Baby clothes and dryer sheets

Lys1011

I know to use special clothing detergent such as Dreft or Tide Free & Clear for washing the baby clothes, but do I need to buy a special certain type of dryer sheets for the dryer?

audgleigh

they make the same thing for dryer sheets...I am pretty sure they are by Tide as well free of all perfumes and just make it so that the clothing doesn't come out with static.  They aren't any more expensive. Not too sure if you NEED them, but I'd assume that if you're taking the time to wash everything in special detergent that you'd might as well get the dryer sheets to match : )

Jaylea

My understanding is that you should not use dryer sheets with baby clothes, as it can harm the fire retardancy of them.

11Lemon11

From what I read when I was pregnant with Miles is that you are not "supposed" to use dryer sheets, fire hazard or something like that "Most dryer sheets and fabric softeners have the potential to reduce or remove the fire retardant chemicals on your newborn's clothes, putting him or her at risk in the event of a fire" It also says that drier sheets that you use on your clothes can leave the residue in your dryer so your babies clothes can still come in contact with them.

In reality, we wash Miles clothes with ours (it's just easier), which means ::gasp:: regular detergent and dryer sheets. Just do what works best for your family and what you feel is right.

Born2Fly

Not all baby clothes are fire retardant and depending on the size, LO may only get one good wear out of it anyway.  Sleepwear is the only baby clothing that is associated with being fire retardant and that is because of the polyester that they are made of.  Dryer sheets/fabric softner do not affect the fabric of polyester.  SOAP (not detergent) can wash away the fire retardant chemicals that are added to sleepwear that is not made of polyester.  For instance, 100% cotton sleepwear may have the chemicals but polyester does not because the fabric itself is the actual retardant because it melts and extinguishes as apposed to cotton and other fabrics that burn and stick to the skin.  Some people even prefer non retardant sleepwear because they prefer to not have the chemicals in their LO's clothes.  That is understandable which IMO makes polyester the best way to go because it covers all bases. 

We purchased Bounce Free and will be using those along with Tide Free and Clear detergent at 1st because we normally use Gain and still have enough left right now that I am not going to throw it away.  So I will be washing all clothes separately for a while.  Once we are done using our Gain and LO's Tide, I will just use ALL free and clear for everyone.  I will continue to use dryer sheets that are perfume and dye free which is the main concern for LO's skin breaking out.

 

MrsB0701

We use Babyganics "Loads of Love" organic dryer sheets. Looove the smell!

mary811

Target has a brand of dryer sheets that are the same as the Bounce, where there are no chemicals and dyes.  We are using those.  We live in a cold state, and dryer sheets are needed for the static around here

TiffanyTheMom

I have a bounce dryer bar in the dryer, and it makes my life a little easier to not have to remember it. So... Yeah, we'll be using it still.

EmilyStL

Aw crud I was all set to do baby laundry today and I didn't even think about this!  I hope I can find my dryer balls.  If not it's back to Target I go because I hate static!

nevjcu

I just washed all of our baby's clothes this past week and didn't use anything.  I also didn't find static to be a problem, and it's only about 20 degrees here.

wishin&hopin2008

They have these dryer balls that they sell at Bed Bath and Beyond that help.  I also would not use Dreft, it has scents that can irritate your baby's skin.  We use All Free and Clear and the dryer balls.