Not to seem all "green" on you but ... especially since you mentioned you're pregnant. I urge you to do some research on the products you use. I did that a couple years ago and itÂs quite eye opening. We assume if they sell it it must be safe. Not always true. I only wish I had done more reading before they were born  oh well  doing the best we can :) There is a great website, Healthy Child Healthy World, which contains some great information. I pulled this from their site re: fabric softeners: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry-generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the 1990s, the following is a list of chemicals in fabric softener products, most in untested combinations. Liquid fabric softeners additionally may contain formaldehyde. * Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer. * Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant. * Ethanol: On the EPAÂs Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders. * Limonene: Suspected Gastrointestinal or Liver Toxicant, Immunotoxicant, Kidney Toxicant, Neurotoxicant, Respiratory Toxicant, and Skin or Sense Organ Toxicant. * A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage. * Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPAÂs Hazardous Waste list. * Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders. * Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic. * Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders. * Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled. To hide the chemical smell, companies load dryer sheets full of chemical fragrances, which are potentially carcinogenic. Not to mention most mainstream brands are made from animal fat (tallow). This is from an article in "Wired". Dihydrogenated tallow dimenthyl ammonium chloride: A derivative of rendered fat from cattle, sheep, and horses. Just boil it down and mix with ammonium. After a series of chemical pit stops, out comes a quaternary ammonium compound, or quat a positive ion in which the hydrogen is replaced by long-chain organic molecules. Quats effectively coat your clothing with lipids, making fibers soft to the touch. These fats also make fabric a bit less absorbent donÂt use on towels or cloth diapers and the positive charge neutralizes static electricity. There are a few other quats in Downy, with easily pronouncable names like 1-methyl-1-tallowamidazolinium methylsulfate. There are a slew of other chemicals needed in order to tame the animal fat. Calcium chloride keeps it from clumping, PEG 8000 keeps it from separating, kathon CG keeps it from getting rancid, perfume masks the animal smell, Ethanol and isopropanol keep it from freezing and solidifying into lard, and deionized water keeps it from yellowing. Whatever you choose ... Best Wishes! Here is a link that might be useful: Healthy Child Healthy World

I just saw these today @ my local WalMart & was wondering the same thing! I thought about buying one, but bought some other new stuff that's out instead. Can't wait to hear someone's opinion! ~Shannon

livebetter, I use both! But I am FURIOUS with Downy April Fresh!!! Take a minute and visit downy.com, Products...Ultra April Fresh. 100's of complaints!!! They changed the smell & formula for the first time in decades & decades. It is now overwhelmingly strong, gag inducing, sickly sweet...and it is so thick I have to use hot water & a small brush to get it out of my Miele's FS compartment!! Gone is the soft, non-offensive April Fresh softness. Now it is like cheap, toxic smelling dime store perfume! I am so mad. It even makes my laundry room and my Miele washer smell horrible...the smell is SO strong. Even though I am very against the use of Vinegar (and Miele told me not to use it)...I ran an empty machine with a small amount of vinegar, just to remove the "new" Downy Smell!!!!!

Wouldn't work for me. I don't want any FS coating on my towels.