We Spoke to a Pediatric Dermatologist & Here's What To Look for in Laundry Detergent for Babies
Babies come with a lot of things: A lot of smiles (from everyone), a lot of tears (ditto), a lot of diapers, a lot of toys, and a lot of laundry. Because, unfortunately, a diaper blowout will happen as soon as you get your baby out of their pajamas and into their [first] outfit for the day. (Ya know, Murphy’s Law and yada, yada, yada.) And so then it’s time to grab some baby laundry detergent and head to the washer for what must be the trillionth time.
When it comes to shopping for baby laundry detergent — something that should seemingly be simple — it can actually get pretty overwhelming. Because there are so many options and you want to do right by your baby, their sensitive skin, the environment, and your wallet. Which is why we spoke to Dr. Sheilagh Maguiness, MD, FAAD — pediatric dermatologist and co-founder of the teen skincare brand Stryke Club — about how to shop for laundry detergents for babies
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“For myself as a mom to two children and a pediatric dermatologist, it’s a balance between safe for the skin and safe for the environment,” she tells SheKnows. “In general, newer options and formulations such as strip-based or powder-based detergents are great because they have less carbon footprint and are better overall for the environment.”
They’re also great for travel! Detergent sheets don’t take up a lot of space and can usually go through airports without issue.
Best Baby Laundry Detergent at a Glance
Best Laundry Detergent Sheet: TruEarth Eco-Strips Laundry Detergent; $20
Best Liquid Detergent: Dreft Stage 1: Newborn Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent Liquid (2 Pack); $25
Best Budget Detergent: Arm & Hammer Baby Hypoallergenic Detergent; $7
Best European Detergent: Spot Laundry Detergent Sheets; $9
Most 5-Star Reviews: Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets; $13
Most Accessible Detergent: Everspring Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent; $12
Most Baby-centric: Babyganics Laundry Detergent; $18
Best Concentrated Detergent: Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent Free & Clear (2 Pack); $27
What to Look for in Baby Laundry Detergent, According to an Expert
Dr. Maguiness said a good rule of thumb is to opt for products that say they are free of fragrances, essential oils, and dyes, and that are hypoallergenic and plant-based.
“When it comes to a safe laundry detergent, it’s almost more important what is NOT in it, rather than what is!” Maguiness tells us.
What Ingredients to Avoid in Baby Laundry Detergent, According to an Expert
So what exactly should you be steering clear of? Well, you probably already guessed that fragrances, essential oils, and dyes are a no-go. When possible, Dr. Maguiness says you’ll also want to avoid strong/harsh surfactants (sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate) and also chemicals that can release formaldehyde (bromopol, quaternium-15).
“Many laundry detergents contain harsh chemicals or fragrances that can irritate the skin, or even sensitize the skin – which later leads to the development of allergic contact dermatitis,” she explains.
It’s worth noting that “fragrance-free” and “unscented” don’t mean the same thing. A “fragrance-free” product doesn’t include fragrances, while an “unscented” product typically uses chemicals that mask any scents in the product.
And if you’re shopping with Mother Nature in mind, phosphate-free detergents tend to be safer for the environment.
You may notice that we haven’t recommended any laundry detergent pods, and that’s not an accident. As we’ve seen time and again, they’re a big safety hazard. “Pods are often brightly colored and look like candy, making it a common cause of accidental ingestion that can be life-threatening,” Dr. Maguiness says.
Do You Absolutely Need a Separate Laundry Detergent for Baby?
As much as companies might like you to think otherwise, Dr. Maguiness says there is “really no need” to only buy detergents that specifically say “for baby” or have a picture of a smiling newborn on the front.
“There are many fantastic laundry detergent options that are suitable for the entire family,” she says. “A lot of the specific ‘baby’ labels on detergents are simply marketing tools.
TruEarth Eco-Strips Laundry Detergent
$20
Scent: Fragrance-Free
Size: 32 Strips
Pros:
-Fragrance-free
-Sheets
-Baby formula too
-Hypoallergenic
Cons:
-Expensive
What’s nice about TruEarth (besides it being gentle on babies and the planet!) is that it has multiple formulas. There’s one specifically for babies, but we love the fragrance-free option that’s good for everyone in the house. TruEarth has multiple formulas. These sheets come
Dreft Stage 1: Newborn Hypoallergenic Baby Laundry Detergent Liquid (2 Pack)
$25
Scent: Original Baby Fresh Scent
Size: 46 fl oz (per bottle)
Pros:
-Hypoallergenic
-Specifically made for newborns
-Formulated in stages
Cons:
-Plastic packaging
-Expensive
-Scented
Speaking of multiple formulas! Dreft has different detergent formulas for different stages of infancy. This 2-pack of the Stage 1 formula has more than 50 thousand 5-star reviews on Amazon from shoppers who love the pediatrician stamp of approval and subtle smell.
Arm & Hammer Baby Hypoallergenic Detergent
$7 $10 30% off
Scent: Cuddly Clean
Size: 100 fl oz
Pros:
-Cheap
-Hypoallergenic
-Free of phosphates and dyes
Cons:
-Sodium laureth sulfate
-Fragrances
-Plastic packaging
It’s hard to go wrong with a beloved household brand whose baby detergent comes in at just $7!
$9 $13 31% off
Scent: Fresh Linen
Size: 60 loads
Pros:
-Sheets
-Plant-based
-Paraben-free
-Phosphate-free
Cons:
-Fragrance
This European laundry detergent sheet is formulated for the whole family and is good for babies and the environment.
Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets
$13
Scent: Fragrance-free
Size: 30 sheets
Pros:
-Fragrance-free
-Eco-friendly sheets
-Hypoallergenic
Cons:
-Messy per some reviews
Y’all. Earth Breeze’s detergent sheets, which are eco-friendly and safe for the whole family, have nearly 78 thousand rave reviews (!!!) on Amazon. Plus, for every purchase, the company donates 10 loads of detergent to needy families.
“Best ever,” one happy shopper said. “We have used this product for over a year now and we just love how easy and effective this product is. No itching no scent no bad smells just pure freshness.”
Everspring Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent
$12
Scent: Unscented
Size: 100 fl oz
Pros:
-Hypoallergenic
-Paraben-Free, Phthalate-Free, Phosphate-Free
Cons:
-Plastic packaging (though some is recycled)
-Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
This hefty (partially recycled!) bottle of detergent is easily accessible at Target and is free of many harsh chemicals you don’t want on your baby’s skin.
Babyganics Laundry Detergent
$18 $23 22% off
Scent: Fragrance-Free
Size: 35 fl oz
Pros:
-Fragrance-free
-Sulfate-free
Cons:
-Plastic packaging
-Expensive
In case the name didn’t give it away, Babyganics’ entire skincare and haircare brand centers around all things baby. So if anyone is prepared to make a safe and fragrance-free laundry detergent for infants, it’s them,
Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent Free & Clear (2 Pack)
$27
Scent: Fragrance-free
Size: 46 fl oz (per bottle)
Pros:
-Fragrance-free
-Plant-based ingredients
-Hypoallergenic
Cons:
-Plastic packaging
-Sodium lauryl sulfate
Seventh Generation is another longtime favorite family brand. What we love about their concentrated detergent is that a little bit goes a long way when getting things squeaky clean.
EXPERTS IN THIS ARTICLE
DR. SHEILAGH MAGUINESS, MD, FAAD: Board certified pediatric dermatologist and co-founder of Stryke Club, a skincare brand for teens
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