Laundry - San Antonio, TX

Tide and All both make a free and clear detergent. There is also generic Dreft. I bought dreft once, the rest of the time was all free and clear. Downy makes free and clear fabric softener as well.

Try it, only with not as much detergent. If her skin reacts to it you can always change back, if not, then you are home free.

I used Dreft for my 1st two kids because it smelled nice. I only used one box/bottle and then when it ran out I just incorporated their laundry in with everything else. With babies #3 & #4 I just always used whatever I was using and washed the clothes with everyone elses. I never had a problem with sensitivies and such.

Ha! Definitely a first baby thing... I was diligent with the first, the 2nd had her clothes washed in Dreft if I remembered to buy it and then only for maybe a 4 or 5 months, the third one's clothes got thrown in w/ the other kid's clothes probably from day one. Use it, if she doesn't react, check that off as one less thing to worry about. I used to use Cheer, now I use Tide only because it is the only HE (front loader) detergent I can find easily. My husband has always sworn he is allergic to Tide-but I made the switch years ago and he has never noticed. I think a lot of it is hype... Good luck!

It's just fine- unless you think your baby has sensitive skin. Which after 11 months you probably would know.I use All Free and Clear for all the family clothes because my husband is sensative to the dye's and scents in other detergents. But I also still wash the kids clothes seperately.

I'm not sure what you mean by "fine" to use another detergent. Unless your baby has sensitive skin or allergies to certain kinds of soap, I don't understand why you would use something different? And I don't see any reason to not wash your clothes with your baby's, except convenience, as I usually wash my girls' laundry together just b/c it's in the same hamper. I've always just used whatever detergent is cheapest, since my babies were newborn, and my hubby has very sensitive skin and lots of allergies. So I figure if it doesn't bother him, why would it bother my kids???

I switched around 11-12 months to the family detergent. I was careful to watch their skin for possible reactions, but chances are it will be ok. You use the product on your clothes and if she doesnt breakout from contact of your clothes, sheets, etc. against her skin, you should be fine. Just watch that first week or so. Good luck :)

I wouldn't worry about it. I washed my daughter's clothes in Dreft because she was my first, but with my son, I have just used Tide since that is what the rest of the family uses. I wash my kids clothes together and separately from ours, but only because I don't think I would ever find my baby's socks if they got trapped in a pair of our pants or something! :-)

I think she'll be fine...just watch for a reaction. If she has one, you'll either have to switch to another brand or go back to the Dreft for awhile longer.

I used dreft for about 3 mos. After that I threw her clothes in with the rest and that means they were washed with Gain which is loaded with perfume and dyes and she never had a problem. I would say that as long as she doesn't have very sensitive skin you can probably switch to whatever you want at this point.

I use Purex Clear (no dyes or perfumes) and I have washed my son's clothes with it since he was born a year ago. I also wash his clothes with the rest of the family's. I have not had any problems. I think it's worth giving it a try, and see what happens. Good Luck!

I have one with sensitive skin and found that Cheer Free and Tide Free are both fine.

We used Dreft and Dreft stain remover until our kiddo was about a year old. I think I spent more on the Stain Remover than the detergent as our little girl seems to make a mess easily.

Anyway, we switched to regular detergent (Tide) when she was a year (or when the last of the Dreft supplies were exhausted). Her skin handled it fine, and I washed her clothes with ours (and have in the two and a half years since that time).

Some of my friends have tried the All clear detergent (no dyes, etc) and have liked it. Since she is close to a year, you might be able to start washing her clothes with the others (it may help cut down on laundry, also - a Godsend in my house).

Anything without extra additives, dyes, and fragrances is fine. In fact, the cheaper the detergent (like Purex) usually the less stuff they have in them!

I personally use a WAHM-made detergent called Crunchy Clean (I also use Simply Clean). It's only fragrance is optional Essential Oils. Cleans beautifully, not harsh on the clothes, skin, nor the environment! It is great for cleaning our cloth diapers, but it's still very gentle.

We used Purex Baby instead of Dreft. Still a baby detergent but a lot cheaper, and washed all our clothes in it so I didn't have to do separate laundry. Because it was cheaper, I didn't have to switch to save money for a long time.

yes ma'am using any dye free and perfume free detergant will be fine and several other brands out there have dye and perfume free...tide, all, gain and so on!!!!!

I've almost always washed our clothes together when it's convenient (expect when my 8 mo. old has had "blowouts" as my husband calls them). Also, like others have said, dye free and fragrance free, etc. is what's important. I don't often wash her clothes in Dreft b/c I found no difference between that and the laundry detergent we were given with our water system (Rain Soft). Also, to save money I wash everything in cold after treating it with the Dreft stain remover (except those blowouts I mentioned!). Good luck!

Be careful when switching detergents. Some cheaper brands of detergent can cause bladder infections and urinary tract infections. It happened to me and my daughter. Purex was the detergent that I had used. Arm & Hammer is a good one that's inexpensive.

Do a test load with a few outfits and see if your child reacts. Sometimes it will take a few days of trying. I would plan about 3 days of clothes washed in the new detergent. If there is no reaction then you are good to go. You could call it a test run.

Because my son has sensitive skin we have to use Dreft.

I use ALL free&clear for my infant. She actually didn't react well to all the ingredients in the Dreft, and the pedi said that this was better. I think Purex has a similar kind. Good luck!

R.-
With my first child I think I used the Dreft for almost 2 years. The second child was only about a year. Once that big bottle was gone, his clothes were washed with all of ours, I use Tide. All was okay. It was just so much easier.

Mel G.

I wash all of our cloths together, with whatever soap I have, cheer, tide (I have a 2 month old. ) If she has sensitive skin any free n clear detergant should do. Even Purex makes one, and it cost the same as the regular one. If you just want baby soap target makes a compare to dreft baby detergant. I have never bought baby detergant because of the cost and it's just easier to wash together. Have never had a problem with skin.

Hi R.-

When my first child was born I did his clothes in Dreft for about 6 months. With my second and now third child I've washed their clothes right along with ours in whatever detergent we are using at the time. I've never had any problem whatsoever.

Go for it!
K.

my son is 13 months now and we switched to regular laundary soap. he does fine no rash or any allergy to the soap. i think her skin isnt as sensitive as it was as a baby. try a load and see if it works. try doing just p.j.'s so you dont have to wash everything over again if she does have a reaction. we switched from dreft to all for babies then to purex for babies. they all worked fine. i wouldnt see you having any problem switching. you wont know until you try.

I'm sure at 11 months it would be fine but ALL makes a product that is the same as Dreft. It's called Baby ALL and it's much cheeper. It's what I useed and will start using again as baby #2 will be here in 8 weeks.

Good Luck!

With my first child I used Dreft and washed separately. With my 2nd I used regular Tide and just washed separately. Now with my 3rd, I wash everything together with Tide. Unless of course, something is really dirty (mud, dirt), that gets washed in a different load. As long as your child doesn't have sensitive skin it's fine to use another detergent.

My husband has very sensitive skin and we can only use Arm and Hammer for his clothes, and it can be the regular scented Arm and Hammer. I mean I guess we could try some of the other more expensive sensitive skin stuff, but why fix if it ain't broke. I paid $16 for a 200 load box at Target the other day. Our son's clothes have been washed in it since birth and he's never had any reactions to it.

All clean and clear is dye and fragrant free and much cheaper.

ALL makes a baby detergent also and there are others that are for sensitive skin and perfume and dye free that should be fine for babies as well. My daughters have both used ALL baby detergent for their children's clothes and it has worked well for them.

It is absolutley fine to switch to mainstream detergents now. If your little one hasensitive skin or just s a good rule of tumb, stay ay frm detergents that have a lot of perfumes and colors. Try the brands that are perfume free or say they are for sensitive skin.

We used dreft for the first 6 months and ou daughter has really, really sensitive skin so now I use Woolite and NO fabric softener.

Good luck. Laundry's always fun. NOT

I have always used All Free for all the clothes in our house. Even when my grandson came to live with us at 4 months - he had no problem switching to it. I do wash the kids clothes together/my husbands alone/and mine separate. I also use Bounce Free as fabric softener so there are no perfumes or dyes in anything I wash with.

R.,

When I stopped usine DREFT for my son @ 1 yr..I started using ALL w/out perfumes and dyes just to make sure he wasnt allergic....and u can buy fabric softener thats allergen free too.

I would do a test run with one or two items of your daughters and do an extra rinse cycle... then have her wear the outfit that you washed... check for signs of a reaction and if all is well, then wash away! We wash everyones clothes together but we use Dreft for everything.

Good luck.
blessings,
stacy

My ped. said to use whatever you use for your clothes (since your baby is mostly against your clothes any how). If they have a reaction, then switch to Dreft.

Hey R.,
I shop at an online store that has chemical free products that you can use even use around your kids because they are totally safe. I love them!!! They are even less exspensive and save you money too. Check em out:
www.MyToxinFreeHome.com

B.

I know lots of mom's who use Dreft. I almost started until my pediatrician said to not even bother. He suggested to use a detergent with no dyes or perfumes. This is what we already used b/c I have sensitive skin.

I have never had an issue with my daughter's skin or allergies. We even buy the Everday Living brand which is generic. Also, I use a Spray & Wash stick along with Oxy Clean to get all of the stains out of her clothes.

R.,

Hi, I am a mother of 3 beautiful daughters (5, 10, & 15) & I also used to use Dreft when they were babies. I would say now at 11 months, it is safe to switch to washing with the same detergent as you & your husband. The Dreft is just a safety guard towards skin sensitivity when they are so little.

Happy Washing!
M.

I've always been confused as to why Dreft is recommended for infants when it contains perfumes and dyes. If your daughter doesn't exhibit any skin sensitivity to soap or foods (rash, eczema) it should be fine to switch to regular detergent. We use dye free/perfume free detergent for the whole family. I would hold off on using dryer sheets on her clothes for at least a week or two. That way, if she reacts in any way you won't have two possible culprits.

I used Dreft on my son's clothes until he was one. I then just started washing his stuff with ours, we use Arm & Hammer. He has never had any real skin problems though. I have a friend who still uses Dreft with her 6yo because she has tons of skin problems.

Try a few items and then let the child wear them to see.