Raising a family is undoubtedly one of the most difficult jobs in the world (and you can't find a user manual that tells you exactly how it works for every child!) and complexities even extend into the question of baby & toddler clothes. As science and technology has become more knowledgeable about skin allergies and sensitivities, some experts raise the question about using specialized detergents formulated exclusively for use on baby & toddler clothes and even crib sheets. But is it really necessary to go to this trouble and expense to take good care of them?
Obviously this adds yet another item to the list of expenses that parents take on when they start a family - as if it is not enough of a financial burden already. Setting up the nursery, buying a crib and a stroller in addition to the baby clothes, diapers and so on is followed by additions to the weekly budget including food, medical costs and other expenses. So how essential is it to add an extra and expensive detergent to the list?
Big companies have spent a lot of marketing money and worked very efficiently to exploit the idea that extra care is needed for baby clothes. Specialized baby clothes detergents are very similar to standard products. And often those that cause your baby's skin to become irritated could also do the same for your own skin. So why not try a detergent for the whole family that has no added coloring or perfume and is gentle?
Also remember that textile and clothing manufacturers use chemicals in preparing their clothes for final presentation out in the stores and these chemicals are known to be irritating to many people, so you should make sure that all new baby clothes and bedding are given a careful wash before you first use them. The same is true of used clothes that are given to you by your family members or your friends - a gentle wash before first putting them on your baby will minimize the risk of any rash developing. And of course a doctor or nurse should be asked to take a look at any rash that does develop.
The idea of using a specialized detergent for baby & toddler clothes has gained ground relatively recently and it was almost unknown until the last part of the twentieth century. But it is worth asking why a separate detergent is required when babies and toddlers come into contact with your clothes that are laundered in regular family detergent. Toddlers and babies are frequently held and cuddled closely, and their heads and faces touch your clothes also, don't they?
So in most cases the only articles of baby clothing that require separate washing are cloth diapers. Don't wash these with regular clothing, instead rinse them in the toilet bowl to dispose of any solid waste and then store them in a bucket with a lid on until they are ready for washing. Add in a couple of drops of tea tree oil to provide a deodorizer and disinfectant.
If you do use fabric conditioner in your laundry routine, try to make sure that you use one that is specifically prepared for sensitive skin and this should avoid irritation to your baby's skin. You can buy washing detergents that contain fabric softeners but if you are in doubt it is better to avoid them altogether.
And think carefully about how you dry your clothes. Babies and toddlers grow quickly and soon their clothes become too small - but you can minimize this problem by choosing the appropriate tumbler dryer setting. Use a low, gentle heat setting and this will limit the amount of clothing shrinkage.
Above all else, remember that modern babies are just as strong and tough as they have been for centuries - so putting their clothes in with the family laundry load is highly unlikely to cause too much harm!
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