As a new parent, you’ll be washing a lot of laundry! What you put in the washing machine with your infant & newborn’s clothes really does matter.

We recommend using a very gentle detergent for your infant & newborn’s clothes. In fact, many parents swear by a simple method: add ¾ Cup of pure baking soda to your laundry. This works well and is so safe, you could eat it! (Note: do not buy laundry detergent with baking soda added, as these products may contain additional products. Just use 100% baking soda.)

If you want a store-bought laundry detergent, do not use your regular detergent. It can cause problems for your infant & newborn’s skin.

We had tried Seventh Generation, Dreft, Ecover, Method and All. Each one appears to do a good job of cleaning the clothing, however, the Seventh Generation, Earth Friendly Products, Ecover and Method detergents appear to use more natural ingredients. It is worth a try and works very well.

1. SEVENTH GENERATION INFANT & NEWBORN DETERGENT, 50 oz $6.25
*Non-toxic * Hypo-allergenic * Biodegradable * No dyes * No fragrances or masking agents * No phosphates  * Safe for septic and gray water systems * No petroleum-based cleaners * No optical brighteners  * Not tested on animals * Kosher certified * Formulated to work in both High-Efficiency and standard washing machines

2. DREFT LAUNDRY DETERGENT, 300 oz $29.99
Dreft rinses thoroughly leaving virtually no residue on infant & newborn's clothes  * Ensures a gentle, soft feeling against infant & newborn's skin  * Does not contain harsh chemicals which may be irritating next to infant & newborn's tender skin  * Pediatricians recommend Dreft for use with infant & newborn laundry more than any other laundry detergent  * The Dreft formula is appropriate for all your family's laundry needs

3. EARTH FRIENDLY PRODUCTS ECOS INFANT & NEWBORN LIQUID LAUNDRY SOAP, Chamomile & Lavender, 50-Ounce Bottle (Pack of 8) $37.14
Ultra-concentrated, color safe, all-temperature detergent with built-in fabric softener * Made with naturally pure essential oils of Lemongrass * Tough on dirt yet kind to your clothes, ECOS liquid laundry is residue-free and safe to use in standard and HE washers, and with septic and gray water systems * Phosphate-free, chlorine-free, enzyme-free, dye-free, and free of petroleum ingredients * Earth Friendly Products is a leading brand of 100% natural, plant-based, non-toxic, biodegradable household cleaners, made with renewable and cruelty-free ingredients, never tested on animals, and packaged in recyclable containers

4. ECOVER LAUNDRY POWDER, 96 oz, $19.89
Ecover Laundry Powder is tough on dirt and easy on clothes * It keeps colors bright and is ideal for infant & newborn clothes. * Suitable for all white and colorfast laundry * Environmental advantages: plant based ingredients, quick and complete biodegradability minimum impact on aquatic life, and no animal testing.

5. METHOD LAUNDRY DETERGENT, For Infant & newborn 32 oz, $11.29
Ingredients: Anionic and Non-Anionic Biodegradable Surfactants, Enzymes, Buffering Agent, Stabilizer, Stain Penetrant, Brightener, Foam Control Agents

6. ALL SMALL & MIGHTY, 3X CONCENTRATE LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT, HE FREE CLEAR, 32 oz, $7.99
Anionic Surfactants (Cleaning Agent), NonIonic Surfactant (Cleaning Agent), Buffering Agent, Stabilizer, Brightening Agent