New Baby - Non-bio washing?

anotheruser

Did anyone NOT use Non-bio when washing new baby clothes?

jobbingmusician

I wonder if you understand what bio powder is. It is powder full of little enzymes which eat dirt. There are plenty of recorded issues of people handling bio powder, the powder getting into breaks in the skin, and people having serious reactions to this. (There are also, entertainingly, some published articles stating conclusively that bio powder does NOT cause reactions. These articles are normally found to have been funded by the bio powder industry ) It's very important to rinse anything which has been washed in bio very carefully, and lots of people are still reactive to it.

If bio powder can cause reactions in healthy adults, would you really use it on clothes which come into contact with a baby's skin? I wouldn't.....

rach_k

I did use non-bio but only because I thought that's what you were supposed to do. Now, I wouldn't bother. The NHS changed its advice not that long ago.

There's no evidence that using washing powders with enzymes (bio powders) or fabric conditioners will irritate your baby's skin.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/what-you-need-for-baby/

Most countries don't even have non-bio and their babies don't seem to have skin hanging off. IMO it's just a marketing thing to make you buy an extra box of detergent when you have children.

Bio detergent is more effective at getting things clean, which you might find important when you have a drooling, pooing, puking monster. Now, I'd only switch to non-bio if one of us developed a problem with it (as they could with anything).

jobbingmusician

rach_k wrote: »

I did use non-bio but only because I thought that's what you were supposed to do. Now, I wouldn't bother. The NHS changed its advice not that long ago.


https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/what-you-need-for-baby/

Most countries don't even have non-bio and their babies don't seem to have skin hanging off. IMO it's just a marketing thing to make you buy an extra box of detergent when you have children.

Bio detergent is more effective at getting things clean, which you might find important when you have a drooling, pooing, puking monster. Now, I'd only switch to non-bio if one of us developed a problem with it (as they could with anything).

Most countries don't have non-bio? Surely it's the reverse - most countries don't have bio! As for the NHS advice, you may want to read this considered review by NHS knowledge, which includes the sentence 'It is not certain that all studies have shown no effect of these biological powders.'

https://www.nhs.uk/news/lifestyle-and-exercise/bio-washing-powder-rashes-a-myth/

just_trying

Me, never caused them any problems.

MX5huggy

Just stuck with Lidl , Formil colour (which has enzymes) and biological (for whites) powder. For both kids including real nappies.

LilElvis

I've always used non-bio because I've reacted in the past to biological washing products. When Persil changed their non-bio formula a few years ago husband, baby and I all came out in an itchy rash after the first use so I stick to the Fairy non-bio gel and fabric conditioner. I'm allergic to Johnson's baby products so when our daughter was born I used Neals Yard range on her and she's still using their stuff now.

bouicca21

Perhaps it’s a hereditary thing but everyone in my family uses non bio because at best even as adults bio makes them itch and at worst have a rash. I wouldn’t risk it on a baby.

sn1987a

I was using bio but my baby got all red one day after wearing a freshly washed baby grow, so I didn't want to take any chances and changed to non-bio. When they are young their skin is very delicate and sensitive. Later you can try again your bio detergent and if your child didn't have a reaction, it is fine. You can always find non-bio person on offer.

pinkshoes

I use bio.

I checked carefully that none of my kids reacted to it (they didn't) so carried on using it.

Bio is SO much better at getting clothes clean than non bio! Particularly my mucky kids!!

rach_k

jobbingmusician wrote: »

Most countries don't have non-bio? Surely it's the reverse - most countries don't have bio!

No, I think you're wrong. I used to volunteer in the cloth nappy world and would get frequent enquiries from people saying, "I'm in France/Germany/Aus/Saudi and we don't have non-bio detergent. What can I do?" While they may have non-bio somewhere, they're certainly not a big thing like they are here.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/sifting-the-evidence/2015/nov/30/nappy-science-gang-versus-the-nhs