7 Chemical Ingredients In Baby Products That You MUST Avoid
24 Feb 2023 | 6 min Read
Sudeshna Chakravarti
Author | 465 Articles
As a parent, we understand that your baby’s safety is the utmost priority. You want to ensure that your infant receives the best care and nourishment, and are extra careful while choosing products for them. This includes choosing toxin-free and safe skin and hair care products that keep your munchkin’s skin and scalp healthy and moisturised.
But the truth is that there are many baby skin care products in the market that are loaded with harsh toxins and chemicals that can cause rashes and infections in your little one’s skin. Moreover, since your munchkin’s immunity is still developing, exposure to these harmful ingredients can affect their overall health as well. This is why it is crucial that you familiarise yourself with the harmful chemical ingredients in baby products and the safe alternatives for them.
We have compiled a list of chemical ingredients that can be potentially dangerous for your baby’s skin. Take a look at what they are and make sure to avoid them the next time you go shopping for baby products.
7 Chemical Ingredients In Baby Products To Strictly Avoid
While the skin conditions (rashes, infections, and allergies) caused by these harmful ingredients are well-established, they are still found in many babycare products. Hence, make sure to steer clear of them, and read the ingredients label carefully before purchasing any products. You can also consider going through #BabyChakraKiList which gives you an extensive breakdown of ingredients to avoid in your little one’s products.
Sulphates
Sulphates, such as SLS and SLES are used to boost foaming in bath and hand wash products. While these chemicals are good at removing oil and dirt from surfaces, they are not safe for your baby’s skin. Using a product formulated with this ingredient for the long term can cause respiratory discomfort and skin irritation in your little one.
Since this ingredient is commonly found in hand washes, make sure to check whether the product you are using is SLS and sulphate-free. To be safe, you can consider a 100% natural option, for instance, BabyChakra’s natural foaming handwash, which is formulated with botanical ingredients like beetroot, tulsi, and mango oil that offer supreme germ protection while keeping your little one’s hands soft and nourished.
Phthalates
Phthalates are chemical additives that are most commonly found in cosmetic products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve the use of this ingredient in skincare products, especially the ones created for babies.
While there isn’t enough evidence on how this artificial additive affects your health, research published in 2010 suggests that long-time exposure to this ingredient can cause severe allergies, delay human development, and even harm reproductive health.
Therefore, make sure to purchase baby skincare products that are specifically labelled “chemical-free” or “phthalate-free.”
Parabens
These chemical ingredients are used as preservatives to enhance the shelf life of cosmetic products. They are widely used in shampoos and soaps. But since this ingredient causes skin irritation and rashes, it must be avoided in your baby’s skincare products. Moreover, parabens also easily absorb in the bloodstream, making them all the more dangerous for babies, as their skin is still developing.
Due to its negative effects, it is deemed unfit for use by newborns and infants. To keep your munchkin’s skin protected, you should consider investing in the paraben-free range of products from BabyChakra, and choose their 100% natural and organic moisturising baby wash to cleanse your baby’s skin and hair.
Artificial Fragrances
Who doesn’t find the thought of fragrances appealing? But did you know that artificial fragrances are among the top harmful allergens that pose the risk of causing skin irritations in your little one? Not only that, but fragrance-filled products can also cause respiratory issues in babies in the long run.
You keep your baby safe from these adverse reactions by purchasing a natural and plant-derived baby hair oil, free from synthetic fragrances. This way you can keep your baby protected and also have their hair and scalp smelling fresh.
Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
BHT is also a kind of preservative, most commonly found in personal care products, such as lip balms. It is used as a deodorising agent but is toxic in nature, and therefore, must be strictly avoided in baby products. Exposure to this ingredient can cause skin irritation and organ toxicity.
A safer option would be going for products labelled as BHT-free, such as BabyChakra’s nourishing lip balm that is made with plant-based ingredients like beetroot and strawberry oil to heal your baby’s dry and chapped lips and keep them soft.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is a type of alcohol found in many moisturisers and sunscreens. It is a popular skin-softening agent, but it is harmful to infants and causes allergic reactions and irritation.
While choosing your baby’s sunscreen, make sure to avoid this ingredient. Instead, opt for BabyChakra’s moisturising natural sunscreen that is loaded with plant-based ingredients like carrot seed oil, rosehip oil, and avocado oil that are gentle on your baby’s skin and also offer effective protection against UV rays.
Formaldehyde
This is also a chemical-based preservative used in liquid soaps. While this chemical ingredient helps prevent bacterial growth, it can cause skin irritations and inflammation in babies with sensitive skin.
Long-term exposure to formaldehyde can also increase the risk of other respiratory concerns like asthma. Due to its harmful effects, many companies have voluntarily removed this ingredient from their products, but it is still present in certain baby products. Make sure to read the label carefully and avoid it.
Conclusion
The best way to avoid chemical ingredients in baby products is by familiarising yourself with the names of the harmful ones and reading the labels carefully before purchasing items. In addition to this, always make sure that the baby products are paediatrician-approved to reduce the risk of skin allergies and infections in your little one.
Baby Care Products To Shop:
These 100% natural and safe products are a must-have in your baby’s routine.
Moisturising Creamy Bathing Bar
Natural Mosquito Repellent Body Spray
Also Read:
Baby lip blisters: Wondering how to care for your baby’s lip blisters? Here are some tips that can help.
Best baby soap: Check out this all-in-one guide to choosing the best soap for your newborn.
Baby care tips for new mums: These tips can help make every new mum’s life easy. Check them out.
Cover Image Credit: Freepik.com
A