Fabric softeners
Among the questions raised by expectant and new parents, a recurring one is the question of fabric softener for newborns – this, of course, refers to the fabric softener for fabrics like bedding or baby clothes after washing. Is any fabric softener safe for newborns ? Can fabric softeners be used on older children, and if so, when should they be used?
The role of fabric softeners is to soften the fabric and give it a pleasant smell. We like to use them because they make clothes or bedding pleasant to touch and wear, and also keep them fresh for longer. The matter becomes more complicated, however, when we want to use them to rinse textiles for the youngest children. In the following text you will find out whether the rinse aid can be harmful to children, especially newborns and infants.
What is the composition of fabric softeners?
Fabric softeners contain surface-active substances (usually cationic surfactants), similar to those used in laundry detergents, liquids, and shampoos, among others, as well as preservatives. Furthermore, almost every fabric softener contains a fragrance, which makes clothes smell nice and stay fresh for a long time. Unfortunately, there's one problem: all the ingredients in fabric softener, when added to the final rinse, penetrate the fabric, remain there, and come into constant contact with the baby's skin.
Rinsing liquids - are they safe for newborns and small children?
Studies have shown that surfactants, preservatives, and fragrances found in fabric softeners, for example, are irritating to the skin . Furthermore, these last two groups of compounds are the most common allergenic ingredients in cosmetics and laundry detergents. The younger the child, the greater the risk of this effect – newborns, infants, and toddlers are the most sensitive. Children's skin under three years of age is more susceptible to irritation and mechanical damage and is more permeable to foreign substances than adult skin. Contact with substances inappropriate for the child's age carries the risk of irritation and allergy.
Since when to use fabric softener for children?
Fabric softener can cause allergies and irritation and should not be used until a child is 3 years old . Special fabric softeners are designed for children 4 years and older, containing gentle surfactants and fragrances free of common allergens. However, I would advise against using these fabric softeners on children with allergies or atopic skin , just as I advise against using any fabric softener on children under 3 years old, even if the manufacturer recommends this on the product label.
Expert advises
Regarding the agents added to the last rinse, unfortunately, no liquid on the market should be used for rinsing textiles intended for the youngest children - not only newborns, but also infants and children up to 3 years of age. The ingredients of such a liquid remain in the structure of textiles and, having constant contact with the baby's skin, may be irritating and allergenic.
What instead rinse aid for the newborn?
Since no rinse aid for a newborn is recommended, how do you make washed clothes or bedding for babies soft? First of all, any textiles that come into contact with the skin of a newborn baby should be:
- not only light, soft and delicate to the touch,
- but most of all made of high-quality natural raw materials,
- with certificates confirming that they can serve the youngest (Oeko-Tex Standard class I or GOTS),
- and also suitable for washing at high temperature (60 degrees C).
Remember to remove any detergent residue from fabrics after washing, and rinse them thoroughly each time – the easiest way is to set at least one extra rinse cycle. Furthermore, baby's clothes and other items should be ironed after washing , preferably on both sides or using a steam generator (steam station). The high temperature will not only eliminate any remaining microbes but also soften and smooth the fibers. This way, without the need for fabric softener, fabrics and knits will be more pleasant to the touch and more gentle on the delicate skin of newborns and infants.
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