As a new mother, one of the issues I worried about was whether I should use so-called allergy-free detergents for my newborn's clothings. My first born had multiple food allergies, as well as asthma and atopic dermatitis, and though it is too early to see any signs of such allergies on my newborn daughter, there's a fair chance she might also have allergies, although not necessarily the same as those my son had.

In one of the parenting books I've browsed, it said that one way to test whether your baby might need a specially formulated detergent is to include a piece of her clothing- a romper, perhaps- with the normal wash, and if she doesn't show any rashes or other reactions, it is probably safe to wash her stuff together with the rest of the family's, using the usual detergent you use for everyone else.

I've done this, and it appears that she does not show any hypersensitivity. Studies indicate that although it happens, allergic reactions to soaps and detergents are relatively rare. Am crossing my fingers.