When I was pregnant our first child, our son, I was pretty freaked out about everything. One thing that I worried about was his laundry. I wanted to get all his little clothes washed up before I had him but I had no idea what to use. We are a family of seasonal allergy sufferers so I was afraid that my regular detergent would be too harsh for his newborn skin or that he would be allergic. My mom recommended that I use Dreft. I’d received a free sample with some baby samples I’d ordered so I gave it a try. I remember thinking that it had the most wonderful, baby fragrance. But I was worried that the fragrance would bother him too.

This post and giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Dreft. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

I washed all of his clothes and bedding and got his nursery all set up. It smelled so good in there and all of his tiny little clothes were so fresh and bright. After I had him and brought him home he did great with the Dreft laundry detergent. We didn’t have any issues with skin irritation or allergies. The fragrance didn’t bother any of us either. In fact, I adored it and still do! With Dreft, the product’s perfume is specially designed with low allergenic ingredients that have been proven to be gentle on baby’s sensitive skin. Dreft is hypoallergenic and gentle on baby’s skin. Which is a great thing!

There is now an entire line of Dreft “hypoallergenic products for your babies laundry and even cleaning products for your home!

Dreft Hypoallergenic Stages Laundry Care:

What does “hypoallergenic” mean?

“Hypoallergenic” typically means that a product is less likely to cause skin irritations or allergenic reactions. Dreft is considered to be “hypoallergenic” due to clinical testing of its unique & gentle formula.

As a mom, I recommend Dreft if you’re looking for a laundry detergent for your baby.

I mentioned that our family also suffers from seasonal allergies. Your babies skin can react to spring allergies and I have some tips from Dr. Hes to help protect your babies sensitive skin during the Spring allergy season.

Dr. Hes Tips: Protecting Baby’s Sensitive Skin during Spring Allergy Season:

Shade the sun:

The long awaited spring season means increased outdoor time for parents and their babies. When heading outside, don’t forget to practice appropriate baby skin safety.

As you all know, I am a big supporter of wearing sunscreen with a mid to high SPF and taking caution in the sun. We need sunshine for Vitamin D but we also need to protect our skin. When our youngest daughter was around 2 years old we went to Gatlinburg. She was riding in a stroller and although she wasn’t overheated, the sun caused her to break out in a heat rash. Her face became really red and she got fussy. We found a cool, shady spot and gave her plenty of water. Her face cleared up but she was a little rash-y that night. After taking her back to the cabin and getting her in some cool water she cleared up. I hadn’t dealt with that with any of our older kids so I was a pretty worried mama! She did it once more that summer but does much better in the sun now.

For babies 6 months or older. If your baby is 6 months or older, liberally use sunscreen. Also, avoid exposing your baby to the sun during peak hours — generally 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — and dress your baby in protective clothing, a hat with a brim and sunglasses.

For babies younger than 6 months. If your baby is younger than 6 months, keep him or her out of direct sunlight. Protect your baby from sun exposure by dressing him or her in protective clothing, a hat with a brim and sunglasses.

This next tip goes along with what happened with our daughter in the sun.

Protect Problem Skin:

Heat is a common trigger for eczema and as the weather warms up, there are a few things you can do to help prevent flare ups of such skin irritations. The sun is strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. so try to shield baby from direct sun exposure during those times. There are also apps available that can inform you of the hottest part of the day – which can be helpful for parents as they plan any outings with their little ones!

Load up on liquids:

Staying hydrated during the spring months is important as baby gets more active outdoor time and sun exposure. Start with the inside and ensure children get enough to drink throughout the day. Infants should nurse or take a bottle often; older kids should tote a sippy cup or reusable water bottle. Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and smoothies in your child’s diet too.

These are just a few tips provided by Dr. Hes to help protect babies skin this spring and summer. Dr’ Hes also recommends the following two tips:

Make bath-time beneficial:

Over exposure to water can actually rob skin of natural moisture. Scaling back on tub time will help avoid resulting itch — about 10 minutes is plenty of time for water play and a quick scrub. Use warm water (vs. hot) and leave the suds to the very end. Use a mild cleanser to keep skin soft and itch-free. Gently pat skin dry and end with an after-bath moisturizer to seal in moisture and protect baby’s soft skin.

Choose the right fabrics and care for them properly:

When it comes to fabrics, it’s extremely important to seek out gentle and hypoallergenic items to care for the items that touch baby’s sensitive skin. It’s also essential that fabrics be cared for properly. Wash baby’s items with a specially-formulated product such as Dreft, the #1 baby laundry detergent choice of pediatricians to be gentle and hypoallergenic on baby’s skin. Trusted for over 80 years, Dreft comes with a babyhood scent beloved by moms, and it remains safe and hypoallergenic for baby.

I follow these tips with our 4 kids and so far we’ve had great success keeping our skin from getting irritated and miserable during allergy season. Our sinuses are another problem altogether!

P.S. I still adore the fragrance of Dreft and use the laundry products as well as the cleaning wipes and products in our bathroom. Not only do they clean it but they make it smell amazing!

Who Is Dr. Hes?

Dr. Dyan Hes Biography:

Dr. Dyan Hes, Medical Director of Gramercy Pediatrics Dyan Hes, MD, recently named a 2013 top doctor by NEW YORK magazine, is the Medical Director of Gramercy Pediatrics in New York City and sits on the board of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Dr. Hes is double boarded in both pediatrics and obesity medicine. She completed her residency in Social Pediatrics at New York’s Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center. She currently serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Prior to founding Gramercy Pediatrics, Dr. Hes maintained a large primary care practice for ten years within Park Slope Pediatrics in Brooklyn. In addition, she developed and was the Director of the Pediatric Weight Management Program at New York Methodist Hospital. In conjunction with the Park Slope YMCA, Dr. Hes created the Be Fit program for overweight children, which has served as a successful model of collaboration between hospitals and community centers. An active advocate for pediatric and adolescent nutrition and weight management, Dr. Hes was honored by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz for her efforts to combat obesity among Brooklyn youth. In 2006, she served as an Expert Witness at the NYC Department of Health Hearing to Ban Trans Fat in Restaurant Food. Currently, Dr. Hes is a pediatrician serving as a Director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Dr. Hes practices both primary care and obesity medicine. She was named one of New York’s Top Doctors of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 by Castle and Connolly.

Twitter Party:

Please join @Dreft on May 9th at 9:00 PM EST/8:00 PM CST as they host a Twitter Party with pediatrician and mom, Dr. Hes (@gramercypeds). Dr. Hes will be sharing her tips to ensure your baby is protected and comfortable during the spring allergy season. RSVP for the Twitter Party with @Dreft and Dr. Hes(@gramercypeds) on May 9th at 9:00 PM EST/8:00 PM CST.: bit.ly/1RMCLle

Follow Dreft on social media: Twitter #DreftSpring Facebook

Dreft Giveaway

One lucky reader will win a Dreft Hypoallergenic Package (ARV $60), which will include:

Dreft product (Newborn, Active Baby, & Blissfuls)

Gender neutral hypoallergenic blanket

To enter, simply follow the instructions in the Giveaway Tools widget below. Giveaway ends Monday, May 9, 2016. Open to US residents only. Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If no response is received within 48 hours winner forfeits prize and a new winner will be chosen.





Hi! I’m Crystal Martin, a stay at home mom of 4, living in KY with my high school sweetheart husband of 20+ years. My husband and I are co-bloggers at Cinnamon Hollow where we write about homesteading, travel, beauty, our lives with our kids and pets, fun and free printables as well as the products and services that make our lives just a little bit easier – and a lot more fun!



