Is using DREFT seriously necessary?

MissEm15

I really wasn't planning on buying special detergent for the babies things.. however my MIL & some family keep mentioning DREFT.

michelle142

Nope.

I washed everything in Tide Free & Gentle (which I've always used for myself up until recently).

WanderingA

Not necessary at all. I just used no-fragrance "gentle" detergent so that she didn't have skin irritations. I now use Charlie's Soap for everything (clothes and cloth diapers) and it's awesome, you can find it on Amazon.

triplej9

No - definitely not needed.

But I voted SS because I am ridiculous and will buy it for LO just like I did for DS because it smells like baby, and I want his clothes to smell like that.

mamabisme

I voted wait to buy. DD1 had incredibly sensitive skin. We used a different brand of baby detergent (can't remember the name) because anything else broke her out in a terrible rash. Before DD2 was born I started making my own detergent. I've been using that for the whole family since and no one has ever had a problem.

Oem617

Nope. We will use any free and clear detergent out there. But I also used it before we had a kid. I can't stand sented detergents.

Irishcurls

I've had a lot of friends say it's not worth the price. We use All Free and Clear now and plan to with baby unless there is a problem. 

MapleMomma

I plan to continue making my own laundry soap. I will have an alternate batch for baby/cloth diapers that will be more sensitive.

Nvywife

My son still requires all free and clear, that's the only thing we have ever been able to use on him. I wouldn't stock up on anything.

ordinary1

Not needed. I use free and clear; less chemicals than dreft!

ambz06060

I am waiting, but I don't think I will need it. We already use all free and clear because DH is a little sensitive. I will miss using fabric softener though (well, unless LO can handle it) because we love how it smells. 

Smyers2girls

triplej9 said:

No - definitely not needed.

But I voted SS because I am ridiculous and will buy it for LO just like I did for DS because it smells like baby, and I want his clothes to smell like that.

This for me too. It isn't nessicary, but I use it. It smells wonderful and is gentle on clothes and they're skin.

kefttsc

We were told by my OB that I could use my organic detergent from Amway.  It's all plant based, blah blah blah.....

chickyclg

We bought a bottle (crazy expensive) and both of my SIL told me to take it back and just use a free and clear type detergent.

mali3

Kid 3 for me here - never once have I used any special detergents for my kids, Their crap gets washed with my crap and we call it a day They have survived thus far with no issues. (Yes, I do realize there can be kids that are sensitive to some detergents, so I will deal with it if that ever happens).

crystalw88

Dang, good question @MissEm15

I bought a bottle of dreft and have been washing some of baby's clothes already but maybe I'll try F&C now if it's less expensive.

Confession: I think dreft smells amazing!

edited: where's my comment!?

Beth.1212

My DS has somewhat sensitive skin, and we have always used All Free and Clear with him. We just use it for all of our clothes these days. 

misshart00

We started with all free and clear but have switched to just regular with no problems. I would just wait and see.

cls78

I was just going to use the clear detergent for sensitive skin.

mands1125

Nope. I also used Free and Gentle or whatever it is called. Much cheaper!

chicagojackie

We get the huge thing of All Free and Clear at Costco. Nbd.

digwriter

Another vote for using a basic Free and Clear detergent. We use the Kirkland brand at Costco.

Angeldcf

We've been making our own detergent for years (mix equal parts powdered Washing Soda, Borax & OxiClean in a 5 gallon paint bucket). 

My mom used a Dreft sample for DS, and it broke him out horribly due to all the added fragrances, chemicals.  My parents had to switch to any Free & Clear detergent (their regular stuff on their clothes would break out his face even if they just held him). 

mishka29

We buy one big bottle and once it's gone that's it. That's long enough to test it out.

lorifromwi

I know many of my older relatives are all about Dreft, but I'm pretty sure it's because it's all they had back in the day.  Detergents were much more harsh when they were raising kids and they didn't have all of these "free" options.  We use Tide Free & Clear for us and the little lady and will use for DS too. 

I do however avoid dry sheets for the little ones, as I've heard liquid fabric softner is a little more gentle on their skin.  For this, I choose Caldrea products. 

krispy83

Definitely not necessary.  I have really sensitive skin so I've always used All F&C or Kirkland F&C (All is cheaper than Kirkland when they run it on sale, that's the only reason I go back and forth between the two).  DS has pretty sensitive skin as well and he's never had a problem with either of these two detergents.  Save the $$ - there's plenty of other stuff to spend it on!

reneamac313

DH has sensitive skin and is also sensitive to scents so we use a gentle formula with no scent already. I don't think it's necessary at all to get anything else to wash baby girl's things in.

MissEm15

Dumb question... What is free and clear detergent? I use arm & hammer usually...

monbon11

Free and Clear just means no perfumes or dyes.  It is clear and unscented detergent.

animalcrckr

If you are interested, research the Dreft ingredients on the Environmental Working Group's website. Better yet, I'll just link it here:)  

https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/2943-DreftUltraLiquidLaundryDetergentforBabies018months

FWIW, we use Crunchy Clean on all of our laundry.  https://crunchyclean.com

JamieBart

Same as many PPs - we washed everything with Tide free and clear until about 3 or 4 months and then started using regular tide on a few items.  When he was fine we switched over to regular Tide entirely.  We still do not use fabric softener on his clothes since I was allergic when I was younger so figured why take a chance.  I will say however that he is constantly playing in our freshly laundered clothing and has no reaction so I'm sure it would be fine as well.

ems0523

I use free & clear and have no problems. To me, I feel like the dreft is overly concentrated or something - like clothes still feel like they have detergent left in them.

Oem617

MissEm15 said:

Dumb question... What is free and clear detergent? I use arm & hammer usually...

 

 

Stuck in a box

 

Most brands have a free and clear verison, just meaning there are no dyes or perfumes in it.

psychobutthead

Dreft is not needed at all. That being said I bought some for this LO and I'm washing all of his stuff in it.

The reason being with DD I wasn't given an option on if I wanted to use dreft. I was told by my mother it was a waste and that she wouldn't buy it. So I never got the chance to use it.

So I bought a big thing of it and once its gone I'll probably never buy more. But its nice to be able to say I did it.

twinklymama

Another vote for not necessary and we also use the Costco brand that is sans dyes and perfumes.

usmcwife89

No dreft isn't needed. If you want to use free/clear detergent, there are many others that are cheaper. I am going to just use what I use for DH and I unless this baby starts a reaction. Is that wrong? Idk FTM here :-/

psychobutthead

usmcwife89 said:

No dreft isn't needed. If you want to use free/clear detergent, there are many others that are cheaper. I am going to just use what I use for DH and I unless this baby starts a reaction. Is that wrong? Idk FTM here :-/

No not wrong. Thats what I did with DD and we never had free and clear. My family always bought cheap soap and my kid never had a reaction.

mom2xover2002

Make your own or use a Free & Clear laundry soap. My sis has sensitive skin and DS was in the NICU so we wash all our clothes in All Free & Clear. I'd really like to make our own powder laundry soap though.

delaneykai

We have used All Free and Clear since day 1.  I've heard from other mom friends that they prefer it over Dreft.

MissEm15

Has anyone tried Target brand free & clear?