Dreft Stage 1 Newborn

Dreft Stage 1 is the detergent that pediatricians have recommended for decades, and that history creates a safety confidence that other detergents work harder to establish. The fragrance-free formula handles typical newborn laundry loads — milk, spit-up, formula residue — with reasonable effectiveness, though heavily soiled items sometimes need a second pass. The Stage 1 formula (versus Stage 2 for older babies) is the most minimal Dreft variant with the lowest fragrance compound burden. The cost per load ($0.40–$0.50) is the highest in this lineup, which matters when you're doing 10 loads per week. For parents who want the most-recommended name on the bottle without further research, this is the default.