What is the best new born baby laundry detergent?

Question

I keep hearing about Dreft and can't find it cheaply anyplace other than Babies R Us.

Answer 1

I have two children, and when my first was born, I religiously washed ALL her clothes in Dreft for the entire first year, believing wholeheartedly that I was doing the best thing for her and that it was the most gentle detergent out there.

I was wrong.

Fortunately, my daughter didn't have any skin problems, so Dreft wasn't harmful or any different from any other regular detergent.

When my second child was born, again I used Dreft, still believing it was best for my baby. But around two moths or so of age, I took him to the doctor with a rash all over him. The first thing my doctor said was, "Do you use Dreft?"

It turns out that Dreft is NOT hypo-allergenic, that it IS full of fragrances. You might notice that it smells a little like baby powder (that's the fragrance). My son (my second child) has eczema, and Dreft left him with a rash from neck to toe. My child's pediatrician (and his dermatologist) recommended switching to ANY detergent that says "FREE" or "CLEAR" on it, indicating that it is free of perfumes and dyes and other allergens. Some of the things we have since used include Cheer Free, All Free, and Arm & Hammer Free. My son's rash cleared up immediately, and I have since passed the Dreft on to other parents with children who do not have skin problems.

Dreft might be fine for your baby, as it was for my first child, but I wouldn't recommend anyone using it on a baby's clothing unless the child is at least six months old and you have already discovered that the child is not allergic to bath and laundry soaps with perfumes and dyes in it.

Oh, and I ALWAYS double-rinsed (and still do).

Save your money AND your baby's skin. Use something else!

Answer 2

Best Baby Detergent

Answer 3

I would say to use a detergent that is free of dyes and scents. This is mostly to make sure the baby won't have an allergic reaction to your detergent. With my first, she was very allergic to Tide. I had to stop using it (I didn't know I should use a special one). I used All free and clear. It is cheaper than dreft but is the same thing. Any detergent that doesn't have a sent or artificial color will be fine.

Answer 4

Dermatologists say using Dreft over other laundry soaps isn't very different. All of the better brands generally are made for everyone to use. I never used baby laundry detergent and my son never had any problems. I buy All Free & Clear and use All unscented dryer sheets on things of his that normally don't have flame retardance. Things that do have flame retardance should not have softner sheets or liquid used on them since this can effect how well it keeps the resistance.

Answer 5

I used baby detergent with my first for a while because I thought that was what you had to do. I think once I ran out of the first or second bottle I never used it again. I have three girls and I washed their clothes with the rest of the laundry using regular detergent (even bleach) and never had a problem. I have always felt that baby laundry soap was a gimmick.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the best new born baby laundry detergent?
I keep hearing about Dreft and can't find it cheaply anyplace other than Babies R Us.

Answer 7

You can buy detergents at the health food store that are all natural and are cheaper. You can buySun and Earth at many of the major grocers now, and it has no dyes or perfumes.I started to use All hypoallergenic no dyes or perfumes with my six month old and to be honest, I think it is more mild than Dreft. Dreft does have a scent to it. My daughter has eczema, and I have used all three of the options. None seemed to irritate her skin. I agree, Dreft is overpriced and there are now so many more options to choose from than there used to be.

Answer 8

Hi! I was buying a brand that I found at Target called Method. It's cheap and super concentrated, so it lasts forever, and there are no dyes or perfumes. Then, my doctor told me that I could toss in one of the baby's onesies or something with my regular laundry and test it on him to see if it caused a rash. It didn't, which amazed me because he has that typical blonde, blue-eyed pale, sensitive skin. So now, I don't have to buy baby detergent anymore.

Answer 9

Dreft is the best. I've also used Baby ALL Detergent.
Don't look to hard at the price. Just think of it as buying the best for your baby. Don't be stupid either, if it's over $8.00 than leave it on the shelf. But either way you look at it, you're goona get your money's worth from the product because you really only need to wash the infant's clothes once a week and it should only be 2 loades. 1 colored and 1 white. That detergent should last al least 2 months if you're using it correctly. In 2 months, that's 16 loades. The bottle should be at least a 30 load container.

Answer 10

Your newborn doesn't need their own baby detergent. Arm and Hammer makes a dye and fragrance free soap for sensitive skin and it is fantastic. My husband and eldest daughter have sensitive skin and have never had a problem with it. I have three children and tried Dreft when my oldest was born. I quickly switched to Arm and Hammer and have used it ever since.