Tumble drying baby clothes...not done in polite society?

[NineUnlikelyTales]

I have always tumble dried my DS (8m) clothes if the weather is too bad to hang outside. I was having a conversation with friends the other day and mentioned that I don't use fabric softener. This is how the conversation went from there..

Friend 1 - But don't the clothes get hard?
Me - No as I iron them which makes them soft if they've been hanging on the line, and if they've been in the dryer I use dryer balls and that softens them too
Friend 1 - You tumble dry his clothes? Oh I would never tumble dry DD clothes
Friend 2 - No I would never do that either. I have dryer balls too but I would never tumble dry DD clothes.

So have I broke an unwritten rule here? Am I a slattern for occasionally tumble drying DS clothes? And if so, why? I am genuinely confused!

Fabric conditioner makes me itch.
More to the point, it also stinks to high heaven. I literally cough and choke sometimes when standing next to some people who reek of their washing powder and conditioner. Vile stuff.

I don't see the point of conditioner either. My washing is lovely and soft (and I live in a hard-water area), and it smells lovely after line-drying. If I really really want a mild scent I pop in a couple of drops of essential oils, but usually don't bother.

each to their own I suppose..I love the smell of freshly washed clothes..you can't beat the smell. .

Me too, but I love freshly-washed and aired clothes not freshly-drenched in some foul-smelling chemical which the ads would have us believe is 'fresh'.

Just off to sniff my lovely washing on the line!

I really don't notice how other people's clothes smell (unless they stink of smoke)

I don't tumble - don't have one and can't stand all the bloody shrinking even if I did.

I line dry or radiator, with either a small (much less than recommended) amount of softner or a splash of white vinegar.