Moms-laundry detergent for baby?

W

wendymin72

Cathlete
To all the moms....what laundry detergent did you use or do you currently use for your infant's clothing?

I was given a small bottle of Dreft at my shower which is almost gone now that I washed all of his clothes...went food shopping yesterday and almost choked at the cost of it so we picked up another brand. I forget exactly which one but it was labeled something like "free and clear" (no dyes or scent in it). Do you think this is ok or should I spend the money on Dreft for the first year? This "free and clear" type was less than 1/2 the cost of the Dreft.

What are your thoughts?

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
 
Hi Wendy,

I used good old-fashioned unscented Tide with my first DD. It's supposed to be quite gentle. I think most babies will do fine with regular Tide, but some are more sensitive than others. I would suggest that you give Tide a chance, and only go to the expensive baby brands if your baby shows any sensitivity to the Tide (or the free and clear brand you bought). I imagine any brand that isn't loaded with dyes and scents (and possibly bleach?) would suffice.

Cheers,
Sandra
 
Hi,
I use Dreft. I would not use Tide AT ALL until at least the baby is 6 months or older. The smell is too strong for the baby. You will know if he's sensitive or not by then. I made the mistake of using Tide with my first and he broke out in rash all over the place. I used to use Ivory but the smell gave me a headache so I used Dreft. Maybe you could go to Sam's Club, BJ's or Costco and get the economy size Dreft? I just bought some the other day for 12 bucks and it's HUGE. The grocery store is a rip-off with laundry detergents. Especially baby stuff. I never buy it from the grocery store. My mother taught me that. LOL

Lisa
 
I have never used Dreft. I use All Free and Clear, which you can get in the 300 ml size at Target or Sams. If you really wanted Dreft, get the Target generic version. Good luck.
 
Thank you all for your responses...I will use what I purchased and see how it works out...If I don't like it for any reason I can always change brands...I will, out of curiousity though, be checking out Target's brand as well to see how it compares price wise to everything else that's out there...

Thanks again, ladies!

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
 
HI Wendy! I thought I'd be reading that you went into labor when I checked the forum today. About laundry detergent...I saw All for babies at Target. It's usually 2 or 3 for $7 (I can't remember), and it works fine. I also have Ivory powder, but it gets gunky in crevices in my washer, so I won't be getting that again. My mom told me a bit of advice that makes sense. If you hold your baby against your clothes, and your clothes were washed in regular det., then there is a good chance that your baby will be fine with it too. Just to be sure, you can always wash one item of the baby's clothing in reg. det. and test it out. Good luck!
-Jen
 
>I used Dreft and I think that Ivory had a baby's version that
>I would by from time to time.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Yep me too, my aunt swore by Ivory and it worked well for me. Listen just so you know the detergent isn't just about smell it's about the sensitivity of your babies skin. A normal detergent can lead to a skin outbreak, that is why there are more gentle detergents. Honestly your baby might be fine w/a normal detergent but why find out w/a new born? To much is going on to have to worry about a skin rash on top of it. FWIW Sam's Club I believe had Dreft for cheaper, Cosco may as well. Personally I would wait till the baby was 3-6 months old before fiddling around w/detergent. Just think about it, even adults have problems. My husband's skin can handle static sheats, so I never use them. Just something to chew on.
 
Hi Jen...

Gee...I wish I was in labor right now...*sigh*...I must admit I am not completely ready yet...there are several things I would really like to do before he comes but the thought of having my baby in my arms by this evening or tmrw morning is just a wonderful thought...oh well...soon enough I suppose! :)

Target seems to be a decent place to p/u detergent! Good thing we have one close by AND that I happen to be a fan of Target to begin with! ;-)

What your mom said makes sense actually...I will have to do that one of these days...

Thanks!

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
 
wendy, i only used dreft. but then again i was a first time mom and too afraid to try anything else. as i never had any problems with it i will do so again this time around. i bought from sam's club and costco and it wasn't so bad. babies are definitely costly....;o)
 
I only use Dreft for baby's laundry. DH & I usually buy it at a discount store, not a grocery store. We found it once at Sam's Club but haven't seen it there since. I'm sure other brands that are free and clear of dyes and fragrances are ok. I try to buy "free & clear" types for our laundry, too, as it is much more gentle on the clothes, the skin, and the environment.
Diana
 
Not Dreft

I personally never used Dreft for my baby. I was shocked when I received a sample of it and found that it contains fragrance. The whole point of being the MOST GENTLE is to have no fragrance or dye, because that is most likely to be most irritating to a baby's skin (let alone an adult). I would know because I've been to many dermatologists about skin sensitivities and eczema.

I would definitely use a free and clear variety. Many brands make this now. Purex is usually the cheapest free and clear, but All and Tide and some others make it too.

Trust me fragrances and dyes are what you most want to avoid for your new baby's delicate skin!

http://lilypie.com/days/050710/4/23/1/-7/.png[/img][/url]

Due 7-10-05
 
RE: Not Dreft

Wow! The things you learn, huh? Actually, Purex free and clear is what I just purchased at the food store last night....

Thanks!:)

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
 
RE: Not Dreft

Hi Emy-
While Dreft does have some fragrance in it (no dyes), I've done some research and determined that it is still one of the safest DETERGENTS for babies on the market. Some of the free and clear varieties are loaded with too much detergent (not formulated for baby skin and clothes) which is very harsh on skin especially if the detergent isn't rinsed out well by your washing machine.

Laundering is actually going to be just a part (a tiny part, IMO) of skin sensitivity issues which is why I said in a previous post that using the free and clear is still a good idea anyway. Most lotions, liquid soaps and washes on the market (for adults and babies) are terribly harsh and contribute to the majority of skin sensitivities (as do food allergies and the like).

I'm a soapmaker and also make a lot of home skin remedies due to eczema and dry skin that runs in our family so I'm picky, too!
Diana
 
RE: Not Dreft

Diana,

My DD age 4 has eczema. It varies from a little to all over her arms, legs, and face. Could you please share some of your home remedies! We've tried a couple of prescription meds., but they really didn't make any difference.

TIA...Sami
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top