baby laundry - use special soap to wash babies clothes?

akelly wrote: Hi,

Do you wash your baby's clothes like regular laundry, or do you use a special laundry soap? Is regular detergent to harsh for baby clothes?

Amy

gr33n3y3z replied: I always used our detergent for their clothes

PrairieMom replied: I used dreft for the first 6 months or so, then switched to tide.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I use the Target brand of Dreft right now, but before I was using All Baby. Eventually I might switch to just using All Free and Clear on all our laundry so I don't have to keep them separate but I love the scent of the baby stuff!!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I wash all of Wil's clothes seperately from ours and wash them in Dreft. He breaks out otherwise.

luvmykids replied: I used regular detergent and just ran an extra rinse cycle.

msoulz replied: I asked a nurse while in the hospital and she laughed at me and asked "do you know what we have to do to get our baby stuff clean?". So I have never used the baby soaps, just what we use!

TeagansMom609 replied: Nope, I just use Tide.

coasterqueen replied: With Kylie I used it a few months, maybe 6 months then just used our detergent (All Free & Clear). Lately I've been using regular detergent with her clothes (not free and clear) and she's fine.

With Megan I still use Dreft (or target brand) because she has such sensitive skin.

1lilpeanut2love replied: Yes I wash our baby's clothes separately. I used to use the Dreft, but now I have found something cheapier and it smells the same and works the same. It is Purex Baby-- it is only 3.99 for a 100oz. bottle. Hope this helps you!?!

holley79 replied: I use All baby.

ediep replied: I used draft for the first year or so, now i use our regular detergent....but for some reson I still wash Jason's clothes separate from ours. Not sure why

kimberley replied: no, i use liquid tide free for everyone.

akelly replied: So it sounds like we can just use Tide unless we have a baby w/ extra sensitive skin...which we'd know probably in other ways like bathing etc. before too many loads. Thanks ladies!

Amy

My3LilMonkeys replied: Even if your baby has sensitive skin you don't necessarily need to use dreft. Madison has extremely sensitive skin (as do I) and we use Arm & Hammer scent free/dye free for everyone's clothes and it works for us. All free & clear makes me break out but works ok for Madison. It's just a matter of finding out what works for your family!

kimberley replied:
this is very true. my son has acute eczema and i found the biggest difference came from switching from powder to liquid. the liquid rinses much cleaner and i have never had problems even with the generic "free" liquid.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: With our first, we separated all the clothes and used special detergent. With our second, we just separated the clothes... now everybody's laundry is together in the mashine.

But Emilie's skin has sever eczeme recurrences - so I think we'll have to swithc back to something for sensitive skin

LilaGrace'sMom replied: I believe that the baby laundry detergent industry are trying to make mommies feel that they have to buy special detergent for babies clothes, when in reality babies are usually fine with the families detergent and a good rinsing. Has anyone noticed the cost of Dreft? Outrageous!

I make our laundry detergent, not just for cost b/c I use MUCH less but because I think it cleans better. Also, we dont have soapy suds, (which I also think are an additive so people will think it is cleaning), I dont care for scent on clothes, and it is better for our septic system.

This is old-time stuff and allergen free:

1 bar Fels Naptha (Grated and keep a sliver--works wonders on ANY baby stain)
1 1/2 Cups Washing soda (NOT baking soda)
1 1/2 Cups Borax

One tablespoon per load and I use just a touch of unscented liquid fabric softener in the winter.

jerzygrl replied: I used Purex baby with my son and now I use All baby for my daughter. Never had any problems with either. I will probably do hers with our laundry when she is around 6 months. I usually by the free and clear kind anyway but like another poster said, you gotta love the smell of the baby clothes.

I just have one question, can yo use dryer sheets? Can't remember from my
7 year old.

Thanks,
Kim

Jules007 replied: I use Dreft.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: I washed Alex's clothes seperate and used Dreft for the first few monthes...but then it got to be a pain to do them seperate as he got older and didnt have as many clothes

I agree with LilaGrace'sMom about the baby laundry detergent companies.