle method many people try at home:
- Fill a sink with lukewarm water and add a small amount of hair conditioner or baby shampoo.
- Soak the tee for about 20-30 minutes so the fibers soften.
- Press out the water without wringing, then roll it in a towel.
- Lay it flat and gently stretch it back toward its original size, a little at a time, working length and width evenly.
- Let it dry flat. Repeat if needed.
Results vary by fabric, and a badly heat-shrunk tee may not fully bounce back. Prevention is always easier than rescue, which is why cold-wash-and-dry-flat is the golden rule.
Quick cheat sheet
- Check the label.
- Inside out, in a mesh bag, with similar colors.
- Cold water, gentle cycle, low spin, mild detergent.
- Dry flat and reshape while damp.
- Dryer only on low, and pull it out early.
- Fold, don’t hang, for long-term storage.
Want to make sure your tee fits perfectly from day one? Read our baby tee sizing and fit guide, then get inspired with how to style a baby tee. More questions? Our FAQ has you covered.
FAQ: washing and caring for baby tees
Do baby tees shrink in the wash?
Cotton and cotton-blend baby tees can shrink, mostly from hot water and high-heat drying. Washing cold on a gentle cycle and air drying flat greatly reduces the risk.
Should I size up in case my baby tee shrinks?
We’d rather you buy the size that fits and wash it gently. A baby tee is meant to be fitted and cropped, so sizing up can lose the look. Check the brand’s size chart and our fit guide.
Can I put a baby tee in the dryer?
Only if the label allows it, and only on low heat. Take it out while slightly damp and finish drying flat.
How do I keep a pink tee from fading?
Wash cold, inside out, with similar colors, skip bleach, and dry in the shade rather than strong direct sun.
How should I wash the Dear heart-and-star baby tee?
The Dear tee’s final fabric and care label aren’t finalized yet. When the first drop arrives in spring 2027, follow the label on your tee. Join the Dear Club to hear first.
Be first for the first drop
The Dear heart-and-star baby tee is coming spring 2027. Nothing is for sale yet, but you can join the waitlist and get drop news straight to your inbox. Catch up on drop news and the lookbook while you wait.