Baby Detergent: A waste or a must?

tswinson

I've never heard of Dreft before I got pregnant. My girlfriends with kids say that I should definitely use this but I'm skeptical. When I was a baby my mother used Ivory because it was a mild detergent.

What are your opinions? I just don't want to spend extra money when its not necessary. Of course I plan to ask my pediatrician (once I choose one) but I wanted to get everyone's opinion. 

Soonergrlnks

I read that it is NOT a NEED.  You can use anything for sensitive skin without dye and it is the same thing. 

dbertagni

Nope don't need Dreft, and have you smelled it, it stinks! Any dermatologist will tell you to use a free and clear detergent, especially with babies/children. That is all we have ever used and had no issues. I've had friends whose newborns developed eczema and the first thing to go is the Dreft.

dazidog

In my opinion...a waste! There are regular brands that you can buy as scent and dye free for a much cheaper price.

1momma

I use purex baby, free and clear is the way to go usually though.

COMomma81

Absolute WASTE. It's actually quite perfumey and All or Tide Free & Clear are much better options...any ped or dermatologist would tell you so. They also make Downy perfume and dye-free if you use fabric softener. I also use an environmentally friendly Costco-brand detergent that worked great. Dreft is so expensive and definitely not necessary at all.

b55c

Soonergrlnks:

I read that it is NOT a NEED.  You can use anything for sensitive skin without dye and it is the same thing. 

this is what i just read.  reading a bunch of different things but i think it was in baby bargains. 

11kacey

Free and Clear! BTW, if you are using cloth diapers you will probably need a different detergent for that though.

JaqiDec04

There are many free & clear detergents on the market that are just as good or better than dreft. Its really just because babies skin is sensitive.

Tide, All, Kirkland all have detergents that are free of dies & perfumes (and usually much cheaper than dreft) 

kacelle

You don't need a baby detergent like Dreft, but it'd be a good idea to get a detergent without additives.  Free and clear detergents are recommended.  Some babies have allergies to ingredients in regular detergents.

JaqiDec04

11kacey:

Free and Clear! BTW, if you are using cloth diapers you will probably need a different detergent for that though.

This as well.  

desmerelda317

There is nothing worthwhile about Dreft.  It is full of fragrance and fabric softeners - both of which can be irritating to sensitive skin.  If you want something that is great for sensitive skin, then go with a free and clear detergent.  If you're doing cloth diapers, I'd look into a cloth diaper friendly detergent (check out the recommendations from pinstripesandpolkadots.com; they have an entire tutorial on how to choose a cloth diaper detergent) and just switch all your laundry over to that.  I really like Country Save.

skylooo

I got a bottle of dreft in a gift basket and used it to wash all of dd's things for the first time.  While it wasn't necessary and now we use regular detergent, I really enjoyed that "baby soft" smell and feel of all of her newborn clothes and blankets.  It didn't irritate her skin, either.  There's no smell like it, I loved it.

tswinson

Thanks everyone! I was definitely checking out the Tide free and clear. I use the regular Tide for the household.

 

Yellow_Daisy

I've come to the conclusion that the people at Dreft are marketing geniuses to have somehow convinced people that they need to buy a special baby detergent. 

I have very sensitive skin and a weird genetic skin disease that our LO will probably inherit so his clothes will be washed in the same free and clear we wash everything in.

Livs-mama

A waste for sure!  Like everyone else has said just make sure you stick with a Free and clear detergent and you will be fine.

SarahPLiz

I was allergic to Dreft as a baby. My mom had to use Purex, which at the time was fragrance free. Now you have to get the one that is marked fragrance free.

 Unless you are washing cloth diapers, get the Free and Clear of Purex or All. It will work just fine.  

jeannarheinberger

I use Tide ultra free.  It does the same thing.  It's good until you know how sensitive your baby will be.  My daughter was fine with regular detergent but my son was a little more sensitive.

plumag

I was concerned before DD was born about this, especially since I had such sensitive skin when I was a baby everything made my skin react.  Instead, however, we went with Tide Free.  It has worked great and we use it for all of our laundry.  Works even with my oh-so-sensitive skin! 

miller4285

my mom bought it for me after my first child. Because she said baby clothes smell so good after using.

I agree....but smelling good wasn't worth the extra cost for me.

I just got a "free and clear" or "sensitive" off brand and used it for all of our laundry (because I think it is a ridiculous expense to have two different detergents) 

jkylie

IMO, a waste. You can get "free and clear" washes for cheaper and they dont have the dyes and perfumes you find in the normal detergents.

 

ae1112

I've used free and clear versions of Purex & Tide with no problems since having DD.

FutureMrsWittig

We use Free and Clear detergent for all our laundry because my step-daughter has sensitive skin.  We'll stick to that once LO gets here.  (No dye, no added scent, hypoallergenic...)

Pearly609

I think it's a waste.  I used it on my 1st, then used Ivory.  I took him to the dr. because of a bad breakout and the 1st thing the dr ask was did I use Ivory.  Although it's for babies, he said its very harsh.  We'll just use the brand for sensitive skin as we've used for my son who is 18 and still has sensitive skin.

abergale

Not necessary at all! We started using All free and clear when I ran out of the detergent that I got my shower. We still it because DD has very sensitive skin. I had to start washing her DC blankets at my house because the detergent the school was using caused a rash on her face. Any Free and Clear detergent will work.

forensicmama

Dreft smells good and it's non-allergenic, but after a few months after my DD was born, I decided I could buy a non-perfumed and much cheaper brand of detergent and get the same results. IMO, it's not a must. You can go with a mild detergent.

mooninlv

waste. any of the free & clear regular or generic brands are just fine. IMO, dreft is a royal ripoff

momtoRaegan041008

We have always used Purex free and clear or Tide free and clear on my daughter's clothes.  Now that is all we use. 

ARC 07

Totally not neccessary. My DS has horrible eczema and I have used All -Free and Clear detergent on his clothes since he was a newborn and it has always been fine.

megd06

waste. I always use purex free and clear or any free and clear type soap. No issues.

justme04

All Free and clear works just as well...and its cheaper.  Snuggle makes a free and clear fabric softener sheet as well.

thequeeenbee

I'm just going to throw this out there: If you don't have any issues with detergent and skin issues in your family, try using whatever kind of detergent that you usually would use. Maybe this makes me the bad mom of the year, but I have always used regular (not free and clear or unscented) detergent on DS's clothes. I plan to do the same with LO #2. 

Don't get me wrong, if it seemed to give them a rash I would switch to a free and clear detergent. But if I don't have to use it, I really enjoy scented detergents and fabric softener. 

Chilz08

It's not necessary. Any sensitive and fragrance free detergent will do.