Unbelievably, most baby and children’s bath products are loaded with toxins. Even companies who claim to sell “mild” children’s products use ingredients that have no business being around babies.
A March 2009 report from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics showed that sixty-one percent of children’s bath products tested included both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. 1 Both chemicals are probable carcinogens.
Why are Americans bathing their children with these toxins? Chances are, most parents don’t know the chemicals are present.
Even if vigilant parents try to protect their children from chemicals, it’s difficult: the toxins formaldehyde and 1, 4-dioxane are not listed on product labels. 2 That’s permissible because technically they’re not ingredients. Over time, certain preservatives – diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, and quaternium-15 – naturally release formaldehyde, while other common ingredients – sodium laureth sulfate, polyethylene, PEG-100 stearate, and ceteareth-20 – break down into 1,4-dioxane. 3
In other words, a known chemical reaction takes place in these products that results in the creation of toxins. A company does not have to disclose this information because technically they did not put the toxin into their product.
Other hazards
It’s not just the formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, though. Dozens of other contaminants lurk in children’s products:
- Well-known brands like Baby Magic, Huggies, and Johnson & Johnson all produce children’s soaps containing hazardous ingredients. 4
- The creamy, fresh scent variety of Desitin Diaper Rash Ointment contains sodium borate, an ingredient that isn’t recommended for use on infant skin. 5
- The medical journal Pediatrics studied infants’ exposure to phthalates and found that levels of phthalates greatly increased with use of baby shampoos, lotions, and powders. 6
- Using talcum powder is dangerous because of the possibility that babies could inhale the powder’s tiny mineral particles, causing pneumonia or even death by aspiration. 7
What’s a parent to do?
So what can be done? Toxins are hiding everywhere. For example, a 2002 study of seventy-two products revealed that phthalates were present in fifty-two products – yet phthalates were not listed as an ingredient on any of the products. 8
One of the first steps is awareness. Next, make a decision to change. While we can’t erase the damage that’s already done, we can begin making healthy choices. Once you’re aware of the potential harm caused by personal care products, shop with a discerning eye – and reduce the number of bath products used.
The encouraging news is that you can find a list of safe baby products at Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetics Database.
Talk back
What safe bath products do you like to use with your children?
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We’ve started using castile soap or homemade soaps, lotions and creams like MadeOn
I, unfortunately wasn’t very “green” when my children were babies, but now I’m doing my best. We don’t use any soaps any more just water and Norwex body cloths, which is what I wished I would have done when they were babies. I look for natural ingredients in any shampoo or lotions we use too. It’s so important to be careful what things we are putting on our skin, as it absorbs so much into our body.