What Kinds of Washing Powders Are Good for Babies?

Fragrance

• When looking for an appropriate washing powder, mild or fragrance-free detergents are recommended by authors Denise and Alan Fields from Baby Bargains and Baby 411 and Sandy and Marcie Jones in the book "Baby's First Year." Fragrance can be an irritant to adults and children haven't had the many years to get used to their environment.

Dye

• Dyes can also present problems for your little one as a skin irritant. Especially if your baby develops eczema, it is best to steer clear of dyes in detergent. Dyes do not enhance the cleaning effectiveness of the detergent. Most stores carry many dye-free detergents from which to choose.

Bleach and Harsh Chemicals

• Bleach can be harmful to your child and a heavy-duty cleaning product may contain chemicals you'd like to keep away from your baby. Baby-specific detergents or sensitive detergents offer a gentle yet effective cleaner.

Brand-name, Generic and Organic Products

• Baby detergents are usually gentler than fragrance and dye-free regular detergent but unless your baby's skin is very sensitive, when looking for washing powders, you need not focus on brand name baby detergents since many children's skin will not irritate with the regular variety. Natural and Organic detergents are also available. Look for products free of phosphates, chlorine bleach, dyes, fragrances and perfumes. Organic brands are available at most natural food stores and online.

Stubborn Stains

• A common complaint about gentle detergents are that stains can be left behind. In Baby's First Year, Marci and Sherry recommend soaking all-cotton garments with dishwasher detergent in a non-reactive container, washing in the machine with one cup of vinegar added to the final rinse and finally running clothes through one last cycle without any detergent. Drying garments outside in the sun also provides a natural bleaching agent.

Testing Garments for Irritability

• If you decide to test your child's sensitivity to your regular detergent, wash one baby garment with other items as you normally would. Dress your child early in the day when you will be able to watch for any signs of irritation. Regularly check his arms, legs, torso and any areas that rub against the fabric. If at the end of the day, his skin is clear, feel free to try longer periods. If he develops a rash, red marks or splotches in the days following, consider using the fragrance-free, dye-free detergents.