I didn't think you were supposed to use it either - mainly because until your LO is born, you don't know how sensitive their skin is so if you wash everything with a softener before they're born and then find that they have sensitive skin, you have to wash it all again anyway! I've washed everything for our LO is Fairy Non Bio - it was a sample in my Bounty pack as well. I do plan on using softener once LO is here and I can see if their skin is OK with it though as I don't have a tumble dryer and find it harder to get everything nice and soft