Dreft?

Unless your family has a history of allergies, I wouldn't worry about it. My family has a history of eczema (both my sister & I had it badly growing up), and I've always used a detergent w/o dyes/fragrances (Cheer Free, All Free, etc). I've used that same detergent on all of my son's clothing and bedding from the time we had baby showers a year and a half ago. He's now 16 months and we haven't had any problems.

I use All Baby... Its so much cheaper... I bought the really big bottle for the same amount as the small Dreft before our baby was born (so I could get all her little clothes washed and organized in her room--I'm sure you're wanting to do the same!) and I still have the same bottle... my little girl is 5 months old and I do lots of laundry. I'm sure using a dye/fragrance free detergent would be fine, but Emma being our first baby, I was a little worried to chance it until she is a bit older. After this bottle is up I might try using our Arm & Hammer Hypo-Allergenic stuff... I was just concerned because my skin is so sensitive. And... it can't hurt to be safe, right? :)

Congratulations on your baby... its amazing! The love you feel is so overwhelming! Are you having a boy or girl? Let me tell you, every month just gets better and better!

Hope this helps,
S. (Emma Kate's mommy)

My Mom bought Dreft for a baby shower gift for me. I just used the bottle up ... then found out how much it actually cost!!!! YIKES!!!

I moved to the All baby stuff... once.. Then I Justt gave up and used the fragrance free until my husband complained .. so when our kids were about 3 months old I just started using whatever was cheap.

We have had no skin allergy issues.

Congratulations on your new little one!

Dreft is not necessary. We used our regular dye-free, etc. detergent. If you MUST get detergent that's baby-looking, the ALL baby is about 1/3 the price of Dreft.

We use All-Free and Clear on our clothes as well as our 6 months olds clothes. It is great and a lot cheaper.

Hi J.,

The dyes and fragrances are what can be problemeatic. If you already use a detergent without them, you should be fine. If your washer allows a double rinse cycle, I would use that too.

Take care,

M.
www.GoodHealthMadeSimple.com

We had our first child September 2006. I have never used Dreft because of the price. We use All Free Clear - it is a great price at Super Target and Walmart. I started washing our babies clothes separate but gave up on that and wash them together with ours. We have never had any problems. According to everything I have read you will know very fast if the detergent is bothering your baby - he/she will have a skin reaction. Like the others said, just make sure it is dye and fragrance free. The thing I am careful of is drying the clothes - do not use a softner sheet. We found out in our baby class that softner sheets can remove the fire protection stuff from baby clothes. Hope this helps.

Skip the dreft. It has a very intense smell. As a new mom, people convinced me I had to use dreft. I did one load of clothes before the baby came and rewashed them three times to get the smell out. We have used our normal dye and fragrance free detergent for 2 years with no reaction from the baby. I think the no dyer sheet thing is legit though--it supposedly breaks down the fire-retardant coating on clothes.

I use the no dye soap too. My baby is now 22 mos. and had no allergic reaction. I would say try it and see if the baby has some allergies to it. I actually use the no dye for the whole family because if your baby does have an allergic reaction to the tide or etc.... it would be on your clothes when you hold it. So I personally use it for my whole family.

This was an issue that was addressed in our birthing class. The nurse told us not to waste our money on a separate detergent. We just wash baby's clothes with ours and never had any problems. You should be fine as long as you're using no dyes/fragrances.

I use whatever the family uses. However, the Deft stain remover is fantastic for baby related stains.

I have two boys, and have used Dreft or All Baby for the first wash or two of their clothes- you could try to buy just a sample size of a baby-friendly detergent at BabiesRUs (in their baby health and hygiene section), and then after you've washed all of the baby's clothes and blankets once with the more gentle detergent, you shouldn't need to continue buying the expensive baby detergents (not to offend you, but I think things like that are marketing ploys to make first time parents feel they have to use these products to be a good parent!). The dye and fragrance-free detergent you're using currently will be just fine for your baby unless some allergies develop.

Good luck and best wishes on your upcoming arrival!!

No, it is not necessary to use Dreft. We use All Free & Clear on the entire family's clothing, including baby. Congratulations on the baby!

S.

With my second child who is now 7 months old I didn't use Dreft. I use Melaleuca products that is all natural anyway. It works just fine.

J.

We started out using Dreft and sometimes Baby All. Now we just use the dye free, fragrance free All. I have always, and still do, wash his clothes separate from ours.

Dreft still has some fragrance to it and actually irritated my daughter's skin (she has very senstive skin). We use All Free and have never had a problem, also it is A LOT cheaper!

Just keep a close eye on allergies/sensitivity. I have to use Dreft or Baby All because he is VERY allergic to other detergents even the no dyes/perfumes.

Congrats.
M.

Considering that the baby will be touching your clothes as much as they touch their own, it makes sense that you wash all your clothes together in your regular detergent!

Congratulations!

~ t

same as the others just use your regular and add a double rinse if you dont already

I never used Dreft. Just stick to the no dyes/fragrances detergant and you will be fine.

I used dreft on my 1st child and it got out nothing - 3 kids later (for a total of 4) I learned arm and hammer or sun works just fine. When my youngest when through a sensitive phase - I used All free & Clear and it works just fine. I wash everyone's clothes together. I also learned protein stains (poop and spit-up) come out better in cold water than hot! The hot water only sets them. Soak messy clothes in cold water first, and wash in cold and your chances of keeping them "clean" are more likely!

Congrats!

--S.