I have less than 10 weeks to go and I would like to get all the baby's clothes and blankets washed - what detergeant do you or did you use for your baby's clothes. I would preferably like to use liquid detergeant if I can. I already have unscented bounce sheets. I can't remember what I used when I had Austin - mind you that was 7 years ago.

Any help is appreciated. TIA.

PS I am in Canada - so some brands may not be available to me, but list them anyways as I do go to the US once in a while and I can always have my relatives pick some up before they come to visit.

By Vicki on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 08:04 am:

I always used Dreft and no fabric softener in the washer or dryer.

By Pandamamaoo4 on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 08:48 am:

You could use any thing that is not scent...All has one that says baby care plus...You do not need to buy one just for the baby, just one that is gentle and scent free...like All, Cheer they all have no smell and are gentle..Just look at the labels.
Good luck with the new one...Enjoy the baby!!!

By Kate on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 08:52 am:

I disagree. I used Tide Free on my baby and she developed a total body rash. I thought it was a fluke and didn't do anything about the laundry and tried to wait it out. After several days of no improvement I stopped using the Tide and bought the Dreft. I washed every item of hers in it, gave her a fresh bath, and within one day she was 'cured'. I used the Dreft for at least two years on her.

Every baby is different and every baby reacts differently. For a newborn I'd definitely use the Dreft and no fabric softener or fabric softener sheets.

By Kittycat_26 on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 09:33 am:

I used the same detergent that we used on all of our clothes prior to Timmy (almost 5 years ago) and plan on doing the same again.

The only reason, I see, to use a seperate detergent is if there is a reaction which can happen with ANY detergent.

Good luck! You're on the tail end now.

By Tonya on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 10:00 am:

They now make several brands of baby detergent. I suggest using one of those at least for the first 6 months just to be on the safe side. They are no more expensive than normal laundry detergent and since you will only be using it on the baby it will last a long time. Good luck you are in the home stretch now.

By Imamommyx4 on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 10:38 am:

I used Dreft or the one with the duck on it.

But I read in some mommy mag that if you just do an extra rinse that it was just as good as using a baby laundry detergent. I have done that when I was out of the baby detergent with no ill effects. But I always preferred to use the baby stuff for my baby clothes.

All of the Tides make me itch so I wouldn't use them for myself or my baby.

By Kaye on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 10:41 am:

I bought some dreft with my first baby. In general if I washed the baby clothes seperate I would use a baby detergent. But for me that wasn't practical. She already slept in my bed and didn't have issues, so I just started using reg detergent. If you have sensitive skin, are fair headed/skinned then you will probably need to be more careful. My dd had issues with some detergents (day care used something different), but for us tide was safe and she was fine. I had to launder and bring in her own bedding to day care.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 11:47 am:

I really didn't use special baby detergent, other than the samples I was given. When my kids were older, I tried some liquid Tide and Emily got a horrible rash. So we never used that again! LOL!

By Debbie on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 12:33 pm:

I used Dreft with my first baby. With my 2nd, I used Tide free. It worked just as well. If you are going to wash the baby clothes seperately, then I would use Dreft or another baby detergent, they aren't any more expensive. But, if it isn't practical to do that, then I would just use a dye free detergent, like Tide free, or one of the others.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 01:54 pm:

I agree, any relatively mild detergent, and I very much agree with Debbie (Imamommy4) about an extra rinse. My middle son had very sensitive skin, and the pediatrician told me to do a second rinse with one cup of vinegar added, as the vinegar neutralizes the alkali of the detergent - and no, it doesn't leave the clothes smelling like vinegar. Until you know whether your new baby has sensitive skin or not, if it were me I'd try to use a detergent formulated to be used by people with allergic reactions, and I wouldn't use any softeners in the washer or the dryer.

By Breann on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 05:23 pm:

We just used our regular detergent. But, my kids didn't have any sensitive skin issues. I suppose the baby could be born allergic to one, or several detergents. It's kind of a trial and error thing.

By Cybermommyx4 on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 06:06 pm:

I used the dreft or the purex baby detergent....because I loved the baby clothes to smell like baby clothes. They are only babies for so short a time, and I wanted them to smell like babies ;) But smell is a big thing for me - I use only specific combinations of detergent/softener for all of our clothes now that our youngest "baby" is 10! LOL!

By Dancermom on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 06:19 pm:

I still can only use Tide Free liquid.
My youngest has horrible exzema (sp).
I miss good smelling laundry.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 06:19 pm:

I also used Dreft for my first, but then used All Free abd Clear for my second baby because that's what I was using for the family and I was not going to do all her laundry seperately from ours. She had no issues
Ame

By Dancermom on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 06:19 pm:

On the other hand, I do save a ton of money on fabric softeners. That stuff is getting expensive.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 10:03 pm:

I used Cheer Free (our regular detergent) with all of my baby clothes. I only bought Dreft and now use that for everything when Natalie went to panties and started breaking out and getting UTI's. She never had a problem with the skin on her body though. I wouldn't have changed unless there was a reaction of some kind.

By Missymelissy on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 09:40 am:

Thanks ladies, I'll have to see if I can get some Dreft - I'm not sure if its sold in Canada or not. I'll check out Costco this week or WalMart.

Thanks again.

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 09:57 am:

In Canada, you can buy Ivory Snow which is designed with babies in mind Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy

By Tonya on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 09:57 am:

In the Wal-Mart baby department they have several different brands of baby detergent you could try. I have used them all and they all work well. I always got whatever was on sale. Good luck.

By Boxzgrl on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 11:35 am:

Baby ALL works and smells great! I'd use it on all of our clothes if they made the huge containers of them!

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 12:16 pm:

I loved Ivory Snow, but you can't find it everywhere.

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 02:43 pm:

Dreft

By Brooke327 on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 10:04 pm:

Our Dr. recommended washing the babies things with everyone else in the family. he said because the baby is being held by everyone and the babies skin is touching your clothing. I did that and I had no problems. And like someone else says if you lay them on your bedding and stuff, it is washed in your detergent. Good luck